Update #172 - Pearl Worth

“And Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call Me good? None is good except One, God.’” Luke 18:19  

South Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA

There is a story told of a little girl gifted a costume jewelry necklace for her fifth birthday. The strand of white beads became her prized possession – she wore it everywhere, the supermarket, grandmas, kindergarten, Sunday school, bed… it was always with her; she never took it off.  After several months, and numerous bouts of swimming pool and bath exposure, the beads transitioned from a glorious iridescent to a sickly green in color; and began to stain her skin.

One night before bed, after her prayers had been said, her daddy asked for the necklace.  Shocked, she protectively covered it with both hands. Wide eyed she exclaimed “Oh, Daddy, no!”  He smiled, patted her thigh and helped her settle down into her bed.  Kissing her forehead he left the room.

The next three nights were the same, he asked for the necklace, she deferred.  The fifth night was different.

He could hear her sobs from the hallway.  Entering the room he found her sitting in her bed, covers pooled around her waist, tears cascading down her cheeks.  “What’s wrong munchkin?” The bed dipped as it received his weight. She held out her hand.  Shaking, she unfurled her fingers and revealed the lime-tinged beads.

“Here Daddy.” she snuffled.

He smiled “Thanks Bug”.

Regarding him with wide eyes, she watched as he carefully placed the treasured necklace in his outside suit coat pocket.  She sat quietly, tears sporadically sliding down her cheeks, breathing ragged, shoulder slumped in surrender.  She was so fixed on watching where the necklace was being housed she missed her father digging into his inside breast pocket to produce an oblong blue velvet box.

“Here Bug.” He said as he gently laid the box in her lap.

“Daddy?” She gulped between tears.

“Open it Sweetheart.”

“Oh Daddy!” Beaming a smile worth forty million watts she threw herself upon his chest in a huge hug, the blue velvet box now lost in the covers between them. “It is prettier than my last one. Can I wear it now?” She pulled back to watch his face.

“Of course Bug, let me help you.” She had the box in her hands and was extracting the necklace from the velvety folds.

The clasp, tiny in his hands, caused a fumbling but he managed to secure it around her petite neck.  “You look gorgeous!” He exclaimed.

Her hands explored the iridescent ribbon encircling her neck.  Her Daddy had given her REAL pearls!  They felt cold and heavy against her skin.

A furrow creased her brow. “Daddy, did you have this all the time?”

“Yes Bug, it was in my pocket.”

“Oh.” She sighed, fingering the folds of the bedspread. Suddenly her countenance changed, she shifted her head to look him full in the face and grinned, “You are a good good Daddy.”

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Is your Daddy-God good?  Is Daddy-God ALWAYS good in your eyes? Or, like me, you occasionally question his actions, motives and intentions? When a prized, cherished, precious possession is requested do you give unflinchingly, unreservedly, unquestionly – or do you hesitate and count the cost?

I want to believe Daddy-God is good, ALL the time.  In my life, he is proving himself true, just, and sincere.  I want to be like the little girl in the story who knows, without a doubt, her Daddy is good; he will restore, he will return, he will reconcile all things stolen, lost and removed.  I don’t have to understand Gods plan or ways - I just have to follow with child-like faith into what he has for me. Some call this naiveté; I call it freedom.

What keeps you from following in freedom; in complete release from worry, anxiety, and pain? What prized possession are you holding onto? What cherished item is ultimately blocking the greater gift being bestowed?

Updates:
Travel – prepping for Egypt (1 week) via LA – I leave on the 22nd returning the 30th.  I then leave for the World Prayer Assembly in Jakarta May 13th.
Work – The Bay Area trainees were commissioned last night and the remote trainees commission on the 23rd.  We had six of the in-person trainees receive their certificates last night! Whoo Hoo!
Personal – I have my “new” car!  She is so pretty!  I am having such fun driving her… she reminds me of God’s goodness and love for me every time I catch a glimpse of her.

Requests:
Travel – Please pray for personal protection and for my family as I prep for two transformational trips into predominately Muslim countries.  I have a heart for these people and respect their level of devotion; I just want them to come to know God’s love the way I do.
Work – Logistic prep for the upcoming trips. I am acting as the operations manager in Egypt and co-leading the Indonesian team.  Needless to say my plate is FULL, FULL, FULL.  Also, please pray I will be able to stay on top of the company financials before, during and after my travels.
Personal – What is on God’s heart? What are his priorities? Who does he want me to talk to, connect with, pray for? How do I prioritize the piles on my desk to reflect his answers? Please pray I will have the ears to hear, heart to feel, and obedience / wisdom to walk out his responses.