In my imagination, I see… Serena, a sassy little girl in overall shorts, a sky blue t-shirt, and combat boots. She has long skinny legs and knobby knees. She looks like she’s up to something with a delighted grin on her face. I see a lush green field, trees, and a rocky cave. Serena looks all around then pops inside the cave leaving a faint glow of light. Now I appear wearing overall shorts, a light pink t-shirt and no shoes. I scramble up a tree and pull a paperback out of my pocket. We hear, “Ready or not, here we come!” Two mighty beings enter the field wearing white pajamas with black belts tied in a knot at the waist. They are barefoot. I start to giggle and clap my hand over my mouth. I hear Serena holler, “You’re never gonna find me up in this tree!” Arrrrrgh! I’m so mad! I jump down out of the tree and rush into the cave. I tackle her and knock her over. I hold her down and tickle her until she cries, “Uncle!” We climb to our feet and walk out in a dignified manner. Serena looks to our angels and says sternly, “Go hide!” They walk silently away. My dear one looks back over his shoulder and winks at me.

Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

Matthew 7:7-8 NLT

Shout to the LORD, all the earth; break out in praise and sing for joy! Sing your praise to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and melodious song, with trumpets and the sound of the ram’s horn. Make a joyful symphony before the LORD, the King!

Psalm 98:4-6 NLT

In my imagination, I see… myself as a child riding a pink bike with a banana seat. The handle bars sport long plastic streamers and a basket. I am all by myself riding down the middle of a dazzling white gravel road through the center of my heart. Oh, no! An enormous boulder blocks the road! I pull a chisel from my basket and begin to chip away at it.

Now, My Lord Guide appears beside me. He’s wearing khaki shorts, a white t-shirt, an orange safety vest, goggles, and an orange hard hat. He’s barefoot. He winks at me. Then in slow motion, he leans over and pushes down a detonator plunger with both hands.

Boom! A deafening explosion fills the air with a cloud of dust. My ears are ringing and I’m coughing. I look around for my Way Maker to tell him thank you, but he’s not there. A clear path stretches out ahead of me in the bright sunshine. The boulder is completely gone! I pull a white lacy handkerchief out of the basket to scrub my face. Tossing the hanky to the ground, I hop on my bike and pedal away.

For no apparent reason, I glance back over my shoulder only to see My Lord Guide standing in the middle of the road. He collects the handkerchief and holds it to his heart, smiling sweetly to himself.

We all experience times of testing, which is normal for every human being. But God will be faithful to you. He will screen and filter the severity, nature, and timing of every test or trial you face so that you can bear it. And each test is an opportunity to trust him more, for along with every trial God has provided for you a way of escape that will bring you out of it victoriously.

1 Corinthians 10:13 TPT

In my imagination, I see… a meadow of wild flowers rolling across my heart. Our Lord Father appears wearing denim overalls and leather work boots with a silver flute in his pocket. His bushy white hair matches his bushy white beard and four daisy chains of different lengths hang around his neck. He is whistling as he pushes Serena in a squeaky wheelbarrow. Serena is busy making daisy chains. She looks about 7 years old and is dressed exactly like Father! She wears a bushy white wig and matching fake beard. Two Chelsea dolls are tucked in her front pocket.

I am also about seven years old. My long brown hair is pulled smoothly to the top of my head and braided into a crown. I wear a pink cotton dress and daisy chains. I’m sitting atop my pet giant tortoise, Hernan 444. He is saddled and bridled and I hold his reins loosely in my lap. I am singing, “Boom, boom, la dee da da,” and dancing a little bit in the saddle. My feet are raised, keeping my pink toes aloft.

Not really a story… just a picture of happiness.

“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”

Matthew 6:28-29 NKJV

In my imagination, I see… Serena and I as children playing on the beach of my heart beside the Glory Ocean. Serena is standing on my shoulders with my hands supporting her knees. She shades her eyes looking out to sea. We laugh and chatter as we tumble and climb back into place time after time. We are trying to see farther and having tremendous fun. What will Our Lord show us today?!

A little ways down the beach, a few years away, I see an older version of the girls standing tall. We appear graceful and strong with devotion and wisdom lighting our faces. We gaze out to sea, loving deeply everything we see. As one, we glance toward the little girls and smile, then turn back toward the horizon; an expectant watch tower at sunrise.

And he said, “Please, show me Your glory.”

Exodus 33:18 NKJV