Take My Heart

I became instantly besotted with "Take My Heart"while watching a Thursday afternoon Misty Edwards devo on the IHOP-KC webstream in 2008. My Nigerian son and I were hanging out in my living room and before long we both ended up facedown and weeping.

It turns out "Take My Heart" was actually written by Winnipegger John Janzen and later covered by Misty. I promptly searched for the songwriter on Facebook and found him in Japan, where he was living, and wrote him a blathering fan letter about how the song undid me.

For me, the kicker was the lyric: tears make my heart soft. All those tears I'd shed over the years that seemed so futile suddenly made sense and took on a whole new meaning. 

In fact, that line has almost become like my life slogan. Now when I cry, I often glance down at my mushy heart and smile.

For a long time I have waited for you
You have won my heart and I am following
For a long time I've been crying out for you
Tears make my heart soft and I am ready

For the return of my lover

Take my heart, my mind and strength too
I was made for loving you
And I will wait, and Ill be faithful
I was made for loving you

Fashioned from the very fabric of God
At the start of time, set free to decide
I will love You for You're the one who loved me first
Just one look from Your eye
I'm captivated by the eyes of my lover
By the eyes of my lover 

Bowing low there in the presence of the One
At the end of time and I hear the bells chime
For our wedding, it will wait no longer now
Oh, how I love You
I finally fall into the arms of my lover

#MonthfulOfMusic #HoodMom

war on grumbling day sixteen

Day 16

Today I am thankful I don't fight my tears anymore. I've discovered those who sow in tears truly do reap with shouts of joy. 
#WarOnGrumbling #40DaysOfThanksgiving

Today was one of my weepy days. I used to resist those days but I have learned to just give in. Tears come for so many reasons -- joy, sadness, Holy Spirit, revelation, awe -- what's the point of fighting them? And they must have significance since God stores my tears in a bottle and records them in a book.

Tears also make my heart soft. And they keep it that way.

For a long time I've been crying out for You //

Tears make my heart soft //
I am ready for the return of the Lover

What gift can I offer You today?

I was absolutely staggered by the Lord's answer to this question. Even as I wrote this, I wept some more remembering the impact it had on me. This marked one of those days when I truly started to grasp that the Lord really did know me and delighted in me for who I am, who He made me to be.

Day 10 - What gift can I offer You today?
Is there some symbolic object I might lay at your feet or some favour You would appreciate from me? 
How can I say thanks for the blessings You've poured out on me?
Is there some way I can bless You in return?


God said: 


Your tears. 

They honour me.

Say yes.

Don't fight them. 


They represent the river of living water flowing freely.

They are a river of love.

Remember a time you couldn't cry at all?


Tears make my heart soft.

Next: What gift can I offer others today?