I was in a group yesterday listening to some dialogue. One side of the dialogue presented the truth of heavenly stones come to earth. There was a need to defend this part of God’s manifestation on the earth, and almost a need to protect the reputation of the move. On the other side of the dialogue there was belief that other things in God are more important than the gems. There was also a lack of experience to color the dialogue.

I feel each side cannot hear the other in this. Having experienced the manifestation, I revel in the intensely personal nature of God who provides for me an actual piece of heaven. And I recognize the value in things he brings that I do not understand. It demolishes my idolatry of my intellect. There are moments when a gem is exactly what will be a part of my perfecting- there are other times when a gem might actually get in the way and cause me to turn towards the gem rather than the gem giver.

I walk with a group of people who dialogue and process through hard things together. For me it has immeasurable value. The new one who came needed to defend the gems because to him they were as important as what I consider immeasurable value. There has to be room for this. We all are made by God. All that we hold immeasurably value, together, makes us one.

This morning I was struck as I was driving, by a picture of the Bride.

She was overhead.
I always weep when he shows her to me this way.
Her arms were outstretched.
Her heart beat with a vibrancy.
I saw that I was close to her heart. That is, indeed, why some of my testimony is redeemed because of the Father’s heart it allows me to grasp.
I saw the young man- he was near her fingertips. In this season he is designed to be a part of the Bride manifesting on the earth which does include signs and wonders.
It is okay for us to each be where we are.
It is, in fact, necessary.
The important thing seems more that we respect each other as works in progress of Most High God.

I love that God used a gem to assure me I was in the right spot at the right time. I also love that he allows me to be in long term relationship with folks who are mature an suffer well.
In the words of Paul, in the book of Phillipians- 10-11 I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience his resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, and go all the way with him to death itself. If there was any way to get in on the resurrection from the dead, I wanted to do it.

Permission is granted to be the part of the bride you were created to be.