Tag Archives: surrender

Moonlight Magic by Patti Corbello Archer

Dusk tonight was so tranquil I thought as I drove south. There was not a lot of traffic to disturb my view. The sun was no longer visible but left a fantail of purple, pink and blue in its wake above the countryside. It was such a brief glimpse of God’s palette of color. Then I saw it, one single star hanging in the sky. It had been so long since I had taken the time to pause and watch the night arrive. My mind began to recall a saying from childhood, “Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight – I wish I may, I wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight.” I couldn’t help but smile. I was about to get my wish.

I had a love song playing on the radio and began to hum along. I tilted down the review mirror to check my makeup before the light totally faded to black. After a quick pinch to my cheek I went back to driving. I had an appointment tonight – an appointment that was long overdue. Living this thing we call life is busy. It is also filled with lots of interruptions that all too easily keep us from the truly valuable things that we should set aside for more heart time.

Well, tonight was my date night and I was determined not to be late. He picked the place. I picked the time. I was so excited to get ready for him. It is too easy in a relationship to forget the spark and take advantage of the love. My heart was beating in tempo to the music and I have to admit I was a bit nervous even though I was confident of his love.

We had an intense talk today so I know the passionate message that will be in his eyes when he sees me. I know what he believes and what he wants. He knows everything about me – truly. There are no secrets between us.

In fact, tonight I am wearing one of his favorite colors – shimmering indigo blue. My dress has one-shoulder and is made of the softest linen I could find. Seven layers of ruffles flutter all the way down the skirt till finally it wisps about the top of my bare feet. My sandals are on the floorboard in the backseat, but if I know him, and I do, then I won’t need those shoes.

I left my hair soft, not filled with lots of spray and gels and my makeup is…just for him. My lips are red, my cheeks are pink, my eyes are lined and my perfume is one that he always inhales. Isn’t that the beauty of love? Doing the personal things that say, “I love you” without the words?

Life has taught me many things. Many of those things I love. And the ones I didn’t left their scars. But I have to say that nights like these, make those scars matter less and less. Every time we meet, he teaches me how to love deeper. He dares me to take wild steps with my eyes closed. He is the one that talks love in more ways than I can even imagine. I respond to him. I fly with him. He is the one that makes me feel beautiful. He is the one that makes me feel loved. No other man has ever made me believe it.

I heard my phone sound a text message. I picked it up and saw, “I am watching for you.” My heart jumped. I saw the beach ahead and pulled off the road onto the sand and parked. I picked up my phone and text’d back, “I am here.”

I got out of my Jeep and stood in the sand, feeling the magic. I shut the door and saw him waiting for me by the water. The ocean waves were making the richest musical sound. The wind twirled my skirt. I began to walk towards him. The only light was the moonlight. No one else was on the beach. I saw his long shirt and pants being pulled by the wind. I saw his bare feet just inches from the water. His cologne reached me and I closed my eyes, loving his scent. I watched his breath inhale deeply as my perfume reached him. He ran his hand through his hair and smiled. He reached me first and spun me around. We laughed together.

Holding hands we walked along the beach loving the time together. We talked about what was on his mind. We talked about what was on mine. We sat in the sand. We walked in the waters edge. We laughed. We shared. After awhile, he stopped and faced me. His right hand took mine and slowly he twirled me around. I melted at the look of love burning in his eyes. He saw my response and said, “May I have this dance?” I stepped forward and leaned my cheek on his chest. I said, “Yes, Jesus, yes.” And he led me to his dance floor.

*****

Each person’s relationship with the Lord is different. I constantly need his presence to remind me to let him lead. Many things cause us to hold tight to our perception and direction in life. But I keep reminding myself that only when my eyes are closed and he is leading will I go on the right journeys.

Jesus is the best dancer, ever.

Patti Corbello Archer
July 20, 2013

Being real…really? by Patti Corbello Archer

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I think back through the years and my knees get weak. I can’t imagine what my life would be if my definition of Christianity was anything other than giving Jesus total access to my body, soul and spirit. Some of you might think that seems like such a “churchy” thing to say. But in reality, if you don’t lay your literal body with all its drives, your soul with all its feelings and thoughts, and your spirit with all its needs before his throne…each of those parts will begin to win life’s battles and kidnap your life.

The night I surrendered to him, my world changed. Maybe not in the blink of an eye so-to-speak, but as life bombarded me I felt his presence inside of me…and he gave me a boldness and power to dare to make choices based on who I was born to be instead of who life tried to make me.

The treasure I found when I surrendered is that truly there was no cost but a gift. I don’t think people realize that he gives back to us what we give to him. The surrender to him is the door where he finally can surrender us… his body, soul and spirit. That is where we intertwine with him. That is how we are holy. That is how we are equipped to do greater things than he did. That is how we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength.

I love the fact that he reads my mind and it amazes me when others think they can keep secrets from him. Peace is in being free from hiding. Who wants to be stalked by fear all their days? Freedom is in entering his powerful classroom and finding out how to use him to be delivered from us.

No person, rich or poor, no teacher, no pastor, no leader, or no government makes it to the pinnacle of NOT needing him. We are all made of flesh and will need our flesh delivered till the day his white horse comes.

So once you come to the cross, let your personal view of yourself change. The day I realized just how much he desired me was the day I felt his value for me for the first time. Then I dove into access to him, his thoughts in his Word, his feelings, his wounds, his passions, his power, his holiness, and his impatience for waiting for us and for the day of Jerusalem to come. I saw his gift for what it was…intimacy…honesty…and love.

With Jesus, we first hugged and met at the base of the cross, but the journey since then has been reality. I don’t have to put on my church face to be with him or be anything other than who he already knows I am.

He applauds my journey. He doctors my wounds. He teaches me new lessons. He swings with me when I am lonely. He protects me when I am afraid. He opens the windows of heaven to keep my wallet from running empty. He always pursues me and will never leave me nor forsake me. And he always keeps me wanting more.

There is no limit to who he can be with me…or you.

Total access.
Real love.
Jesus.
Really.

April 7, 2013
Patti Corbello Archer

Testimony….Dig Deep

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I was at a funeral on April 18, 2012. Mine. I was outside kneeling under the live oak tree branches digging a hole into the ground because I had a plan to die. Let me explain. You see, several years ago my best friend went to Israel and all I asked her to bring me back from the Holy Land was a handful of the land. Dirt. Does that surprise you? To ME that dirt was priceless. You recall the land that God gave the Israelites…that family that we are adopted into? You know the land where Jesus walked? Or, the dusty land that was wiped from His feet when Mary cried over His feet? Or maybe, you will think of His blood dripping on the land at the foot of the cross as He cried out to the Father. Yes, that dirt, that land…and the reason for another funeral over 2,000 years ago.

Well, on April 18 that land from Israel sat in a small glass container on the side of my bible on the ground. Through the years I had carried that container from one apartment to another, then to a home that I bought. I then carried it from the sale of my home to another apartment so I would be closer to my son and his family. And then I carried it from my apartment to here under the live oak tree branches where I live now. My son would see my container of dirt every once in a while and say, “Mom, what in the world are you doing with that dirt? “ And we would laugh.

You see, I didn’t know during all those years what I would do with it. But I knew that one day I would know. Like on April 18. Then I knew. It was time for a burial. Just like Jesus, I had to die to what I knew and saw to become what was ahead of me. There was a price for my future. Now, did it have to be a literal ceremony? Maybe not, but to me it did. To me I had to make my spiritual journey touch my flesh one in an unforgettable way.

I needed reminders because my life has had journeys where I not just laughed, cheered and grew – but also where I bled, cried and died deep inside – with scars that left limitations emotionally. But one day at the foot of the cross I learned that He wanted to exchange all that for a new life. I then literally watched myself bloom from a fleshly view of living this thing called life to be able to dance the spiritual dance with my Jesus…in my heart, as well as my body. But even still life revealed new wounds that left scars, provision wars as well as health skirmishes and struggles to find the new definition of me. You see, I never doubted who He was. The doubt after the dust settled was who I saw in the mirror.

To that end, God drew me back to a place where one life ends and another begins…with Him anew. So, I dug that hole and on my physical knees laid my wounded and scared spiritual heart and soul inside. Then I poured that dirt that He bled on 2,000 years ago…and buried me, again. Tears dropped onto the dirt but I remembered that His Word said He keeps all my tears anyway. My funeral ended and I collected my shovel and brushed the dirt off my bible.

From that moment on I began to look forward to His completed plan for me…not just the one that I had experienced so far. I say all that to say this, “Have hope my brothers and sisters in Christ, because the new will come.” Day by day, I have watched the new life and blooms arise from what I buried that day. Who said that we have to have only one life on this earth. God’s word says that with Him we can have as many as we are willing to die for. Once we get to that point, He’s got us covered…literally.

That is called a creative miracle, and our destinies are a perfect place to reveal it. Otherwise, how do we get there?

Blessings always,

Patti Corbello Archer

July 1, 2012