Radically Happy

Scripture

“There he will remove the cloud of gloom, the shadow of death that hangs over the earth. He will swallow up death forever! The Sovereign Lord will wipe away all tears. He will remove forever all insults and mockery against his land and people. The Lord has spoken!”‭‭

Isaiah‬ ‭25‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

MIC Check

Today’s Most Important Challenge is…

• Feeling
• Then releasing
• The unhealed trauma
• That keeps us apart

Immanuel Approach Memo

Continued from 3/8 IAM: Banqueting

I am…
We are…
Climbing God’s Holy Hill

Scattered groups
Each singing a single note
Of the Song of our Hearts
Like a handbell choir made of voices

I look for Jesus.

He is at the head of a banqueting table
And the banner over Him is love

Each of us has an assigned seat
Not with our own group
Not near anyone signing the same note

The song falters
We were drawn here by Jesus
By His Song

But we got here
By clinging to others
Who sang the same note

We were drawn here by Jesus
By His Song

But we got here
By clinging to others
Who sang the same note

Even the musicians like me
Who kept the rhythm
On our tambourines
While we circulated
Find it difficult

Because now I discover
There was more than one rhythm

My opposite number
Is sitting across from me
On Christ’s right hand
While I am His left

Her beat
Is out of sync with mine

I don’t know what to do
I try to cling to my beat
Ignore my opposite
Or force her to match me

It doesn’t quite work
I lose the beat
The singers around me
Get confused

I look AT Jesus

I suddenly remember
This is not my song
It is His

I had gotten so caught up
In remembering my part
I forgot to be caught up
In His Singing

His rhythm
Is bigger
Better
More complicated
Than I can imagine
Much less reproduce

I close my eyes
I stop playing

I listen for Jesus

I can only pick out a few beats
I listen
I breathe
Slowly I start tapping my tambourine

Now I can hear
How my old rhythm
Only approximated
This deeper Song

My old rhythm
Helps me make sense
Helps me echo
Helps me amplify
Part of His Song

I open my eyes
I open my heart
I see
My opposite number
Playing her rhythm
But subtly changed
To complement mine

No
To reflect Jesus
So that together
We represent Him
Better

To reflect Jesus
So that together
We represent Him
Better

So those who listen
Find it easier
To follow His Song

The Feast begins
We take turns
Eating
Singing
Playing

His Song unites us
Nourishes us
Carries us

But
How can one Feast
However glorious
Save a doomed city?

To be continued

Reflection

I feel…

• Small
• Ashamed of my arrogance
• Comforted
• Heard
• Belonging
• Longing

Defining Forgiveness

Reframing: realigning what’s desirable by redefining what’s possible