Radically Happy

MIC Check

Today’s Most Important Challenge is…

• Listening hard enough
• To hear what’s not being said
• So I can help my friends
• Hear each other
• And see Jesus

Immanuel Approach Memo

Continued from 6/12 IAM: Liberating

I am… seen.

Jesus has consumed the darkness
Of the prison my feet ran into
Perhaps my dancing played a part
But now
It draws attention to me
And I falter

I look for Jesus.

He is in the back
Smiling encouragingly at me

I want to yell at people

“Stop looking at me
Turn and look at Jesus”

But that would be insisting
People obey my words
Instead of observing my actions

So instead
I yield myself to His Spirit
And open my mouth

---

Hear the word of the Lord
Your years of hard labor
In the service of my Law
Are now over

Well done
Good and faithful servants
Enter into my rest

The Law
Was meant for
Necessary for
Must still be taught to
Children and slaves

But today
Is the day
You can become
My friends

To know My heart
Receive My grace
Enter into My freedom

Because
Your moral compass
Is no longer
The shame outside you
But the cross inside you

The prison doors
That bound
And sheltered you
Have lost their power

Go
Be free
Bring freedom
Bring Me

---

I stare in shock
At the prisoners
Staring in shock
At me

Did I say that?
Do I believe that?
Does He mean that?

I look at Jesus.

He stares at me
Then winks
And points with His eyes
At locked door of the prison
Bolted
Chained
Barred
From the outside

I sigh
Turn to face the door
100 meters away

Stretch my legs
Kneel down
In a sprinter’s crouch
Glance at Jesus

He raises His nail-scarred hand
His finger and thumb forming a gun
He nods
I face forward

He counts

“3…2…1…”

He snaps his fingers
Like a gunshot
I take off
Like a rifle bullet

Heading straight
At full speed
For the heavy oaken door

Faster
Faster
Faster

With all my heart
With all my soul
With all my strength
With all my mind

Until
I make contact!

To be continued

Reflection

I feel…

• Empowered
• Invited
• Filled with the Spirit
• Carried by grace
• Launched
• On a collision course

Scripture

“I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to anyone else, nor share my praise with carved idols. Everything I prophesied has come true, and now I will prophesy again. I will tell you the future before it happens.”‭‭

Isaiah‬ ‭42‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬