Apple Cider and Snow and God's Warm Embrace

So, we just had this big cold front come through Oklahoma. And it was great! :) Not that it won't be warm again before the year is over, but it felt so nice to have a taste of autumn. We had another married couple over who is part of our small group, Jake and Kelly, for dinner. Kayla made this really good alfredo chicken. Then we played Imaniff, a really fun board game that is a lot like Apples-to-Apples if you've ever played that one before. We watched the thunderstorms roll in over us and rain hard over our house. The wind picked up too. It was just a good time.

Autumn is coming fast and so is winter. We had apple cider last night which was really good. I can't wait until it looks like this outside:



Hopefully, it won't be too long!

We are in an interesting place right now. God has been just raining down opportunities for after I graduate. Job offers, grad schools, whatnot. Right now we're down to three options, either Oklahoma, Colorado, or Alabama. And I was talking with my uncle the other day who is maybe going to Pennsylvania for a job, but is in a similar situation, and we both agreed, God's will for us will be obvious. Maybe not at first, but what he wants for us is what will happen as long as we wait on him and pursue the options he gives us.

Jesus is just beautiful. He's gorgeous and incredible and wonderful. I can't wait to look at him and be able to say, "Turn your eyes from me; they overwhelm me." (Song of Songs 6:5) I really can't wait until he is here and he physically shares this time with us, autumn, winter, Christmas (it is his 'birthday'). I miss him as my Lover that went away and I can only wait every day for him to return. Life is like the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25). How I long for my Beloved to finally come to the wedding hall to marry me! I do not always bring oil with me though to keep my lamp lit. But what is that anyways? What is the oil? Is it us just having hope and "on the look out" for his return? Yes, but I think also it's how we burn for him. Like the seraphim in Isaiah chapter 6. One interpretation of their name means "to burn" in Hebrew which is derived from the burning from the poison of a bite from a serpent. That's exactly what it feels like in spiritual intimacy with God. Like what Jeanne Guyon wrote, "I slept not that whole night, because Thy love, oh my Lord, flowed in me like delicious oil." That's what it is like when in spiritual intimacy with Jesus. It's this burning feeling like hot oil all over and he is just so close and intimate and you can almost feel his breath and you can just listen to his voice say, "I love you. I want you. You are so incredible to me. I desire you." That's how I think we should be waiting for our Love to return. Burning with him in intimacy with his Spirit. Close, joyful, wonderful intimacy in his embrace. He is our God. He is our Lover. And he is coming home anytime now :)