The Prophet Habakkuk, by Donatello, circa 1425
And then God answered:
Write this.
Write what you see.
Write it out in big block letters
so that it can be read on the run.
This vision-message is a witness
pointing to what’s coming.
It aches for the coming—it can hardly wait!
And it doesn’t lie.
If it seems slow in coming, wait.
It’s on its way.
It will come right on time.
- Habakkuk 2:2-3, The Message
Now is the time to tell the truth, my dear one.
I know what you will say, that you are in a no-win situation. That your friends are divided, that you will lose too many if you are to be completely transparent. To truly express how you think, feel, and believe.
But I need you to be. At all times, but now more than ever. It's not just about the upcoming election. It's about representing my heart for this country, this world. It's about representing Me.
The Church in this country is at a crossroads. Those outside your walls are watching to see if you actually believe what you say, and live out My spirit of truth and love. Those inside are hungering for real transformation that can only begin with honest confession. I know that truth---and love---is hard sometimes. For now I must remind you the hard truth:
I know you inside and out, and find little to my liking.
You’re not cold, you’re not hot—far better to be either cold or hot!
You’re stale.
You’re stagnant.
You make me want to vomit.
You brag, ‘I’m rich, I’ve got it made, I need nothing from anyone,’ oblivious that in fact you’re a pitiful, blind beggar, threadbare and homeless.
Here’s what I want you to do:
Buy your gold from me, gold that’s been through the refiner’s fire. Then you’ll be rich.
Buy your clothes from me, clothes designed in Heaven. You’ve gone around half-naked long enough.
And buy medicine for your eyes from me so you can see, really see.
The people I love, I call to account—prod and correct and guide so that they’ll live at their best.
Up on your feet, then!
About face!
Run after God!
- Revelation 3:15-19, The Message
A hard message, to be sure. These are the times for hard messages. There is much to be gained; and much that can be lost. To be clear: I want you to be especially brave right now. To share your heart courageously. To risk the rejection you will likely receive. People will not often appreciate you. You will likely feel hurt, or at the very least, misunderstood. I know you can do it: I wanna see you be brave.
Hit it, Sara:
Brave
You can be amazing You can turn a phrase into a weapon or a drug You can be the outcast Or be the backlash of somebody's lack of love Or you can start speaking up Nothing's gonna hurt you the way that words do When they settle 'neath your skin Kept on the inside and no sunlight Sometimes a shadow wins But I wonder what would happen if you Say what you wanna say And let the words fall out Honestly, I wanna see you be brave With what you want to say And let the words fall out Honestly, I wanna see you be brave I just wanna see you I just wanna see you I just wanna see you I wanna see you be brave I just wanna see you I just wanna see you I wanna see you be brave Everybody's been there Everybody's been stared down by the enemy Fallen for the fear And done some disappearing Bow down to the mighty Don't run, stop holding your tongue Maybe there's a way out of the cage where you live Maybe one of these days you can let the light in Show me how big your brave is Say what you wanna say And let the words fall out Honestly, I wanna see you be brave With what you want to say And let the words fall out Honestly, I wanna see you be brave And since your history of silence Won't do you any good Did you think it would? Let your words be anything but empty Why don't you tell them the truth? Say what you wanna say And let the words fall out Honestly, I wanna see you be brave With what you want to say And let the words fall out Honestly, I wanna see you be brave
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