Our Hearts & God's Valley

Hi bunnies!  Okay, I don't really know where that one came from except that I could REALLY use some spring weather and bunnies come in spring, right? Haha! Anyway... Moving right along...  This past weekend, Youth Xplosion 2013, Shift, was AH-MAZING and I just want to say, even if you missed it (you could order DVDs or CDs from www.capitalcommunity.ca) you need to know that God is calling you deeper!  No matter what you're going through right now, no matter if life seems great or bad, whether you have all you want or are waiting on Him to supply your need, whether you have direction for the next year or you're waiting on direction for the next step, GIVE HIM PRAISE! Not because you have everything in life at this moment exactly how you want it but because regardless of what's missing God is ever-present and ever-loving!  It will come, maybe right after need to offer one more song, dance, shout or prayer or maybe in a few months of pushing through and growing yourself but if He's in it, if He has planned it, IT WILL COME!

And that not being my topic, let's keep moving forward with it...  The week before last I was in Connecticut for the Winterfire conference... Yes, we got storm-stayed and yes the conference went from four meetings to two but NO, we didn't miss out on one word God wanted to speak!  It was honestly a landmark in my life and the lives of many others and I encourage you to attend next year!  My pastor, Raymond Woodward, spoke at the conference.  Pastor spoke on a thought I had heard him teach previously but it was just as impacting the second time... Did you know the Jewish alphabet has a letter that represents the name of God? It's called the SHin (pictured below).  Jewish people place the SHin on door posts of buildings and homes, they touch it when they walk in to those buildings and then kiss their fingers, never forgetting God is everywhere! 

Also, the SHin is found in the actual landscape of Israel... There are three mountains and valleys that make up the image of the SHin... God said he would put his name in Jerusalem, and there it is, embossed in the Earth! 1 Kings 11:36, 2 Kings 21:4, 2 Chronicles 6:6


These two pictures show/explain how the SHin is found in the landscape of Jerusalem.  Above is to give you an idea of what you're looking at in the right hand actual topographical map... You can clearly see the SHin in the darker valley lines.

But none of that is the best part!  Jewish professors have long taught medical students (and I would only assume theological students that the SHin is also placed on our hearts!  Can you imagine!? God's actual name placed on each human heart! Of course, if you're like me you want to see the pictures of that too, any you're in luck!

 I chose the above two pictures to be sensitive to the squeamish... And I have to admit even though I am not one of those people the pictures of actual hearts can be a little yucky, but if you're brave and won't pass out on your computer, go ahead and google it :) In the diagram to the right you can clearly see the pink at the bottom being the SHin!

In all of this awesome knowledge of God placing the SHin both on the City He's called to be his own from the beginning and even better being on EVERY human heart He has called to be His own forever, I see something else... Both in Jerusalem and in the heart I notice the SHin is made up of the valleys!  God is in the Valleys! He has placed His name in the valleys of your heart and life so be secure!  Again, even if you seem to be in a valley now, whether a valley of pain, decision, confusion, fret, worry or impatience, God is with you and whatever He has planned for your life will happen! You are not alone and not forgotten, make sure you're not forgetting God!  Offer Him praise in the place of His name, pray to the name written on your heart, remember Him in the valley! IT WILL COME!