Somewhere Over the Rainbow

May 3, 2020 … Pentecost!

I love the words to the song, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”. Especially when listening with my “spiritual ears”. It paints a beautiful picture for me of “Beyond”!  The word beyond continues to be etched into my spirit and mind.  I keep hearing and seeing this one little seemingly insignificant word – beyond. While pondering this little word, I realized it was an invitation to dive deep into the portal of heaven to discover what He was saying. It intrigues me how one little word can carry so much weight, promise, expectation, awe, and wonder.  It’s a small word, but with immeasurable implications!  Beyond … what happens going forward.  Beyond … my wildest expectations and imagination.  Beyond … the place where you reveal yourself and ways that I previously had no idea about.  Beyond … higher, further, deeper, greater, bigger, on the horizon, a place that has no end.  Beyond!  

Lord, take us to the places beyond with you!  Lead us into the unknown spaces of your plan and purpose for our lives.  Lead us into the great unknown that is beyond our ability to dream or plan for.  We want to go “beyond” with you.  Beyond our natural minds, thoughts, and ways.  Beyond our boxes and understandings.  Beyond …. Into the wild blue yonder!  “Yonder” – wow!  This crazy word just popped out of the deep fountain within me. I immediately see that it has contained within it the word “beyond”!  It implies a journey.  A place where there is always more – always new places, experiences, and people.  Encounters with You Lord, and with others.  The places beyond anything we can ask, think, or even imagine because they are “beyond” where we have been.  Beyond what we have experienced, known, or thought.  Beyond – a place of expectant anticipation of who you are, what you are doing, and what you are going to do!  No longer living a life of expected outcomes, plans, and maneuvers.  A life lived under our own control.  What a boring life that is!  The life where we are in control of everything.  We are so limited, so finite!  You are unlimited, infinite, and beyond!  Let our hearts soar as we reach out to you, into you, within you to go beyond with you – into the places of the wild blue yonder!  You will take us not only as far as we can see, but you will take us so far beyond that it will transform and conform us into sons and daughters.  It will shape our senses and expectations.  We will yield our control into your magnificent care as we learn to soar into the places of “beyond” with you! 

Holy Spirit, take us up, up, and away with you into the places so far BEYOND any place we’ve ever been before!