Preface

Let me take you back a step.

The step before the introduction.

The preface.

The precursor.

The step before the curse.

The step before the introduction.

The place before the pain.

The time before the chaos.

The time of peace.

The place of calm.

The time before the storm.

The time without turmoil.

The time before your story started.

The place of comfort and security.

The time before the multiplication.

The moment before the birthing.

The time of the conception.

The joy of togetherness, the place of intimacy, the feeling of each other up so close.

The time when you were able.

The time where you could literally come together.

The sighs of joy and delight.

The pleasure of the moment, the joy of the moment, the moment before conception.

The giving and the receiving, the welcome invitation, and the coming over.

A time of great joy and delight.

A heavenly experience.

The freedom of movement.

A moment of expression, the fullness of expression, the expression that defines the result.

For the product is defined by that which expresses it.

You thought the union of the one with the other, was like addition and the one with the one would produce the two.

You are such a laugh, for usually the one with the one produces the one.

For the usual, the normal, the average union produces the one, as the two become one flesh and produce one flesh.

Yet your union was not normal.

It required my miraculous intervention.

In so doing I gave you the power to multiply, to give birth outside the normal boundaries, the natural boundaries, the established boundaries.

For you fully committed to the process no matter the cost.

Thank you Lord, I understand the precursor, but what of the Preface?

I was there before it all got started.

I was there before the introduction.

I was pondering your story before the first chapter was written.

For my face was there before your face was there to respond.

Look it up, what does it mean?

Preface - a introduction to a book, typically stating its subject, scope or aim.

Not that helpful Lord, would you tell me what it means.

It is the step before the start of the journey.

The setup, the setting of the stage, the determination of who, what and where, the why and the how.

It describes what the author was thinking before he wrote the book, it is an expression of desire, a statement of intent.

It is like when you expressed your desire to your beloved, you did not know what would then come from it, but I did.

For some things follow a logical progression, others are produced from the absence of restraint and the full expression of desire.

One is an expression of delight, the other is a process.

Yet Lord it feels like my life is both an expression of desire and a process of elimination, of choosing the only option available.

This describes you well, for at many times, on many occasions I have led you by the only option, the only door, the presentation of the one choice.

It reminds me of my daughter’s response when I said to her at the age of 2, “You have a choice to do what I say, or go to your room.” There she stood with her arms crossed refusing to make the choice. Later she would comment and say “that is really not a choice Dad”. To which I would smile and say “you are right, but really the best for you is to do what you are told”.

Was this whole chapter not about “choices”.

For you came to this city based on my word “choices”.

I presented you with two choices, to take the “ordinary” life option, or to step into the “extraordinary” place of great adventure option.

You had the choice and yet what did you choose?

To leave everything behind that we knew, to follow you into the wide open space. Really the choice was so clear - choose a great adventure with you, or shrink back and take the “comfort” option.

Has it not been a great journey of greater and greater intimacy?

Yes Lord we have great stories to tell of your goodness and kindness, of wild and torturous paths, of the valleys and the great heights.

And yet here we find ourselves again being pushed out, being forced to make a choice. Yet now the choice seems to be to leave that which is mostly dysfunctional, except those relationships which we have sowed into. Even there, there seems such limitation, such an acceptance of that which we find so unacceptable, such contention and agitation for us, and yet for them such dysfunction, such an unwillingness to embrace all you have for them.

It feels like you are calling us out again, from the mud and the mire, and yet into a place where unless you work a miracle the future is so limited.

I want you to understand this:

This is not the beginning of the end, but the end of the beginning.

For all this is simply a precursor a preface to the real story.

For the first book was just a training ground for the real adventure.

For once again you go out not knowing where you are going, yet this time you know so much more about who you are going with, and what you are capable of.

For the first leg of the journey was designed to upskill you, to show you what I am able to do. Was it not all so impossible, was there any opportunity that came to you easily?

I don’t think we would have chosen any of them if you had given us the choice.

Precisely.

And yet have you not learnt so much from the experience?

I have learnt, that:

If you want us to win it, there is no other outcome but victory.

There is no gap that you cannot help us fill.

You are always one step ahead.

Afterwards all the wisdom you gave us for them proved to be true.

After all that has been taken away only your glory remains, more of your glory remains.

I am taking you out of the miry clay, out of the place of the slip, to the place of the grip.

I’m taking you away from all the pain.

I’m taking you into the place of blessing, the place of fulfilment.

For you are in this moment clearing out the old to make way for the new.

Yes all that remains is the one I love, and really nothing else matters to me.

I am removing all that is tainted.

Leviticus 26:3-12

If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments and do them,

I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase and the trees of the field yield their fruit.

And your threshing [time] shall reach to the vintage and the vintage [time] shall reach to the sowing time, and you shall eat your bread to the full and dwell in your land securely.

I will give peace in the land; you shall lie down and none shall fill you with dread or make you afraid; and I will clear ferocious (wild) beasts out of the land, and no sword shall go through your land.

And you shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword.

Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight; your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.

For I will be leaning toward you with favor and regard for you, rendering you fruitful, multiplying you, and establishing and ratifying My covenant with you.

And you shall eat the [abundant] old store of produce long kept, and clear out the old [to make room] for the new.

I will set My dwelling in and among you, and My soul shall not despise or reject or separate itself from you.

And I will walk in and with and among you and will be your God, and you shall be My people.

Here comes the new. Get excited about the new.

For what I have next for you will blow your mind.

Let’s get started, shall we?