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| Aurora Chapel (Revontuli Kappeli) |
In this worship conference, I found myself in the midst of people from different nations - Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Finland (not forgetting the Finns from various places). Wow! I loved how people came with such hunger in their hearts, waited in expectations, and so ready to soak in God's Presence.
On Ystävänpäivä (Finnish for Friendship Day; also known as Valentine's day), I woke up thinking I'd write up a love letter to my best friend - JESUS. As always, I waited for Him to speak into my heart. I heard Him speaking through a passage in Song of Songs 4:9. Just to hear it again through one of the guests at the conference. Whilst it was being read, I felt being wrapped around Jesus' arms of love, that I could not help but to welcome such overwhelming love and tangible Presence. Allow me to share this passage from The Passion Translation...
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| Responding to His love. The speaker said, there's a song coming I walked up front with such boldness I've never known and sang. |
Song of Songs 4:9-11
"For you have ravished My heart.
You have inflamed My being
My beloved one, My equal, My bride.
Merely a glance
From your worshipping eyes
And you have stolen My heart.
Just gazing into your heart,
Joined to Mine,
And I am overcome!
Conquered! Ravished!
Held hostage by your love!
How satisfying to Me,
My equal, My beautiful bride.
Your love is My finest wine,
Intoxicating and thrilling -
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| inside the Chapel (photo taken by Epeli) |
And your sweet praise-perfume
So exotic, so pleasing.
Your loving words
Are like honey to Me,
Drenched with worship.
As your tongue releases milk and honey
I find the Promised Land
Flowing within you.
I write this from the place of being so in love with my King. I cannot but utter thanks and worship alone to Him, who has given everything that I may have life abundantly. I could write more about what happened during the event but I think it's enough that I share just a glimpse of how in His Presence, we cannot leave and NOT be changed into his likeness, conformed into His heart.
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| I found a gifted violinist, who plays and echoes my heart longing. Thank you Anni, for being you! |
Of course it was fun meeting all those precious people but I'd like to share about a couple who drove all the way to Pyhä from Rovaniemi. First, I have to share how I met them. I met this Colombian woman flying out from Paris to Helsinki. We sat next to each other on the flight, and we had a great conversation. When we landed in Helsinki, she needed to call her Finnish husband. I offered my phone. She thanked me and gave me some sweets from Colombia, before I left her to wait for her man. Two days later, she and her husband called me. Still thanking me for talking with her during the flight. Two weeks later, I found myself being contacted by the same couple, wanting to see me whilst I was in Lapland. Then they came during the last night of the conference. They came just to thank me and give me a hug. Before they left, this precious woman said, "María, yo no sé mucho sobre tu, pero hay algo en ti que me encanta. Te quiero mi amiga!" I was so touched. Blessed. All I did was love on this lady, knowing it was her first time in a country so new to her, and to feel welcomed in a new place, to meet someone who could understand her (despite my rusty Spanish). They may not have come for the conference but I knew they had a taste and tiny glimpse of His Loving Presence!
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| the cabin - our accommodation |
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| 2 Marias (Meri & Mary) |
I am convinced, my friends, that this is supposed to be the sound of heaven that people hear ...
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| my Lappish coat - a gift my DAD! |
the heartbeat of the Father, the rhythm of Jesus footstep walking towards His beloved, and the melody of whispers coming from Holy Spirit sweeping across hearts and souls that are longing to be loved.
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