Feeling like I can Breathe again

Hey Girlfriends,

I have really missed chatting with you!!!  My life has been a whirlwind since I got a "part-time" job (25-32 hours per week) at the end of summer last year.  It has been a blessing  providing some financial relief, but at the same time it left me with very little margin.  Because of that I had to cut out some things and not having the mental energy to blog it was one of the first to be let go.

Fortunately I was able to cut back on hours for the summer and I am now just beginning to feel as though I am awaking from a heavy fog of fatigue that oppressed me continually.  It's late at night and I am writing my first post in months....hmm...I guess the fog will be back tomorrow.  If it is, it will be well worth it!!!  I've missed sharing my random, heartfelt, sincere thoughts. 

Friends, I do have so much to share and will share this more fuller soon, but before I go to bed I want to leave you with something to think on.  The Lord has burdened my heart with a verse:

"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."  John 10:10b (NKJV)

Girlfriends, my hearts desire is that each one of us would experience the abundant life that Christ spoke of!!!  I'm not saying a pain free, trial free, easy life.  I'm saying a life that is rooted in the knowledge of Christ and the depth of His love so that despite the daily trials and sufferings there is a deep abiding joy!!!  The kind of life that knows the comfort of the Spirit and comforts others with the same comfort they received....the kind of life that does not look at what is seen, but the unseen and places her hope in the eternal.  Girlfriend, that's my prayer for you and for me!!!  

I need to go to bed, but I will write more on this soon...for my heart is filled with a burning desire for us to get this!!!

Peace! Be Still!

Jesus Calms the Storm

"Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.  The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” 

Matthew 8:23-27 (NIV)

Recently I found myself anxious about the many things in my life that were beyond my control and I felt powerless to stop the incessant  worrying.  My mind kept dwelling on the worst case scenarios, all the "what ifs".  There was no rest for my soul, no peace, and no joy in my heart.  Just a constant sense of impending doom.  I desperately wanted to find comfort in my God, but I could not hear His still small voice above the clatter of my own anxiety ridden thoughts.  Then it happened, it was so sudden like a gale wind that appeared out of nowhere.  His voice broke through to the depths of my heart "Peace!  Be Still!"  Instantly the weight of all my fears and anxiety had been obliterated as I embraced those life giving Words.  As I lingered on those words I felt a spreading warmth sweep over my entire being.  The kind of warmth that happens when you know that you are truly loved, through and through, just as you are.  

How amazing and Humbling it was for me to have Jesus respond in such a gentle, patient, and loving way.  He could have been angry with me and rightfully so for my lack of faith, but instead He remembered that I am just dust.  He was not surprised by my thoughts or my giving into my fears since He knows them all already and yet He loves me anyways.

Dear Sisters, Jesus wants to calm the storm raging in your hearts today too!  Can you hear His still small voice echoing in the inner chambers of your mind "Peace! Be Still!"?  Those Words are not just for me, but for you too!  Stop for a moment from what you are doing and reflect on the One who has the power to calm the fiercest storms even those that rage in our own minds. 

John 14:27 (Amplified Bible)

"Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]"
   

Got the Morning Blues?

My sister-in-law shared this blog by Justin Taylor on her fb page (Thank-you Sis!).  I found that I could not resist clicking on it to read it.  I'm so glad I didn't!!!  The Author Taylor so simply and succinctly shares 6 simple truths form God's Word to remind yourself of when you wake up in the morning or anytime of day.  This week in the wake of a great tragedy, I really needed to be reminded of these truths!  For when you really reflect on these six truths you will find your perspective changed and your day will be lighter!

Got the Morning Blues? If you do, no matter what time of day it is be sure to click on this link highlighted in red.

Life is hard but God is good, good all the time!!! Blessings, my dear sisters!

HOPE in the Midst of Tragedy

In the wake of the tragic death of a young woman who've I've known since she was a young girl, I look to the one thing that consoles my heart.  That one day when I see Christ face to face all the pain, sorrow, and evil of this world will be a dim memory.  It all will pale in comparison to being in the presence of Jesus for all of eternity!  Today I grieve, grieve over the tragedy of her death and for the family that's left behind.  But though I grieve I have an eternal hope too!  The image of this young woman that keeps flooding my mind is from when she was just a young girl with freckles and a bright but somewhat shy smile.  I can't help but think that is how she looks now as she dances before Jesus.

There Will Be A Day

Jeremy Camp

from the album Speaking Louder Than Before

I try to hold on to this world with everything I have
But I feel the weight of what it brings, and the hurt that trys to grab
The many trials that seem to never end, His word declares this truth,
that we will enter in this rest with wonders anew

But I hold on to this hope and the promise that He brings
That there will be a place with no more suffering

(Chorus)
There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more, we'll see Jesus face to face
But until that day, we'll hold on to you always

I know the journey seems so long
You feel you’re walking on your own
But there has never been a step
Where you’ve walked out all alone

(Chorus)

Troubled soul don’t lose your heart
Cause joy and peace he brings
And the beauty that’s in store
Outweighs the hurt of life’s sting

I can’t wait until that day where the very one I’ve lived for always will wipe away the sorrow that I’ve faced
To touch the scars that rescued me from a life of shame and misery this is why this is why I sing

"The Blessing of Thorns"

Last year I attended a conference for Christian women.  As in most conferences there were tables filled with books and misc. items that were for sale.  Amongst the many books I came upon a small treasure.  It was a simple silver key chain that read "The Blessings of Thorns."  I knew that I was in need of being constantly reminded that the difficult and painful circumstances we all face are blessings.  By that I don't mean to sound as though I'm saying they don't hurt because I know full well they do.  What I do mean is that for those who are God's children, those circumstances as unbearable and painful as they may seem at the time are allowed for our good and for God's purposes (Romans 8:28).  We may not always see what the good is in this life, but we can be certain that someday when we meet Jesus face to face we will fully understand.  I purchased this key chain and immediately added it to my other key chains.  Today I was holding my keys and glanced down at this very key chain, I rubbed it's surface thinking about it's message in the context of the many thoughts that were weighing me down and running through my head...

Those many thoughts...that life is painful and that so many people struggle with navigating through this world.  That I too have struggled navigating through this world and that apart from Christ I don't know how I would.  There have been many times I've been sorely tempted to be crushed by the weight of the trials I've faced.  Tempted to give up, I would cry out to my Savior and He alone would give me strength along with the courage that I needed to get up and keep going.  It was in these times that I experientially learned that My God is faithful, He sustains, He heals the broken heart, He comforts when no one else can, He fights for you, He protects, He strengthens those who are weak, He forgives, He is just, He provides a timely word through others, He knows all about me and loves me anyways, and I could go on and on.  It was also in these times that I've seen God tear down my idols, remove unhealthy desires and habits, transform my thinking from one that rebelled against His ways to one that longed for them, and I've seen Him purify my need for affirmation from others.  Learning all this and more about our God is worth to me the sorrows and hardships I have had to face.  This is the good that He has worked out in my circumstances.  I may not yet see the good that I had longed or prayed to see, but this I know my God is faithful and He does supply all my need in Christ Jesus.  So I continue on, but not in bitterness of heart for unanswered prayer.  No, I continue on rejoicing for all that Christ has accomplished on my behalf, that is my salvation and sanctification that will one day be complete.  It is in this that I hope, not in a perfect life here.  No, I know that in this world I will have troubles and yet Christ will see me through.  I long for everyone to know this hope that I have in Christ.  This hope that carries me through the darkest of times...

Other thoughts that were running through my mind that spurred all of this on...I was sitting in a coffee shop today studying for my class.  I've been studying the many different psychological theories and how they measure up when compared with the absolute truths in Scripture.  When I noticed a young lady along with an older woman sit down next to me.  I couldn't help but be curious since this was a weekday and the girl should have been in school.  I noticed that they were obviously not mother and daughter for they did not look alike in any way.  Though I tried not to listen I couldn't help but overhear some of their conversation since they were right next to me.  The older woman was asking probing questions of the younger girl.  I only herd bits and pieces because I truly was trying to study, but this is what I gathered:  the girl has been having some problems and It was obvious this woman was there to help this young woman in some way.  As a result of the bits and pieces I had overheard I became burdened for both these woman.  I also became introspective...

I started to think about all those I personally know who are struggling right now.  Those who though they need help have chosen to not get the help they need and continue on a destructive path.  It's hard watching loved ones make choices that you know will in the long run hurt themselves and those that love them.  Ugh!!! Sometimes I just want to shake them so they'll wake up.  Releasing them to God, letting Him deal with them in His  way, and on his time scale is hard for me.  My professor said in one of our classes that a counselor is not a Savior.  Whack!  I felt that like a slap on the back of my head.  Of course there is one and only Perfect Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ!!!  Though I long to help those in need and it is a God given desire, I must always remember my rightful place.  That is, I'm merely an instrument of God for the purpose of pointing others to Him.

All this brings me back to that simple silver key chain and the reminder that is engraved on it's face "The Blessings of Thorns."  The "Thorns" in my life God used to bring me to my knees before Him in humble repentance and submission to His will, to rid me of sin (which is an ongoing process), to show me my need of Him, to cause me to depend on Him, taught me that all I need is found in Him alone, and that through the trials He taught me about Himself in ways that could never be learned by simply studying His word.  Yes, the trials I've faced I can confidently say have been a blessing to me and if you are His daughter they can be a blessing to you too.

Dear Sister, if you are going through trials right now let me suggest that you have a choice before you.  You can either respond in humility asking God to teach you through the trial you are facing or you can respond by fighting against it, letting anger and bitterness build up within you.  One choice leads to a joy-filled hopeful life the other to misery.  Which one will you choose today?

Never forget you are loved with a perfect, faithful, everlasting, and pure love Dear Sisters!!!!