True and Faithful

I am joining Peggy for her 'Friday Focus'.  The promise of God that I am claiming as my own this week is:

365 Promises

For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does..Psalm 33:4 (NIV)

God IS faithful.

God IS true.

God NEVER changes.

God NEVER lies.

God IS worthy of our trust.

I have had 'trust issues' for a great deal of my life.  My trust has been broken in relationships here on this earth time and time again. 

Words spoken into my heart and mind.....actions taken that hurt so much that I felt I could not function....

And these words and actions were lies about myself that I began to believe....untruths that I took into my very being until I felt that these were the truth....

Words that evoke feelings of :

SHAME

GUILT

UNWORTHINESS

BLAME

UGLINESS

BITTERNESS

And the list could go on and on...

In the devotional that goes along with this photo, the words are written:

If we struggle to believe that God's word is true and we cannot trust Him completely, then we are in effect doubting God's very character. Every time we question God's Word or His goodness, we are agreeing with the Father of Lies and the continual accusations he brings against God. Just as this would hurt an earthly father, I believe that it deeply grieves the Father of Lights.

I am happy to say that many of these lies and feelings associated with them have been broken....broken by healing through Jesus Christ....a long journey of prayer and listening to God's speaking the truth to me. 

My journey is far from over....will never be over until I see Jesus face to face....

And I pray the prayer that is written in the devotional:

My prayer today is that Holy Spirit would make us aware of the unbelieving thoughts that come into our mind and we would break any power of agreement with them, for the Word of the LORD is right and we can trust everything that He does!







strong as a lion; weak as a lamb

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Knocking At The Door

I am a day late again!!  It seems to be very difficult for me to post on Friday after a long week...

But, as Grandma said:  "Better late than never!"....I'm sure a lot of Grandma's had this saying...

I am joining Peggy for her Friday Feature.  I have chosen these verses from the many of the promises God has given us. 

365 Promises

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?...Matthew 6:25-26

And these verses go on to say:

Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.....Matthew 6:27-34

If you've been reading along with me, you'll know that I have been having a lot of anxiety and worries over some situations in my life....anxiety to the point that it almost feels debilitating. 

I have been in this place before....about a totally different situation.  But, this worry and anxiety is not the way God wants me to live.  He wants me to be dependent upon me....seeking Him first....and He will supply exactly what I need to go from day to day. 

As I was contemplating upon these verses, a memory was brought to my heart and mind. 

I was a young girl...perhaps 8 or 9 years old.  I am in church on a Sunday, and it is so hot...just like the days we've been having now.  We had no air conditioning, only fans that were supplied by a local funeral home. 

These fans had pictures on them, and my fan on that very hot day had this exact same picture:

I'm sure that many people have seen this picture--Jesus knocking at the door. 

If you will notice, the door has no handle for Jesus to open the door and come inside.  He is waiting on the other side for us to open the door to our hearts, inviting Him into our lives. 

These verses from Matthew--they are Jesus speaking--speaking to each one of us:

Invite me into your life--I am here for you--don't worry about these things--I can take care of all of these and more--you are My child and I love you....

But, we have to make the choice, open the door, and rest in the assurance that God has the power and strength...will give us the strength through Him and not ourselves....

No, worry will not add a single day to our lives.  In fact, worry will more than likely take away a day or more of our lives.

So, why not give it to God and let Him handle all of these things?  He is so much more capable than I am!!



Strong as a lion; weak as a lamb

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Restoration and Healing

I'm a day late....

I'm joining Peggy for 'Friday Feature'--claiming one of the many promises our Father God has given us as my own.

This week, this promise has been fulfilled in me:

365 Promises





For I will restore you to health And I will heal you of your wounds, declares the LORD. Jeremiah 30:17a (NASB)

These past two months have been a trying time for me....not feeling well...unable to eat many foods...abdominal pain which comes more than it goes....and the most trying of all is the 'not knowing' what is truly causing these symptoms.

Yesterday, I had a procedure which revealed the cause of my problems.  In the back of my mind, there was lurking the possibility that all of the symptoms put together could be a cancer growing within me. 

And I allowed this grow...bringing it to God, but not fully releasing this to Him....

I was to be at the hospital at 8:30 for a procedure at 10 a.m.  I was up early, couldn't sleep, and the anxiety that came with these thoughts, the procedure awaiting me, the outcome of the procedure...well, I'll just put it simply...I felt overwhelmed with anxiety.

I was alone in my home...no one to talk with to help focus my mind elsewhere...

Yes, I prayed....prayed and prayed...and still the restlessness and feelings stayed with me.

At 7:30 a.m., my friend arrived...much earlier than expected.  And, she was an answer to my prayer.  She came into my home...we talked, and I told her how anxious I was feeling about this whole day. 

Just the telling of this to someone, helped alleviate my fears.  God sent her to me.....I could talk with her and through her being here, I felt the presence of God as peace in my heart and mind. 

Many wounds from my past have been healed through the blood of Jesus.  There are many hurts that have just been swept away. 

But, as all of us are...I am still a work in progress...still walking along on my journey....and how easy it is to slip and fall in the lies of the enemy...allowing him to steal my peace and joy. 

That is exactly what I was doing by jumping to false conclusions....worrying about the outcome of something that had not yet even happened.....

This is not the way God wants us to live...

He wants to be omnipresent in our lives....

He wants us to seek Him for comfort and guidance....

He wants to heal our hurts and wounds....

But, we have to seek Him.....develop our intimate relationship with Him...remain in constant contact with Him through our prayers and our everyday lives...ever seeking to be closer and closer.

Yes, I did have the procedure.

No, it was not the cancer I thought may be lurking there.

What I have is irritable bowel syndrome....not something that is enjoyable by any means....but, this is the best case scenario for the symptoms I have.

This can be controlled through medication, diet, and reducing my stress level.....

And yesterday, I gave thanks to my Father for my friend arriving early...her staying with me and supporting me through this procedure....her love for me shining through...

I gave thanks for the many prayers that were offered to God for me...

I gave thanks for the good news of my diagnosis, and God's powerful and mighty Hand steering my course.

Most of all, I gave thanks for Jesus...the One who sacrificed all for me.....and you.

For it is by His wounds that we are healed.

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Head to Heart

I'm linking up today with Peggy for her Friday Feature .

The verse I've chosen for this week is Jeremiah 31:3:

 

365 Promises

Just to fill you in a little....my brain has known this fact--this promise from God--that His love for me will last forever, no matter what--for a long time.

My head knew, but my heart did not.  I memorized this verse long ago--along with many other memorizations  required by my church.  Memorize, repeat back verbatim, then you could move along in your "journey" to the next step.  Memorize, memorize, memorize. 

All of this information stored in my brain.  And that's where it stayed for many, many years--my brain. 

So, though I had all of this head knowledge, I did not have heart knowledge. 

What changed this?  What moved this love of God for me from my head to my heart? 

This happened when I had no where else to turn...no where else to go...

Bitter, angry, mean, jealous, hard as a rock...these were terms you could use to describe me.  I moved through life just trying to get by...just from day to day with no real purpose except to survive another day....I felt dead inside...emotionless....

When someone suggested to me that I attend their church, I brushed them off.  I felt that God had failed me in so many ways, and yes, I was angry at Him, too. 

This friend didn't give up though...didn't berate me for saying that "yes, I would meet her" and then not showing up.  She just asked again...and again....and again....

Until finally, I thought to myself that she's not going to stop asking and bugging me about this until I go...so I may as well go and get it over with....just so she stops...

That Sunday service...this song was played....and the Spirit moved within me...worked against all the bitterness and anger....worked in a huge, powerful, stirring way.

I do not claim to understand the mysteries and ways of God. 

All I know is what happened on that day.....

On that day, my head knowledge moved to my heart and settled there.  I felt God's love for me....I felt drawn closer to Him.....I felt peace and joy like I had never felt in my entire life.  The bitterness, anger, jealousy for others who seemed to have an 'easier life' was swept away....I had been cleaned by my God....covered in the blood of Jesus who died for me.

Yes, God's love is a "forever love".  This love is not dependent upon us "doing" something spectacular.  All He is asking is that we accept His Son, Jesus, as our Savior...and love Him in return.

It is a choice...God's free will allows this choice...to love Him or not.  He is not a pushy, demanding God....but, rather wants us to come to Him freely.

Yes, I was broken at that point in my life.  I have been broken since then....and I will be broken again.

But, knowing in my heart that God's love lasts forever....I can give my brokenness to Him....and He will show me the way....guide me along....restore me to a wholeness that would have never been possible without being shattered first.

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