You know, the challenge of following our Daddy's leading with all the other demands of this life can be very hard to balance. I really appreciate your prayers for me in this area. That being said, the main thing I feel moved to share is that I have been praying for direction regarding this ministry and while I have had one specific focus it felt like there was more. Well, there is. He is really laying it on my heart to go over some pivotal scriptures that seem to create a picture regarding how He raises His children. His heart grieves over some of the things that are being said in the Christian realm that are really affecting the hearts of His little girls in ways that actually inhibit our ability to trust in Him completely.
There are studies being done as I write this and I will be sharing them with you as I have shared some already.
I pray that as the days seem too oppressive to handle...too much of a burden to carry...too much to do and not enough time or enough of you, remember the words of the Psalmist in chapter 55:22 in the Message: "Pile your troubles on God's shoulders-he'll carry your load, he'll help you out. He'll never let good people topple into ruin." Please put Him to the test on this....let Him carry some of your burdens. Just give Him a tiny part to begin with if you are afraid to trust in Him to come thru, like I was. He is so tender and understanding that He doesn't mind proving Himself to us and rebuilding our confidence in His love and care, one baby step at a time. Just give Him the chance.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Sunday, March 11, 2007
He Has The Last Word!
I've mentioned a women's group that I attend and last week we touched on what I believe is a pivotal issue for any of us that have gone through childhood abuse. We talked about the fact that when I have been giving God "what for" because He did not PROTECT me, what I was really upset about is that He did not PREVENT those bad things from happening to me! Boy, that smacked me right between the eyes. Then we discussed our definitions of protection.
I had a definition immediately that felt inspired to me. It was this: protection is to be brought through some horrible experience or situation and not only survive but be a better person afterwards than if I had never gone through it at all. Now I can't think of any material thing on this planet, that after being struck by lightening or battered by golf ball size hail or going through a level 5 tornado or hurricane that would be BETTER for it! Yet, to my little girl's heart and emotions, my day to day existence was like living in the middle of a level 5 tornado or hurricane! But by my own definition, "Daddy" DID protect me. I have no doubt that surviving abuse has given me a level of understanding and discernment that I never would have possessed otherwise. I also learned that for Him to prevent the evil done to me would have required that He change the whole foundation of mankind and take away my stepfather's God-given right of free choice to do right or wrong! Realizing the truth of that and seeing that according to my definition of protection He never did fail me or abandon me has truly been yet another life changing step in the healing process for me. So it is with these thoughts that I share the scripture He directed me to.
1 Peter 5:10 in the NIV says, "And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." The Message expresses it this way, "So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won't last forever. It won't be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ - eternal and glorious plans they are! - will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does." I JUST LOVE THAT!!!! So when the enemy would have us believe that there is no point, no good that could ever come from such bad things, be confident and assured that the One who gets the last word is, as we speak, making us better than before! We just have to hang on and cling to His word when we don't have the strength to hold on to anything else.
I had a definition immediately that felt inspired to me. It was this: protection is to be brought through some horrible experience or situation and not only survive but be a better person afterwards than if I had never gone through it at all. Now I can't think of any material thing on this planet, that after being struck by lightening or battered by golf ball size hail or going through a level 5 tornado or hurricane that would be BETTER for it! Yet, to my little girl's heart and emotions, my day to day existence was like living in the middle of a level 5 tornado or hurricane! But by my own definition, "Daddy" DID protect me. I have no doubt that surviving abuse has given me a level of understanding and discernment that I never would have possessed otherwise. I also learned that for Him to prevent the evil done to me would have required that He change the whole foundation of mankind and take away my stepfather's God-given right of free choice to do right or wrong! Realizing the truth of that and seeing that according to my definition of protection He never did fail me or abandon me has truly been yet another life changing step in the healing process for me. So it is with these thoughts that I share the scripture He directed me to.
1 Peter 5:10 in the NIV says, "And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." The Message expresses it this way, "So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won't last forever. It won't be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ - eternal and glorious plans they are! - will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does." I JUST LOVE THAT!!!! So when the enemy would have us believe that there is no point, no good that could ever come from such bad things, be confident and assured that the One who gets the last word is, as we speak, making us better than before! We just have to hang on and cling to His word when we don't have the strength to hold on to anything else.
Sunday, March 4, 2007
Words to you from the very Heart of Hope
Since this scripture really struck me earlier tonight and then I opened up to it again by accident I feel that I am to share it with you.
It is Romans 15:13 from the NIV version: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." As we go into this new week, let us carry this wish, this blessing straight from Daddy's heart to ours. He desires us to be filled with an everlasting hope that no person or circumstance can take away from us. This assured hope is our anchor to get us thru the turbulent times in our day to day lives. The enemy would have us believe that there is no hope...not one based on truth anyway....that it is a dream to think that things will ever get better...but, oh there is so much more than just hope for us! Our Dad longs to FILL us with joy and peace which strengthens us so that we can rebuild our trust in Him with the wonderful result of us then overflowing with a hope that is backed by the power of the Holy Spirit! We could not be in better hands! So as we go thru this week and get hit with things that the Devil would use to dishearten us, let us be reminded that we are the little girls of the Originator of a hope that can easily drown out the evil whisperings of Satan. Let us cling to our Daddy and embrace and absorb His wonderful gift of hope this week together.
It is Romans 15:13 from the NIV version: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." As we go into this new week, let us carry this wish, this blessing straight from Daddy's heart to ours. He desires us to be filled with an everlasting hope that no person or circumstance can take away from us. This assured hope is our anchor to get us thru the turbulent times in our day to day lives. The enemy would have us believe that there is no hope...not one based on truth anyway....that it is a dream to think that things will ever get better...but, oh there is so much more than just hope for us! Our Dad longs to FILL us with joy and peace which strengthens us so that we can rebuild our trust in Him with the wonderful result of us then overflowing with a hope that is backed by the power of the Holy Spirit! We could not be in better hands! So as we go thru this week and get hit with things that the Devil would use to dishearten us, let us be reminded that we are the little girls of the Originator of a hope that can easily drown out the evil whisperings of Satan. Let us cling to our Daddy and embrace and absorb His wonderful gift of hope this week together.
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