Healing Brings Him Glory:

Healing Brings Him Glory:

I have so many sweet friends and family going through trials right now. From grieving the death of a precious loved one, to receiving the news of illness, to a season of waiting for God to direct the next path. I am amazed and in awe of how each one of these individuals has chosen to shine Christ in the heartache. From going through my own season of hurting and waiting and still in the season of waiting , I think as Christians we think we have to “be strong “ and that we cannot  show weakness. However, showing weakness is exactly what brings us the peace to heal with Christ.

“But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.- 2 Corinthians 12:9

Life is hard, and being a Christian does not exempt anyone from that fact. Sometimes it is too much. The trials and battles that God allows to come our way are too much for us to handle alone, as humans.   For anyone going through trials know that you are still very much that, only human.  As a Christian going through a trial I felt like I could not be angry, upset, mad and that I was not allowed to ask God the question “why me.” Beloved one, know that asking these kinds of questions and talking through all of your emotion with Christ is exactly what we are allowed to do and told to do by our loving Father.

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” – 2 Peter 5:7

“Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.”

 Psalms 55:22

" In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the LORD, weeping bitterly. “- 1 Samuel 1:10

“I cry out to God Most High, to God, who vindicates me.” – Psalms 57:2

I find the sweetest comfort in reading the story of Hannah and her cries to the Lord for a child, the story of David and his cry to God to protect his life as he is pursued by Saul, the story of Job who lost everything. These stories and so many more show us that we are allowed to cry out to God and that in doing so we are assured that He will hear us. God does not allow one trial to come into your life that He does not have a future plan for.  Beloved, God hurts and feels with us. Trials are too hard and life is too much sometimes but having the assurance that Christ will walk each moment, second and step of the way with us is simply all we need. Let Him carry you in His strength, might and power and find rest in His powerful and almighty arms of healing, love and grace. Beloved, we are not enough to make it through the trials but with Christ we are. We can make it through the storm with Him leading the way. 

“Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.” – Isaiah 58:8

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."- Deuteronomy 31:6

His Ways Are Not Our Ways

His Ways are not Our Ways:

Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love
    surrounds the one who trusts in him. Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous;
    sing, all you who are upright in heart!- Psalms 32:10-11

          It’s been a little while since I have written and shared my thoughts on this amazing journey the Lord has taken me on and is continuing to take me on. I do not regret one door that the Lord closed and do I do not wish I could change one instant, because the Lord truly does prepare us for each segment of life in advance for what He has for us. I have experienced the lost of love and have found the beauty of love in the one and only true Lover, Jesus. Through this path I have learned that God‘s ways truly our not ours. (Isaiah 55:8) What I thought I wanted, needed, and desired was not at all what He had in mind for me. What I held on to so tightly to and what I thought I could control was something He was pleading me to let Him have control of. The Lord protects us so much in life and although He allows us to make our own decisions He will guide us to the truth if we listen.

   Beloved one, if you are going through a storm, trial or struggle find peace in knowing that God never takes His children through turmoil without blessing them tenfold on the other side. The Lord does not desire to watch His child hurt or struggle, however He knows that sometimes we need this in order to grow and become stronger in Him. In order to learn what the love of Christ looks like and in order to prepare us for something so much grander than anything we could dream of. Walking on the other side of one storm I can see the beautiful hand of Jesus and how He has carried me, walked with me and molded me more into His beloved daughter. To truly under the meaning of James 1:3-4 is something I have become truly grateful for.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,^[ whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”

How can we consider a trial a joy? I read this verse so many times when I was younger but the true meaning of it really sank in when the Lord brought a trial my way 2 ½ years ago. After all we are human, we are not made or wired to find joy in something that is sad or in something that brings us hurt and pain. So what does it mean to find joy through the trial? For me it meant letting go of my control and knowing and actually believing that God has the best for me in mind. Knowing that if God allowed this trial to happen then He had a plan in all of it and that I did not have to question His reason for the trial but that I simply had to trust. So much easier said than done, when I wanted answers. Answers as to: why God? Why is this to happening? Why did you allow this to happen to me? Slowly I learned that we do not have to know all the answers to our questions and we might never learn the answers until we are at the throne of Jesus, but beloved He didn’t say He would give us all the answers He just promised He would never fail us and that He would provide a way. I love how Jesus has carried me through this and I love that I have a stronger faith because of this.  I look at this world more through the eyes of my creator because of this and have such a heart for people going through trials. I pray for each of you going through trials and know dear one that it is not in vain. The Lord is with you and carrying you through this. Cry out to Him sweet one and find the rest and peace that only He can provide. The Lord always has the best for His children. He will never fail. That is a promise you can always count on.

“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."  Deuteronomy 31:8

“ Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” Psalms 55:22

The One My Heart Loves

Happy New Year.! Wow, crazy to think that 2013 is gone and it makes me see how quickly life goes by. I am thankful for so many blessings of 2013 including the trials, hurt and pain  because all of it was needed to continue the growth in my walk with the One who my heart Loves!  As I slowly put the year 2013  to rest it does not go in vain  and every second of it was a moment where grace, mercy, love , healing, forgiveness,  and peace was either learned, given, or received.
       The new year is a brand new page on my journey with the Love of my life.  The One that my soul has found rest in and the One and only One, in whom I trust. I am beyond excited to walk each day of 2014 in the embrace and arms of my Savior. In remembrance of New Year resolutions I am challenged to remember that my resolutions do not reflect what I want but what my Lover wants. What does the Love of my life ask of me this year?

To walk humbly with HIM:
" And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8

To be HIS witness:
"You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord,“and my servant whom I have chosen,so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he.Before me no god was formed,nor will there be one after me.I, even I, am the Lord,and apart from me there is no savior.I have revealed and saved and proclaimed— I, and not some foreign god among you.You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “that I am God. " Isaiah 43:10-12
 
 To Love the Lord your God:
He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

To Trust HIM:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding  in all your ways submit to him,and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

To talk to HIM:
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. " Philippians 4:6

To rest in HIS arms:
"The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemies before you, saying, 'Destroy them!'- Deu 33:27

Resting in the arms of the One that my heart loves I start this New Year with these promises of truth and comfort. Our God is for us and nothing can be against us. Ready and opened to all He holds in the days, seconds and moments of this year 2014.