Lamentations 3:22, 23 (NIV) ...His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness."
I received this verse in a card...I think one of the ways I know love is through words. I keep almost every card I receive, the words (especially encouraging ones) of others give me hope and build me up and help me push on when life seems to be crashing...
This verse struck me as ironic and lovely at the same time. A verse in the book of "Lamentations" speaks of faithfulness, compassion and encouragement. It reminds me that even when I am "lamenting" the troubles of this life, God's compassion and mercy are new each day. I can be refreshed and loved by God always... He may not immediately (or ever) "fix" my trials, but He will strengthen and give me endurance to overcome my trials.
This is a great string of words too:
Romans 5:3-11 (NLT) We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And
this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God
loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts
with his love. When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now,
most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though
someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially
good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For
since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son
while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the
life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.
I sigh deep, resting in my Abba's arms. Here is the picture of HOPE, I am no longer under His condemnation but in His arms; knowing that He is before me, behind me and holding me during each moment - whether blissful or crushing. I pray you know the weight of His embrace and sweetness in His gaze upon you as His dearly loved child. Where I Always Want To Be
Psalm 27:10 (NLT) Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close.
Saturday, June 15, 2013
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
No Accidents
Isaiah 43:19 (NIV) See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
No trial is an accident. No success is an accident. All is chosen to draw you nearer to God.
There are so many people that believe their life is random. An accident. Even if your mom and dad didn’t “plan” you (I know my parents did not plan me) – God did. I truly believe these statements. There is nothing that happens to us that is not intended to open our eyes to God and His kingdom. Every time you ask the question, “why?” about a situation you are seeking answers that only One person can answer…spoiler alert: it’s God.
Every morning I’m allowed to wake up, I know there is more to learn for me or for someone else – I know my life is not for me alone. I know things have happened to me for the benefit of someone else’s growth and redemption. Thankfully, God works those things for my good also. (Romans 8:28)
When we are in the wilderness and wastelands of our life…we can open our eyes to the “way” opening up, to “streams” of refreshment and life around us and to the “new” things God is doing for us and through us. (see Isaiah verse above).
My emotional high from last week is ebbing a bit. Not because I’m regressing or sad again…I’m just living my freedom. The highs of life can’t last forever, just like the lows won’t. Life continues…
This may not be “emotional” processing, but I am feeling free to grieve (when it wells up), free to express anger (when I’m triggered by a memory), free to sit and be still (when life is overwhelming)…I am “emotionally” appropriate, when appropriate – I like processing as I need to and not having to…that is a huge change for this journey of healing. Too many moments I have HAD to process and let it out…I’m not drowning or blindsided by the emotions. So far, I can cope and express as I need without feeling the frustration of confusion and numbness. It’s a peace and contentment the world could not reveal or grant…the world gave me the confusion and numbness. God redeemed the emotions and life the world tried to kill – He has restored and continues to restore my life and emotions to what He originally intended. This is why I exalt His name and proclaim His glory to those around me. I look forward to the next turn in the road. A song of surviving the wastelands and wilderness
Psalm 46:10 (NIV) He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
No trial is an accident. No success is an accident. All is chosen to draw you nearer to God.
There are so many people that believe their life is random. An accident. Even if your mom and dad didn’t “plan” you (I know my parents did not plan me) – God did. I truly believe these statements. There is nothing that happens to us that is not intended to open our eyes to God and His kingdom. Every time you ask the question, “why?” about a situation you are seeking answers that only One person can answer…spoiler alert: it’s God.
Every morning I’m allowed to wake up, I know there is more to learn for me or for someone else – I know my life is not for me alone. I know things have happened to me for the benefit of someone else’s growth and redemption. Thankfully, God works those things for my good also. (Romans 8:28)
When we are in the wilderness and wastelands of our life…we can open our eyes to the “way” opening up, to “streams” of refreshment and life around us and to the “new” things God is doing for us and through us. (see Isaiah verse above).
My emotional high from last week is ebbing a bit. Not because I’m regressing or sad again…I’m just living my freedom. The highs of life can’t last forever, just like the lows won’t. Life continues…
This may not be “emotional” processing, but I am feeling free to grieve (when it wells up), free to express anger (when I’m triggered by a memory), free to sit and be still (when life is overwhelming)…I am “emotionally” appropriate, when appropriate – I like processing as I need to and not having to…that is a huge change for this journey of healing. Too many moments I have HAD to process and let it out…I’m not drowning or blindsided by the emotions. So far, I can cope and express as I need without feeling the frustration of confusion and numbness. It’s a peace and contentment the world could not reveal or grant…the world gave me the confusion and numbness. God redeemed the emotions and life the world tried to kill – He has restored and continues to restore my life and emotions to what He originally intended. This is why I exalt His name and proclaim His glory to those around me. I look forward to the next turn in the road. A song of surviving the wastelands and wilderness
Psalm 46:10 (NIV) He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
What Feelings?
1 Peter 5:10 (NIV) 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.
I have been reminded of how much of an “intellectual” processor I am (versus an “emotional” processor)…it was brought to my attention that this blog (and me) could benefit from some emotional processing…I will practice this. I desire to grow in every way to be more Christ-like. Christ was an intellectual AND emotional processor. I am willing to be stretched…
I sit here on an emotional high of sorts because of a recent marathon processing session with God. All night we talked about how I was going to process anger without heaping guilt and shame on me. I have never allowed anger from past abuse too far up…I feel weak, overwhelmed and out of control when it starts to bubble up. I immediately want to fight whoever or whatever triggers the anger to rise. I then immediately feel guilt over how my emotions control me, and the actions I want to do to another person who has maybe not intentionally hurt me but has hurt me nonetheless…so I over-control my emotions and go numb and feel empty and dead inside, especially in this area of my past.
As a progress report though, through the years, I have gained, by many other marathon sessions of conversation and tears with God, emotional freedom in most other areas of my life. I genuinely experience and express appropriate joy with my family, anger when things don’t quite go my way or during a current injustice, sorrow when a death or disappointment occurs…
My emotions with this part of my life will continue to seep out…I will have times of doubt, times when the anger, sorrow and grief will make me feel like I’m drowning. And like these verses remind me…God is continually at work all around me and for me. He will be with me during the suffering as well as with me during the healing and highs of each victory of this journey. For right now, I will rejoice with God that through a letter writing exercise, Forgiveness and a Letter I have let go of anger and forgiveness at the same time. I have not sinned in my anger (Ephesians 4:26). He has allowed me to be free at this point from the emotional prison I've allowed in my life…I trust Him in the healing and freedom from the rest. Your Worth to God
Job 23:9-11 (NIV) When he is at work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him. But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside.
I have been reminded of how much of an “intellectual” processor I am (versus an “emotional” processor)…it was brought to my attention that this blog (and me) could benefit from some emotional processing…I will practice this. I desire to grow in every way to be more Christ-like. Christ was an intellectual AND emotional processor. I am willing to be stretched…
I sit here on an emotional high of sorts because of a recent marathon processing session with God. All night we talked about how I was going to process anger without heaping guilt and shame on me. I have never allowed anger from past abuse too far up…I feel weak, overwhelmed and out of control when it starts to bubble up. I immediately want to fight whoever or whatever triggers the anger to rise. I then immediately feel guilt over how my emotions control me, and the actions I want to do to another person who has maybe not intentionally hurt me but has hurt me nonetheless…so I over-control my emotions and go numb and feel empty and dead inside, especially in this area of my past.
As a progress report though, through the years, I have gained, by many other marathon sessions of conversation and tears with God, emotional freedom in most other areas of my life. I genuinely experience and express appropriate joy with my family, anger when things don’t quite go my way or during a current injustice, sorrow when a death or disappointment occurs…
My emotions with this part of my life will continue to seep out…I will have times of doubt, times when the anger, sorrow and grief will make me feel like I’m drowning. And like these verses remind me…God is continually at work all around me and for me. He will be with me during the suffering as well as with me during the healing and highs of each victory of this journey. For right now, I will rejoice with God that through a letter writing exercise, Forgiveness and a Letter I have let go of anger and forgiveness at the same time. I have not sinned in my anger (Ephesians 4:26). He has allowed me to be free at this point from the emotional prison I've allowed in my life…I trust Him in the healing and freedom from the rest. Your Worth to God
Job 23:9-11 (NIV) When he is at work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him. But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside.
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