 I, at times, feel cut-off and lonely from those closest to me. And even from my FATHER, in Heaven.
Feelings aren’t always accurate. A lot of the time, they are born of past traumas, misunderstandings, and hurts. I am told that nothing shall separate me from the LORD; neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come! Not height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate me from the love of GOD, which is in CHRIST JESUS our LORD. That certainly includes the swirling doubts, lies, and confusion that dances around within my brain. Ahhhh, but by the grace of GOD, I can override my mind’s tricks. Yep! I draw near to GOD and HE draws near to me. GOD draws so close to me that no evil, no doubt, not even death can separate me from HIM! So, we are tight!! And that means, I’m not ever cut-off. I’m not bypassed. I’m not unloved. Even if... I feel that way. #ThankYOUJESUS
0 Comments
 My faith tells me that I have victory in all things and at all times.
Victory, even in death. A win-win! The real and true win-win! Though I may go through trials, really, really difficult ones, I no longer shall be defeated. There is a always a light at the end of the darkest tunnel. Therefore, worthy is the name of JESUS. Always! “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for YOU are with me; YOUR rod and YOUR staff, they comfort me. GOD will wipe every tear from my eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” (Psalm 23:4, Revelation 21:4) I raise my hallelujah, JESUS came to save each and every one of us from the agony of life’s storms and the finality of death. LORD, even when my heart is breaking, there YOU are holding it together for me. Even when I mess up, YOU are lifting me up. Even though death is always knocking, there YOU are answering that door for me. I praise YOU FATHER in and through each and every storm! Amen! #ThankYOUJESUS ❤️  I have said way too often that “things will work out”
Actually, it was what I told myself or someone else to create hope that things will work out (the way we hoped they would) Confusingly, some of these “things” worked out completely opposite of the way I hoped they would. I am now beginning to understand that things work for the good of those that love the LORD and are called according to HIS purpose. (Romans 8:28) HIS purpose may not always look to be exactly what I imagine. As a matter of fact, some look completely opposite. However, walking with GOD is accepting that I won’t always get it. And I will have to let go of my own ideas of how things should be. Going through some of the most dire of times in my life, I couldn’t see the nose in front of my face, let alone that my situation will work out and GOD is carrying me. Further... GOD has plans to help me and not to harm me. When time passes and I look back, I scratch my head in astonishment that things not only worked out but even better than I could have imagined. I just had to wait.. keep my hope in the LORD and my eyes off of the circumstances amen! #ThankYOUJESUS  No joke there.
GOD is the authority of everything. Everything. From the tiny little ant to the biggest mountain. The weather... the sky and the moon- all of the heavens and earth and everything in between. We, GOD’s own are commanded to love. First, love the LORD with everything we got and secondly, love our neighbor, as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these. This is big stuff! As a matter of fact: the requirement of loving our neighbor is repeated over and over again. Yet, it is one of the most difficult challenges we face. You mean I gotta love everyone? The murderer? The greedy? Those who are just mean spirited? The dad who abandoned me? For me personally, the most agonizing to me; love the one who tortured me as a young innocent child. GOD knew this was not going to be easy. And in that, the only way it is possible is with HIM. Oh, by the way... what does this loving look like? JESUS was tortured, spat on. Laughed at. Whipped until HIS skin ripped away. And then made to carry the cross where HE would later be nailed to and die. And through that, HE asked GOD to forgive them all! Loving doesn’t mean to give big hugs and hang out every day. It doesn’t even mean to be in another’s presence. One of the most powerful ways to love is to pray for each other. I prayed for many who hurt me. It was agonizing at first. I could feel the pain. But with the help of a Christian 12-step program, I am learning to love and forgive. And you know what? That includes my own self! We receive a beautiful miracle when we love. My heart beats differently. I am lighter. My hate, resentment, and hurts are no longer a cornerstone. I am commanded, and demanded to love, first GOD above everyone and everything. And then all my fellow humans. The key... is loving GOD first because without HIM the whole loving others is impossible! #ThankYOUJESUS  Give and it will be given unto you.
(Luke 6:38) How often do we hear Luke 6:38 and think of it as only the giving of things/moolah? I did. Now though, I am thinking it is wayyyy more than that. There is a story in Mark 12:41-44, of the widow who had little yet still placed her last bit into the Temple treasury. Now, mind you, this is after many of those who had plenty put in their offerings. JESUS says “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.” What is it that you have little of? Time? Patience? Love? Forgiveness? You see, I know for me, that I can have little patience and a short fuse. So, those times where I can still serve another with love, even when they can take a toll on my patience; is truly when I am loving like CHRIST. Being giving to those that are easy for us to give to... well, that’s not a huge deal. I mean it’s nice and all. But try loving the unlovable. The ones who you “think” don’t deserve love or kindness. Try forgiving the unforgivable. The ones who you “think” will never be redeemable. Try offering patience to those who grind on your last nerve. Because it is those times we are being like that widow. Those times when we go against our own self to care for another. (I’m not speaking of an enabling heart; that’s when there is something in it for us (OUCH!) If you are like me... you may be saying to yourself... “no way!!” But.... there is a way! You see, when we are weak, JESUS is strong. When we think we can’t, JESUS will. It was faith that allowed that woman to drop those last coins in the basket. Reliance on CHRIST that no matter how little money she had, HE would take care of her. And I need that. I need to give of me even when I feel totally spent because I know that it will be CHRIST that will refresh me, protect me, and love me. And only through the LORD who can change my heart of stone to a heart of flesh, I can change! Amen! #ThankYOUJESUS  Here are the disciples on a boat. In the middle of the water. Nothing near. The wind starts picking up. I imagine some thunder and lightening. And huge waves begin to blow the boat all around. They all start to panic.
Here I am working. Tech issue happens. An irate customer complains. Decision after decision must be made. Just like those waves hitting the boat, trials and challenges are hitting my day. And like those disciples, I start to panic. Meanwhile... also in the boat, lays JESUS peacefully sleeping. Perfectly calm. Right in the middle of the chaos. Meanwhile, in the midst of my chaotic day of struggles; there is JESUS. Right beside me. Calm... waiting.. JESUS says to the disciples, who wake JESUS up in a state of panic. Where’s your faith? Reminding them WHO is in their boat. And then... just like that... JESUS quiets the storm and a calm comes over the waves. JESUS reminds me, while I react in worry and fear, who lifts me, stands behind me, catches me when I fall... and my worry calms... yep.. JESUS calmed my storm! Moral of the story: Lack of faith = worry JESUS = calm You choose! #ThankYOUJESUS  I see today. I make assumptions of the future based on what I see today.
When I look back throughout my life, more often than not, events turned out much different than I expected. Usually much better! When my first marriage ended, all I could see was the end. I was devastated. Eventually, I met someone else. And he had a son. I had always wanted a son. And they both entered my life and became amazing blessings. That was 25 years ago. Had I not believed in hope, I would have wallowed and missed out on those blessings. Measuring our tomorrow’s by what we see today will often deplete any hope. However...Looking at our today’s with faith and hope brings an eager anticipation in the things to come. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 43:19) Yep! GOD always makes a way to a perfect tomorrow even from an agonizing today! #ThankYOUJESUS  I will have a dream. If convicted to do so, I will pray about it and work towards it. Yet, minutes pass, nothing happens and I’m ready to throw in the towel. Well, maybe not minutes. However, whether it be days or years, when it becomes scary or tough - I’m ready to run for the hills. I read story after story in the Bible of those who had to wait. Abraham and Sarah were way older before having Isaac. (Genesis 15:2-6) Jacob waited 7 years for Rachel only to be deceived and waited 7 more to get his love! (Genesis 29:25-28) Mary held onto a promise from God for 30 years that her child would be the Messiah (Luke 1:31-33) Those are just a few examples.
Waiting is difficult for most. Agonizing for many. And that is why, in the wait, I know I gotta rely on the LORD. HE carries me through the impatience. I cannot tell you how many times I was ready to drop the dream and take what I thought was the easy way out. Just because things got tough! Those times I need to focus on the LORD. Psalm 40:1 tells me that when I wait patiently for the LORD; HE gets closer to me and hears my cries. Furthermore, when we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience." (Romans 8:25) I may not see the possibility of my dream or calling coming to fruition (right now). But I need to remember and remind myself.. GOD will bring me to it in HIS time. This way, when I get antsy, frustrated and impatient... I remember to hold on to the hand of JESUS; get down on my knees, get real in my prayers and cry out to the HIM. Since I am surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, I must throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And run with perseverance (patience) the race marked out for me ...In other words “keep on keepin on” (patiently) with CHRIST by my side! And I will reach the finish line! #ThankYOUJESUS |
