I feel distant from the LORD. I don’t like it. I have been here before. Typically and more often than not, I feel close to GOD. HE is in the middle, the beginning and the end of my days. However over the last several days, it feels as if I am disconnected. I know it’s a lie. Feelings are not fact. And feeling disconnected is a lie. Nonetheless, it is distressing. So, what am I to do? First! I need to rest in the promise that GOD will never forsake me or leave me! Second! Get real! Tell my FATHER exactly what I am experiencing. Ask for help. Pray! Third! Worship! Remember and speak grace, strength and the love of the LORD. Remember GOD surrounds me (even when I don’t “feel” it). I choose to remember the promises of the LORD and speak truth! Get out from under the lies swirling about my brain. My FATHER reassures me: “It is the LORD who goes before you. HE will be with you; HE will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” (Deuteronomy 31:6) FATHER, I need YOU! I feel lost. Child, Look up! I’M all around you. Child, Look up! I have promised never to leave you! Hold onto MY promises. Child, look up! Seek ME, and voila! I am right there!! #ThankYOUJESUS ❤️
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Looking back over 58+ years of my life, I see hardship, and joy; sadness and laughter. And you know what? Worry never changed it. Stress never made things better. All they ever did provide me, were the gift of ill health and time wasted. Physical symptoms such as increased heart rate, tummy troubles and more. Enter: faith in CHRIST! The closer my walk is with HIM who is my refuge and my strength; the less worry and stress took hold. It is true, you know. Oh, I had worried about my money at various times. The worst, being a single mom of 4 girls and not sure if we would have food, shelter or warmth. And then later in life, actually recently, my husband became ill, and there was a mortgage to pay, food; you get the idea. However, there was difference in the latter time. Instead of wasting time worrying, I spent time praying! I would be a liar if I were to tell you I didn’t battle with worry and stress. But....my worry was less! I woke up and praised GOD. I try and do that every morning (even when woken by a lil pup with mounds of energy). I pray and study the truth of GOD. This keeps me grounded. This provides me power over worries. I know that MY FATHER who clothes with elegance the lilies of the fields and feeds the birds - surely cares more for those made in HIS image. Think about it. We are sinners. Since the beginning of us, we just be messin up! Yet, GOD loved us so much; HE sent JESUS, HIS only begotten son, to walk to the cross, beaten, cursed at, stripped, and then nailed. And then died and rose again. Why? To give us hope. To provide us peace even in the most dire of circumstances. To love us, even when we don’t love ourselves. Stop stressin! You already are blessed, highly favored and loved by JESUS CHRIST THE KING! #ThankYOUJESUS ❤️ We all suffer the disease of sin.
There are so many types of illnesses and diseases. Many of the diseases even have a marketing savvy, branding if you will. For instance, I have Sarcoidosis. And awareness of it comes through the color purple. One of the most popular of this type of color branding is for breast cancer; known well by pink ribbons. The disease of sin carries no color but it brings death of the body, mind and soul! The disease of sin comes with many symptoms and signs such as depression, addiction, giving into fleshly temptations, gossiping, being mean, lewd or crude. And so much more. Billy Graham, in answer to whether there is one sin worse than another answered “It is always difficult and dangerous to attempt to list sins according to their degree of seriousness. In one sense, all sins are equal in that they all separate us from God.” And he went on to say “The Bible’s statement, “For the wages of sin is death …” (Romans 6:23), applies to all sin, whether in thought, word, or deed.” Take heed! There is a cure for sin. Right at the tip of our tongues. What you ask? JESUS! How beautiful and freeing that “GOD demonstrates HIS own amazing and absolute love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, CHRIST died for us” (Romans 5:8). So what’s a sinner to do? What is the cure for the disease of sin? Speak JESUS over your life. Something like this.. Dear LORD, I know I’m a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness. I have faith that CHRIST is YOUR SON who came and died to release my sin. And if that was not enough, JESUS rose from the grave squashing death; giving me everlasting life. OH LORD, change my heart and my mind and my soul! I want to trust JESUS as my SAVIOR and follow HIM as LORD! Lord, from this moment on. I say these words in the name of JESUS. Amen." GUESS WHAT? If you said that prayer - get ready for the amazing change! The chains of sin to be broken! Death no longer holding you down! Amen! #ThankYOUJESUS ❤️ Dear Fear: Oh you snake! How you try and slither in and thrash me all over. You come as bad news, illness, or disruption. Do you really believe you will move me? Do you think whispers of what-if’s shall cause me to tremble? Oh but for a moment, perhaps! And then.. I remember the TRUTH and WHO I belong to! I remember the immovable ROCK I stand upon! I remember that the ONE that holds me is the same today, the same yesterday and will be the same tomorrow! Fear, you little devil.. you may have but a mere second to try and push me. You may use my thoughts, feelings, doubts, and even current affairs to drown me. Perhaps you visit me in sickness, failed relationships, weak self-esteem, temptation! Ha! Ain’t happening! Nope! No more! Guess what! I am a child of the LORD. My FATHER is bigger than you, fear! I hold up my hand and with the power of the HOLY SPIRIT and command you to flee. And off you scatter! My tomorrows and my today’s are owned by my FATHER! And HE keeps me from harm. GOD has wonderful plans for me! I got hope! I got a future! It don’t matter what is happening in the here and now. Yep, this all will pass! And when I brush the dust of trouble off my shoulders, I remain unscathed! So, yo, fear.. you knockin at the wrong door! Why? Because all is well! All will be well! Nothing shall take me from my FATHER’s arms! #ThankYOUJESUS ❤️ I don’t deserve a thing. Yet I am blessed mightily! I fail the LORD. Yet, HE forgives me! I get stressed out. Yet, the LORD surrounds me with peace! I rely on me and make messes. Yet the LORD shows me it’s ok to let go and let HIM! I was so lost in this world. Yet JESUS found me! I was sad and hopeless. Yet, CHRIST gave me a new hope! I was drowning. Yet JESUS lifted me out! I was dying. Yet CHRIST gave me a new everlasting life! I lost hope. Yet GOD provided me a purpose and a life! I felt unlovable. Yet the LORD never stopped loving me! Oh FATHER, even when I don’t feel connected to YOU or plugged in- there YOU remain in front of me and behind me, to the left of me and to the right of me. YOU never forsake me or leave me. All I need to do is to seek YOU! And there YOU are. When my world is all but constant- JESUS, YOU are my only immovable rock! I don’t deserve a thing - yet, YOU LORD always are blessing me! #ThankYOUJESUS ❤️ I got joy in my heart. I carry it around every day, all day long! It’s a little light inside. No matter what darkness I tremble through, that joy I got..... it’s brighter! I got joy in my heart. I carry it around every day, all day long. When temptation comes along, and begs me to join in....that joy leads me the right way. I got joy in my heart. I carry it around every day, all day long! When I cave in to sin, that joy puts me on my knees and prompts repentance and freely gives forgiveness. I got joy in my heart. I carry it around every day, all day long! When I am hurting and my hearts all broken... there is not a heart broken beyond repair. Because that joy, is bigger than any hurt. I got joy in my heart. I carry it around every day, all day long! Once I was bound in chains, no hope, no light.....but that joy freed me up, led me out of the dark, dark world and brought me to the everlasting light. That joy I have, you can have it too.... because the joy I speak of is JESUS CHRIST, amen #ThankYOUJESUS ❤️ Nope, never alone! Throughout HIS walk on earth JESUS talks to many Jewish unbelievers. Most thought HE was crazy. Yet some were scared. Yet, HIS life here on earth impacted it all. HIS words spoke changed lives and saved souls. And continues to do so. Isn’t GOD just breathtakingly amazing?!!! GOD creates miracles every second. In the beginning there was nothing... and GOD spoke it all into existence. Life became a thing! HE created a canvas. From s single blade of grass, to the ocean, to the livestock, fish and yes, each one of us! The magnificence of all around me makes me keenly aware of how huge our FATHER is. IT IS SURREAL! Yesterday, I saw the beauty of a baby doe. She stared right at me. I became so filled. Just being connected to the beauty around me. It filled me. Weird huh? One of GOD’s little creations served as a reminder for me that HE is with me, always! Whatever those demons you deal with, loneliness, addiction, co-dependency, depression- Remember the words: I am Never alone! Lay it down and rest in CHRIST! GOD is always with you. Even when we fail. Why? Because GOD loved us so much, HE sent us HIS OWN son, to become the sacrificial lamb for you and me. And even when those Jews were standing and listening to CHRIST speak about this... doubting, mad - there were some, maybe one that HE touched that spreads the WORD. Eventually, it continued to reach and touch many, even to this day. One day, there was a girl. Sad. Lonely.. she was Jewish. 17 and was pretty down and out. Felt ugly, insignificant, worth nothing. Suffered life’s blows here and there. A high school dropout who left school because she was anxious and felt stupid. JESUS touched her. And she never was the same. True story..... I know because that girl was me! HE saved me! And continues to do so! Whew! That was a rant! #ThankYOUJESUS |