"Slam the Door....HARD!"

What DO you do when the past comes knocking?

Do you answer it curiously? Do you resolve that THIS time you can handle it, and answer it knowing your strength will see you through? Do you answer it hoping no one else will know?

 -OR-

Do you slam the door shut, knowing NO good will come of it whatsoever?

I want to share something very personal with you regarding myself. Why? you may ask. Because in ALL things and through ALL things...I want God to be glorified and lifted up! And....because I want to encourage YOU to know that you're not alone in your struggles. There is HOPE !

This past weekend a voice from the past came calling. No, it wasn't a voice inside my own head, but rather a real voice. A voice I had NO desire whatsoever to associate with. And to let you know - I absolutely, positively chose the option mentioned above of slamming the door SHUT knowing NO good would come of it whatsoever! But, after I did.....fear began to creep in. Fear of things from the past that had been overcome through God's grace and healing, somehow resurfacing again. Fear of why was this voice even contacting me. Basically....fear of fear. As my heart was racing and I nervously prayed, God began to calm me. I read my Bible, and prayed, and wrote out memory verses, and wrote out God's promises, for the next two hours until my husband got home. I can testify to you that God was my anchor to hold onto during that time. He held me in his hands.

Upon my husband arriving home, I began to nervously unfold the evening to him, really not being sure of how he would react. Have I told you that the very character of God Himself has been placed inside my loving and dear husband? This beautiful gift, of someone more than a husband, is beyond describing what a true blessing he is to me. God knew in the beginning, before time ever started, who this girl would need in her life.....thank you God, with the most sincerest thanks. My husband not only listened to me pour my heart out, but also lovingly reassured me each step of the way<<<just as God did/would. He then prayed out loud for me. I did ask him if he would and he very willingly agreed. That is such a strength and one of the truest blessings to hear your spouse pray out loud for you. I encourage you to do it!! One of the things David prayed was that I would view God as the Father that He is - protecting his children, not letting anything happen that was not allowed for our own good. (A sidenote here: the next day at church, we sat behind a family. I watched the dad with his young daughter of about 7 or 8. He always kept his arm around her while standing or sitting. It was a beautiful picture of what our Lord does for us. Except I believe He holds us in his strong arms and carries us closest to his heart. But He never, ever lets go.)

To keep it clear and focused here - - God and God alone is the One to bring me through any of life's hurts, fears, shames, regrets, pain. He needs no help at all. My total dependence IS on the Savior of not only my salvation, but also my Savior Who lifts me from my problems of everyday life. God's beautiful grace is sufficent for me. I thank Him with a full heart for being enough for all my life's needs. 

And I know that He has also given me a help mate to walk with me through this life. To encourage me, to calm me, to hold me, to love me just as I am. Again....the very character of God. 

I don't want any confusion of someone thinking I esteem David as the one to get me through everything. 

I want to bring God's Words into this Blog. For my words can be taken as "O that's great and nice for her - - but what about me?"  So, it is for all those "me's" I share the following verses. May it bring God's encouragement and strength to your heart.

Psalm 55: 16-18 "But I call to God, and the Lord saves me. Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. He ransoms me unharmed from the battles waged against me, even though many oppose me."

Psalm 34:4 "I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from ALL my fears."

Psalm 28:7 "The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped."

Psalm 31:1 In you O Lord have I taken refuge; let me never be put to shame, deliver me in your righteousness."

Psalm 27:1 "The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid?"

Psalm 31: 14-15 "But I trust in you, O Lord; I say You are my God. My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those that pursue me."

Psalm 32:7 "You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance."

These are some of the verses I have been committing to memory and using them. I strongly encourage to memorize verses if you are not. It helps in such enormous ways! In fact it is essential in two parts of wearing the full "armor of God"......the "shield of faith" and the "sword of the Spirit". Try it!! You will be glad you did!

Some others - -

Romans 8:15 "For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by who we cry Abba! Father!"

Mark 5:36 "Don't be afraid - just believe."

Romans 8:37 "We are conquerors through him who loves us!"

Jeremiah 30:17 "But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds declares the Lord."

Jeremiah 30: 10-11 I inserted my name and you can do the same - "Debby will again have peace and security and no one will make her afraid. I am with you and will save you declares the Lord."

Exodus 14: 13 "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. Verse 14 - "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."

Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

Lamentations 3:22 "Because of the Lord's great love we are NOT consumed, for his compassions never fail." 

Isaiah 41: 10 My most favorite verse in the Bible - "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Before I end up quoting the entire Bible to you....I will stop for now. God's Words are just SO powerful and SO full of HOPE !! They are what we base our everything on.....hope, peace, joy, comfort, faith, trust, victory, freedom, ....... and the list goes on.......

And not only has God given us his Words through the Bible, but also through song! Friend, I also strongly encourage you to listen to christian music. . . for it uplifts the soul in so many wonderful and God honoring ways!! It truly has been such a source of encouragement and strength for me in my life.....and to think there was a time I had NO desire to listen to it at all. Thank you God for bringing me thus far.

I know my Blogs get long-winded....but please allow me to share through song also. . . 

Darlene Zschech with Israel Houghton : "In Jesus' Name"

"God is fighting for us. God is on our side. He has overcome. We will not be shaken. We will not be moved. Jesus, you are here - carrying our burdens, covering our shame. The resurrection power of Christ is alive in me and I am free! In Jesus name I will live, I will not die. I will declare and lift you on high. Christ revealed and I am healed. In Jesus name God is fighting for us. Pushing back the darkness. Lighting up the kingdom that cannot be shaken. In the name of Jesus enemy's defeated and we will shout it out."

A song I've never heard until this past Sunday sung by a person I've never heard as well. But, it spoke volumes of God fighting for us - not being shaken - he carries our burdens - covers our shame - and HIS power is alive in me!!

Forever Jones - "Hold Me Still"

"You said don't worry bout your future daughter. Just think about the things that matter. So I won't magnify the small things anymore. I'll only glorify the Father. Cause you hold me still. When the waves around me began to build, I'm in your hand. Though it's sometimes hard to stand. You have made my heart and you hold it still. So, don't involve yourself with useless chatter, just talk about the things that matter. And when you feel the world around you shatter, just lift your eyes up to the Father and he'll hold you still. Oh, I see the waves - I'm not afraid. I see the storm - I'm not shaken. I feel the world quake - my ground is stable."

Another song of strength, through the Father, when fears, doubts, worries try to come. He holds us still. No matter what - trust his strong arms around you, child of God.

A very favorite artist of mine - Mandisa: "Overcomer"

"Whatever it is you may be going through, I know He's not gonna let it get the best of you. You're not going under, cause God is holding you right now. God is the overcomer in you. <Yes I changed up the words a tad because I'm NOT the overcomer, but rather HE is the overcomer in me!> Just take a breath, don't forget to hang on to his promises. The One who overcomes death is living inside you. Fix your eyes on the One who holds your life. For there's nothing he can't do."

God overcomes in us what we cannot do for ourselves!! Thank ya Jesus!!! Nothing consumes and nothing overwhelms....because we hold onto his promises.

Just one more song!!!!!

Chris Tomlin - also a favorite - "Our God!"

"Into the darkness you shine - out of the ashes we rise. Our God is greater, Our God is stronger, He is higher than any other. Our God is Healer and awesome in power. And if our God is for us then WHO could ever stop us? And if our God is with us then WHAT can stand against us?" My answer-- NOTHING!

Nothing formed against us shall stand......period. For God IS stronger, greater,  and higher than any other!! 

Friend, as I said, I know my Blogs are long, but there is just SO much of God's goodness to share with you!! I could keep listing song after song as well as verse after verse!! And along with Chris August, I will sing to you - -  "I will sing about your love, I will shout it to the sky. I will tell of what you've done, when the people ask me why I live my life this way - I'll say that I am unashamed of You!! For what your grace did and what your grace does!!"

And THAT, my friend, is why I share.........

"On a Dark, Two-Lane, Back Road...."

Warning Tip #1- Do not eat Mexican food when you are going to have car trouble, on a dark two lane back road, still 30 mins from home.

Ah yes.....

Some may know, and many don't, that our son is on his second vehicle in less than a year of receiving his license. And with this second vehicle has came some frustrating challenges. I won't go into all the details, but will say - this car has been in the shop 3 different times now. . .with the first time requiring them to hold it in shop for SIX weeks, the second for 4 weeks, and the most recent for 1 day. The first time being the engine was blown. The second time...well, the engine was blown again. The third time...that's where my story comes in. :)

Dad was going to break the engine in this time. As you know the first 1,000 miles are crucial to that happening. In order for that to happen, Dad gets to take Mom driving to each of her far-away favorite eating spots more often! We also get to go for alot of loooong driving sprees which I love! Afterall...Dad loves to drive - Mom loves to ride. We have quite easily racked up the necessary miles in a very short amount of time....much to Levi's delight (he gets his car back sooner). As Levi would listen to the engine though, he would repeatedly tell his Dad "something just doesn't sound right about it.". But, he could never pin point it.

That brings us to last Friday night.

Dad and Mom, were out driving son's car, coming back from Huntsville - a little over a hour away from home. We had a nice dinner in Huntsville and were driving through Conroe to see some homes we have been considering moving to in the not too distant future. While driving, the power steering goes out. Seemingly odd - we decide to just deal with it and continue on. Next, the word "Battery" displays as well as the word "Brake". (It's a stick shift, if that matters)
 Hmm...well ok. David made sure we still had brakes....and thankfully we did. He had looked under the hood earlier and noticed a belt had came off which in turn affected everything else. Not too much of a concern because we assumed the battery alone would last us the rest of the trip of home.

Guess what?

At 9:00 pm, on a two lane back road, we were pulling off on the side with a now non running car. Yay.

Thankfully, we had called our son, Levi, earlier and told him to be on-call for us in case needed. It messed up his plans for the night....but hey!
Mind you...we were not on the highway, which would have been so much more easier to find us....we were on the dark back roads. So, David gave Levi instructions to find us, called a tow truck, and then we waited. As we are waiting, our flashers are going quite dim.....nice! It just added more to the adventure! A police stopped as well as one other person. But, help was on the way....at least we believed it was. :)

As we waited, there was LOTS and LOTS of frogs and various insects of the night making their beautiful melodies. I sat there and laughed telling God "Thanks for the enjoyment! I get all I want for free right now!" That is something I have always loved - the songs of the creatures of the night. I have many stories of that love, but won't share that now. Waiting was not done nervously or worringly, for as I shared above - I love adventures - and that's just how I saw this one. I knew God would get our son to us...and He did. I knew we would get the help we needed to get the car home....and we did. God was in control.

There has only been once in my lifetime that I have NOT enjoyed an adventure (that I can recall) and that would be when David, me, and my Dad seriously got lost in the woods!! That could be a whole other Blog in itself, I tell ya!! I will tell you....that the trails were looong G O N E, we could have desperately used a machetti (sp?), the familiar sounds of civilization were deceiving and confusing us from every angle, and we were going in circles. To no help whatsoever my "dear" Dad was behind me saying such things out loud as "Well, I think we may have enough water til someone finds us." and other various no helping words. Should have left that man at home!! Let's just say it scared the crap out of me in every sense of the word!! Lol!! I will say - we survived, found our way out, and lived to tell about it. Today....well today, as much as my heart is IN the woods and LOVES the woods....I do need to be somewhat confident that we in fact can know that we will make it out in a confident manner. My fearless leader, David, is very good about that. :)

As I said, our son did find us and I was very proud of him! He was driving his dad's Camaro, which in turn brought on a potential race with another car while he was enroute to find us. Thankfully, after showing off just enough he "maturingly" (haha) left it alone. Good job, son. ;-) After a time, the tow truck arrived also. Car was loaded and we met them down the road, at a convienent store, to pay them.

No, this is not an alien spaceship. Rather it is my one and only picture of our entire "adventure". Description: Car being hooked up and loaded to tow truck. :-)



As you will recall....I started this Blog off with a Warning Tip.
Yes, dear ole Mom should have made a pit stop before getting in car to go home...especially when it's over a hour away and we just had Mexican food. But she didn't. So dear son took Mom into the store while Dad took care of business. Have I ever told you, my readers, about me and motion sensored restroom lighting? YUP. At least one Blog covered that situation well....probably others too. As you can guess, I was in another motion sensored restroom. Remembering what I already knew about these things, I decided to wave my arms in the air ever so often. Seemed to work well enough this time...for they stayed ON throughout the whole entire process!! YAY!! :)

Sooo, car was towed back to our town and left at shop....once again. However, shop was very apologetic and even reimbursed our money back from the towing. Problem was fixed and car sent back on it's way the next day. All in all, this car has been towed not once but twice to this shop and driven there by son at night for them to find next morning. Hmm....

And now?

Now my son has been looking online, once again, to find another car. O yes.
Uncle Dan, if you're reading this....you probably should give him a call soon. He's looking and found a "fox body" 92 Mustang!!! Uh-huh.....call him!! But be nice and don't be a dream crusher! By the way - - how do you feel about selling a 06 Infiniti G35?? :-)

As always....I want to tie my readers in with how God works in our lives.
I know that God gave the peace and assurance needed that night to believe he would work it all out and we would be taken care of. He not only gave it, but proved it to by meeting our needs. In all of life, I believe he wants us to have that assurance. That peace that says even though I don't know how, I don't know when, or I don't know where....God will supply all our needs and bring us safely through. Remember, he may not give you all you want, but he most assuredly will give you all you need. Trust him, even when it's the hardest to trust, for he alone is trustworthy. He is a faithful God and stands ready to be your everything in this life. Let him. He loves you with an unimaginable love for now....and forever.

"Thank you, God, for being our great Navigator who leads us through and out of all life's 'adventures'!" :-)

"The Little Girl on the Bicycle"



David and I often ride bikes. In fact, we choose to ride bikes wherever we go rather than riding in the car when possible. We both enjoy the exercise, being active together, and enjoy being outdooors. I admire his willingness to hop on his bike, after a long day at work, and go for a ride with me. :)

The other day, as we were riding, a little girl appeared in front of us. I didn't see from what direction she came. . . it was just as if she showed up. As we followed her, I noticed how young she was and how, in this day and time, it seemed odd that she would seemingly be so far from home without an adult close by. She pedaled on crossing a couple of busy neighborhood streets. She wasn't on a leasurily kid-ride, but pedaled with great intent, stopping only once to grab a precious souvenir (a feathery stalk from a flowering plant). She was off once again with great determination to reach her desired destination. We continued to follow her. We usually have no problem passing others on bikes, or people walking - this girl was pedaling! Watching this little girl brought back memories for me in a sweet and tender way. I too was once that little girl pedaling hard and with great purpose. She reminded me of being O so young and on my own each day. For back LONG ago, starting around the age of 6 or 7, I would ride my bike over a mile each way to school. Heck the way I went could've been 2 miles each way! I am so thankful that my Mother had the faith to let me have that freedom at such an early age. For in this day I don't believe many Mothers would. As some say, "things were different back in the day". I doubt that, for evil and bad have always been. . . they just weren't talked about and made public as they are today. I can remember crossing very BUSY streets for someone so small. I remember the "scary streets" too that you didn't just pedal casually on, but rather stood up on the pedals and gave it all you had! As I look back, I am amazed and all the while thankful for both a Mother willing to give her child an early independence AND for my God who was with me to watch over me....every pedal of the way.

As we followed on, my phone distracted me from my thoughts of long ago. We stopped only briefly to check the distraction. As we started back on our way, I noticed the little girl was no longer in front of us. I pedaled on a little faster to search where she may have gone. I could see for quite a ways up ahead....nothing. I could see to the left where the streets intersected.....nothing. It was as if she simply vanished....gone just like that. We do entertain "angels unaware" as the Bible says! I believe it whole heartedly too!! Maybe she was the little angel that would remind me how that God has been with me all along....never leaving nor forsaking me....even in my worst times....even in my times of doubt....even in my good times....always with me. Or maybe she was the little girl that God himself would call me to pray for. That is exactly what I did as I rode. I prayed for her safety and protection, for her to know she is loved, for her to make wise decisions for all the days that lay ahead, and most of all - for her to know the Lord as her Savior. I have prayed since then when God brings her to my mind. I pray with great emphasis that God leads and protects her with all the many choices that lie ahead of her. How awesome would it be to know that a stranger {a kind unknown person} would take the time to stop and pray for your very child?! I would absolutely LOVE to know that there are people praying for my children that I don't even know!!

Regardless of the many questions there may have been as to why this child would appear such as she did and then be gone just like that ( I do tend to have an analytical mind sometimes ha!). I find these things to be certain and true::
1. God has been with me always and never leaves me. Just as He was with her. He crossed the "busy streets" of life with me and He even carried me through the "scary streets". He isn't just with me in those times but also in the "happy times" of enjoying life as David and I do together.
2. Jesus prays for me. Even when no one else is praying for me I know that He is. No one may have thought that day to stop and say a prayer for this little girl, but Jesus was and He even invited me to join along with Him in it.
3. We can trust God to get us to our desired safe haven for He alone is trustworthy. Just as He took this little one safely to her destination....back to Heaven or to her house! :)

Friend, know that YOU too can have those assurances!

For if you too have asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior of your heart then He assures you that YES He is with you today....tomorrow.....and always {He was even with you yesterday too!} You are never ever alone. If you are in times of doubt, pain, hardships, trials do NOT ever give up on Him. For He alone is supremely trustworthy and will carry you to your safe haven. He not only will help you, but He IS helping you even now. Sometimes we just need to give Him more time and space....and wait. But never quit trusting....NEVER. If you are having a hard time doing so then tell God and ask Him to be the trust that you need. He understands. Afterall...who knows us better than the very One Who created us?!

Also, know that Jesus does pray for you to God the Father. When it seems no one else knows and no one else cares....He does. And He lives to intercede for YOU. John 17:9 "I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours." God intercedes for us in our weakness for us personally. Romans 8:26-27 "In the same way the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will." How empowering to know that Jesus the Holy Spirit prays for us in our weakest moments!!

And lastly....God will take you safely to your safe haven. Psalm 107:28-30 "Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven." We can be confident in Him because of Isaiah 46: 4 "Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you."

I leave you with this: 2 Timothy 4:18 "The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

Friend....He is with you....pedaling through life's journey WITH you. Never give up trusting in Him alone.

"Those Darn Shower Hooks!!"

As I was thinking and praying and drawing a blank today on what to write....I decided it wasn't going anywhere. I called my Mom and she encouraged me that I just needed to wait. It's hard to wait at times, especially when I have the perfect opportunity to write, I have the desire to write, and I've asked God to help me to write. Sometimes it's just not the right moment and we haven't waited long enough.

Sooo....I waited......

Tonight, I decided I would change things up and clean a bathroom instead of my normal routine of Tuesday afternoons. I had the time, I was alone, and I wanted to hang a new shower liner for the bathtub - so why not. We recently had bought new shower hooks and David had hung the curtain himself. When I attempted to unhook these heavy metal rings only a few would cooperate and unhook for me. I kept trying though. I tried standing one angle, and then another, all the while balancing myself on the tub. I tried with all my might - they still wouldn't budge. I would take breaks and give it another try. I started praying telling God "God you know how to do this. Would you please help me?" The more I tried, the more determined I got. The more determined I got, the more I prayed. Still....I ended with the same result....only a very few hooks unhooked. I decided this just wasn't going to happen no matter how hard I tried. It was best, yet again, to just wait.

And soooo.....I waited.......

Later, my son came home, and I asked him to come and see if he could help me with something. I showed him the problem. He started to tug and pull at the hooks himself. They were definitely hard to come apart, but he did manage to unhook the rest once he figured out the pattern. Sidenote for Mom: She has NO upper body strength. :) After his task was complete, I was able to take old liner off and put new one on. All the while, being able this time to snap hooks shut. Re-hung curtain and liner and job was complete!!

As I thought back over the course of events for the evening, I began to realize a Blog was taking shape here! And that's always a good thing!! :)

You see I believe God was showing me something here in my frustration. There are times in our life that we may call upon God to help us with a certain situation or problem and maybe it seems that he isn't helping the way we thought he should be. Maybe just maybe it's because he asks us to wait on him first of all and secondly maybe he is sending that help/encouragement through another human being to lift us up and show us a better way. Don't get me wrong here - I fully believe without a doubt that God and God alone is able and is big enough to meet any of our needs. He alone rescues, He alone saves, He alone delivers, and He alone sustains. And I also know there are times in our life that we need encouragers to lift us up and tell us "You're gonna be ok." "God's got this." "You can trust him all the way, all the time." We need others to keep our focus on what is positive and what is true. When our thoughts get twisted and misguided, God can bring others to us to help straighten them out once again and see that there really is no reason for fear, doubt, or worry. I still believe that God can and will take care of all this alone in his timing and in his will....but maybe there is something beautiful and assuring when he allows others to help guide our life as well.

 

I know for a fact that God has truly blessed my life in immeasurable ways when he gave me my David. I praise God first and foremost - for he is worthy of ALL my praise for ALL that he is in my life. And I praise God in my David secondly - for I know it is God in him that exemplifies God's love, grace, mercy, compassion, faithfulness and patience to me. Through God - my David has helped me, led me, loved me just as I am, accepted me, and assured me....time and time again.

So friend....know that God is able to rescue, to heal, to deliver, to help in whatever your circumstance may be - and he ALONE can do it. But know to that there are times he may bring those along such as a friend, a spouse, a parent, a relative, or even a child to encourage us and graciously point us back to God himself - - for HE alone can save. See the beauty of God's blessing on your journey. And remember to thank God for those he has allowed to brighten and enhance your walk with a God who loves YOU just as you are!

"Dear, How Long Is This Going To Take?"

My sweet husband is redoing a bathroom.
Nothing really spectacular about that for a story now is there? Although, I do think he IS spectacular and doing a wonderful job!

This particular bathroom has taken him at least 2 months to give his labor of love on. And shall I say....the work continues. In the beginning dear husband thought this project would take no more than 2 weekends to complete - - little did he know.

Carry on dear, for there really is light at the end of the tunnel!!

As I watch him work diligently on each project through completion, I think of God and how he works in our lives. We are individually each a project of God. Each area is a unique work of God. We trust him to form us into the very man/woman of God he has chosen us to be. With that said, there are times that God decides to take his time in the molding process. Instead of a short 2 weekend project, it becomes a lengthier one.

There are many areas of life that God is shaping daily. Our faith, our trust, our hope, our character, our obedience.....and the list goes on. In some areas he works quickly. In others, painfully slooow. But his timing is perfect always. There are times that we call upon God for healing from grief, loss, pain, discouragement and his answer is - wait on me, trust in me, hope in me. "Wait on the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." Ps. 27:14. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." Proverbs 3:5. "Those who hope in me will not be dissappointed." Isaiah 49:23c.

Maybe you have prayed for your children to have their eyes opened, their hearts softened, their wills brought into submission of living for him. And it may seem the more you pray, the further they drift out into this world. Does it hurt? You BETCHA! Is it discouraging? Absolutely! Does that mean you give up on God answering your prayers and delivering them? Ten million times over - a strong and absolute.....NO! what it does mean is that we keep on believing God's Word; never being moved away from it by what you see or feel. And as you stand firm, God's power is being developed in you. The fact of looking at your prayers and knowing this is God's will for your children's lives, and being unmoved by what you see or do NOT see- makes you stronger in every sense of the word.

I know that - "Deliverance comes from the Lord." Ps 3:8. I know that - "He rescues and he saves." Daniel 6:27. And I also know that - God uses his power to change the areas in my children's lives, and my own, that desperately need his touch. "Ah Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outsretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you." Jeremiah 32:17. I know that - God's timing is perfect and lacking nothing. Think of Abraham and Sarah who were promised a son. God required a whole 25 years to pass before that promise was fulfilled!! "And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised." Hebrews 7:15.

And so my friend....whatever you are waiting on God for in your life - deliverance, hope, answers, strength, know that God hears, God sees, God knows. His answers will come in HIS timing. For we serve a faithful and trustworthy Lord God Almighty.

And just as I wait patiently on my loving husband to finish up what he has started.....I wait on a loving Father who will finish what he has started as well! "He who began a good work in you (or your children) will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6.

"Not Yet....But I Know Where My Hope Is!"

It's been two months since my last Blog. I have so wanted to write, but just haven't felt led or inspired in knowing what to share with you my readers. Today, as I was walking and listening to my music, I finally felt led once again to have something to share. I thank God in every way for that, for I do not write this Blog or any Blogs without Him.

You see though. . . I feel a little confused because I've shared this topic - HOPE - before. . . in fact many times. For that IS what my story and life is all about - HOPE. I even look back and 2 years, almost exact, I was sharing this very subject - HOPE- in an in depth way. But, I believe God is saying "Tell it again. People need hope." And so it is that I continue to share my story of HOPE........

Not quite sure knowing where to dive into this story, I will just begin with this -
We have a child that is living their life in some very real sin. I will not disclose by name nor gender, for I do not wish to slander any of my children. Should you choose to try and guess which one or judge them that is between you and God to deal with. This child is in full knowledge of the sin they are choosing to participate in because, if for no other reason, their Dad and I have made it directly aware to them. This child chooses, with all knowledge of sin, to fully continue on seemingly having no regrets whatsoever. I, myself, have even made it quite clear that they can and will bring God's judgement and wrath on them should they desire to continue on. To my utter disbelief and amazement it seems to affect them none whatsoever. I shake my head at this very fact for as a child, as a teenager, and as an adult myself I could NOT even begin to perceive heading on knowing that fact!! If for no other reason just knowing God can and most likely will do something dreadful!! Where is the reverent fear in our children today??

As I once again, last night, discussed this situation of living in sin to this child it was met with statements such as these "I know YOU feel this is wrong, it goes against what YOU think is right, it makes YOU sad...." I stopped the child and said "This has absolutely nothing to do with me! This is God Himself saying this is wrong and not to continue on. It's very plain in the Bible and I can show you." And of course the child wanted nothing to do with what was said in the Bible....sadly. And so it continued on with the same theme....I know YOU feel this is wrong.....  At one point I was even met with I was using God as a "cop out" to say what I wanted to share with them. This child wasn't believing that God would share with me to share with them of the sin they are choosing to willfully live in! How very sad. I very lovingly and calmly told my child that I love them, that is why I share these things, and I don't want to see them bring the very judgement of God on their life. It is very clear in the Bible that a child of God cannot and will not go on sinning willfully. I was met with love in return, but also a very sure and absolute that this child was not in anyway changing nor turning from their wrong and willfull ways. They were happy with life and that was that. How fast this child forgets all the troubles - emotionally, physically, and spiritually that they have been dealing with.

I could go on. . . .
But does that really help to know all the disappointments? I shared with you what I did only to let you see some of the pain that is there and how real it is. These things do indeed give this Mother's heart a heavy and sad one for my child.

As I talked with my David, last night, of all that was said and shared with this child it of course saddened him...even to the point of tears in his eyes (I do not share that lightly with you....know that). We talked about the frustration of not knowing what our part is....what course of action to take if there is one.....how to keep showing love, but all the while NOT showing acceptance of choices made. So many things to think about, wonder WHY about, wonder how long will we be waiting for things to get right....when it has seemed so long already.

But remember - - this is a Blog of HOPE!!

Towards the end of our conversation, I was sharing another dear Mother's testimony of her children and how far they had came in their lives. I then asked David "Their is hope....right? I mean that day is coming....right? We've waited so long surely it's coming....right?" And my faith filled and steadily trusting husband replied with "I don't know if and when that day will come. But our hope is NOT in the fact of hoping our children will one day wake up and make the right decisions. One day start living a life that is pleasing to God. Our hope is..... in God." Ok, I paraphrased some there....he's not a man of many words, but that was his true meaning. We doNOT hope in our children, but we DO hope in our God. And just as I've said before many times.....His plans don't have to look like, sound like, feel like, or even smell like what we think they should. God is God and His knowledge fars outweighs our very teeny tiny own. He is trustworthy even when it's hard to trust. He is faithful even when we are not. He is constant even when much of life isn't.

As I said earlier, I was walking and listening to my music.....the very first song that was played as soon as I turned it on was "My Hope is in You" by Aaron Shust! How awesome is that!! For it wasn't a song about my hope is in my children, in my husband, in my {insert whatever}, but my hope IS in you (God and God alone!).
My hope is in You Lord
All the day long
I won't be shaken by drought or storm
The peace that passes understanding is my song
And I sing
My hope is in You alone
I will wait on You
You are my refuge
One other song of encouragement I share with you are the words. . .

Even when it hurts
Even when it’s hard
Even when it all just falls apart
I will run to You
‘Cause I know that You are
Lover of my soul, Healer of my scars,
You steady my heart, You steady my heart

I’m not gonna worry
I know that You’ve got me
Right inside the palm of Your hand
Each and every moment
What’s good and what gets broken
Happens just the way You plan

And I will run to You
I’ll find refuge in Your arms
And I will sing to You
‘Cause of everything You are
You steady my heart

Friend, I know there is hope and it's real. God has delivered me from some very real sin in the past. And this I know is true..... God and God alone was the very One to do it. If you ever should wonder if God can truly deliver, go and read Psalm 34....He will tell you not once but FOUR times of His deliverance in your life! Trust Him. Hope is real.

And so it is with this that I end this Blog......I do not wait on my child to see the error of their ways and turn from their willfull sins, but rather I wait on God and God alone to deliver - in His time and in His way.

Thanks for reading. :)

"Sharing My Heart and Passion With YOU!"

As I sit here and try my very best to come up with something to share with others through writing . . . I come up blank. Maybe most would say O well today is not the day to write and be off to do something else with theirselves. Me - my passion is to write and encourage and share. . . so I wait.

In my waiting, I think back over the past days to see if there is something I could relate back to and share with you that would be encouraging and inspiring. Again. . . I come up blank.

So instead I share the passion of my heart.

And it is this.
God IS the Redeemer of our lives. The very Redeemer of our lost souls through his salvation. And. . .  the true Redeemer of his own children, through grace and forgiveness.

My friend, if you don't know the salvation he gives for you, it is free to ALL who call upon him as Lord and Savior. He will do it - just ask. But, also please know that if you are a child of God - failure, mistakes, weaknesses are NOT something you are immune to. Christians DO fall. And when they fall, God picks them up again. . . not leaving them to their own strength that fails.

God's grace is REAL. God's forgiveness is REAL. God's healing is REAL. God's rescuing is REAL. And God's resoration is REAL. I'm living proof to each of these in my life as a child of God - who has experienced failure, mistakes and weaknesses. But evenso, knowing that it is God Himself who has made beauty from the ashes, promise from despair, hope from hopelessness - - - and a light to you to give you hope. Hope to know that you may fall, but God will never leave you nor forsake you. His loving hand will lift you up, set you on a better path, cleanse you from your sins, and through him and him alone be the Healer that will set you free.

Sometimes God asks that we be patient and wait on him as he is doing all of this. It is in those times that we trust no matter what our emotions, thoughts or doubts tell us. God IS in control and he WILL see us through. I read in a devotion these words: "When we walk in difficult places, God sends the strength and nourishment to face what comes our way, not all at once, but day by day." Also, God tells us in Psalm 27:14 "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."

I know I have talked about this subject, probably alot, through statuses and blogs too, but it is the very heartbeat God has given me through my own personal trials and errors to share HIS deliverance with you child of God or lost sinner.

And so it is I leave with you these words: "Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man (or woman) whose sin the Lord does not count against him (or her) and in whose spirit is no deceit." Psalms 32: 1-2. And one more: "From the Lord comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people." Psalm 3:8.

My friend, let God be the One who brings deliverance into your life. Trust him for it!! :)