Exodus 14:13-14

 

Don't be afraid, just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Lord himself will fight for you, just stay calm.  

 There always comes a time of elimination.
The earth sheds each year.
The trees and flowers let go of their identity.
As the old identity dies, a new identity is born.
The body sheds constantly.
Some of it happens invisibly; so naturally
and silently that we do not realize it is happening.
The heart and the spirit also shed.
They shed the emotions and experiences that we no longer need.
They shed the things that stunt our growth.
This, too, is an invisible process.
Yet because of the energy involved, the emotional energy,
we often feel the emotional and spiritual shedding; 
it feels as if we are dying.
We are.
Just like the flowers and the trees,
we are dying to an old identity.
This shedding, or death, is not the end of us,
 it is the beginning..

Luke 22:42
Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours (always) be done.

The devotion for January 31, 2012
Trusting God through emotional trails.
That's the title.
Growing into a mature Christian takes time.
It doesn't happen overnight.
It's a process.
Little by little,
one experience after another,
God tries us and tests us.
He tests our emotions,
this helps us grow.
Difficult situations stir up emotions.
We see how unstable we are.
How in need we are of a Saviour.
How we cannot go through life alone.
especially with the hard stuff.
The night before Jesus' death he begged God,
"take this cup from me"
He was going through the hardest trial.
He didn't want to die,
but he looked past his emotions,
and said,
"not my will, but your will be done."
God's will.
Not ours, no matter what we are feeling.
God knows best.
You can make it through any trial,
with God.
Jesus wasn't led by his feelings,
we don't need to be either.
When God tests your emotions, seize the moment.
Let the experience change you.
Let it grow you.
Trust God with it.
God can bring peace and confidence
to any situation.
He purposes don't always make sense to us.
But He knows best.
I trust God more than I trust myself.
And i'm thankful for my challenges,
it has made me the woman that I am.
"Not my will, but the Lord's will."
He loves you.
 

 

 

 

Through the storm, He is Lord, the Lord of ALL.

 

Lord you make all things new.

Your love is never-failing.

Your grace is never-ending.

Forgiveness you bring.

Thank you.

 

 

This season.  

So much has happened this past few weeks.

Am I proud of it all? No...

Humans make mistakes, we are no where near perfect.

We get caught up in the wonders of the world.

Our flesh consumes at times.

I have regrets, I have sins, I feel the shame.

But God is good.

He is forgiveness. He is love. He is redemption.

The Lord makes all things new.

And the truth is, God has a plan for this life of mine.

He planned it out with much detail.

I pray that His plan will override my own weaknesses.

I pray that His plan will overcome my sins.

I was lost for awhile, which hurts my heart.

But God has called me back once again.

Over and over we try to run our lives.

Over and over we fail.

We fall.

But God is quick to redeem.

He brings us back each time.

Arms open.

Heart broken.

Loving us.

Wanting us.

 

 

Looking back. 

The past is so enticing, so tempting.
Things that once broke you, have now been healed.

And you find yourself wanting to go back.

Wanting the things that brought you pain.

But brought such a high as well.

What to do...

My heart has been so confused.

I've been in need of comfort, love, security.

Have I been looking in all the wrong places?

You better believe it.

Have those other people & things been satisfying?

You better believe not.

Have I sinned and fallen away from the Lord?

Unfortunetely yes.

Do I miss my God?

With all of my heart and soul.

Am I ready to go back to where I belong?

I'm ready.

Take me as I am.

Jesus Come.

 

 

Anchored.

I'm anchored in who I am.

Who I've become.

I know my heart, my soul.

I'm secure in myself.

I'm grounded in truth, God's truth.

I'm firm and secure in the Lord.

In His love for me.

In His hope.

In His life.

I'm anchored to the Lord.

Forever I will stay.

Secure.

Complete in Him.

Do I forget that sometimes?

Absolutely.

But does that change the truth?

Does that change who He ultimately is?

Does that change the fact that He loves me,

the fact that He'll always be there?

Absolutely Not.

He loves me.

 

Future seasons.

 College graduate.

Still can't believe it.

My dream from childhood is in the midst.

My passion is here.

The finishline has come.

A teacher.

A TEACHER.

Somedays it brings tears to my eyes.

Now what?

My college journey has come to an end.

well for now.

I have the anxiousness of finding a job.

We are told not to be anxious.

It is easier said than done at times.

will I teach soon?

How long until I find a full-time place?

My own school, my own classroom.

Where does God want me?

He has a plan.

He has brought me this far.

He won't give up on me now.

Lead me in your ways Lord.

Show me where you want me to go.

And help me get there.

Without God I can do nothing.

Teaching is my heart.

Children are my heart.

Teenagers are my heart.

Shaping.

Molding.

Educating.

This is me.

This is what I was made for.

I just need to find that security.

Find that job.

Figure things out.

And that is where I stand right now.

Time will tell...

 

 

 My heart.

My heart is heavy.

My heart is lost.

My heart is anxious.

My heart is wanting.

My heart is hurting.

My heart is ashamed.

My heart is lacking.

My heart is empty-feeling.

 

But God heals,

God provides,

God fills my emptiness,

God shows me strength,

God fills me with hope,

God restores,

God re-claims,

God brings peace,

God is all-knowing,

God leads me,

God holds me,

My God loves me.

Amen.

 

 

The God of angel armies is always by my side.  

Healing come.