tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38488852977285581372024-03-25T18:31:40.672-07:00She StandsShe Standshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045600571037484132noreply@blogger.comBlogger202125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848885297728558137.post-2702963061173602722024-03-20T09:48:00.000-07:002024-03-20T14:34:15.441-07:00A Wish and a Wink<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1n0wg5H-7tw3i0rC1MkeA2ho0r8hylio2pvDNJ2YPSHEIMvodDhc0pdW5NRrhF6HKj_oLCHSxmU6uvyVGUGxp1_hzFAFIw__nXyKP8u6_yCECfMcSG3LsSMdC1iPedVq9TUsnMj-8iEnEBWWmLiF9gPN2qylKu2xgufaLKjXVstu6jhK75nY9rw=s2357" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2357" data-original-width="2357" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1n0wg5H-7tw3i0rC1MkeA2ho0r8hylio2pvDNJ2YPSHEIMvodDhc0pdW5NRrhF6HKj_oLCHSxmU6uvyVGUGxp1_hzFAFIw__nXyKP8u6_yCECfMcSG3LsSMdC1iPedVq9TUsnMj-8iEnEBWWmLiF9gPN2qylKu2xgufaLKjXVstu6jhK75nY9rw=w320-h320" width="320" /></a></div><br /></span> <p></p><p><br /></p><p>I can remember as a young child picking dandelions to make a wish. Eyes tightly shut, face all smooshy and distorted to the point of my eyelids disappearing beneath my lashes; the wishes I had were life altering, or at least in my budding heart they were. One after the other, I would blow those dandelion seeds until the perching of my lips caused my face to start to tingle. The more I picked, the harder I would blow in the expectation of my hearts desires to birth right there in that moment. </p><p>I cannot remember the specifics of my many wishes. I can only recall the warm summers my tiny hands would pluck those dandelions in the hopes of one, if not all, of my wishes would show themselves true. Wish after wish after wish I knew one day all my face scrunching, lip perching, breath blowing yearning would pay off. The hopes of a child are forever pure in the tender innocent of age. </p><p>And I was no different. </p><p> As I got older my dandelion picking days became less frequent as did my wishes. I like to believe it was due to the reality's life threw my way instead of a despairing young woman who had, over time, saw herself unworthy of any goodness in her life. Life has a way of chipping away at our self-esteem and the knowledge of you truly are. Regardless of the reasoning behind it, I had stopped. </p><p>Over time, and as I began to age, I began to notice what I like to call, <i>God winks</i>. Little subtle reminders of who I am and most importantly whose I am. And where my identity lies. Life had robbed me of my self-worth. But my Jesus in his unfailing faithfulness reminded me. </p><p>My winks came in the form of an encouraging word from friend or family member; a worship song on the radio or a daily devotional I randomly picked up to read. My favorite winks are those He whispers to my heart when I least expect it. </p><p><b>Psalm 17:8</b></p><p><b><i>Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings. </i></b></p><p>The apple of his eye.......</p><p><b>John 1:12</b></p><p><i><b>Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become the children of God- </b></i></p><p>His child.....</p><p>Though many of my child-like wishes did not come to pass, my hope in my Jesus remained. Rooted deeply and entwined within my soul as a tapestry of His love, I have seen his hand in and over my life many times over. </p><p>He became my "dandelion."</p><p>I hold his hand instead of the stem of a flower. I whisper my hearts desires into His ear instead of blowing pedals into the wind. And above all, I know who I am and whose I am. </p><p><b>Romans 8:16</b></p><p><b><i>For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children. </i></b></p><p><b><i><br /></i></b></p><p>His winks and my wishes........</p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: Pacifico;"><i>His daughter, </i></span></p><p> </p>She Standshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045600571037484132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848885297728558137.post-54219887002557020532022-11-19T10:35:00.000-08:002022-11-19T10:35:11.209-08:00Waymaker<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_WAkfDCWMV3hU7q8R9lArAsMfhYMJjp0dkb582yvtC5hE5iX4HadKKZ_G0zlT_A3K9RuG9I4r-HRS9l4dH4h3MO-fZXnJUse_o_X3wA7WICOIIIljNtJn2oUDPfSLb0XCRSHeXd1yKz32H9FX-KfTK7cdeBF2WGWuxEDbinWuZaBBRezlArvew/s6016/jasmin-ne-46h-Sbq7n4w-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_WAkfDCWMV3hU7q8R9lArAsMfhYMJjp0dkb582yvtC5hE5iX4HadKKZ_G0zlT_A3K9RuG9I4r-HRS9l4dH4h3MO-fZXnJUse_o_X3wA7WICOIIIljNtJn2oUDPfSLb0XCRSHeXd1yKz32H9FX-KfTK7cdeBF2WGWuxEDbinWuZaBBRezlArvew/w400-h268/jasmin-ne-46h-Sbq7n4w-unsplash.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><b>"Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, light in the darkness... my God, that is who You are." </b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Those lyrics depict my life as single mom when my girls where children living at home. I struggled raising my children, and I struggled hard. Struggling was not a choice I made; it was a reality of a single mom working long hours on low wages. As very young children I do not believe my girls realized the struggles their mom had, but as teenagers I know the reality was front faced for them both. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Seeing what some of their peers had versus what they may have lacked in material things broke this mama's heart time and time again. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I know material possessions are not the end all be all of life, however for a teenager it can be in their world. And it caused some resentment in my home. Teenage years are tough. Not only for the parent but for the teenager trying to find their way and their purpose in life. There were times, I believed I had failed my children. And I probably did. Human efforts can cause one to feel unworthy, and less than. Coming up short is not for the faint in life. I fell down daily in one fashion or another. ...tried again the next day and cried in my pillow more times than I want to admit. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There was a time when one of my children made the comment she had purposed to grow up and never be like me. She would never struggle as I had and was. For a time, her words stung deeply to my core. I had hoped she had witnessed my faith and hope in Jesus instead of the struggles and pain. As parent, I never wanted my children to struggle as I had. I wanted them to go further in life then I could have ever hoped to. They have. I am more than proud of them both and every success they have accomplished in life thus far. However, I want them to see no matter how hard life was or is, their mom never quits. And the anchor that I hold on to is Jesus. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Looking back over my life and the struggles I have endured I can see the fingerprints of my Jesus in each and every one of them. We never went hungry, we always had a roof over our heads, clothes on our backs and an army of family and friends there supporting and cheering us on. But most importantly we had our "way maker." The One whose faithfulness never waivers, nor fails. He pulled me up and through for every storm that raged against me. I learned to thank him for what we did have instead of stress of what we did not have. I trusted him to provide when I could not. I believed in his promise of never leaving me nor forsaking me. I still do. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Luke 12:24 NKJV</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than birds?</i> </div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">He has been my way maker in times I could not see him....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My way maker when I could not hear him...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My way maker today....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My way maker tomorrow...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And He is yours. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Pacifico;">His daughter, </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Pacifico;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Pacifico;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Pacifico;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Pacifico;"><i> <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> <span> <span> </span> </span></span>*Way Maker is written by Sinach</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="376" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vsypFJ5mNw0" width="452" youtube-src-id="vsypFJ5mNw0"></iframe></div><p></p>She Standshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045600571037484132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848885297728558137.post-66051681362135849192022-10-26T10:34:00.000-07:002022-10-26T10:34:22.089-07:00He Called Me Out Of Darkness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span face=""helvetica","arial",sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><br /><span face=""helvetica","arial",sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; float: none; text-indent: 0px;"><span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><i>The</i></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i> bible defines darkness as ignorance and light as knowledge. To live in the darkness of the world causes one to live in ignorance, but to live in the light of Christ allows one to live in knowledge. Whatever we give ourselves to, it will give back in the same measure we use. Are you giving in to darkness (ignorance) or surrendering to light (knowledge</i></span></span><span class="Apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><i>)?</i> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">- Ron Carpenter.</span> </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I go back to those</span> words again and again. Their resonating sound in my heart causes me to pause as I take in a deep breath and exhale. I can hear the tapping of these words running through my mind. It can be so easy to slip into the world of ignorance, to trust what we choose to believe rather than what we know to be truth. Darkness/ ignorance does not always appear to be what one would call red flags shouting for us to stop. Many times, it appears wrapped in a pretty package clothed in what we believe to be real, and yet the true agenda is hidden behind the false picture painted to lure us in. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #1d2129;">"Hidden agenda" is defined as <i><b>a secret or ulterior motive for something. </b></i></span><div><span style="color: #1d2129;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #1d2129;">The enemy of our souls has one ultimate motive. His goal is to remove us for God's truth and have us live in a state of ignorance. Keeping us isolated from the knowledge of Jesus.<br /></span><div><span style="color: #1d2129;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #1d2129;"> How many times have we all been faced with the reality of a hidden agenda? Relationships we have given ourselves to, whether it be personal, job related, or community related. A place where we cannot see any light; only a pitch-black hole we have succumb in the hopes that a shred of light is up ahead. Truth be told no matter the darkness there is always the light within. The light of Christ. And we must choose what we give ourselves to. </span></div><div><span style="color: #1d2129;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #1d2129;">My holes came in waves. I would see them through blinders with the belief I knew better than the one who created me. Without fail as soon as my Jesus pulled me out of one hole, I was running towards another one. And jumping in with both feet. ~sigh~ </span></div><div><span style="color: #1d2129;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #1d2129;">But here's the good news.... </span></div><div><span style="color: #1d2129;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #1d2129;">He never left me. He continued, and still does today, to reach in and pull me from what is not of him in my life. His light continues to break through every barrier, every wall I built and hole I have ever put myself in through the world's lies of ignorance. His voice is the voice my soul hears continuously when darkness (ignorance) tries to pull me under. I still make mistakes, fall short and will forever be on the potter's wheel, however, I chose him. </span></div><div><span style="color: #1d2129;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #1d2129;"> I chose light. (knowledge) </span></div><div><span style="color: #1d2129;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #1d2129;">He. Is. The. Light. </span></div><div><span style="color: #1d2129;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #1d2129;">Mine and yours. </span></div><div><span style="color: #1d2129;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #1d2129;">He called me out of darkness. </span></div><div><span style="color: #1d2129;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #1d2129;">And he is calling you too! </span></div><div><span style="color: #1d2129;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><i style="color: #1d2129;"><br /></i></div><div><i style="color: #1d2129;">In him was life and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it</i><span style="color: #1d2129;">. -</span><i style="color: #1d2129;">John 1:4-5 </i></div><div><span style="color: #1d2129;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #1d2129;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #1d2129;"><br /></span><div><i><span style="font-family: Pacifico; font-size: medium;">His daughter</span></i></div><div><br /></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica";"></span><br /></div></div>She Standshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045600571037484132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848885297728558137.post-83666835585102782132022-09-20T08:11:00.000-07:002022-09-20T08:11:34.091-07:00There Was Jesus<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IYoAkhwDtRM/X2N-J2jrlAI/AAAAAAAAC8w/hzm3V_YEme4DEy7CAQB8lyGb4FPd1CE2gCLcBGAsYHQ/s780/jesus.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="780" height="269" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IYoAkhwDtRM/X2N-J2jrlAI/AAAAAAAAC8w/hzm3V_YEme4DEy7CAQB8lyGb4FPd1CE2gCLcBGAsYHQ/w478-h269/jesus.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><br /> <span> <i> Photo Credit: The Chosen </i></span><p></p><div><span><i><br /></i></span></div><div><br /></div><div> Seeing Jesus in the form of a man has been a life challenge for me. I know he is real. I know he walked on earth as living breathing flesh. But growing up I could never connect to the reality of the flesh side of him. I could not understand how someone I could not tangibly see could really love me. </div><div><div><br /></div><div>Until now....</div></div><div><br /></div><div>In my 50ish years my journey has led me straight to the face of my Jesus. And my own well of sorts. </div><div>Relating to the woman at the well has not only become a reflection of my own brokenness but a source of my healing. Jesus never intended for what broke me to have a lifetime hold on me. I did that. I was my own judge. And juror. </div><div><br /></div><div>Daily trials, life's mishaps, broken pieces and my lack of understanding continuously led me to the one face who loves me in spite of myself. My. Jesus. The weariness of my flesh at times will overtake my thoughts in the attempt of removing any presence of Him. But yet He remains. </div><div><br /></div><div>He remains in my moments of uncertainty and in my moments of peace. </div><div> </div><div>He is there. </div><div><br /></div><div> Always. </div><div><br /></div><div>The last few months he has continuously reminded me though he remains, I am to remain in him. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i>If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you. - John 15:7</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>The woman at the well had isolated herself from society in the attempts of hiding her broken shame. </div><div><br /></div><div>Guilt. </div><div><br /></div><div>Embarrassment. </div><div><br /></div><div>Unworthiness. </div><div><br /></div><div>Self loathing.</div><div><br /></div><div>And the list goes on. </div><div><br /></div><div>I get her. </div><div><br /></div><div>I had isolated my heart and built a wall of a Fort Knox magnitude over the years. I listened to the voice of shame on repeat over and over again. I questioned my worth, my appearance, my intellect and even His love for me. </div><div><br /></div><div>But through it all....</div><div><br /></div><div>He has met me and continues to meet me at whatever well I am currently at in life, never to turn away from even the ugliest parts of me, and restores His daughter to where He would have me to be. </div><div><br /></div><div>There .Was. Jesus. </div><div><br /></div><div>And because of Him, my days of sitting at the well have purpose.</div><div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /></div></div><div><br /></div>She Standshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045600571037484132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848885297728558137.post-86563862711448076652020-09-28T06:46:00.002-07:002020-09-28T13:19:29.420-07:00Just Write<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PLQremQuEHY/X238xWCzuqI/AAAAAAAAC9A/4Z_ul-uQjdc44NndSz6rkD1Tl2nZE6qcgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/nick-morrison-FHnnjk1Yj7Y-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PLQremQuEHY/X238xWCzuqI/AAAAAAAAC9A/4Z_ul-uQjdc44NndSz6rkD1Tl2nZE6qcgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/nick-morrison-FHnnjk1Yj7Y-unsplash.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> <span> </span> </span><span> </span>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@nickmorrison?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Nick Morrison</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/writing?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a><p></p><p><br /></p><p>Some days I can feel the words in me swirling like a small tornado. Other days words are hard to find. </p><p>But. Today. </p><p>There is no rhythm or reason to the words in my spirit. They swirl with a life of their own, waiting to be introduced to the world. There is no one story in particular only words that are bursting to be written. </p><p>Today I will just write.</p><p> From a place that has stained my heart with tears...</p><p> From a place that has brought unexplained joy to my soul....</p><p> From all that has moved me into a grace that can only be from Jesus himself. </p><p>Never mind if the tale of my words jump from one universe to another; if they intertwine as unmatched threads having no connection whatsoever. </p><p>Just write. </p><p>Write those things which others can bury within and have them for a rainy day. </p><p>Write those things which others can glean nuggets of wisdom on days when wisdom seems to be hidden. </p><p>Write those things for all to be reminded how loved and important we are and do have purpose. </p><p>Write those things that once brought you pain but now gives you a joy beyond your wildest imagination. </p><p>Write portions of your life in truth and transparency knowing your words will be a anchor of hope to many. Or just one. </p><p>This year has been indescribable. 2020 has had me take inventory of myself and the life I desire for the Kingdom of God. My heart posture has been molded and remolded...….daily. </p><p>But the rocks of wisdom I have gained have been etched deep within my soul . </p><p><br /></p><p><b><i>* My validation does not come from the things of this world but in Jesus alone. </i></b></p><p><b><i>* The rejection that has slammed my heart , no longer holds me hostage. </i></b></p><p><b><i>* Extend grace as often as possible; just as my Jesus does for me. </i></b></p><p><b><i>* Compassion is a portion of the hearts life line. Share it. Jesus has shown me more compassion than I would ever deserve. </i></b></p><p><b><i>* Stay humble in all things at all times. Pride is destructive and has no mercy. </i></b></p><p><i><b>* Use Godly wisdom with the things of this world and never take my eyes off Jesus. Stay focused!</b></i></p><p><i><b>* Turning the other cheek over and over again hurts like the dickens but the rewards of forgiveness out weights any false value or narrative in revenge seeking. </b></i></p><p><i><b>* The power of prayer and its effects can never be measured.. Prayer seals me, delivers me, protects me, provides for me and most importantly connects me to The One I belong to. </b></i></p><p><b><i>* He gives me beauty for my ashes. </i></b></p><p><b><i>* He sings over me</i></b></p><p><b><i>* I am His daughter. </i></b></p><p><b><i>* Loved without measure </i></b></p><p><b><i><br /></i></b></p><p> I do not know what is around the bend for me or this upside down world we are living in. But what I do know, Jesus has it and us in the palm of his hand. Trust him and stay focused!! </p><p><br /></p><p>And keep writing!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>James 3:13 </p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.</span></span></p>She Standshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045600571037484132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848885297728558137.post-51479425260219965622020-06-08T10:03:00.000-07:002020-06-08T10:03:29.298-07:00Set Apart<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I7e-8nmqueY/Wyka5KFUCKI/AAAAAAAACrU/DVuWzTReFxEyWKtkQ1c5f1qEwq6JzYKzQCLcBGAs/s1600/daniil-kuzelev-558030-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I7e-8nmqueY/Wyka5KFUCKI/AAAAAAAACrU/DVuWzTReFxEyWKtkQ1c5f1qEwq6JzYKzQCLcBGAs/s640/daniil-kuzelev-558030-unsplash.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Deuteronomy 14:2 (NIV) </div>
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For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. Out of the peoples on the face of the earth, the Lord has chosen you to be his treasured possession. </div>
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Treasured possession...….. ~sigh~<br />
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There have been too many times in my life where I never saw myself as a treasured
possession; someone of worth. I could be standing in a room full of people,
huge smile on my face, laughter echoing with a boisterous sound of a sonic boom
and yet I felt so alone. Out of place. Misplaced. I never really understood how a social butterfly such as myself
could feel so detached from the world around me. But disjointed I was.<span> </span><br />
<br /><div>I was able to force myself into fitting in; merging with the
crowd. And going with the flow. It was never just one crowd. I was a
chameleon of sorts.<span> </span>Changing my colors
to blend with my surroundings. Always looking the part in words and action, but never understanding why I could never change the bellowing
emotions on the inside forcibly stating two words...…. </div><div><br /></div><div>Set. Apart. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span> </span>How does one set
themselves apart from the world? A world whose narrative is based on flesh and
sin; a world where all atrocious behavior is painted as good for the name sake
of love and yet real love, the love of Jesus, holy and pure, is stepped on and mocked. Why? Because it is a love
which does not distort its truth in order to justify the vile lies engulfing
God's chosen; <b><i>his treasured possessions. </i></b><br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><br />Romans 12:2 (NIV) <br />Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and
approve what God's will is his good will, pleasing and perfect will. <br />
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<br /><div><span> </span>I had allowed the
worlds imparting words describe the person I was to be. Rejected, broken, unlovable, never amount to anything kind of girl. In
reality, I was never that girl. I never could see who I truly was created to be. It has taken me many years, decades of time to realize who I am. <span> I am not perfect, nor will I ever be. But the one who calls me his, well he is perfect. And He says</span> <span> </span>I am
chosen, blessed, favored, called with a purpose, loved beyond measure and created in my Father's image. </div><div><br /></div><div>Genesis 1:27 (NIV)</div><div>So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. </div><div><br /></div><div><h1 class="passage-display" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 500 14px/1.1 "quot"; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px 0px 20px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">I. Am. Set. Apart. </h1></div>
<div>One definition of set apart states " to put a value
upon something."<span> </span>The world would have us placed on a sales rack; marked down with an extra 50% off. . We are not a marked down sales item. <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">We are made in the imagine of Christ.</span><span> </span>Our value in Him cannot be measured. It is
beyond what the human mind can comprehend. We have been <i><b>chosen</b> </i>and set apart at the
highest value; placed in a glass case lined in royal velvet and encased in gold.</div><div><br /></div><div>1 Peter 2:9 (NIV) </div><div>But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. </div><div><br /></div><div>God's special possession!</div><div><br /></div><div>Say it out loud. </div><div><br /></div><div>Say it again. </div><div><br /></div><div>And again. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>We are God's special possessions!</i></b></div><div><b></b><i></i><br /></div><div>No where does that verse say we are a sales item; a marked down commodity unworthy of any value.</div><div>Man in all attempts will say our value is found in the things of this world. However, Jesus tells us we are not of this world. Our validation comes straight from him and him alone. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I am chosen.</div><div><br /></div><div>You are chosen.</div><div><br /></div><div>We are chosen.</div><div><br /></div><div>We are...….</div><div><br /></div><div>Set. Apart. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><font size="2"></font><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><h1 class="passage-display" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.1; margin: 0px 0px 20px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><font size="2"></font><br /></h1><h1 class="passage-display" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.1; margin: 0px 0px 20px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></h1><h1 class="passage-display" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.1; margin: 0px 0px 20px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></h1></div>
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She Standshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045600571037484132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848885297728558137.post-23914325855872846292020-05-05T12:24:00.002-07:002020-05-06T09:26:41.392-07:00The Bellowing Cry of Silence<div align="justify" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b9J76zZJcz4/Xpn6l_L0zSI/AAAAAAAAC28/YCHP-8um144S3nBC-g1CItR7JynjOWxMgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/boba-jovanovic-VWmCwpWSVf0-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1212" data-original-width="1600" height="302" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b9J76zZJcz4/Xpn6l_L0zSI/AAAAAAAAC28/YCHP-8um144S3nBC-g1CItR7JynjOWxMgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/boba-jovanovic-VWmCwpWSVf0-unsplash.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: nowrap; word-spacing: 0px;">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@bboba?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #767676; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out;">Boba Jovanovic</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/silence?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #767676; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out;">Unsplash</a></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: nowrap; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: nowrap; word-spacing: 0px;"><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
T<span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: nowrap; word-spacing: 0px;">his unfiltered silence of the unknown has taken on a bellowing cry of its own. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: nowrap; word-spacing: 0px;">The</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: nowrap; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: nowrap; word-spacing: 0px;">unanswered questions in my mind have become a kaleidoscope. </span></div><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: nowrap; word-spacing: 0px;"><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></div></span><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: nowrap; word-spacing: 0px;">And with each turn, the different shades of gray have no answers. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: nowrap; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: nowrap; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: nowrap; word-spacing: 0px;">My flesh, in its uncomfortable state of the untold, seeps tears of its own. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
A<span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: nowrap; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: nowrap; word-spacing: 0px;">ll the while my heart and soul is </span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: nowrap; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: nowrap; word-spacing: 0px;">trusting </span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: nowrap; word-spacing: 0px;">the Lord on a whole new level in this new normal we are living.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: nowrap; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: nowrap; word-spacing: 0px;">I must admit, when this plague surfaced its ghastly head, I started this journey strong. The unknown had no hold on me. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: nowrap; word-spacing: 0px;">Porch sitting became my place of solace. No fear. No tears. My sword raised high, the battle began. I dove</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: nowrap; word-spacing: 0px;">head first into the word of my Jesus. I soaked in sermon after sermon. I sang my songs of worship from the</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: nowrap; word-spacing: 0px;">noiseless perch of my porch: off key. And I listened for the voice, <b><i>the</i></b> only voice, who could give me solid peace.</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: nowrap; word-spacing: 0px;"></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: nowrap; word-spacing: 0px;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: nowrap; word-spacing: 0px;"><span> </span>Jesus.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: nowrap; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: nowrap; word-spacing: 0px;">Day after day, the moment my eyes would open, I took the new familiar steps from my bed to my coffee pot. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
A<span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: nowrap; word-spacing: 0px;">nd then </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: nowrap; word-spacing: 0px;">to my newest Jesus spot for our morning conversation. Fifty plus days later and my sword looks to have dropped</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: nowrap; word-spacing: 0px;">a few inches. In the heaviness of circumstances surrounding us all, my thoughts are all over the place. I have </span></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: nowrap; word-spacing: 0px;">my moments when I simply can not string my words together. And my prayers have declined to one word......</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: nowrap; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: nowrap; word-spacing: 0px;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Jesus. </span></div><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-size: 14px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: nowrap; word-spacing: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">No comprehendible phrases can my mouth complete. <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #111111; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: nowrap; word-spacing: 0px;">"Is this what battle weary feels like?" I whisper to my Jesus. </span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And the turning of the kaleidoscope has become mute. I allow my mind to drift back to when Moses became weary and his arms were held up during battle. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">My request is a murmur.. " hold my arms up just a bit longer, please." Tears form and fall. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">My soul tenderly leans into my spirit listening for anything other than the bellowing cry of silence. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">" It did not take this long for Jericho to fall." I tell myself. My spiritual feet in their callous filled dusty appearance scream for a reprieve. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I continue to walk. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The silence is deafening. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I am not okay with the uncertainty. I am not okay with the unknown of what the future normal will be. I am not okay with the uncomfortable</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">heaviness that has overtaken wedges of my daily life. I am not okay with this strange cry of silence. And that's okay. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>It's okay to not be okay. </b></div><b></b><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">There is no shame in uncertainty. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">There is no shame in the unknown. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">There is no shame in weariness. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>But there is hope. </b></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></b><b><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></b><div style="text-align: center;"><font size="4">Psalm 130:5 </font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font size="4">I wait for the Lord, my souls waits, </font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font size="4">And in His word I do hope. </font></div><font size="4"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></font><font size="4"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></font><div style="text-align: center;">Hope is what gives the bellowing cry of silence a voice. It renounces those things wanting to undo what has already been done. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It declares victory before the shofar horn is heard in the distance. It holds fatiguing arms up in battle. It renews the bottoms of dusty calloused marching feet. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hope is not merely a desire or wishful thinking. Hope is a confident expectation that a change will take place; something will happen. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hope is the anchoring voice in the bellowing cry of silence. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As my soul continues to lean into my spirit, I will press into the bellowing cry of silence; trusting.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I will praise my Jesus. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">More. And. More. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font size="4">Psalm 71:14</font></div><div style="text-align: center;"><font size="4">As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. </font></div><font size="4"></font><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><font size="4"></font><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">
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She Standshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045600571037484132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848885297728558137.post-83168549359648828062020-02-19T09:05:00.000-08:002020-02-19T09:05:21.142-08:00His Love Broke Open The Way.......<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b2e9gHZ7yQk/W-B4cwnB-hI/AAAAAAAACtk/QU05MtgFqecL4VgIv67c2azCtdZBumiJQCLcBGAs/s1600/tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1407" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b2e9gHZ7yQk/W-B4cwnB-hI/AAAAAAAACtk/QU05MtgFqecL4VgIv67c2azCtdZBumiJQCLcBGAs/s400/tree.jpg" width="350" /></a></div>
<br />
<em><b>His love broke open the way and brought me into a beautiful broad place...... Psalm 18:19 (TPT)</b></em><br />
<em></em><b></b><br />
<em></em><br />
" His love broke open the way...." <br />
<br />
<br />
I simply adore those words. I can see in this translation
the beautiful resurrection of Christ. Though he laid dead in a darkened tomb
with a stone sealing him in and others out, God reached down with His love,
kissing life back into His son with life whispering words. And the stone was
rolled away...…..<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many times, in my
life there have been situations, circumstances or even relationships which
seemed to be placed behind a stone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No heartbeat.
No warming touch. No life at all. There have been other times when I felt like
I was the one behind a stone. Stumbling through the pitch blackness, gasping
for air, hands forward trying to feel my way out through the absolute dead of
silence. Or so it appeared. <br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
BUT. GOD. <br />
<br />
He never intended for those things in my life which look to
be desolate to remain as such. What I see and what He sees are never the same.
A lingering situation may appear to be decayed and useless by my own
conception.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He, however, knows it to be
a progression; a process of restoring, growth and redeeming.<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<i>* Restoring those things which were lost</i><br />
<i>* Redeeming the unjust seasons</i><br />
<i>* Growth in spiritual maturity. </i><br />
<br />
<br />
It is in His unfailing love; we are never left as we are.
Nothing I ever go through in life is wasted. My Jesus will use every moment of
every season in my life to bring beauty from my ashes, healing for my wounds,
peace in my despair, joy in the midst of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>mourning, patience in the valley, wisdom in the storm, and comfort in
the waiting.<br />
<br />
He doesn't leave me faltering in the dark behind a cold stone;
with His hands extended in grace and mercies dripping from His fingertips, He
rolls the stone. Every. Time.<br />
<span class="text Ps-27-13" id="en-NKJV-14299" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></i></span>
<span class="text Ps-27-13" id="en-NKJV-14299" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></i></span>
<span class="text Ps-27-13" id="en-NKJV-14299" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Psalm 21:13 (NKJV) </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Ps-27-13" id="en-NKJV-14299" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">I would have lost heart,</i> unless I had believed</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span class="text Ps-27-13" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">That I would see the goodness of the <span class="small-caps divine-name" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span class="text Ps-27-13" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NKJV-14299A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NKJV-14299A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></sup>In the land of the living.</span></span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<br />
My stones came in many fashions. Stones of brokenness. Stones of unworthiness. Stones of rejection and stones of fear. I had stones of self doubt, some larger than others and some just a pebble of a size. Some stones were ones of facades. I had sadly became real good at hiding my true emotions growing up. My happy plastic face became one of permanency for the many trips around the sun for this girl.<br />
<br />
But once again...….<br />
<br />
MY. JESUS. <br />
<br />
Time and time again He has delivered me from myself and the stones I had grown accustom to in my life. He rescued me because He delights in me. Scripture tells us He delights in us all.<br />
<br />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV) </span></span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<span class="text Zeph-3-17" id="en-NIV-22838" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">The <span class="small-caps" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> your God is with you,</span><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: &quot; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Zeph-3-17" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">the Mighty Warrior who saves.<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-22838A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-22838A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></sup></span></span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span class="text Zeph-3-17" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">He will take great delight<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-22838B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-22838B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></sup> in you;</span><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text Zeph-3-17" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">in his love he will no longer rebuke you,</span></span><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Zeph-3-17" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">but will rejoice over you with singing.”</span></span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
The beautiful, wonderous broad place is in His arms; sheltered, redeemed, restored, renewed, and loved without measure.<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
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His love broke open the way for me...…..<br />
And for you.<br />
<i></i>
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💛<br />
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<br />She Standshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045600571037484132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848885297728558137.post-46223949616386795352019-12-06T12:55:00.000-08:002019-12-06T12:55:52.308-08:00Joyous Expectations<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I do not remember the last time I felt the urgency to write. It felt as though I had lost the words the Lord had swirling on the inside of me. No matter how many times I opened my blog to pen what was in my heart, my entire being would draw a huge blank. So there I sat waiting for the words to come; ready for them to spill from the orifice of my many tears. While I did not hear any words to script, my heart and soul heard...<i>"Shhhhhh" </i><br />
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2019 has been a uncomfortable year of waiting for me. Asking, seeking, praying without ceasing, diving into His word time after time and...…… more waiting. I could not find any solace in the silence I was bearing. In the middle of what I saw as a paused life, growth has been taking place. A growth I could not understand ...…until now.<br />
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If I had to pick one point of growth to share, one that stands out the greatest, TRUST. I have stressed to my children, my friends and family more times than I can count to trust the Lord. And make no mistake, I do trust Him, but was my trust implicitly? I know He provides for me. I know He is there to guide me. I know His ways are better than mine. I know He never leaves me. So where was this trust of mine lacking? My struggle of trust came from the weariness of the unknown in my life. I wasn't seeing the changes I craved in the natural and my discouragement took a toll. <br />
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And then...…………. I lost my joy. <br />
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Not the kind that would have one screaming in delight as a child on Christmas morning but the joy granted by the Holy Spirit that no matter my surroundings, situations and or circumstances, the Lord is working all things out for my good. (Romans 8:28)<br />
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With each tic-toc of the clock I was becoming undone with what I considered a silent valley. There were periodic moments I would hear Him speak bits of encouragement. And then nothing, notta, not even a peep. In my exacerbated state of mine, I told Him I needed more. <i><b>No more dialogue, I craved monologue. </b></i>I needed to hear from Him profoundly an clearly. It was then He sheltered me from my surroundings, pulled me in, tucked me safely under the wing of His love and softly spoke to my heart. Over time as each month passed I began to remember the promises He had made to me over the years. Even those from my childhood. Each promise He had me to remember, one by one, opened a passage way for His joy to return.<br />
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<b></b><span style="color: #004003;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">My fellow believers, when <b style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;">it</b> seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties see <b style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;">it</b> as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest <b style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;">joy</b> that you can! For you know that when your faith is tested <b style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;">it</b> stirs up power within you to endure <b style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;">all</b> things. And then as your endurance grows even stronger <b style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;">it</b> will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking. ...</span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />She Standshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045600571037484132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848885297728558137.post-49136685328627828942019-06-11T20:15:00.000-07:002019-06-11T20:15:00.527-07:00Scattering Seeds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Mark 4:5-6 (NKJV)</div>
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Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth;and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away. </div>
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Scorched and withered....</div>
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When I read those two words the pain I imagine can not equate with the reality of the pain one would feel of having a part of their body scorched. Nor can I fathom the pain of someone who is withering away from a torturous illness. Just as our flesh can become scorched and our bodies can wither away so can our spiritual lives if we allow the seeds of our faith to be planted upon stony ground. A plant, flowers and trees need firm roots buried deep within the richness of the earth's soil to grow strong. I too need strong roots buried deep with in the word of God to maintain my spiritual growth. <i><b>Shallow roots of faith have no substance to cling to the promises of God.</b></i> They hold on for a short time only to fall away just as quickly as they sprung up. </div>
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Jesus explains the meaning of His parable in Mark 4:16-17. The Passion Translation reads, " The seed sown on gravel represents those who hear the Word and receive it joyfully, but because their hearts fail to sink a deep root into the Word, they don't endure for long. For when trouble or persecution comes on account of the Word, they immediately wilt and fall away." </div>
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Fall away.......</div>
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I can not grasp the very idea of falling away from Jesus. I. Can. Not. But I have. And not intentionally. Let's back up a minute. When a seed is planted, it must be taken care of diligently. It requires the perfect soil with the right nutrients, and watered daily. As it grows it must be pruned of any dead leaves or branches to give it the best environment to mature to its fullness. The same goes for my walk of faith. For my spiritual seeds to grow, I too must be planted in good soil, Godly soil. . Watering myself daily through prayer,reading the Word and allowing the Lord to remove any dead things that would hinder me is my best spiritual environment for growth. However, when I choose to become complacent in m in the my study time, or allow the busyness of life to hinder my prayer time or rebel in my pruning process, in a sense I am falling away. Why? Because my roots are no longer thriving but simply existing. I am not turning away from Jesus but my roots are losing their depth. </div>
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To bear good fruit I must always be planted in good soil. My heart must stay open to receive the Word. Jesus tells us in Mark 4: 20 " But the seed sown on good soil represents those who open their hearts to receive the Word and their lives bear good fruit- some yield a harvest of thirty, sixty, even one hundred times more than what was sown." (TPT) Receiving the Word of God is what keeps the growth of my roots immersed with strength. A seed which yields tenacious roots will also bear much fruit; a harvest of plenty.</div>
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Colossians 2:7</div>
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Your spiritual roots go deeply into His life as you are continually infused with strength, encouraged in every way. For you are established in the faith you have absorbed and enriched by your devotion to Him. (TPT) </div>
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My hope is for the seeds I scatter to always fall on good ground and the depth of my roots remain deep-seated causing me to never wither away under the scorching heat of life's trials and tribulations. I want the substance of my faith to endure, to stand, and to forever cling to my Jesus. </div>
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Scattering seeds...............</div>
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Forever His daughter, </div>
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<br />She Standshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045600571037484132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848885297728558137.post-125310191105182332018-12-10T13:23:00.002-08:002018-12-10T13:23:52.131-08:00Receiving Grace 2019 <img height="254" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CQAl_j5UkAA1_3z.jpg:large" width="400" /><br />
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Every year the Lord will give me one word for the upcoming year. Last year He spoke the word receive to me. I'd be lying if I didn't say how excited I was to hear that word. <i>Receive,</i> <i>receive, receive</i>......I couldn't imagine all the great and new wonderful things He had for me to receive in 2018. I did my happy dance all the way through Christmas, extending my dance moves into the new year and added a few toe-tapping moves by the time spring rolled around. At that point, there was nothing or no one that could sway me from my self-indulged happy dance.<br />
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And then life cut in and interrupted my blissful dance with "receive". Division shoved me off the dance floor while strife was stepping on my toes. Hurt was waiting for me to twirl me right into the arms of brokenness. This was not even close to what I believed I was to receive. Not understanding I brought my unhappiness to the feet of my Jesus. My life has been an uphill climb for so long, why for the love of all creation would another season of tumultuous storms swoop in? The Lord does not cause turmoil. Nor does He cause chaos and pain. However, He will use those things in which were sent to knock me off my feet for His good. <br />
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Even though I know He will always bring good to me, I became weary in the waiting and irritated with this process; a process I deemed never ending. Becoming self-absorbed in my own emotions I was missing the truth of what I was to receive. For me to be all He has created me to be, I must continually learn to be more of Him and less of me. I had to learn to become gracious in all seasons of my life, including those parts which were most hurtful. Believe it or not but there are many blessings to receive when life cuts in on your happy dance. And I was learning to recognize His blessings instead of wallowing in misery.<br />
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So what did I receive in 2018?<br />
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A greater focus on Him, my Jesus, than those things around me........<br />
A deeper love, more like Him less of me, when rejection slaps me hard........<br />
A strength to be still and wait for His direction instead of running ahead of Him.......<br />
A deeper level of wisdom when the actions and choices of others hurt me........<br />
A stronger prayer life; one that will continue and faithfully stand through the pain life throws at me, even if it's through my tears.<br />
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And a grace that binds me to the Father, never to separate us even when life cuts in.<br />
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Grace......... that is my word for 2019.<br />
And I am dancing with her now!<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="passage-display-version" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;">Hebrews 4:16 ( TPT) </span></span></div>
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<span class="text Heb-4-16" id="en-TPT-10023" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>So now we come freely and boldly to where love is enthroned, to receive mercy’s kiss and discover the grace we urgently need to strengthen us<span style="font-size: 10px;"></span> in our time of weakness.</span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Segoe Script","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Forever His Daughter,<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Segoe Script","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Stacey<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
She Standshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045600571037484132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848885297728558137.post-80043856703485376532018-10-16T11:18:00.000-07:002018-10-16T11:18:14.115-07:00The Crevices of Change Hurt<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Making pottery is a craft of pure beauty. Majestic designs etched in to the clay with the smallest of hand tools. The steadiness of the potter's hands as the wheel is spun, scrapping away what is not needed in creating a one of a kind piece. The brazen shine, bold colors, and lingering prints of love left behind for all to see the tender care that was placed in creating such a piece causes pause and reflection on the times when I have been placed on the potter's wheel where the Lord will mold, shape and reshape me time and time again never to leave me as I am. <br />
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I had made a mental list of things I need to change. Next to each item, I noted the whys, the how's and the just because reasons to the changes needed. However, my list was long which caused an overwhelming panic to set in. There I was smack dab in the middle of a self induced panic attack I stared at a list I could never accomplish on my own. I had not even the slightest clue to which change to start with. They all seemed to run together. I had picked my self apart with each of my flaws to the point the only thing left was a thread bare heart dangling to hold on. <br />
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My gullibility caused me many a heartache.....<br />
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My OCD over certain things caused a truck load of strife.....<br />
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My deep seeded fear I'd be rejected in my lack had me living in a state of delusional perfection. Nor did it help when others would make sure my lack/failures were always front and center. The emotional hamster wheel I was on had me running in chaos. The unforgiveness I believed I had mastered bubbled up inside like a dormant volcano ready to spew it's hot lava. <br />
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And when I reached the point of shear desperation, Jesus stepped in............<br />
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" I am the vine, you are the branches, He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." John 15:5<br />
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Though I am forever on the potter's wheel, He gives me a lesson in being a branch. He had to remind me without Him I could not successfully change those things of my flesh. It is only through His molding and reshaping would the changes come. He showed me how the struggle with myself was more that those around me. The portrait in my head had me playing tug-a-war with my emotions. The whys, the who's, and the how's mixed with my lack of understanding waged a war in my every thought. He then reminded me it is in my weakness He is strong. He reminded me in the deepest of my crevices of change, He is always with me. He is the potter. My potter. The One who sees the beauty He lovingly crafted in me and the designs of my heart He etched for His purpose. <br />
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For my " branch" of life to remain I must continue to abide in Him. To stay connected to Jesus. The "fruit" my life will bear will only come forth when I allow Him to scrape the deep crevices of my heart and remove any impure things which would cause my life's fruit to die before it would ever have a chance to bloom. There may be seasons when He has to trim my branch slightly.There are other times when He will have to prune me to barley a nub on the vine allowing for large growth to occur.<br />
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And when the growing pains from scraping crevices become impossible to bear He reminds me again and again, time after time, His grace is enough for me. <br />
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2 Corinthians 12:9<br />
<span class="text 2Cor-12-9" id="en-NIV-29032" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But he said to me, <span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">“My grace<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29032A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29032A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.62em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></sup> is sufficient for you, for my power<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29032B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29032B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.62em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></sup> is made perfect in weakness.<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29032C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29032C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.62em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></sup>”<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29032D" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29032D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.62em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></sup></span> Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.</span></span><br />
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She Standshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045600571037484132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848885297728558137.post-54306504268226512082018-06-18T09:55:00.000-07:002018-06-18T09:55:24.031-07:00Trust The Block<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If I were to write a complete list of every time the Lord blocked a situation in my life and I broke through the barricade, my list would lap the world a few times over. Disobedience through my emotions has caused me great pain in my life time. Caving into what my flesh has desired has never lined up with what the Lord has had for me. And my own justifications for doing so, well lets just say pride had a lot to do with it. It has taken many of falls, much heart break and several do overs to get to a place in my own thinking were I have realized to trust the block, to accept the barricades for my own well being and the wisdom to see past my own wants. His plans are far better than any of my own. And in this season of my life, I have a profound peace in that knowledge. <br />
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However in my earlier years my foolish ways caused an abundance of unnecessary hard lessons. I never sought the Lord in my decision making. I made what choices I believed to be right and then when things were falling apart, begged the Lord to bless my choice. From job changes, to relationships and even geographical moves, I did what I wanted and how I wanted. If there was a block in front of me, I would go around it, climb over it and through it, and it some instances, bull dozed my way through. Chaos was on the other side, and I leaped right into it. <br />
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Blocks can be defined as boundaries set in place to protect and redirect us from those things which will cause us to stumble and distract us. The Lord is constantly growing and evolving His children to higher levels, new seasons and broader scopes of faith; however to reach our ordained destiny, we must not violate the barricades set before us. I have learned and still learning, to set aside foolish ways and to listen to the voice of wisdom, the voice of my Jesus. But most importantly..............<br />
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Trust the block. <br />
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<em><strong>"Too much preoccupation with self-will may cause us not to see what God is doing to help us."</strong></em> - Joyce Meyer, UnShakeable Trust.<br />
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Living in self-will blinds us to God's help. I know from my own experiences I could not see God working in my situations due to my impatience. Hasty decisions, spur of the moment choices and barreling through the blocks caused me to live in a state with blinders on. I existed in the here and now, never looking to the bigger picture. The Lord is all His grace had to allow me to get to a place where I was tired of being sick and tired of my own out comes. Starting over back at square one become most exasperating.<br />
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Proverbs 1:22-23<br />
How long, you simple ones,will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge. Turn at my rebuke; surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. <br />
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His rebuke is His correction with love and He has made His words known to me.<br />
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Trust the block.<br />
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<br />She Standshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045600571037484132noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848885297728558137.post-54925984630426037112018-06-01T11:31:00.001-07:002020-09-28T09:36:40.265-07:00She Shut The Door And Poured <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<em>2 Kings 4:5</em></div>
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<em>So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured it out.</em> </div>
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2 Kings chapter 4 tells the story of a widow woman on the verge of losing her sons to pay off the debits owed. With creditors on their way to take her only means of future support, she cries out to the prophet Elisha. Following his instructions, vessels are gathered and the little bit of oil she has begins to flow in abundance.....<strong><em> after she shuts the door.</em></strong> With many vessels now full, she is able to sell the oil, pay the debits owed and her sons remain with her. </div>
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<strong>She shut the door and poured it out.......</strong></div>
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Those words erupt in my heart. A Godly woman she was. she poured her heart out and her needs were met. But she shut the door! Too many times in life I have a need , a wanting, a desire but yet can not hear what the Lord would say all because I have left the door open; an open door allowing the voices of the world to pour into my heart and not the promises of God. He longs to fill the vessels of my heart with His goodness but it is up to me to shut the door and let the pouring begin. </div>
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I am forever a vessel on the potters wheel...........</div>
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I am learning to be able to pour into the lives of others, I must have something to pour. If the vessels of my heart are over flowing with doubt, un-forgiveness, uncertainty, and even worse anger, there is no room for the oils of Gods goodness to fill me. My hearts desire is to pour grace, mercy, joy, wisdom and love. But to do so I must be careful as to what is poured in my heart. </div>
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<em>Matthew 6:6 </em></div>
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<em>But you, when you pray, go to your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place;</em> </div>
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Once again we read<em><strong> "shut the door."</strong></em> Jesus wants one on one time with us. He wants to be able to meet every need, every desire and do so in abundance. However if the door is left open for the bellowing of the world to scream against the promising words of God, our vessels cannot be filled with His righteousness. I have purposed in my heart to bring all my vessels to Jesus daily, to shut the door and allow Him to fill me. And in turn pour into those whom He seeks me to pour into. </div>
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She shut the door and poured.................</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Segoe Script","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Stacey<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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She Standshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045600571037484132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848885297728558137.post-59554010157994290762018-05-24T09:13:00.000-07:002018-05-24T09:13:27.969-07:00According To My Fruits<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<strong>Jeremiah 17:9-10</strong> <br />
<em><strong>The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it? I, The Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.</strong></em> <br />
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I read those words over and over and the seven words that stood out to me <em>"according to the fruit of his doings." </em> We know whatever is in the heart of man, it will manifest its self through words, actions and in behaviors and thoughts. In the days of Jeremiah we know he was called to speak to a nation whose hearts were filled with deceit, a place were no good fruit was found. And once again I go back to those seven words and this time I change them a bit ..... " according to the fruit of MY doing." <br />
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Did you read what I wrote? I put my own heart in that verse for the Lord to search. That is not an easy task. No one likes to be called out for the wrong we say, do or even think. It's so much easier if we can just sweep it under the rug and forget. I long for my fruits to be all which has been given to me, however there are those days when the fruits of my heart are less than. When my peace is replaced with strife, joy with anguish, patience with irritation and love with extreme dislike. My gentleness is not so gentle and my kindness needs to be put in check. My fruit of the Spirit is now the fruit of my flesh....................<br />
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<strong>Proverbs 4:23</strong><br />
<strong><em>Above all else, guard your heart,for everything you do flows from it.</em></strong> <br />
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I have moments when my emotions over ride my hearts guard. I allow my feelings in that instance take precedence of what I know to be true and sound............ God's word. <br />
I am lead to ask myself " Are my gifts showing more of my fruits, or the fruits of Christ? "<br />
What is really flowing from my heart? Pondering on those words, I dig deeper. <br />
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<em><strong>"I, the Lord, search the heart, ..."</strong></em><br />
God is profoundly acquainted with the heart. He knows every ounce of what is residing in it; it's thoughts and designs. Nothing can be hidden from Him.<br />
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<strong><em> "I test the mind, ....."</em></strong><br />
God does so to pass a true judgment on ones true character. My desire is for my character to reflect Christ and not the world; to extend grace, mercy and unfailing love without a judgmental heart. <br />
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<strong><em>"even to give everyman according to his ways, ....." </em></strong><br />
Life to those who walk in the way of life and death to those who do not. This is a spiritual life and death. How we chose to live on earth will determine how we spend eternity. I seek to speak life over those I encounter and share the living word of God's truth and love. <br />
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<strong><em>"according to the fruit of his doings"</em></strong> <br />
And I am now back to the question I have asked myself. What effect and influence has my gifts had on those around me? What have my gifts shown? Fruits of my flesh or fruits of the Spirit? In a world that has become filled with such diversity that goes against the very things of God, I pray the fruits of my doing will exemplify the life Christ has ordained for me. And when it does not, He will search my heart according to my fruits. <br />
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To be more of Christ and less of me, a daily heart check is required. <br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "segoe script" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Forever
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "segoe script" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Stacey<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br />She Standshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045600571037484132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848885297728558137.post-64067181914627476872018-04-19T13:51:00.002-07:002018-04-19T13:51:42.643-07:00His Grieving Heart.....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Have you ever stopped to think if God ever grieves? If His heart actually does break? I do, every time my heart is broken, and I usually ask, " Lord does this break your heart as well? " When those I love make a choice I know will cause them pain my heart starts to hurt. My heart breaks when I know I can not stop the choices being made nor can I halt the sting of correction that will come. I know we are constantly growing and learning in life, however, when I can see the outcome, the broken pieces before they shatter, my heart's grief is unstoppable.</div>
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Many times we see where the Lord had to take drastic measures in the correction of His people. As harsh as it was I believe His heart broke time and time again.</div>
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Jeremiah 9:1</div>
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Oh, that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the daughter of my people!</div>
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In this verse I can see God's grief through the weeping prophet, Jeremiah. I believe if the Lord grieved through Jeremiah, He also grieves through me and my tears as well. Jeremiah lived in a time when God's children had turned their back to Him, a time where the choices they made had the Lord grieving for a nation He called His own. I believe we are once again living in a time where the Lord grieves for His children; a world that has forsaken the love of God and turned what was once righteousness for the Kingdom to blasphemy of the flesh. <br />
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God doesn't play the blame game like we do. There is no finger pointing belittling of words shame game from Him. I believe He grieves for His children and His heart hurts to see the world torn apart from all sides. He weeps for what He created in love, destroyed by hate. I know the devastation of my own heart when I see Gods intentions become twisted to justify the wrong of this world. Jeremiah's heart cried for those who had forsaken the way of the Lord, as mine cries now. <br />
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However the good news, the good good news, just as there was hope for those in Jeremiah's days, there is hope for us today.<br />
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2 Chronicles 7:14<br />
<em>If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.</em> <br />
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He gives us four things to do.......<br />
Humble ourselves, pray, seek and turn.<br />
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And then He tells us the three things He will do......<br />
Hear, forgive and heal!<br />
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Those three things are a promise from Him, the love of the Father, wanting to heal all that has become broken over the vast lands He created for all whom He loves. Though His heart may grieve, it is still full of love......<br />
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Love for us all. <br />
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Humble, pray, seek and turn..............<br />
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She Standshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045600571037484132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848885297728558137.post-5280863223125800632018-04-18T10:59:00.000-07:002018-04-18T10:59:40.917-07:00Created For A Time Such As This<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The book of Esther is one of my favorites. A young, beautiful Jewish girl living in the Persian Empire who lost her parents at a tender age was in the care of her kinsman, Mordecai. I do not believe he ever once entertained the notion the child he took as his own would come to live in the palace of Shushan as queen. Nor save their people. </div>
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Esther 4:14</div>
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.......Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this? </div>
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Esther's story is one of great faith and redemption. Her trust in God was greater than the circumstances that surrounded her. </div>
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There are seasons we find ourselves in not quite knowing how it is we came to such a place. Over the last several years I have questioned the station of my life. I had believed it to be one way and yet it's been something totally different. I often think how Esther was taken from all that she knew and placed in a life that was foreign to her. We all have seasons that are foreign to us, seasons of growth in which we are moved from our comfort zone into a territory of the unknown. </div>
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Through out Esther's story we see God's hidden design in the unfolding of her life's position. She had such a unmeasurable amount of trust in God during a very bleak moment when she learns the fate that had been laid out for her and her people. One can not fathom such a heart-wrenching moment when she learns of the decree that all Jews , man, woman and child, are to be struck down. </div>
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Once again, But.God. </div>
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Throughout her story, we see the hand of God move in her favor and her people are saved. Esther was marked for greatness long before she ever knew the course her life would take; so are we. The Lord tells us in Jeremiah 1:5 " Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you............ " </div>
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You have been marked. I have been marked. We all have been marked! In other words, we all have been created for a time such as this. Though every one has been created for different times,situations and circumstances, created we have been. Esther was not chosen when she first arrived at the palace, she had to go through a process before she was sent to the king. There is a process the Lord will take us through to get to the place we are called to. </div>
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Esther's heart was deeply troubled with her surroundings and circumstances, however she trusted the process. Her faith remained strong; her focus on God was greater than what surrounded her. She was created for a time such as this. If you are finding yourself in a season that has become foreign, a place of uncertainty, trust the process. You have been marked for greatness. The Lord has created you for a time such as this. </div>
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His Daughter,<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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She Standshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045600571037484132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848885297728558137.post-60871336614291141892018-03-26T11:26:00.000-07:002018-03-26T11:26:11.390-07:00I Got The Window Seat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This past week I flew to Colorado to be with my daughter when they finalized the adoption for my grandson. It was an amazing week spent with my family there; a moment in time I will forever cherish. When I booked my flight I forgot to pick my seat on my flight. Once I hit the button to purchase my ticket I remembered the window seat, I love the window seat. Sitting in front of my computer a bit of disappointment I felt knowing I would be seating in the aisle or the middle. " oh well" I told myself. My disappointment left quickly as my excitement to see my family grew. <br />
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The day came for me to leave, arriving at the airport I whispered a prayer to the Lord for a safe trip and as an after thought, I told Him I'd love to have a window seat. After I receive my boarding pass, to my surprise I saw I indeed had the window seat and then to my delight realized I again had the window seat on my connecting flight in Houston as well. My excitement doubled, kinda like the getting a sundae with two cherries on top. Many will probably laugh at my child like excitement over a simple window seat, but there is more to it than just getting those seats. I saw past my request and saw the love of my daddy God giving His daughter the desire of her heart. <br />
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Psalm 37:4 <br />
Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. <br />
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Sitting in my seat high above the clouds, I snapped that picture. What a grandiose picture He painted for me and all who were on the plane, one which left me speechless. If He will grant the simplest of desires, such as a window seat, how much more is He willing to give to His children? His word tells us Jesus came to give us a life of abundance. ( John 10:10)<br />
And that means even the smallest of request. <br />
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Window seats........<br />
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But here is the best part of His promise. Although He will give the desire of our hearts, that desire must be according to His will. He has a plan and a purpose for each of us. Each is designed with His special care. Maybe you have been wanting a new job and yet seem to be stuck in your current one with nothing new on the horizon? Maybe it's a relationship your heart so desires? Or maybe you are longing for a change of scenery, wanting to move but yet can not for the life of you find a home in your budget. Do not be discouraged. The job you are wanting may not be the best financial move. The relationship you want, he or she may not be the one God has chosen for you. And the geographical location you are searching may not be the place He will have you put your roots down. He will give you the right job, right relationship, and right home. Our desires come in His time, after all His will for our lives is the cherry on top, yes? <br />
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Oh and both flights home.......<br />
You guessed it, I got the window seats!<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Segoe Script","sans-serif"; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 115%;">Forever
His Daughter,<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Segoe Script","sans-serif"; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 115%;">Stacey<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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She Standshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045600571037484132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848885297728558137.post-73696620867680121092018-03-16T13:01:00.000-07:002018-03-16T13:01:41.226-07:00To Hear Is To Do... <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Speaking has never been a fear of mine. I can speak to anyone, anywhere and at anytime. Truth is, I love to talk, even if it's a brick wall. It has been my family's forever running joke about me and honestly I am good with it. God has blessed me with the gift of gab, a gift I proudly use when He will have me speak into the lives of those He chooses. I love when He gives me an encouraging word to share; my heart explodes with excitement after all who doesn't like hearing a promising word of truth right? <br />
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My problem comes, notice I said "my problem", when He will have me speak a truth to someone and it is not what they want to hear. I have those moments when I am ready to run as Jonah did or debate "why me" as Jeremiah. No one enjoys being ridiculed, nor do they relish the idea of having someone reject what God has called them to do or speak. It's easy to hear a spoken word, a promise of truth, a correction of love tucking it away for my own heart to chew on. But when I know I am to speak as God as instructed me to do, when the words seem to lodge in my throat unable to move any further, it is then my gift of gab becomes a talent buried as a dead seed in the garden; no growth, no harvest. ( Matthew 25:14-30) <br />
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Jeremiah was called to speak again and again to those who rejected, threaten and plotted against him. While I haven't experienced all that he did and do not pretend to know, rejection tends to crush my heart. I have been laughed at, the punch line of many of jokes, and questioned as to why I would even consider this journey the Lord as me on. Truth be told there has been times I allowed their disbelief to silence what I know to be true. I am not proud of those times and the sadness I feel when the moment has passed, I felt like a disappointment to God. By His grace I am not a disappointment and through His love, I am learning daily how to be all He has created me to be. <br />
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A servant of Christ is not only hearing His word, it is sharing His word in truth and love. It is boldly confessing the words of our Father in the hope others will too receive His goodness. It is standing on His promises knowing He goes before us making a way. It is not only hearing, but doing. I am walking into a new season. The Lord has been stirring some things inside of me. He is showing me a season that will end and one that will begin. I know there will be those who will not understand and will speak against what the Lord will have me to do; I am preparing for that. We live in a world where hearing is necessary however after we hear...... doing is of the utmost importance. To make my days count living in a world where time is short, to be all I am in Christ, do I must. <br />
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To hear is to do...................<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Segoe Script","sans-serif"; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 115%;">Forever
His Daughter,<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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James 1:22-24 ( NIV)<br />
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in the mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. <br />
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She Standshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045600571037484132noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848885297728558137.post-16943705937515009442018-02-06T08:36:00.001-08:002018-02-06T09:56:47.077-08:00When My Puzzle Pieces Do Not Fit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Putting a puzzle together can be fun, enjoyable and somewhat a relaxing time when the pieces all fit correctly the first time. However when it is a puzzle with thousands of little pieces that require a great deal of time trying to figure out what piece goes where it can become frustrating, at least for me. Many times I have had to rely on the box top picture to navigate me through the placing of each piece and even that process can be irritating. Eventually the pieces do all fit exactly the way they were created to fit and the perfect picture is formed.It is a victory of sorts for me as patience is not my best quality. <br />
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But what about when our life's pieces are not fitting together? <br />
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I had this certain picture I created in my mind, a picture how my own pieces were to fit together, my perfect box top per say. However the pieces I chose I could not force them to fit. No matter how I placed them, pushed them together, they still would not connect. My box top picture was not the pretty picture I created in my mind instead it was a scattered mess; a hot shamble of a mess. I had convinced myself the pieces I had chosen were the right fit, pieces I had crafted I so desperately wanted to connect and yet they did not. <br />
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And then begins my bantering conversation with God...... Yes I still have my moments when I do my best to convince the Lord my chosen pieces are part of His grand scheme. <br />
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<em>"Look Lord, look how perfect this is for me! Can you see how amazing it would be should this particular piece connect?" "Ummmm hello God, did you not hear what I said?" " Why Lord, why will you not allow it?"</em> <em>"Watch Lord, I will show you how perfect it will be."</em><br />
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And my struggle to make it fit becomes a personal challenge to prove how wonderful my pieces actually are. <br />
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Waste.Of.Time.<br />
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God's word tells us a man's heart plans but He ordains our steps.<br />
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Proverbs 16:9<br />
A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. <br />
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The reality....... our puzzle was already put together before we ever took our first breath. He has already chose every piece, shape, color and ordained the placement of each one. The mess, my mess, surfaces when I attempt to remove His pieces for my own. Every God ordained piece has a purpose, a purpose He lovingly wants to connect. He will exchange our pieces for His if we will surrender to His perfect will. <br />
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Read that again.............<br />
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<strong><em>He will exchange our pieces for His if we will surrender to His perfect will.</em></strong> <br />
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My biggest challenge becomes when I do not see God's direction and I step ahead of Him. I have made many messes in doing so; messes a thousand years could not fix. But God! He never leaves me as I am. I was reminded when God told Abraham to pack up and go. No directions, no mapped out plan, no list of instructions, just go. So here I sit looking at my puzzle of life wondering where and when the next piece will be connected; when will He instruct me to go and where will that be. In all my wonder, I am learning it is my trust in Him my life's ordained purpose will connect in beauty and awe. <br />
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Whatever your own box top is looking like today, know it is not a finished picture. Put down your own pieces; pieces you believe to be the perfect fit. Let God connect your pieces......<br />
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I am. <br />
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His Daughter,<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br />She Standshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045600571037484132noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848885297728558137.post-86388593046786851452018-01-24T08:24:00.000-08:002018-01-24T08:24:31.209-08:00The Arms Of My Jesus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<em>"It is well with my soul...."</em> Softly I sing those words in a hush whisper to my heart. Today is one of those days when I long to tangibly climb on the lap of my Jesus and let Him soothe my anxious heart. To say it is well with my soul but yet my flesh is ate up with emotion bears the question " How can one be at peace and yet the other sits in a pool of anxious emotion? " I ask myself this question over and over again. My flesh has screamed and cried out to no avail. And my heart is weary. It seems the season I am in at this very moment is a season of breaking and much change. Beauty for ashes.....again. <br />
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I am tired of the ashes of life. I am undone, unraveled and exhausted because of these ashes. My flesh struggles to remain anchored in hope and my soul reassures me with every tear drop there is beauty within. The relentless effort to see this beauty has my joy meter in the red. And that's OK. <br />
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I have had many ask me, "How can you have faith and yet still have struggles?" I do believe and it's because I believe I know when the trials of this world hit me hard He is there. No one likes to struggle, however it's in the struggle I see my Jesus just as faithful as ever. He knows my heart, He hears the tears of my heart and He knows my every emotion. And though these ashes I find myself in are utterly exhausting, He is forever faithful. <br />
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Deuteronomy 33:12<br />
And Benjamin he said, The beloved of the Lord shall dwell safety by him; and the Lord shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders. <br />
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Between His shoulders...... Nestled in the arms of my Jesus, He holds me between His shoulders with more love I could ever fathom, I find myself asking will the ashes ever stop? Will there be a time when all I see in this life is beauty? I can hear a small voice deep within my being asking....no, it's begging, " no more ashes!" "Why Lord?" "Why when I see one ray of light more blinding ashes fall?" " MAKE IT STOP!!" That voice is now a bellowing scream. And He holds me tighter. <br />
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" Look through the ashes, behold I make all things new." I hear His voice covering the echo of my own. And more of my tears fall. In the arms of my Jesus is where my self doubt, broken emotions, and my unknown is made whole. The beauty of His love and His grace take the place of the ashes that have covered me in their soot. In His arms I receive His goodness and His mercy; it is there the soot of the ashes are wiped away. There are many rays of light in the ashes however I must look beyond the darkness of them to see the light and to do that my focus must remain on the one who loves me without fail....... my Jesus. <br />
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Isaiah 43:19<br />
Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. <br />
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It is well with my soul.......<br />
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In the arms of my Jesus. <br />
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His Daughter,<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br />She Standshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045600571037484132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848885297728558137.post-6133319724219847732018-01-04T14:11:00.002-08:002018-01-04T14:11:11.785-08:00Fear Has No Place<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The new year has me starting a new bible study with some precious women I hold dear to my heart. We have decided to study the book of Jeremiah. How cool is it this book has 52 chapters, one chapter for every week. Jeremiah 29:11 and 1:5 have been a few of my favorites since I can remember but I must say the little nuggets I have received this week thus far in chapter one has me pretty stoked to learn more about the man God called to be a prophet before he ever took his first breath. </div>
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Chapter 1 verse 8 continued to echo into my spirit. " Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you", says the Lord. Those words hit their mark with me. Rejection has been a huge thorn in my side since childhood. I work on it daily however when God calls me to speak into someones life, I have my moments when I'd rather run than speak. God reminds me to not be afraid of their faces. I relate "faces" to negative back lash and questionable words concerning my spiritual knowledge. Many a time I have balked when God would have me speak and justify my refusal with what I believe to be my youthful immature spirituality. </div>
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However God not only tells Jeremiah to not be afraid, He tells him " For I am with you to deliver you." Fear had no place in Jeremiah's life and it surely has no place in mine. There are those who will question my love for God, those who will fight against me with words of rejection and belittlement in the attempt to lessen my faith. And He still wants me to speak. The Lord has a purpose and a plan for each of us, but to fulfill that purpose we can not allow what others say bind us in fear. <br />
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Romans 8:31<br />
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? <br />
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God is for us and knowing that, there is nothing fear can do to change our destiny unless we allow it to. Is there something God has called you to do? Is there someone He wants you to share a word with? Is there a certain truth He is calling you to proclaim in a life that is floundering? Maybe He is calling you out of your comfort zone? Whatever it is do not be fearful of their faces, He has already delivered you. <br />
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2 Timothy 1:7<br />
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. <br />
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She Standshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045600571037484132noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848885297728558137.post-77187748191986187972017-12-14T07:17:00.000-08:002017-12-14T07:17:04.572-08:00Walking Through The Desert In Faith<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">There have been season's in my life when God has instructed me to walk through the desert.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">He doesn't give me the whole picture, j</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">ust one softly spoken instruction for each step directed and ordered by Him. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am in one of those seasons now. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Walking through a desert in faith, believing the promises from my daddy God. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">It can be difficult, this walk in the desert. I want to continue and succeed. I want to get to the place He has for me. My steps get heavier, my lips are parched, I am tired and my soul cries out. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Should I turn around?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sit down and cry?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Beg and plead for him to move me faster?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">My flesh is growing tired and weary......</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And then I hear in my heart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">Matthew 26:41</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I walk on, not giving in to the temptations of my flesh, when all I want to do is sit,cry and beg for this to be over. To keep my sanity through this season, I talk to Him, I ask questions that only my daddy God can answer for me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Why are you leading me this way?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Why is it taking so long?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Have I done something wrong Lord?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Lord, am I still in your perfect will??</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And then the biggie question, the one that has been bouncing around in my heart, soul and mind....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">" Why Lord has the ones that have hurt me and wronged me have their hearts desires falling like rain??" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"Lord I am walking through this long, hot desert as you instructed. I am thirsty Lord, so very thirsty for your new rain to fall in my life."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And then I hear Him speak again to my heart.....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">Psalm 73:26</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">My flesh and my heart faileth, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I continue to walk.........</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The days become a little longer and my nights filled with hope that "tomorrow" I will arrive and my blessings will rain.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">It is then my daddy God brings to me the story of Abraham and Sarah. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Abraham is called by God to leave his fathers house, to go into the unknown; He is t</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">o take his people to a nation he does not know, a</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> nation God is calling him to. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">He and his wife are childless for years and years.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sarah watches as child after child is born among the women in their tribe and yet she is barren.</span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-73-26" style="font-family: inherit;">God has promised Abraham he will make him a father to all nations and yet he has not one child of his own.</span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-73-26" style="font-family: inherit;">But they continued to walk...........</span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-73-26" style="font-family: inherit;">Abraham is FAITHFUL to God's calling and God is FAITHFUL to Abraham.</span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-73-26" style="font-family: inherit;">Abraham is made a father of many nations and Sarah is blessed with the child promised.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I do not know how long or far this walk of mine will be.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">What I do know is I serve a faithful God. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A God whose grace and mercies are new every day.</span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-73-26" style="font-family: inherit;">A God whose love is unfailing and never ending.</span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-73-26" style="font-family: inherit;">A God that calls me His.........</span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-73-26" style="font-family: inherit;">And once again as I take my next step, I hear him speak to my heart.</span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-73-26"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">1 Corinthians 2:9</span></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-73-26"><span class="text 1Cor-2-9" id="en-NIV-28404"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><sup class="versenum" style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></sup>However, as it is written: What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard and what no human mind has conceived the things God has prepared for those who love Him. </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-73-26" style="font-family: inherit;">And love Him I do.</span></div>
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She Standshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045600571037484132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848885297728558137.post-68063014169225049242017-11-14T14:21:00.002-08:002017-11-14T14:22:04.222-08:00Winding Roads<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Life would be so much easier if every road we traveled was straight and our view never became obstructed, however that is not always the case.</span> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our roads in life will at some point will began to curve and twist.</span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">Some may be sharp and narrow ones while others may be wide and large.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It seems the winding roads come out of no where.<span style="font-family: inherit;">They appear when least expected and tend to, at times, present an unwelcome surprise.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A jolt to the tranquil .....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A bang within the peace......</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A disruption of the joy.</span></div>
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Over time I have learned when I can not see what is in front of me or what is around the next bend, it is then my trust in my daddy God must be unwavering . I can not simply trust him just in the times of joy in my life, I must trust him in every area of my life. And that includes winding roads.<strong> </strong></div>
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I am coming into a new season of change.A shift I can not quite understand. I have not had any major catastrophic events. Nor have I had anything happen that has knocked me off my feet. But my road has become somewhat winding. For me this can be an unsettling feeling. For those who know me, know I like to know what is next in my life. </div>
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OCD syndrome???</div>
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Maybe....</div>
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Impatient???</div>
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Probably....</div>
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Stating the obvious???</div>
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Absolutely. </div>
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What I have learned and continue to learn is to heed the voice of my daddy God when my road becomes winding. </div>
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To recognize the lessons in each curve....</div>
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To apply Godly wisdom with each step.....</div>
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To take notice of the scenery and focus on the beauty instead of the struggle......</div>
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To embrace hope.....</div>
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To exhibit unfailing trust......</div>
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To extend unconditional love......</div>
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And witness victory through each one. </div>
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I do not know what this new season holds for me or what new changes are on the horizon.</div>
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I may not always get it right....</div>
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Or even understand the reasoning. </div>
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I do know I am learning to lean more on my daddy God. I am learning to find the beauty in every curve; to tune out the unnecessary banter of the world, and recognize his wisdom in the scenery.</div>
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Winding Roads......</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "lucida handwriting"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.46px;"></span></b> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "lucida handwriting"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.46px;"><strong>Forever His Daughter, </strong></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "lucida handwriting"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.46px;">Stacey<b><span style="font-family: "lucida handwriting"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.46px;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></b></div>
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<b><br /></b><b><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="color: black;">Proverbs 3:5-6</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black;">Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="color: black;">in all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight.</span> </span></b></div>
She Standshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045600571037484132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848885297728558137.post-33399629282414512062017-11-08T13:23:00.000-08:002017-11-08T13:23:27.567-08:00Assurance Comes From Him<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://photo%20by%20allef%20vinicius%20on%20unsplash/" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;">Photo by Allef Vinicius on Unsplash</span></a></div>
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<em>"You seek assurance from others when you should be seeking it from me."</em> </div>
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Those are the words the Lord spoke to me in the midnight hour on December 11th 2016. I was dealing with a deeply embedded wound causing my heart to grieve from someone I love dearly. I do not believe there is not a person alive that does not seek assurance from a loved one, friend, employer or pastor. It's human nature to want an accolade, an acknowledgment of merit from those who are important in our lives. But when the desire for assurance and self confidence from others becomes more than assurance from God, the merit we long for cannot be be found. Almost a year later, I am finding my self struggling with decisions that will impact my future greatly, and once again seeking assurance however this time.....from God and God alone. <br />
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Assurance from God is a self confidence that can not be measured. It is one that leaves no doubt and continues to build in a magnitude no one person can remove. Today, I sit at His feet resting in the knowledge He has His hand on me. It is my daddy God who reminds me who I am; it is He who continues to assure me of my worth when I feel unworthy of His love. He reminds me I have been created for a time such as this and through Him all things are possible. <br />
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He is my hope.....<br />
He is my rock.....<br />
He is the anchor of my soul. <br />
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Hebrews 6:19<br />
This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, <br />
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My hope is in Him, anchored in a love that will never waiver. He is the foundation of my self worth, a binding comfort and a truth that that can not be shaken. No longer will I allow the lack of words from a world living in untruth consume my heart but rather use the wisdom of Godly counsel, seeking first the Lord to become all He has called me to be. <br />
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Matthew 6:33<br />
But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. <br />
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He is my assurance, the One I seek. <br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Segoe Script","sans-serif"; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 115%;">Forever
His Daughter,<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Segoe Script","sans-serif"; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 115%;">Stacey<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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She Standshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17045600571037484132noreply@blogger.com0