The Invitation to Forget

Let's be honest here.  Today has been hard.  It's cold outside.  Icy conditions.  And, because of recent developments, I'm battling to ward off icy conditions in my heart.  Trying to ward off the pain.  Trying to ward off hate.  Trying to ward of bitterness due to my overwhelming, never ending situation.  Basically trying to breathe in and feel God's presence today.  Trying to feel that peace that passes all understanding...Broken Dreams...what is the purpose of them? 

For nothing makes sense at this moment. 

So, with the office closed today due to the weather, I've been reading over some writings of mine, trying to fill the time.  Time alone.  And I came across this one.  It helped to read it.  Hope you are blessed by it too. 
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Most all the significant structures that represent past "milestones" of my life are now literally no longer in existance. The place I met my husband, the place where I was proposed to, and also my very first own home; all are gone. They literally went up in ashes.

Why, then, is it so hard for the memories not to do the same?? The broken dreams...I wish would disappear.  
Isaiah 43:18, Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

To all those that have reaccuring thoughts of the past, those resurrecting thoughts you thought were long-gone-dead, I invite you to join me. I invite you to join me in closing a chapter that needs forgotten. God invites us to forget. I encourage you (as well as myself) with these words:
You can't read two chapters at the same time. Don't go back and re-read the same-old-same old. Close that chapter in your life. Move on...read on...to your future. Let the Old get dusty on your "Life Bookshelf". Quit picking the book up and reading what has already been and lifting it up for re-examination. That was then, this is now. Close the chapter, let it go.

A bright future will always be based on a forgotten past. You can't go on well in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches. 
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I so thought I was doing a good job at doing just that!!! :-) Yet I find that for the past several months and recent days...it is not the case. 

Leaning into His grace today...Lord, please catch me!  I'm not even sure that You are there right now.  Help me to really believe that you are doing a new (good) thing in/for my life!  Shine brighter than the brightest star in the darkness I'm presently in.  Help me to not fear man & circumstance when I know that You are the One who put the very galaxies in place.  Nothing is too hard for You!!!  So, take me, help me to be an overcomer!  Fill me with courage and strength.  Help me to fall on You. 

a LOVE that last

Psalms 103:1-5  Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name.  Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.  Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;  Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;  Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

I found a love that last.  I found Jesus.  He doesn't give up easy.  He doesn't turn His back and run away.  He watches every step I take.  Into His great big hands He gathers every tear I cry and He stores them up, for He hears every heart's cry, every prayer.  He answers in His own time.  Oh, yes, He does. I have found that to be most certainly true. 

From birth I have heard this great love story.  In my adolescence I chose things that He would not have chosen for me.  I know this.  I paid for this.  Yet, years later, in my darkest midnight, I heard Love's call ever so clearly.  Nothing else eased the pain.  There was no one left to cling to.  He whispered my name.  He did not give up easy.  Even when I wanted to.  And I found in that moment that I was forever on His mind.  He wasn't, and still is not, the quitting kind. 

Whatever you give your life to...if it just isn't working out for you...look to the One who can fix you.  Look to the One, the Giver of  true life.  If you could see how long He's been there watching you as you've chased dream after dream, you would see that He's been there just waiting on you. 

He does not give up.  He's no quitter.  He's waiting for you. 

He FORGIVETH iniquity.  He gives BENEFITS daily.  He HEALETH all disease.  He REDEEMS from destruction.  He CROWNETH with lovingkindness and tender mercies.  He SATISFIES. 

Come before Him.  Bow before Him.  Be filled with strength and praise for each and every new day.  He really is a LOVE that last!

Sacred Moments

As happens so many times, tonight I found myself reaching for that Book again. That well-sacred book that brings me such comfort, direction, and yes, correction.  The Bible.  It is the most beautiful, alive book I've ever read.

Needing a scripture to hold onto I flipped open its pages.  

Psalm 96:6  Honor and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.  

In the presence of Jehovah

God Almighty

Prince of Peace

Troubles vanish

Hearts are mended

In the presence of the King.

His name is to be honored.  He is full of majesty.  In this rather short life of mine I have seen elegance without strength.  I have seen rugged strength devoid of beauty.  But, in God's presence, the two--raw strength and beauty--are combined.  It is glorious. It is, at times, surreal.  At all times it is so very real.  

In and out of situations

That tug-of-war at me

All day long I struggle for answers that I need

Then I come into His presence

All my questions become clear 

And for a sacred moment

No doubt can interfere

Just when I think I've conquered.  Just when I think I've come out of a bad day.  I find that there is something else that needs to be done.  Something else which comes to make trouble for me.  The bills and the needs of life always seem to out-run the money.  There's always something that comes up that wasn't planned on.  There's always food to buy.  There's always....something.  

  

Life can get so overwhelming at times.  I get STRESSED.  I get upset.  I cry.  At times I'm so overwhelmed.  At times I feel so alone. Yet, in these times is when I find His presence most present.  He is a God that loves.  He is a God that heals.  He calms all my fears.  So many times He's let me know "Hey, my love, I've got this.  There's no need to worry".  Yes, for moment, if I still myself long enough, I can feel that sacred calmness which assures that everything will turn out the way it is meant to. 

Through His love the Lord provided

A place for us to rest

A place to find the answers 

In hours of distress

There is never any reason

To give up in despair 

Just slip away and breathe His name

He will surely meet you there.  

I'm so grateful for His Word.  I'm so grateful to know that I can pray to Him.  This is where I find my rest--Word and Worship.  This gives me rest from the daily stresses of life.  No, there is never any reason to totally give up.  I've had moments of this feeling.  Oh yes.  But, it's ALWAYS helped when I've breathed His name. He always comes to my aid. Love is a verb. He proves it every day.   

Sometimes not like I think He will.  But, always, He comes when I call.  I feel Him stronger at certain times more than I feel Him at other times, but through faith I KNOW that He is always there.  He loves me! 

And He loves you too!!!