Look Up

The beauty of creation and the pull of my Creator drew me outside into the vast warmness of the sun and slight breeze blowing through the trees. Expectantly I walked briskly to the back forty into the wide open space encapsulated by a magnificent treeline that acts as a protective shield from the noise and busyness of the city street located close by. Oh yes, a happy place to retreat for a noon time walk. Just me and my Lord, and of course the sweet sounds of the wildlife hanging out in the trees and below. Not that I truly paid much mind to them. My purpose was to be alone with God and take in his beauty.

This time with my God in his creation is precious to me. The peacefulness of nature. The sweet sounds of birds. The warmth of the sun and slight breeze through the trees. These bring a stillness to my soul that welcomes God’s promptings in my mind. Prayers for friends. Sweet memories.

With a few laps in, around the property perimeter, I sensed God telling me, “Look up. While you are watching the ground, you are missing the beauty all around and above you. The same is happening in your life. While you are absorbed in the stuff, you are missing the beauty of life all around you. And me, above you.”

Such a powerful moment for me. I didn’t realize until that moment how I had been spending my whole walk looking down at the ground and my feet. As I began to look up and all around me, I noticed the vibrant greens of the tree’s leaves, the volleyball net standing at attention, the bleacher seating empty and alone, and the pavilion full of tables. These things had been there this whole time. I noticed them. But did I really see them?

My mind went to my current life situation. I realized how I’ve been so encapsulated by the tough stuff I’ve been experiencing that I’ve been missing the beauty of so many things around me. Especially the Lord above me. Have I truly noticed these? The weeks, days, hours, minutes, seconds of time I’ve spent covered in distress. They are time and beauty that has slipped through my fingers.

*******

Recently, I spent some time with a handful of special people in my life. I was in a space where I was invited to ‘go for a walk’. I quickly tagged along not knowing where exactly we were walking to or the purpose of the walk. With my lunch in hand, I trailed along. The walk was to the back forty to set up a pool/baptismal. I announced, “I’ve not ever set up a pool before, but I can follow direction if someone tells me what to do.” I became the instructions holder and navigator of what parts are to go where. In short order with grace-filled cooperation, the pool was soon assembled and the task was finished.

What soon occurred to me is that this must be what working as a family looks like. Not that I had or have a bad family life, this was just a new experience for me. The memory is so precious to me and stirred something in my heart. I ‘looked up’ and saw a place where I belong. A place where I can look around me and see beauty. A place that points me up towards God.

This song was on my mind as I finished my walk today.

Look Up by Lauren Daigle

The Joy of Not Being All Things for All People

GraceStory Podcast from which this blog was written: https://www.gracestoryministries.com/podcast/episode/9648dda3/the-joy-of-slowing-down-laura-l-smith

Returning to GraceStory Podcast was author and speaker Laura L. Smith. This recent episode was titled The Joy of Slowing Down. In our ‘Hustle Culture,’ slowing down seems to be elusive and dreamy. Not so. Nate and Laura discussed, not only the How To’s of learning from Jesus and establishing ‘Rhythms of Grace,’ also how to reshape our perception of time to better utilize it. Slowing down and enjoying it is within reach for everyone, whether caught up in the ‘Hustle Culture’ or not.

I was personally intrigued by the unwritten rules of ‘Hustle Culture’ Laura shared. Phrases, such as: “Can’t stop, won’t stop,” “More is more,” “Sleep is overrated,” and “Crazy busy,” seem to be the mantra for our time. While I don’t recall saying these myself, I can see how in seasons of my life, I’ve lived as though I believed them. Laura spoke of how these unwritten rules of ‘Hustle Culture’ declare, “We have to do all the things, all the time, for all the people.”

Years ago, as a young mom fresh in my faith, I was determined to be the perfect wife, the perfect mother, the perfect Jesus follower. Attempting to be all these things led me to saying yes to everything that came my way. Even if I was on the brink of exhaustion, I had to have a spotless house. My kid’s birthday parties had to be meticulously thought out, organized, and all my guests entertained. I expected myself to have meals planned out and prepared for my husband when he arrived home from work. And I wanted him to always be able to come home to a clean house, with all the dishes and laundry washed. I don’t recall saying to myself “can’t stop, won’t stop” specifically, however, my actions spoke those words loud and clear.

Now, on the other side of raising children, I can see how I was caught up in the ‘Hustle Culture’ that Laura spoke of. I recognized many of the signs she mentioned. In checking my own heart, I was doing many of the things because I felt they were expected of me. I was exhausted all the time. I was too busy, doing too many things. Yup, I was definitely caught up in ‘Hustle Culture’ before I ever heard the term.

In my younger years I knew nothing about the ‘Rhythms of Grace’ Laura referred to. As a Soul Care Coach, I now always want to know the ‘How to’s’ in making changes. Asking questions to understand more. It was no different for me as I listened to Nate and Laura’s conversation about how to create ‘Rhythms of Grace’ for anyone finding themselves caught up in this ‘Hustle Culture.’ Mentioned in the podcast was looking at the examples Jesus has given us through Scripture. His unhurried way of life, the way he always stopped for his people, and his intentional space for talking with the Father through prayer are a great step in the right direction to slow down our pace and enjoy life.

Prompt: Laura recommended looking at how we’re spending our day with an honest evaluation. What can be removed? Can something be delegated? May we take time to explore this recommendation and learn from Jesus’ example.

Mornings with Jesus, Resurrecting Me.

Resurrection Day is coming soon. My mind is on the work Jesus did by going to the Cross. Not only that … also the work he did by taking all my sin, wounds, and yuck to the grave. And then RESURRECTION DAY! The Savior Yeshua (Hebrew) took all yuck to the grave, to Sheol (the dwelling place of the dead), and left it there. He returned with the Light of Life. Resurrection!

Upon waking this morning, I envisioned the ‘bed of death’ Jesus would have laid on while he was in the tomb for three days. In my mind it looks like a rectangle shaped, tall slab of stone. It’s top smooth to the touch and its sides rough like coarse sandpaper. Jesus was laying there. My little-girl self asked him, “How can I be reconnected to you? How can I be connected with all of who I am?” He drew me onto the bed of death with him.

My Lord wrapped his arms around all the ages of myself as he shared that all the yuck, the sin, the wounds, the mistakes, all of it had to be attached to him so he could take it to the place of the dead to stay there for eternity.

Scripture I was brought to during my devotional time:

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,

because the Lord has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives

and release from darkness for the prisoners,

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor

and the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn,

and provide for those who grieve in Zion—

to bestow on them a crown of beauty

instead of ashes,

the oil of joy

instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise

instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness,

a planting of the Lord

for the display of his splendor. (Isaiah 61:1-3 NIV)

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10 NIV)

Back to when I was first awake and envisioning the ‘bed of death.’ Holy Spirit lead me to think about by putting all the wounds, sins, mistakes, and yuck into Jesus’ hands, he is resurrecting me with him. He is the Light of Life. To be resurrected with Jesus is to live in the newness of his life, his light.

Our Lord Jesus has already taken the ‘dead things’ to the grave because of his grace. He is and will be resurrecting life and light in and through the people of God.

From ‘bed of death’ (tomb) to ‘Light of Life’ (ALIVE). Thank you, Jesus, for giving us new life!

Applying this to my life (or yours): Write. Put sin, wounds, mistakes, regrets on the ‘bed of death’ (aka. Invite Jesus into your pain, allow him to help you process it, and then hand it over to him.). And then live fully alive in his Light.

#deathtolife#Jesus#alive!

Beautiful Me

Beautiful isn’t an adjective I would generally use to describe myself throughout my life. Even though I’ve had several people say it about me, the one person who basically called me ‘not beautiful’ left his mark on my heart at the tender age of eight.

It was in this season that multiple life circumstances shaped how I saw myself. What I believed about the little girl named Amy Elizabeth.

My mom was in a mental hospital. At this time, mental health professionals were using shock therapy as treatment for disorders of the mind. In my memory, a very dear family member took my sister and I to visit our mom. Unfortunately, when it was my turn to go in to see her she was returning to her room directly following a treatment. We were in the hallway as my mom passed through. I knew who she was. She didn’t know me. I was crushed.

According to my memory, during this time of mom’s hospitalization, my sister and I were staying with our grandparents. Besides the stress of my mom being away from home, I was very fearful of my grandparents. They made it well known of their dislike of me and how I apparently did wrong punishable things always.

Pity. No pity. Just my reality. Fear. Anxiety. Nail biting. Hiding.

What I believed about myself was vocalized at my First Communion. Mom in the hospital, grandmother to prepare me for the big day. Dad was there. A couple of mom’s friends were there. During the ceremony, those observing their First Communion were to go to their families to shake hands or something. Mom’s friends stopped the ceremony as they wanted me to pose for a photo. Embarrassment overtook me as it seemed everyone was staring at me.

At the end of the ceremony, I was standing with the other girls who took part in the ceremony. The professional photographer approached our little huddle. My heart sank when he called off all the girls’ names except mine and then directed, “All you beautiful girls, follow me.” Heard loud and clear, “Amy, you aren’t beautiful.” I wish I could say I shook it off because I knew my identity and worth in Christ. I can’t say that because I didn’t have that knowledge or understanding.

To multiply the injury, the photographer also took my school pictures every year so annually I had to face the man who told me I wasn’t beautiful. It was a constant reminder.

So, why am I rehashing these painful memories now? It’s because I am journeying through the photos of my life in an effort to allow God’s healing balm to be slathered over the wounds of my life. I’m currently hovering over this season of being seven and eight. This journey is taking me through long since forgotten memories that are resurfacing for me to process them with my God. I’m walking through forgiveness, for others, myself, and God. Accepting forgiveness and offering caring to myself where it’s needed. I can’t do this without God.

I WANT HEALING! I will walk the path God has laid out for me because he knows what I need to find and live in his healing.

#healing #selfbelief #faith #wordsmatter

My Wilderness Journey

In the book of Numbers chapter thirty-four, Moses’ recounted the long journey he and the Israelites had through the wilderness. This passage reminds me of my own journey in the last thirty plus years and how recounting it could help me to see how far the Lord has brought me. At times, I can get down on myself by thinking ‘I should be further in my faith and healing than I am.’ The truth is … I’ve come a long way because of the Holy Spirit’s work in me.

My personal ‘Egypt’ was full of wrong choices, shame, and living out of the lies I have believed about God, myself, and others since childhood. Lies about who I am and my value. This led to regrettable choices and burdensome shame.

My two kiddos were preschoolers when I came to the end of myself and cried out for help. Since then I’ve been living in the ‘already and not yet’ wilderness. Already because Jesus has saved me. Not yet because the Holy Spirit is still transforming me into the person God created me to be. Who I will be in the eternal Promised Land (heaven).

My wilderness trek began in 1997, when I surrendered my life to Jesus. Since then, the many moves my husband and I have made, all had a purpose. Not that we knew that then. No matter the reason for the move, I experienced growth in some area of my being. I can see now that sometimes I was running from my childhood wounds. Avoidance is truly a defense mechanism. In recent years, God has directed our moves and with them been bringing me closer to healing. As with the Israelites in the wilderness, getting ‘Egypt’ out of me is a long process.

In many biblical examples, I can see parts of my own life. Currently, the story I resonate most with is the Isrealites wandering the desert. Forty years in the wilderness. Who would sign up for that? It doesn’t matter the name of the wilderness, it’s still what it is … unknown future. Unknown obstacles. Unknown dangers. The Israelites left the land of Egypt and its slavery to travel into an unknown ‘Promised Land’ to worship their God.

For the Israelites, each stop along their journey meant another area of refining that needed to be done to prepare them for the Promised Land. Laws. Festivals. Punishments. Rescue. All these things and more were a part of their journey. There were several generations of habits, traditions, and misbeliefs that God was working out of them. It took generations for God’s people to get to the mind space they were in; it would take time to replace the wrong way of living with God’s way. The lessons they learned. The Lord hearing their cries. Bringing them out of physical slavery. Then all the years following where God patiently built up Moses as a respected leader, established laws for right living as his people, and freeing them from emotional and spiritual slavery.

My own road feels very similar to the bumpy one the Israelites traveled. Someday I will reach my Promised Land and spend eternity with God. Until then … I will look for the cloud by day and the fire by night to know where my Lord is leading me. Whether it’s forty years or eighty.

Making Room for Life

A few days ago I was driving in my little black truck. Something grabbed my attention about a song on the radio. A song I have listened to hundreds of times. It was as if I was listening to it for the first time. Holy Spirit made me keenly aware of something He wanted me to grasp. The song was Breath of Heaven (Mary’s Song) by Amy Grant. YouTube link to the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8_475FKJWQ This awakening experience led to a stream of thoughts that washed over me like a waterfall. Breath. Breath. Breath. The Lord has continuously amplified the word to me over the past several weeks. My breath. Breath is vital to my living. Breath in my lungs is vital to my living. Jesus; through Holy Spirit, is vital to my living. Am I focusing on my breathing? Am I making room for His breath within me?

This waterfall of thoughts led me to remembering other things I have been learning lately. Breathing deeply can improve my confidence. Inhaling and exhaling words of Truth can improve my spiritual and emotional wellness. Slowing down my body and my mind through Christian Meditation can help me to center my thoughts on Jesus therefore grounding me in the Truth. Thinking of Truth, I remembered the passage of Scripture (Genesis 2:7) about God forming man/Adam from the dust of the ground and BREATHING life into his nostrils. This too, is ‘breath from Heaven.

So many thoughts about breath washed over me. God breathed life into Adam with His breath from Heaven. Through Holy Spirit, God breathed the life of His son Jesus into the womb of Mary so that His life could be breathed into the world. Jesus came to earth to be and bring life.

Pentecost was the breathing of God’s life-giving breath into those who had made room for Jesus while He walked as a man. Pentecost was God’s Holy Spirit being breathed into man. “Pneumatology refers to a particular discipline within Christian theology that focuses on the study of the Holy Spirit. The term is derived from the Greek word Pneuma (πνεῦμα), which designates “breath” or “spirit”…” (Wikipedia)

The wholeness of my life is dependent on the breath of Heaven existing in the wholeness of my being. God’s breath in my lungs brings life. The Breath of Heaven/Jesus living in my heart brings life. And the Breath/Holy Spirit of God occupying the entirety of my human existence brings life. Slowing down to breathe in God’s life-giving breath bring life. I desire to fill myself with His Breath of Heaven so I can truly live.

NOTE: Redundancy intentional. In Scripture, words that are repeated are to tell us something. God has been repeating breath/breathing to me for several weeks. I believe this is to tell me something. In turn, I feel prompted to share it with you. Many Blessings!

Do-over

Several months ago I had a drive to change the backsplash in my kitchen. I paint color on the spaces between the cupboards and the counter; and between the rangehood and the stovetop, was a color I liked. However, the paint was unwashable and it contributed to the dark feel in the kitchen/dining area of my house. I have one whole wall without windows, and this is the wall occupied by my cupboards, sink, and stove. Even the mirror on the wall to reflect the light coming in from the windows on the opposite wall, seems deficient in casting more light in the space. These details; and the fact I am home much, led me to dream of other options.

With a limited redo budget, I decided to purchase some peel and stick tiles for the mentioned space. In measuring the target area; in my non-exact manner, I guesstimated needing approximately three boxes of tiles. This was great! The cost of these tiles added up to be under $50.00. That was a far cry less than the over $300.00 it would have cost to purchase the pretty subway tiles that I truly had my eye on. Now, a good friend of mine warned me that those peel and stick tiles were horrible and fell down more than they stuck to the wall. Even with that warning, I was sure that this would be the exception to the rule.

After purchasing the guesstimated three boxes of tiles, I got to work getting them on the wall. I had some of the tiles on the wall when I realized because I picked out a patterned tile, I would not have enough to complete the project. Off to the store I went for a few more boxes. Thankfully my husband helped me with the difficult tasks; like precise measurements, and I was able to complete this ‘do-it-yourself’ project. It wasn’t perfect; however, I liked it because it brightened up the space so much and it was much prettier than the sage green paint color. Don’t get me wrong, I really like the wall color. I was just tired of staring at it while I did dishes instead of being able to look out a window or at a pretty wall pattern. The grease spattered on the walls that I couldn’t wash off didn’t help either.

When I picked out and purchased the peel and stick tiles, I figured since they were for floors and would need to be pretty durable for foot traffic, they would be more than safe for the walls. I was beyond disappointed when the first time we turned on the oven, several of the tiles above the stove fell to the floor behind it. My wonderful rescuing husband moved the stove and retrieved the rebellious tiles. He proceeded to head out to his garage to grab some industrial spray adhesive which he used to spray on the backs of the fallen tiles and press them back onto the wall. This began our need to always run our exhaust fan whenever we use the oven or stovetop. Not to mention the constant chore of repressing the several other rebellious tiles to the wall.

I currently have about half of the tiles that several times a day need to be pushed back onto the wall as they oh so slightly push away from it. Frustrating! Yes, it is. Why do I share this? I’m glad you asked.

First, when a friend that does home renovations advises against using a certain product, my advice is to listen to them because they know what they are talking about. They can save you much money, time, and frustration.

Second, this morning as I was seeking God for what His to-do list looked like for me today, I began to consider what I am going to do about my falling peel and stick tile wall. I really like the look of the patterned tiles; however, I am done with the constant work it takes to keep them on the wall. To keep my ‘less expensive’ option on the wall, I will need several cans of spray adhesive with no guarantee that it will work any better. My decision… I have some paint in my storage room that will find it’s way on the wall. Paint; mind you, that was available when I installed the tiles. Painting the walls with this already owned product would have been a free; therefore even cheaper, option to begin with. Lesson learned, I think.

In my consideration of starting the painting task today, I felt more led to write. Off to my desk I went to consider what to write about. I have a couple projects I am working on. It quickly occurred to me how applicable to life this peel and stick wall issue is to real life. Here are a few things that have occurred to me; I would love to hear from you if you have any you would like to add to the list.

Advice from a knowledgeable trusted friend is a good thing to take under advisement.
Pride and/or belief that ‘it’ will be different for me can come before disappointment.
It’s never too late for a redo. NOTE: I really like this one!
My big idea or plan could take more time or resources than an already existing option. NOTE: I really like this one, too.
Being content with what I have is a good thing.

Life is full of lessons. And stories. Make sure that you are sharing yours with those around you, it can make a difference to the lives of many that you may never meet.

MY ANCHOR OF HOPE

Lately, Hebrews 6:19 has been brought to my attention several times. It has been my experience when this happens, Holy Spirit is working to show or teach me something. In studying this and surrounding verses, I realized a few things. In Hebrews 6:16-20a, we read:

“People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. (verses 19-20a) We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. “ (Hebrews 6:16-20a)

Jesus is our anchor. Hope anchors our soul. We walk by faith. These are three themes that seem to reoccur for me in this season of life. Jesus has been my hope and has kept me anchored to God the Father, even through some pretty rough storms. God’s presence has been a constant for me. I can’t always see what God is doing in and through my life; however, by faith in my anchor, I can keep walking toward God knowing He is holding onto me.

I recently attended a women’s camp for a weekend. I went looking to spend time with God and to hear from Him. In God fashion, he poured out more love on me than I could imagine.

The first portion of the weekend I felt as though something was stopping me from fully engaging with my whole heart and mind. This was no good! I asked for prayer with the team leading the camp. During this time of prayer, God revealed to me that I felt unworthy. Once we prayed through my belief of that lie, I was able to hear the Truth from Jesus. He said to me, “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.” WOW! My heart was instantly full! Because my name means ‘beloved,’ what I heard was I am Amy’s, and Amy is mine. Can I say WOW again!

Later in the same day; during a time of worship, the worship team leader shared a story of how another team member and she had recently written a song. Their plan was to share the song in the opening session of the weekend; however, they had forgotten about it. And then, it didn’t seem fitting to sing it in the second session. She then shared how during prayer; following the second session, Jesus had said to one of us, “I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine.” Hearing this led her to know that now it was fitting to share this new song with the group.

My heart skipped a beat. Tears began to flow. I knew the worship leader was talking about me. The lines of the song were me. It was my life. My struggles. I cried through most of the song. Near the end of the song, I heard her sing the words, “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.” I could hardly contain myself. As the lead singer and camp leader moved away from her guitar and music stand, she spoke the words I can still hear in my ears and feel in my heart. “Amy, God wrote you a song.” Tears, Yep! I am His! He is mine!

Back to Hebrews 6:19-20a. While reading these verses, Holy Spirit led me to “Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Him. This is found in John 14:6. I began to consider how these two passages were connected. This is what occurred to me:

Jesus is the Way. He is our only direct connection to God the Father. As a ship’s wheel steers the ship towards its destination, Jesus points us to the Father.

Jesus is the Truth. He is the reality of all of God’s promises. God embodies all Truth. A ship’s anchor keeps it from drifting off course. Likewise; but even more so, being anchored to Jesus keeps us connected to God; our Abba Father, through His Holy Spirit.

Jesus is the Life. Jesus has chosen to attach His eternal lifeline to us, giving us True Life. He is our life preserver!

These three nautical items; the anchor, ship’s wheel, and buoy/life preserver, serve as a reminder for me that I am eternally anchored to God. No matter what storms threaten to take me under; or lies that attempt to block me from the Truth, Jesus is my lifeline. He will always steer me in the right direction as I seek Him in faith.

Something to consider: What or who are you anchored to? If it’s not Jesus, why isn’t it Jesus?

#JesusIsMyAnchor #HopeAnchorsThe Soul #WalkByFaith

From life to LIFE

Maybe it’s in reflection after my mother-in-law’s recent passing or maybe it’s with the many transitions in my in the past three months; but whatever the reason, it’s occurred to me the many seasons in our lives where there’s a death in some way that leads to a new life in another way. Take for instance plants; I have learned that a plant’s sole purpose is to produce seeds. These seeds then go into the ground and die to what they once were so that they can eventually become what they were intended to be and; themselves, produce more seeds to do the same thing. A mustard seed is a very tiny seed that; when planted, becomes a marvelous tree that provides shelter for birds and shade or covering for those that step under it. The seed had to die as a seed in order to become a seedling and ultimately, a sheltering tree. A pine tree starts out as a seed from a pine cone that when it is planted, has to die to what it was so that it can become a pine tree. Maybe it will be a Christmas tree in the home of a family where it will carry bright strings of lights and Christmas ornaments that bring much joy for the people that get to gaze upon it. Or maybe the tree will grow for many years in a forest until it dies or is cut down to make furniture for people to sit on. The cross that Jesus died on would have been made from a tree that once started as a seed that died to what it was in order to become what it was intended to become; a source of death that ultimately brought much LIFE to all who believe in Jesus.

We as human beings started as a seed; of sorts, that had to die to what it started as so that it could grow to become what it was intended to become; a living breathing wonderful child of parents, ultimately a child of God. Even in our lives we have many instances of dying to one thing so that we can be alive ultimately. I am going to share some of my own experiences of dying to one thing so that I can be alive to another. When I was a small child, I thought like a child; I was completely consumed with how everything impacted me, but when I became older I needed to die to that belief because the world is full of others with human needs just like I have. When I came head-to-head with Jesus as an adult, I had to die to my own ways to become alive to who God created me to be. As with the growth of a pine tree, the changes and growth hasn’t happened all at once for me. Since 1997 when I realized what God and His Word had to do with me, I have been dying to different areas of my life so that God’s design for my life could come to life. My partying mindset had to die so that I can live reliant on Holy Spirit instead of liquid spirits. My fear filled way of thinking and decision-making has been slowly dying to give life to the Holy Boldness fearless thinking and decision-making that God intended for me when He united the specific elements from both of my parents to create the person that He intended for me to be. The impact that wounds have had on my beliefs through the years have to die so that the healing balm of the Lord can seal that space in my spirit as whole, healed, and completely driven to care for others who have similar wounds.

Recent transitions in my life have been very difficult for me to process; however, after much prayer and time with my Abba, I can honestly say that in God’s great providence and magnificent wisdom, these transitions have been what I have needed for things in my life to dye so that God’s planned LIFE for me will grow exponentially greater than I could ever think or imagine. It would be easy for me to give up on pursuing God’s next steps for me because of the death of what I thought things were to be but aren’t; however, I am seeing more clearly how God’s plan for my Life requires that some things have to die for the New Life that He has for me.

In regards to the loss of a loved one, it is so difficult and painful when a loved one passes from this world. The comfort that we can have when we know that they have a saving relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, is that they have New Life where they are more alive now than they ever were here on planet earth. For old things have passed away and we can behold that ALL things, Christ has made NEW in the Life that He has planned since before time. May the Lord Bless and keep you; may His face shine upon you and grant you the Peace that is beyond any comprehension!

Hope's Table

What do we do with Life Experiences?

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