I Needed Forgiveness

Just the other day...I needed forgiveness. Someone had said something about me that hurt me deeply, however, this person didn't even know that I knew it. So the poisonous, bitter feelings I had conjured up were mine to deal with alone, or so I thought.

There are verses in the Bible that talk about God searching our hearts (one example is 1 Chron 28:9 "for the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts"). God searched my heart and found it in a disgusting state. Everywhere I turned, I kept hearing about forgiveness, but the nail in the coffin for me was a sermon series my husband just "happened" to preach on the subject.

Although I felt completely misrepresented and misunderstood...

although I felt justified in my anger...

although before a court of others, I would have walked away scot-free...

before the court of the Lord, I stood guilt-ridden and dripping with sin.

So I went to my offender, shaking and scared, but knowing in my heart it was the right thing to do. After a long discussion that included hugs and tears, I was forgiven...

understood...

and free.

It felt wonderful!!

The Word says in Romans 12:18, "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."

The Lord, the diligent searcher of all, graciously lets us know when a situation is ours to correct. And when He does, it is our job to quickly obey.

What about you? Has He shown you a situation you need to correct, maybe even brought to mind the name of a person you need to go to? If so, I implore you to do it...today!

Go shaking. 

Go scared.

But go.

Your freedom is waiting.

_____________________

Here's an awesome song on forgiveness by TobyMac! You're gonna want to listen....
Link to VIDEO on YouTube

Linking up at: A Pause on the Path, Growing Home, Far Above Rubies, Raising Homemakers

For His glory,

My Top Five

Am I thankful today? Oh, yes! For so many things, but none more important than these...

1. For God - that He is in my life, leading and guiding my footsteps, faithfully teaching me how to walk closer to Him each day. It is my greatest joy to get to serve Him in whatever way He deems. He keeps me on my toes, assured that the next adventure is just right around the corner (comfort is not a place He likes for me to find, and I love that about Him). He is my everything!!!

2. For this man, my precious husband - a man with a powerful love for me and our girls, and an even greater love for God. He keeps me grounded, makes me laugh, and has never once said my ideas were ridiculous. He gets me...although he would probably tell you otherwise;o) 

3. For my girls - each so different, each so amazing in their own unique ways. My life is full and rich and tremendously blessed because they are in it! I love getting to be center-stage, watching their lives unfold. They are already little ambassadors for the Lord and that makes me so proud!!

4. For my extended family - Mom & Dad, my "other" Mom & Dad, Sisters, Brothers, Nieces, and Nephews - I am so fortunate to have been born into an amazing family and to have married into an amazing (albeit, crazy) family (I'll let you guess which pic is at my in-law's house). God has built a glorious heritage of love, honor, and character among both groups...and most importantly, a heart for Him that will continue to be passed down throughout the generations!

5. For friends, my church family, other family members, and you! - I am surrounded by some of the most loving, caring, and encouraging people in the world! I wish I had pictures of ALL of you to include here. I am so thankful that you allow me to be a part of your life, whether that's in "real" life or here on the blog.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Linking up at:
Beholding Glory
A Little R & R

For His glory,

Thankfulness is a Choice

Mountains of laundry, a sink full of dishes, toys scattered here, there, and everywhere...that's the state of my house since all 5 of us have come down with the flu bug over the last four days. Besides that, we've traveled the last two weekends for speaking engagements and such, so there are still suitcases waiting on my energy to return so they can be unpacked and put away. Life for me right now is, well...disorganized, messy, and very off-schedule! There's certainly no homeschooling going on at the moment.

It would be easy for me to get anxious and uptight, especially because there's so much going on over the next few weeks as Christmas approaches, but I am choosing instead to rest in Him. I am choosing to trust in His goodness, knowing that He knew all of this "inconvenience" was going to take place. God is right here with us during this time of sickness, and for His care and keeping, I am truly thankful! In fact, if I understand His heart correctly, I bet there is a pretty good reason all of this was allowed into our lives...we just can't see it.

Perhaps this was meant to slow us down for a bit, and if so, for that I am grateful. We've been huddled up together for days now...watching movies, cuddled up with blankets, sipping on soup, wiping noses, and covering coughs. High fevers and feeling bad? Yep...those aren't fun. Being together? Well, that has been great!!!

Whatever the state of your life is at this moment...I pray that you will choose to sincerely thank the Lord, remembering 1 Thessalonians 5:18 which says, "in everything give thanks". I realize that for different reasons, the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons can be painful for some.  If that is the case for you, I pray that God's love and joy will surround you during this time. I also pray that you'll fully trust in our Father's heart, knowing that He never brings more than you can handle and that He always has your best in mind. We live in a fallen world and will all be touched by sickness, pain, and difficulty...sometimes greater difficulty than we ever imagined. Our reactions to those times are great indicators of our faith.

Will you choose to exercise your faith - - to trust God and rest in Him, no matter what you're facing right now? 

Will you choose to be thankful?
________

"We have also obtained access through Him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

Romans 5: 2-4

WISHING YOU A JOYOUS THANKSGIVING!

Linking up at: A Pause on the Path, The Better Mom, Women Living Well, Raising Homemakers

For His glory,

The Faces Before Me

I keep picturing their faces...the faces of women across the room, sitting at tables with full bellies, ready to hear what I have to say...

What I have to say?

I tremble, knowing what an opportunity the Lord has opened up.

I could speak about any ole thing and the women with their faces before me...they might clap out of respect, walk out the door, and leave just as they entered. They might eat a meal they didn't have to cook, giving them temporary comfort. They might talk with friends, giving them temporary enjoyment. They might savor an hour or so away from their life's demands, giving them temporary rest. But would they have gotten what they truly needed...the thing we all truly need?

Would they have heard from Him? Would they have been refreshed by His presence?

The faces before me...they are hurting, broken, worn out, complacent, lukewarm, passionless, and tired. They don't need temporary food, fellowship, or rest...they need Him.

So, for the faces before me...I am taking two weeks off from blogging to "draw away from the crowds" as Jesus did. I'm sitting at His feet, pleading with Him to get me out of the way so that He will be seen and not me.

Every single one of you who stop by this blog matter to me very, very much.

But, the faces before me, they have my attention for the moment. I hope you'll understand.

I humbly ask that you help me pray for each event, one on Nov 10th and the other on Nov 15th. Pray that God will come and pour out His precious presence, meeting each woman at the point of her need. I carry great hope and expectation for what He will do, knowing that He loves the faces before me with such an overwhelming, everlasting love. May He be fully exalted!

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us."

2 Cor 4:7

For His glory,

Purpose

You are not an accident. In fact, God planned the very day, time, and season that you would be born. He knew that the world would need a "you" in it at this very moment! As a Christian, you've probably heard those statements many times, but perhaps today you needed to be reminded...

"For you created my inmost being;

    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

    your works are wonderful,

    I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you

    when I was made in the secret place,

    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes saw my unformed body;

    all the days ordained for me were written in your book

    before one of them came to be."

Psalm 139:13-16

Our enemy likes to distract us. He wants us to question God, to question our worth, to worry about our identity, and to spend our time confused over why we are going through this or that. He wants us to doubt God's intentions and God's goodness. So many times, we let him win. We get off focus. In those times, dear child of God, remember this ...

Truth #10 - You have a purpose.

You, unique and wonderful, were created by the hands of the Master Artist. What artist or engineer creates without a purpose in mind? He tells us about it in His Word...

 "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Ephesians 2:10

There are "good works" prepared for you to do! God has gifted you, given you talents and abilities, and strategically placed you where you are for a reason! And as a believer, you know that you are not alone in your work. You have the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit to help you and to guide you. Isn't that awesome?!!

If you're having trouble seeing through the messiness of life, if you don't feel like you have found those "works" for you to do......ask Him. He doesn't want to hide anything from you! Remember, He has been preparing you since the time you were in your mother's womb!

When the doubts come...and I know they will...use all that you have learned about your identity in Christ. Cling to the Word and stand on it with authority. That's part of the reason it was given to you. It's yours to use when the enemy's lies entice you to believe you don't matter!

You matter tremendously!!!

You were created with purpose.

All the posts in the "Live Your True Identity" series:

Introduction, Truth #1, Truth #2, Truth #3, Truth #4, Truth #5, Truth #6, Truth #7, Truth #8, Truth #9

Linking up at:

Beholding Glory