Weary Heart, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

We will never find healing by focusing on our hurts. The more we think upon the pain that others have caused us, the deeper our wounds dig in and spread out. Healing comes when we lay our hurts at the feet of Jesus and focus on Him, thinking upon Him, choosing Him above our afflictions. When we allow our afflictions to consume us, they become an idol and bump God into second place. And there is no greater danger to any soul than to allow anything to occupy 1st place but God.

As someone who knows this struggle, I know firsthand how easy it is to fall into this pit. So I encourage anyone that may need it, as Jesus has encouraged me, to turn your eyes and your heart and your thoughts upon Him, "the Sun of righteousness *who arose* with healing in His wings" (Malachi 4:2)

Pain, and the comforting arms of Jesus

Hurts are a part of life. We cannot go through this world untouched by pain, heartache, and sorrow. We cannot escape the suffering of a wounded heart. But there are two paths we can choose in dealing with our hurts; we can choose the path that leads us to bitterness and anger, leaving us paralyzed in a vicious cycle of sadness, despair, and resentment; or we can choose the path of forgiveness and rest, which leads us to a place of beauty, healing and perseverance, teaching us the virtue of longsuffering. I will be the first to admit that swimming around in circles in the ocean of our pain feels more natural, easier, even, than swimming "to the Rock that is higher than I" whom will rescue us from the storm. It feels natural and easier because the destroyer of souls does his best to convince us that anger is a natural effect of pain, an outlet we are given to deal with our hurts. But these are mere feelings, and feelings do not equal truth. Feelings often and can easily lead us astray, which is why it is of the utmost importance that our eyes are Fixed On JESUS, the author and finisher of our faith, full of grace and truth.

Hurts will come, but as they come and when they resurface, it is in the choice of laying them down at the precious feet of Jesus that we will find comfort, healing, and protection from their power to endanger our heart and spirit. Jesus awaits the confession and handing over of those things which bring pain to our hearts. He awaits with deep compassion and comforting arms.

"I, even I, am He that comforteth you" (Isaiah 51:12)

Hello again :) ...a garment of praise

So, it has been a while since my last blog....a long while. Lol I was locked out of it for some time and finally figured out how to get back in. I am doing my blog from a phone, and I have been through a couple of phones since my last post, so everything is very new to me, so please bear with me. On September 4th I started an 85 days till Thanksgiving...85 days of thankfulness on my Facebook page. I am quickly learning that being thankful comes from a heart that counts its blessings. I am also reminded that praise to God fights the forces of sadness, heartache, despair, hopelessness, worry, doubt, and all those things that bring us down. Just as was written in Isaiah 61:3 "To appoint unto them....the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness." It's easy to forget when we are down that we have a garment to wrap around us to cover us from those things which wish to harm us, such a garment can only be found in our precious Savior, Jesus Christ. Glory to God! Thank You, Jesus!

THE B.I.B.L.E [Part 2] (Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly -Colossians 3:16)

2 yrs ago, around the time Jesus rescued me, I asked God 2 fill me with a hunger & a thirst 4 His Word. I had read the Bible, or atleast portions of it, in the past, and just did not have a taste 4 it. I found it, well, boring. I suppose, as I look back on it, it was partly b/c I did not have the desire & hunger 4 God that I now have, and partly b/c I didn't have the understanding that God's Word was not a book of rules, but a door that opens 2 us & invites us into a fellowship with our Redeemer. There is quite a Big difference between reading a book of rules, and reading a book that draws us nearer 2 God, a night & day difference! And I now have that understanding. Praise the Lord! Yes, there are words of instruction, words of warning, words of command in the Bible that God expects us 2 follow, but they're written 4 our good! Benjamin Franklin said, "Sin is not hurtful b/c it is forbidden, but it is forbidden B/C it is hurtful." That is Truth! God's Love wishes 2 protect us. God's Word was written with LOVE.

THE B.I.B.L.E [Part 1](Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly. -Colossians 3:16)

I love my Bible, love, love, love it! I would be lost without it! It is a Book compiled of letters written 2 us from God; letters of Love, Hope, Instruction, Wisdom, Strength, Comfort; letters of Truth. It is a Book Filled with Treasures! It is EXCITING that GOD has written 2 US!
I keep my Bible on the coffee table in front of me, it is my "Go 2" place when I have questions, when I feel down, when I feel good, when I need a dose of reality, and when I need 2 spend time with my Savior. God speaks 2 us through His Word. Sometimes a verse of comfort can open up before our eyes as if God was in the room speaking directly 2 us. It is a wondrous occasion, full of blessings & encouragement! He can do the same with words of instruction, letting us know, "Here is an area you need 2 work on." These can cut like a knife. Someone wrote, "The Light that shows us our sin is the Light that heals us." We must 1st see & acknowlege our wounds of sin that Jesus may heal them. God loves us deeply & longs for us 2 be healed!...

This old house (part 2)

As time began 2 pass, in this old house, I began 2 see the reasons in God's intentions in bringing us here, though it wasn't till after He rescued me that I understood that it was His hand at work in my life. Our old life, or atleast a small portion of it had been left behind. The chaos & drama caused by the constant people in our life had been removed. For me, 1 of the most important things had been removed, the almost continuous availability of my drug of choice. The less I could get my hands on it, the more I began 2 see & admit 2 my addiction.
Slowly but surely I began 2 embrace the quietness of my surroundings, & here, without the constant noise, God began 2 work heavily on my heart. I began 2 feel the gulit of my decisions & of the effects it had on my daughter. I was Not the mom I wanted 2 be & I had made some terrible mistakes.
It was a slow process the way Jesus drew me 2 Himself. I can look back & see Him there in the times I felt so alone. His gentle faithfulness led me right into His arms of love.

This old house

About 3 1/2yrs b4 Jesus rescued me, my little family & I moved out in the country, 2hrs away from where we used 2 live, into a 100yr old little farm house. I will never 4get my 1st impression of this old house. I was not impressed, infact, the thought of us moving in here made me cry. But it came with my husband's new job, free of rent & with free heating. The 1st time we walked in the door I wanted 2 walk right back out & never look back...
During the 1st yr I was so depressed, it was so quiet here & I felt so isolated. Compared 2 the sounds of the city, the quiteness felt, well, scary.
U see, before we lived here, we were surrounded by chaos, drama, people coming in & out of our house. It was the way we had always lived as a couple. It wasnt until after we moved here that I understood the effect the chaos & drama had on our relationship, or on me.
Some of the gifts God gives us can seem more like lumps of coal when we 1st lay eyes on them. But just like this old house, they turn into treasures of PURE LOVE!