When
I run I am usually pretty focused on my thoughts. Processing the latest
scripture, image or words God has given me that morning. I also try to stay in
tune with my surroundings and pay attention to any messages God wants to share with
me that day.
Recently
I was running out the neighborhood and just as I approached the little bridge
over the creek my eye caught the image of a snake. Now mind you it was dead on
the side of the road but I didn’t realize that at first and it startled me. I jumped
a little and ran out of my way to get around it and then noticed it wasn’t
moving. That and the fact it was kind of laying on its side.
Since
I am a creature of habit and my neighborhood isn’t that big I have a particular
route I like to run and I circle back across the bridge multiple times. Well,
you may have already guessed what happened the next time I came back around,
but I will tell you anyway. I jumped again and ran out around it like it was
alive, just like I did the first time. I had already forgotten about it even
being there. Then once again I realized it was dead and it couldn’t hurt me.
What
if we forgot our past and went through the same mistakes over and over again?
Startled each time we got hurt by someone. Not realizing they can’t hurt us
anymore if we stay away. I think this is why it is important for us to remember
the past we would like to forget. Not to drudge up old hurtful memories that
keep us down but to remember the hurt it caused so we won’t repeat the same
mistakes. For me, it also reminds me what God did for me. What He saved me from
and for that my grateful meter is off the charts most days. It keeps me humble
and thankful in a big way.
Once
we are made alive in Christ we don’t want to go back to our old ways. We can’t
forget the dangers- but they can’t hurt us anymore.
For once you were
full of darkness, but now you have light form the Lord. So live as people of the light! Ephesians 5:8
I will never
forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when
I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never
cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. Lamentations
3:20-23
Colossians
2:14 says that God canceled the record
against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. (We are forgiven forever through the blood of
Christ. But that doesn’t mean we forget.)
If
we were able to forget the pain caused by our bad choices, we would make them repeatedly.
That is just the habitual nature of humans. Have you ever gotten up in the
middle of the night to go to the bathroom or get a drink of water? Maybe you
were barefooted, and you didn’t turn on any lights so when you turned the
corner you stumped your toe on the couch leg. The pain from a broken toe is not
soon forgotten. Even after it heals. Next time you wake up thirsty, you will
either take time to put on house shoes, turn on a light or avoid the area of
the couch all together to steer clear of the pain from another broken toe.
It
is the same with our past sins- but if the remembrance we have is a burden or
feels like a heavy weight on our shoulders, that kind of pain is from the enemy,
who is trying to keep us from experiencing true freedom that comes from
forgiveness. He will try to keep you in the shame and the pain.
But
the kind of remembering I am talking about is light not burdensome. Christ is
carrying the weight for us. He just doesn’t want us to forget what He did for
us so He can use it to help others and help us avoid the same pain in the
future.
Before I experienced that kind of pain, I believed the lies of the enemy and kept going back to the same kind of relationships and repeating the misery, until I fully experienced a Christ centered life full of forgiveness and healing. The pain from those kinds of relationships are now red flags that stick out like a sore thumb.
But
since I have experienced them, I can relate to others who may be going through
some of the same things in their season of pain. God can use me to help others. I can point
them to Christ and tell them there is a different way because I have been there
myself. I know what He can do. There is forgiveness and healing. And with that
comes freedom. We are to live in that freedom with Christ as our focus as we
love others and help them on their journey to freedom. He can use your pain
too.
We
can live free because we are free. We are to live in obedience and let the
Spirit live within us and guide us. We can deflect the enemies lies with the
shield of faith. Stand strong on God’s truth and word.
So now there is no
condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to
Him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin
that leads to death.
Romans 8:1
One of Jesus’
favorite words, according to the NLT study bible.
Remain in me and I
will remain in you.
John 15:4 Jesus promised to be with us always. I can attest to that being true.
I
must make a disclosure here. Anything I say here is not meant in a boastful or
arrogant way. I am not trying to get myself out in front you. I am trying to
shine a light on what God has done in my life. It’s not about me or what I have
done but rather what God has done for me. I want everything I do to point
others to Christ.
I was a broken, miserable mess. BUT GOD…. saved my life, saved me from an abusive relationship, saved me from my own bad choices and on and on and on…. Many don’t know my whole story. I hid it so well for so long. Read my story here: Beyond Yourself: A Spiritual Awakening
In
Him I am strong. Without Him I can do nothing. I fail to measure up all day
long. But He uses my weaknesses and bad experiences to bring good out of it and
allows me to help others, relate to others and share my story in love. Not
because of anything I have done but because of His forgiveness and grace.
So,
if I sound like I am boasting by sharing these things- it is just my joy and excitement
that I find so hard to contain these days. I am in awe of my Heavenly Father
EVERY. SINGLE. DAY!
I
can relate to Paul when he said in II Corinthians 12:5, 10 “So now I am glad to boast about my
weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. …. for when I am
weak then I am strong.” And in II Corinthians 12: 9 Jesus said, “My grace is all you need. My power works
best in weakness.”
The God-inspired messages, poems and photography that comes only from Him, I believe it is not just for me and my blessing but to share with others and hopefully bless and encourage them too. Quiet Moments – Mornings with the Holy Spiritis a compilation of these things.
It
is through faith and trust that I can share these. Anyone who knows me at all
knows how shy I was and that I would rather take an “F” than do an oral book
report in school. But God also has a sense of humor and He has now helped me
find my voice; not only for myself but
for others too.
I
am a victor in Christ. I want everyone to experience that freedom in their own
lives.
I pray that you or someone you know will be touched by my story and messages in a positive way that gives God all the honor and glory. Thank you for your support and prayers. (You can also get copies of my books by contacting me.)
A
compass always points north so you can find your way home. We were all taught
that growing up. But I want to point out your inner compass. It will always
lead you to Christ and the path He sets for you if you keep your eyes on Him
and the ultimate goal of the Kingdom.
Stay
in tune with Him and in His word. Commune with Him on a daily basis and you
won’t stray. There is no reason to fear anything God directs you to. It is a
gift that comes with joy.
Your
very breath He gives you. He created everything and owns everything. Think
about that. Let it sink in. Think outside the box- our thoughts are not His
thoughts and our ways are not His way. So we need His Spirit to guide us to
God’s way for our lives.
Sometimes
we don’t know where we want to go until God shows us all the possibilities and
gives us the faith to trust Him and the audacity to dream big. Dreams that He
puts on our hearts that align with His purpose for us.
Trust
God with your dreams and they will soar beyond your wildest imagination. Things
you never thought were possible, things you never dreamed of for yourself and
even things you feared can all come to fruition with God at the helm.
I
am speaking, of course, from personal experience. I never thought of myself as
a public speaker. As a child I whispered a lot, I didn’t speak up for myself as
a teen, young adult or even a grown up for most of my years. I followed others and allowed them to dictate
my actions, thoughts and decisions through people-pleasing, co-dependency.
It
wasn’t until Christ came into my life that I saw the potential, not in myself,
but in what God is doing through and in me. When I let Him lead the way- my
dreams and goals changed. I can now envision myself as a speaker and someone
who God is molding into a leader- to lead others to Christ and ultimately to
the freedom I have found. By telling my story/truth.
Even
when I don’t know what the next step is or if it is secure- I am still climbing
higher, because it is in God’s direction and I know I can trust Him with my
life. He had proven that again and again in profound ways. I believe because I
have experienced it and that is what strengthens my faith every single day.
I
am in awe of an incredible, masterful, magnificent, amazing God who loves me
and wants the best for me. That gives me the confidence to make the next step,
step out with courage and live like I am free and saved by the grace of God who
sent His Son to die for me on the cross. I am not sure all the places my
compass will take me on my journey this year but I do know that God will be
with me and that I can trust Him with the map.
It
is my hope and prayer to enjoy the journey and not take it all so seriously so
I can be blessed as He places me where I need to be and guides my footsteps to
those who need to hear my story.
There’s nothing like searching for your own books on Amazon. What if it’s not there? What if it is?! Then it will be real. That means this is really happening and it’s not a just a dream.
My
publisher informed me a few days ago that I needed to search for my books on
Amazon and Barnes & Noble so I would know when to let others know they were
released and ready to order. This seems like it has taken a long time to get
here- but on the other hand it feels like it was just yesterday I began writing
my story and compiling the poems and messages God gave me into books.
I
have journeyed up a steep hill and through some dark times to get where I am
today. But God was always with me. One of the most comforting verses during my
journey has been Isaiah 41:13: “For I
hold you by your right hand- I, the Lord your God. And I say to you, don’t be
afraid. I am here to help you.” Some days I grip a little tighter.
With
that said, I would like to formally announce that when I searched today…THEY
WERE THERE!!!
This is happening….
Please check out my books, review them on Amazon, share, like and help me spread the word. I am so grateful for your support!! I need your grace and love as I journey down a new path, sharing my story to the world.
This
weekend has been an emotional roller coaster for me. It is through grateful
tears I share that today marks the 6th anniversary of a tragic
accident that changed my life forever. But the only way I can call this a
celebration is because of God.
Only
God can transform such a tragic accident and frankly the entire year, that
could easily by no stretch of the imagination be called the worst year of my
life into a beautiful beginning of a new life with a new purpose. I can just as
easily call it the best year of my life because of Christ.
That,
my friend, is worth celebrating!
I
was a broken mess…BUT GOD spared my life. I knew I better start paying
attention. Man, did He show up in a BIG way!
My
life is not my own. Everything I have and do is because of Him. I fail to
measure up all day long, every day…BUT GOD gives me GRACE and helps me. I give
Him all the honor and glory He so richly deserves for anything I accomplish.
A
new journey awaits…this is just the beginning of another year of adventure. I
can’t wait to see what He does next. Stay tuned….
In the meantime….Let’s eat cake! 😊 (BTW- the image above is a greeting card from my website: http://www.h2hgreetings .com)
I
have not typically been a person to experience panic attacks. I have been
nervous about certain situations like speaking in public but not to the point
of outright panic or demobilizing fear that kept me from the task at hand.
Lately,
when I am being obedient to God in ways that go against the grain of human
nature or walk through the new challenges He sets before me, my excitement and
joy are replaced by panic at sunset.
I
have written before how I see this as a sign that I must be on the right track
if the enemy is trying to rob me of my joy and keep me from completing God’s
purpose in my life. I still believe that, but was also given a new message on
the subject as my journey led me into an unknown territory.
The
little bit of temporary discomfort, panic and/or fear are no comparison to the
impact my obedience will make on the kingdom. The benefits will far outweigh
the temporary discomfort.
Compare
it to a new exercise plan. The pain we experience in the beginning will not
compare to the benefits we will have if we push through and keep our sights on
our goal. Our persistence will pay off in the end.
It’s
the same thing with being obedient and trusting God- if we are relentlessly
seeking His will staying focused on Him we will persevere. Just do the next
thing. Don’t look too far ahead or worry that you are not equipped to do the
task. If you show up, and take the next step, God will do the rest. I have to
remind myself of this a lot lately.
If
we get caught up in the weeds we will miss the beauty of the journey. Look up.
One day at a time. Push the panic and fear away by whispering, “Thank you,
Jesus for the precious gifts you are giving me.” Take a deep breath and be
confident in what God is doing in your life. We can acknowledge the fear but
not let it stand in our way. When we are standing on the foundation of the one
who created us- we will persevere!
He can plant seeds
of hope that will grow over time to more than fill the gaping holes in our
hearts and give us purpose, love and light again.
“I AM WHO I AM” Exodus 3:14
We are dependent
on God, but He is not dependent on anyone. He created everything in existence.
We can take great comfort in that fact. He created us to be dependent on Him
for all our needs. He delights in giving us good gifts.
We are who we are
because of Him. He is all encompassing without limitations. He is our Heavenly
Father who wants a closer relationship with us. If we work on that relationship
first and foremost before we go looking for someone else to fill the gaps of
loneness and heartache, He will give us enough to overflow into the lives of
others. At the right time He will send someone as a companion for us if it is
His will.
I Cor. 3:7 So neither the one who plants nor the one
who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.
Holy Spirit: “I plant seeds of hope in gaping hearts.”
Last year, the Holy Spirit gave me the image of a sun dial, labyrinth and the word heart and/or center, along with the phrase “pointing west” (as in direction) and “opposite direction.” (which would be east).
Stay with
me…
I saw these
images on more than one occasion. Each time I tried to explain what they meant
at the time. But, didn’t really have a clear explanation. I dismissed portions
of it after I couldn’t figure it out. I mentioned the sun dial and labyrinth to
one of my mentors at the time and he prayed about it. I thought it could be for
him instead.
I travelled
to a foreign country on a mission trip and saw a sun dial on my journey. I
immediately felt the connection I needed to God in this far-away place.
Thinking that was why He showed me this, I was content with finally
understanding why I had seen the image of the sun dial. I had not forgotten the
labyrinth or heart but had explained those by other means and dismissed them. I
also forgot all about the west/east scenario.
After returning, I took a tour of Life Adventure Center in Versailles. The morning of the tour before I left for work I was sitting in my office at home enjoying some quiet time with the Holy Spirit. I was given the image of a flag and a message about my scars from my accident being a symbol of remembrance. For me, they remind me of how God saved my life and changed it forever. Likewise, the scars on Christ’s hands are a remembrance of how He covers all our sins and saved us. He nailed them to the cross, so we could have victory.
My message
from the Holy Spirit: “Scars are another
symbol of remembrance. My hands tell a love story. Your scars mark the day I
saved you and brought you back to Myself and the Father. We won the battle
together. You are a victor in Christ. Let your scars tell your story. Our
stories collide. The scars of your past mistakes and sins run deep but My scars
cover all of yours in love for complete healing.”
Scar- a mark
left by a “healed” wound.
At the last
stop of the day, I raised up from climbing out of the rear of the van, my eyes
met head on with a beautiful labyrinth made of rocks. What a sight to behold. I
knew at that very moment this was significant. A flag pole was positioned at
the back side with two flags flying
in the wind.
I was so
enthralled by the labyrinth that I almost missed the heart at the left of it and the clock
at the right, both made of rocks as well. Someone in our group asked, “Is that
a sun dial or a regular clock?” I was
really paying attention now.
It had to
mean something. I was snapping pictures and trying to take notes of our tour
guides information. He explained that it represents our life. One way in and
one way out with a triumphant experience in between. He went on to say it had
been completed in June 2013. (the same month and year as my accident.)
They place
ruby stones in the middle as a remembrance
of veterans who have taken their lives. Each vet goes in and takes a stone
as a sign of victory and vow that they will not do the same.
It all came
together in one place. Time, place, my life and what direction I had taken
after the accident. When God’s timing was right, and Christ entered my heart I
won my battle. I could fly my flag of victory.
Whether it
is a sun dial or a regular clock, both represent God’s timing. But a sun dial needs the sun and casts shadows to
tell time. The Labyrinth is our life. We go in one way (we are born) and we go
out one way (we die). It’s what we do in between that matters. Our choices take
us in all directions but when we accept Christ in our hearts we find the center
of remembrance (signifying our past mistakes that Christ saved us from).
COL. 2:11-15….
(12) And with Him you were raised to new
life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the
dead.
Col 2:17 For these rules are only shadows of the
reality yet to come.
(It was also
not a coincidence that I was reading these scriptures the same morning.)
I had other questions,
so I asked our tour guide in an email a few days later if he could share some
more information about the labyrinth. In his explanation he added a few
interesting facts.
Wait for
it….
“It faces
east. So many of our individuals are coming from rough situations, so east is
the direction of new hope. Then they walk out (facing west) they’re allowing
their old experiences they’ve let go of be sunset.”
Isn’t that
exactly what Christ did for us as I mentioned earlier?
In other words….
there was the other connection bringing it all together in one beautiful gift….
all in God’s timing!
Faith Walk Ministries, Inc. 