Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Oh, how He loves you and me......


It has been said to me that I'm very transparent.  Truthfully, I don't mind sharing anything in my life that may help someone who is either going through something that I've been through or who is contemplating some sin I've committed and need warning if it will lift them up and help them, or just let them know they aren't alone in the battle.  Some of the things I've done in my life have been, well, let's just call them really bad decisions for now. 

So, let me say that for the past few months, I've been in a bad place.  Almost despair. Sad, hurt, angry and on and on.  Not because of my decisions, but because of life circumstances that we all face in this fallen world.

But in everything, let me say this, God is good.  He has sent His Word and people into my path to encourage me.  You know who you are and I love you all!

First, during this time, I joined the Blogging the Bible in 90 days team and what a comfort to daily take time and just read His Word.  The right thing at the right time!  

After the Lord, I need to thank my husband.....that rock God gifted me with 15 years ago.   He is a strong, good and Godly man who reminds me that God is in control ......he's also famous for the words......get over it.  :)  During this time, he has also been hurt and disappointed by friends he respects in the Lord.  He is able to walk through these things with the confidence of 1 Corinthians 4:5.

Then my thanks to the people who are closest to me and again, you know who you are!  I thank God every day for you all.  I can call you and you will listen and let me vent and pour out my heart's troubles!

And at a few of my lowest moments things like these......

In the mail.....

Click to read

This is the front of a card I received from a long, long time friend.  Another evidence of how God works.  I got home one day and got the mail from the mailbox.  I thought I saw my friend's return address on a card, but had to run back out and just threw the mail in the car.  On my return home, I couldn't find that card and assumed that I just misread another address on another card.  Then on a particularly down and blue day, I got out of my car and looked down and there in the pocket of the door was a card.  I almost didn't pick it up.....true story.....but I did and there was the card!  I don't want to write what she wrote to me .......but just let me say that I knew it was appointed for me to find it just at that time!


This morning, after asking a friend to pray for me, I got an email from her....I am going to put parts of it here because it will probably help most of you too.

She starts with..

I have been praying you'd have the peace that passes understanding.  THINK THINK THINK, dear sis, on whatsoever things are TRUE (I'm sure the Lord put that first because we are such creatures of doubt, worry and speculation) , HONEST, JUST, PURE, LOVELY of GOOD REPORT, if there be any VIRTUE, if there be any PRAISE, think on these (Phil 4:4-8).


How very comforting these words are.  I don't tend to think on those first....do you?

Another thing she had....

Praise His name, you can calm down, because HE IS YOUR SUFFICIENCY 2 Cor. 3:5, YOUR PEACE Romans 15:33, John 14:27.....YOUR HIDING PLACE Psalm 32:7 YOUR REFUGE, YOUR STRENGTH, YOUR VERY PRESENT HELP IN TROUBLE Psalm 46:1.....


The sweet thing about this friend is that she didn't say now stop your crying!  She said instead .....let the tears flow. Cast the care on God HE CARES SO MUCH FOR YOU  1 Peter 5:7  


Bathe in that awesome truth.  Let it wash over your soul until all the things of this earth grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace.  


I am so thankful for my friends.

And I cannot leave out my sweet blog friends all over the world who are such prayer warriors and who bind together to pray for one another.

And so I remember this......OH, HOW HE LOVES YOU AND ME!

13 comments:

debi said...

Thanks for the encouragement, we all need it. I love that you are transparent, it's a quality I want in my friends.


God is good, my friend :-)

Hugs!

Needled Mom said...

What a beauriful post! We have all made mistakes in our life and isn't it a blessing to know that He will see us through our ways and regrets? Experience teaches us that we will smile again. There is such calm when we lean on HIM. The "bumps" in the road make us appreciate the good times all the more.

I'm still keeping you in my prayers.

Tonja said...

Finally catching up! That Charley is THE cutest thing! I know he just melts your heart! And a son getting married...that's wonderful! Best wishes to the happy couple!
And, I am so sorry that you have been in that place. It's terrible there and even though we know all the ways to go through it...sometimes, there is no going through it until you get what it is you need to learn IN it. I hope that sentence made sense. I do think you got very wise council from your friend,whom you quoted, as well. No one should ever say to another that "you shouldn't feel that way." Because we already DO feel that way. And we have a right to those feelings, whatever they are. The circumstances in our life have brought them to us. For some reason, I think. Maybe there is something to be learned and we have to be put in the position to learn it. Just my thoughts.
Anyway...hope you are healing. I understand the feelings, and the heartbreak. I will pray for you. I trust you will find peace, understanding and comfort. God Bless.

PS, and take as long as you need to get over it or through it. It ain't over till you say it is!
Love you!

Deb said...

hope all us looking up for you and your family...

Keetha Broyles said...

Ooooo - - - being transparent, I LIKE IT - - - I just thought I talked a lot!

Cathy said...

They(whoever They are) say what doesn't kill you, makes you stonger. They also say Love conquers all!! We just all have to work on it!!

The Hatcher's said...

I'm sorry you've had a rough time lately. Sounds like you were blessed with the support you needed for strength. We will keep you and your family in our prayers.

Midwest Nest said...

Thank you for sharing. Blessings on you and your family.

Dawn said...

I am sorry, but also thankful that "in His time" we receive just what we need!"

Mimi said...

HI to my sweet Florida friend,
I am sooo sorry you have been going through this little thing in your life. Boy the devil sure knows how to rob us of our JOY now doesn't he???I am going to be Praying ernestly for you to get some answers as well as your family.
I know I hate feeling like there is a pit in my stomach over soemthing, and I want you to be at PEACE. Your Friends are so special and they are there for you to lean on.
Remember the poem about the sand???Where there wa sonly one set of footprints???Let Jesus Carry you for a while.
HUGS 2 U,
jamie

Just Be Real said...

Transparent is what my blog is all about. I appreciate you sharing and I am sorry you have been having a rough time NG. Blessings and hug.

Debby@Just Breathe said...

Beautiful words from the Bible, I pray they bring you strength. I know that it is not easy to go through hard times. I do believe that God gives us things exactly when we need them, like that card.
That is a Godincedence! ((HUGS))

Midlife Mom said...

I needed this this morning! Just found out that a dear friend has 6 to 18 months to live due to pancreatic cancer and I have been lower then low. Also some other issues going on that are painful. Thank you for being transparent and sharing this post with us!!!!!!