The Glory of God. It is fluid, like the air around us....
I had a conversation with a very dear and longtime friend of mine today. She is struggling with some pretty difficult circumstances in her life. She feels extremely alone.
I feel so sad for her. I encouraged her as best I could. The fundamental difference is, she isn't a Believer. She feels alone right now, because she is alone. She hasn't realized that her worth doesn't come from her children, her husband, or her work. It comes straight from her Lord. We were raised in church together. But my faith is now very different from the church we grew up in. My faith is my joy and my salvation. I hear her say that church for her is a behavior modification approach for her children. This saddens me. I want the joy I have, for her. I want her to know how amazing she is. I am praying so much for her to be led by the Holy Spirit. He does miracles every day. He is more powerful than any circumstances that could be in her life or any of our lives.
I feel so sad for her. I encouraged her as best I could. The fundamental difference is, she isn't a Believer. She feels alone right now, because she is alone. She hasn't realized that her worth doesn't come from her children, her husband, or her work. It comes straight from her Lord. We were raised in church together. But my faith is now very different from the church we grew up in. My faith is my joy and my salvation. I hear her say that church for her is a behavior modification approach for her children. This saddens me. I want the joy I have, for her. I want her to know how amazing she is. I am praying so much for her to be led by the Holy Spirit. He does miracles every day. He is more powerful than any circumstances that could be in her life or any of our lives.
Looking back on my last post, I know that I have been under attack lately. Stress, exhaustion, and busyness has definitely given the enemy opportunities to get to me in more ways than usual. I am trying to just focus on being in God's presence. Thankful for all the gifts I receive every day. Thankful for my husband's strong arms around me. Thankful for my flannel nightgown my Mama gave me that gives me a hug every night, thankful for my beautiful sister, Red who is the household math guru, thankful for my daughter Jayde who was accepted to the Art Institute of Fort Worth today, thankful for my daughter Ashley who encouraged me to try skiing just once, thankful for my son Spencer who shared his vehicular adventures with me, thankful for my son Liam who is working his tail off to pass all of his classes this 6 weeks, thankful to my son Seth for being taller than me but still giving me his little boy, sleepy hug first thing in the morning....
My Father knows my heart, He has my heart, and I want every day to revel in His majesty, and be the daughter he wants me to be.
If you are struggling with deciding if He is real, if this God thing is all it is cracked up to be, jump in. With both feet. He is real. He is near. Beloved, YOUR name is tatooed on the inside of His hand.
I have a word for you. Soak it, Breate it, Drink it in...
Psalm 139. It was written for us.
O Lord, you have examined Allison's heart and you know everything about her.
You know when Mary sits down or stands up.
You know Barbara's thoughts even when she is far away.
You see Kay when she travels and when she rests at home.
You know what Joanne is going to say even before she says it Lord. (ha. inside joke)
You go before Vonda and follow her. You place your hand of blessing on her head.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for Kasie to understand. (Ha ha. it keeps getting better.)
Pilar can never escape from Your spirit! She can never get away from Your presence!
If Ashley goes up to heaven, You are there; If she goes down to hell, You are there.
If Jayde rides the wings of the morning, if she dwells by the farthest oceans, even Your hand will be there to guide her and Your strength will support her.
Ashley could ask the darkness to hide her, and the light around her to become night, but even in darkness, she could not hide from You.
To You, the night shines bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to You.
You have made all of the delicate inner parts of Pilar and knit her together in in her mother's womb.
Thank you for making Kasie so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous-How well Vonda knows it!
You watched as Joanne was being formed in utter seclusion, as she was woven together in the dark of the womb.
You saw Kay before she was even born, Every day of her life was recorded in Your book.
Every moment of Barbara's life was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are Your thoughts about my Mama, O Lord. They cannot even be numbered!
We can't even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when Mary wakes up, You are still with her!
O God if only You would destroy the wicked! Get out of our lives, you murderers! They blaspheme You; Your enemies misuse Your name. O Lord, we all hate those who hate You. We despise those who despise You!
Yes, we hate them with a total hatred, for your enemies are our enemies.
Search us, O God, and know our hearts; test us and know our anxious thoughts.
Point out anything in us that offends You and lead us along the path of everlasting life.
Amen.
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