I am thankful that I can come before the Lord and be real and honest when I am simply 'losing heart'. I can fall apart as I fall before Him and He's okay with that because He came to bind up the brokenhearted.
I have to confess.....my heart is heavy and burdened this week. There are grieving, hurting, floundering and downright discouraged people all around me right now. Couple all that with the disheartening things that go on day to day in this tumultuous world we live in and you've got the perfect set-up for a quivering heart. The struggles we face day to day can be overwhelming to the point where all we can see are troubles. But the Bible verse I have memorizing the last few weeks, reminds me that I am to focus on eternity - not what's happening here on earth at the moment....
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." ~ 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
My tendency when life gets overwhelming is to try and hold it all together as best I can. But there is no power in that! I am too weak to handle it all. It is God's power alone, within me, that can withstand the daily onslaught of difficulties and sorrows. My heart will fail me on its own. I MUST rely on the Holy Spirit to strengthen me by looking to the eternal side of the trials I must endure in this life. It is all about showing others who gives me the strength to withstand the tough times in life. Could God have removed all the trouble from our lives? Absolutely! So why doesn't He? I believe it is so that we can be a living, breathing testimony to everyone around us of how it is possible to endure the difficulties in life by fixing our eyes on Jesus - the One who endured the unimaginable so that we could be saved.
Obviously I have much to learn in this area......but thankfully God is merciful and patient with me.
"Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in.
Study how He did it.
Because He never lost sight of where He was headed---that exhilarating finish in and with God."
~ Hebrews 12:2-3 MSG
Friday, February 8, 2013
Monday, February 4, 2013
Jehovah hath remembered
It has been a busy weekend of celebrations and fun, but my heart is FULL of gratitude for the milestone of 18 incredibly blessed years of being mom to my Zachary.
Zachary was my third child within just 3 years and when I found out I was pregnant with him, I was a bit overwhelmed to say the least. But God had BIG plans to bless me through this amazing little boy! The name Zachary means, "Jehovah hath remembered". That is exactly how God used Zach in my life - to remind me, in the midst of severe depression, of His love for me:
Shortly after Zachary's birth, I found myself steeped in depression that wasn't going to be cured with the simple prescription that my doctor quickly prescribed for me. Several prescriptions, counselors, and countless prayers for deliverance later....I was still floundering in a sea of gloom. But as God began to peel back the layers of 25 years of emotional baggage He spoke very clearly to me one night as I sat rocking my little Zachary to sleep...... I was SO in love with this sweet little bundle, and yet felt so guilty for being unable to really relish it for the darkness that had encamped around me. But that night God spoke to my heart so clearly it was almost as if it was audible. He made it clear that He loved me even more than I loved this precious child and He would see me through the darkness back into His marvelous light. All I needed to do was trust and rely on Him the way Zachary was dependent on me for his every need. God had not forgotten me. He was still very much engaged in my life even through the darkest nights.
That was just the beginning of countless ways God has continued to teach me through Zach's life. Zachary has been at my side 18 years now, and he blesses me so! His wisdom beyond his years has astounded me on so many occasions! I know God has plans to use Zach in mighty ways. I am incredibly proud of the man he is becoming....godly, wise, persevering and learning to lean on His Savior more and more every day. He has been trudging through a season of trial lately, but through it all he's letting God refine him....and he will come through an even stronger man be because he trusts the One who is Faithful!
Thank you LORD for blessing my life with him.
Zachary was my third child within just 3 years and when I found out I was pregnant with him, I was a bit overwhelmed to say the least. But God had BIG plans to bless me through this amazing little boy! The name Zachary means, "Jehovah hath remembered". That is exactly how God used Zach in my life - to remind me, in the midst of severe depression, of His love for me:
Shortly after Zachary's birth, I found myself steeped in depression that wasn't going to be cured with the simple prescription that my doctor quickly prescribed for me. Several prescriptions, counselors, and countless prayers for deliverance later....I was still floundering in a sea of gloom. But as God began to peel back the layers of 25 years of emotional baggage He spoke very clearly to me one night as I sat rocking my little Zachary to sleep...... I was SO in love with this sweet little bundle, and yet felt so guilty for being unable to really relish it for the darkness that had encamped around me. But that night God spoke to my heart so clearly it was almost as if it was audible. He made it clear that He loved me even more than I loved this precious child and He would see me through the darkness back into His marvelous light. All I needed to do was trust and rely on Him the way Zachary was dependent on me for his every need. God had not forgotten me. He was still very much engaged in my life even through the darkest nights.
That was just the beginning of countless ways God has continued to teach me through Zach's life. Zachary has been at my side 18 years now, and he blesses me so! His wisdom beyond his years has astounded me on so many occasions! I know God has plans to use Zach in mighty ways. I am incredibly proud of the man he is becoming....godly, wise, persevering and learning to lean on His Savior more and more every day. He has been trudging through a season of trial lately, but through it all he's letting God refine him....and he will come through an even stronger man be because he trusts the One who is Faithful!
Thank you LORD for blessing my life with him.
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