Faith, Trust, Surrender

"Between the longings and the demand for their fulfillment is a place as real as any in the tangible world. But it is uncharted and uniquely tailored to your personal story" (Strong women, soft hearts)

As far back as I can remember I was taught that trusting God was all wrapped up in faith "Trust and Obey" is what I have known from childhood. But, really trusting, that place of resting is not as easy to do as singing a childhood song.

The need to trust  is never more evident than when you know the deep longings of your heart, you feel the pull of dreams unfulfilled and you are powerless to dictate or control the the timing or the realization of them.  It lies in first choosing and then accepting the particulars of when, how, where and IF God chooses to intervene.

It is a place called Surrender.  It is a good place, hard to get to sometimes but once there you understand that there is no better place to be.

My friend, do you have dreams or longings that you need to trust God with?  I am praying for you this morning.

Fork in the Road

The reality or the truth about a "messy life" is that it does not match what you dreamed way back when.  You envision certain things for your life and what actually plays out can look very different.  These circumstances, these unexpected happenings blind side us and are like invisible forks in the road.  They require deliberate choices to be made. Do we say "Oh well, such is life" and begin building protective walls so that we won't be hurt again or, do we breathe, grieve, and keep moving forward?  Do we choose to believe that God has a plan for us and that He wants us to live life to it's fullest, or do we become bitter and resentful?  Each "fork in the road" is really an opportunity for growth and change.  I would tend to build the wall of protection but within those walls we will live a  lonely emotional and spiritual existence.  God created us to live in relationship with others.
So instead choose to claim   Jeremiah 29:11     "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you" . This God of Israel is the same God today and He loves us with an everlasting love.  So today my friends let's choose  to breathe and live life to it's fullest.
I love each of you, and will be praying for you today.

One of a Kind

Hello Messy friends,
I want to remind you today that you are One-of-a-kind, Wonderful!
You started in the heart of God, were shaped by his hand and then given to the world as a precious gift.  As His daughter you are a bearer of His image. That means that there is a part of who God is, expressed through who you are!  That my friend is absolutely beautiful. It is a beauty that runs deep and can't be touched by time, and it is how God sees You.
I love that God sees the best in me.  I love that He knows my heart and understands it.  I love that He sees the beauty that lies within me and see all my potential, even when I do not.
Lord, help us today to be all that you created us to be.

I would love to hear from you and to pray for you so leave a comment.
Love you all !

Being small

 I read this excerpt in a devotional the other day and it struck a cord with me. As I ponder what the Lord has for me at this phase of my life, I sometimes feel very small and insignificant.  I get to feeling like my life has little impact on the world around me,  then God gives me these words to cause me to pause and be still because He cares.  
"Fall in love with the ordinary. Dare to believe that the minor details of your life matter to God. Dare to believe that you’re not a mistake. Besides, being ordinary and small may actually be evidence that God took extra time to make you that way.  Why?      Because being small sets you up to fit in places that big cannot.”

Thank you God for caring about us wherever we are in this journey. I adore you.

(Excerpt from One small barking dog:  Ed Gungor)