Tag Archives: faith

Is Freedom Really What We Want? (A Personal Reflection)

Posted on by under Personal Life Reflections, Uncategorized

When my boyfriend died, the life I knew died along with him. Shortly thereafter, I packed up all of my belongings, everything I had acquired in California, and drove across the country to be back home again in North Carolina. Because, of course, when the world fails you, the only place you have to go is home.

Within one year, I had a monumental career change, my parents divorced, my childhood home was sold, and I was living on my own in an apartment for the first time in my life. All this change in only one year! Even writing about it now, it seems surreal. How has my life become so crazy, so chaotic? How have I been able to push through, to survive?

Well, God is good. And that is where I am now. Completely lost, approaching the second birthday that I will spend without my boyfriend and the only thing that I know for certain is God’s goodness and grace. Other than that, I feel adrift. Floating in a world that I have no control over, a world that is constantly shifting, one without ground.

I guess on the bright side, I have nothing holding me back. I have no attachments that hold me down, hold me steady. I’m free to fly like a bird, as I have always yearned to do.

This also means I have little security, no sense of stability, a feeling of total loss of control. Does a baby bird feel this way before it leaves its nest for the first time? I wonder. And how many nests will I have to leave? Is flying free really all it’s cracked up to be?

bird

Conversations with God – I Miss You

Posted on by under Conversations with God

September 24, 2013

My child. I see you. I am with you. I hear you. I am close to you. My holy spirit resides inside of you. And now I smile, just as you do. Because I’m glad you’ve made time for me today. What have you been so busy doing? What happened to spending every morning together? I have been waiting. You know my joy comes in the morning. I wish you wouldn’t deprive yourself of it. And stop being nervous about whether you’ll hear from me. I long to talk to you. You talk to me often. But I wish more often you would let me talk back. Thank you for meeting me here right now. This is where I exist, you know. Right here and right now. It is the sure fire way to find me and to commune with me. You don’t even have to do it consciously, while journaling, for example. In fact, any and every time that you find presence, you will find me. I exist in the present. Through me, in your presence, you will receive presents: peace, rest, and joy. You are tired, thirsty and hungry. You spend your days like this. Though you drink and eat, your thirst remains. Only in the present, still before me, resting in my presence, will your hunger be gone and your thirst quenched. I offer this to you! I do not know why you refuse my presents, choosing instead to remain tired, thirsty and filled with hunger. Let me fill you up. The way I designed you to be full. Make my filling a regular part of your routine and watch as you life begins to gain fullness, too. You know this first hand. You’ve experienced it. So why settle for anything less? Oh how easily you forget! You deserve more, my child. So so so much more. And I am offering it to you daily, but it’s up to you to receive it. Always with you and always yearning for you, Jesus Christ in God the Father.

Conversations with God – Zephaniah 3:17

Posted on by under Conversations with God

February 18, 2013

It is written, “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exalt over you with loud singing.” Zephaniah 3:17. My sweet precious one, I am so glad you have once again sat before me, quiet in my presence. I’ve been yearning to speak with you. First, I am proud of you. I am SO proud of you and I LOVE you! I AM IN LOVE WITH YOU! Don’t let your heart grow faint. I am with you. I have always been and will always be. Do I not know the desires of your heart? Have I not seen your hard work and years of toil? Will I not reward you for this more than you can even imagine? Remember my lamb, your reward is heaven. That is the greatest reward of all and it is already yours. Fix your eyes on heaven and your heavenly reward. It is already here, already yours. While on Earth, continue to work for me, as you are called to do. Do not get sidetracked with what if’s and questions of your earthly rewards or gains. I handle all what ifs and earthly rewards are a mere mille-fraction of what awaits you in heaven. So, my precious one, be at rest. Relax in knowing that I care for you. Cast your burden onto me. You don’t know nor understand how you are already working for me in your daily life. But I do. Love yourself for what you’ve done so far. You are strong and I am proud. Stay where you are, you are just where I want you to be. Here, with me. Seeking me. Looking for me. Speaking with me. I long for this even more so than you do. Take things one day at a time. Aware of me and my presence and my working within you. I am always working within you. The things I have planned for you are great. Good things, which will make your heart glad. I am preparing you how to receive these things just as everything in you life up to this point has prepared you. You are well equipped, my soldier. You are ready. Don’t forget me as you discuss your future. Remember, it is my future, after all. I don’t make mistakes. Trust in me, little one. I placed dreams deep into your heart for a reason. And I didn’t give you these dreams without any intent on fulfilling them. Keep your faith, my child. Stay close to me. Rest in my presence. We have some exciting dream fulfilling adventures just around the corner and you’re more ready and able than you have ever been before. I love you. Let’s do this more often.

Conversations with God – Matthew 28:18-20

Posted on by under Conversations with God

June 8, 2012

It is written, “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been give to me. Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age’.” Matthew 28:18-20. Your single most important goal in life must be to praise me and to witness to others, to tell others of my works within you and in your life. All other goals pale in comparison. I have gifted you and I’ve given you the tools to use these gifts. I’m working detailedly in your life every day to prepare you to give this gift back to me. To use this gift as I intended, to your greatest ability through me, to your widest reach, to mine, which is global. Are you ready? Do not fret, my child. Remember that I have also told you, “I have power and authority over all things in heaven and on Earth.” With me, you are ready. In my time, you are ready. Through me, you are able. So when you get there, you will proclaim to all those who ask how, that I exist and that my love endures forever. My grace is incomparable.

 

Conversations with God – John 15:26-27

Posted on by under Conversations with God

June 7, 2012

It is written, “When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, he will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.” John 15: 26-27. You have seen, I speak through you. I am using you. I have chosen you! The Counselor, the spirit who lives inside of you and I in him will testify for me, through you. When you notice something comes from you that does not seem from you and is on my behalf, it is from me, through the Counselor. You will have profound things to say, wisdom beyond your years, melodies and sounds that come from heaven itself. But you must not take credit for them. They are not from you. Therefore, when the Counselor comes to you and testifies about me, you may feel taken aback but you must qualify his statements. You must qualify his testimony. You must qualify me. For who are you, apart from me?

 

Before God Can Use Us, He Must First Break Us

Posted on by under Christian Spirituality

Before God can use a man greatly, He has to hurt him deeply. God is at work in your disappointment and pain- teaching you a lesson of complete dependence on Him. He may cut you down and remove all the strength you have as a way to prepare you to be used by Him. Remember this during times of trial, and be grateful. The greater the need in your life, the greater God’s glory and provision.

Who Will God Use?

Posted on by under Christian Spirituality

God’s not looking for extraordinary people to serve His kingdom. He’s looking for ordinary people with extraordinary confidence in Him.

Where is God in Suffering?

Posted on by under Christian Spirituality
A year ago, my world fell apart as the ground on which I stood was snatched from beneath me. I don’t know if you’ve ever had the ground taken from underneath you, but I pray that you do.
When you lose the ground you stand upon, you find the Rock that you can rest upon. The only true solid ground that exists. And you experience His grace in ways you never thought imaginable.
 It takes a while to see it from this perspective, and you may never totally understand His ways but I can assure you, you’re suffering is not in vain. God’s calling you to know Him more, while a million other things are trying to distract you. But if the goal is to know Him, to really experience Him, then whatever it takes to get your full attention  is worth it. Even if it’s painful, and my God is it painful…

Patience

Posted on by under Daily Inspiration, Quotes

Be patient and wait for your mud to settle and water to clear. Be patient and wait. Your mud will settle. Your water will be clear.

Your Path

Posted on by under Daily Inspiration

Don’t confuse your path with your destination. Just because it’s storming now doesn’t mean you’re not headed for sunshine!