God is a God of Love, Healing and Hope...

It was what it was. The evidence is there. The hurt has been felt. But forgiveness has come. Resentment has been overcome. Hearts have been mended.

Moving on from a love relationship is difficult at any time. Moving on from one where there was an ocean separating both parties is even more difficult. It was what it was. He and I share our memories. He and I are now recovering from our hurt.

Does it take a strong person to still love and care for someone whom they adored and wanted to spend the rest of their life with? Even with the hurt? Yes, I believe it does. I believe it takes God's love and grace to be able to do so. And that is what I felt last night.

Healing. Restoration. Closure. New promise. Hope.

Healing from a God who loves me as far as the east is from the west.
Restoration from a God who believes that His children deserve a complete and full heart of love.
Closure on a period of my life where God was always present.
New promise of a future living as God intended me to live.
Hope for whatever He brings my way next.

God is a God of love. Complete love. Fulfilling love. Grace-filled love.

Never under-estimate the power of His love for you. I never knew this love in it's completeness. I never fully understood it. Not until I learnt how to love myself how He loves me.

Fretting? Anxious? Nope, Not Me...

Well, it's the 15th and that means another verse for my 24 in 2010. Now, while I'm still not memorising each verse word for word (like my little girl is doing with her Alphabet Memory Verses this year), I am slowly getting each promise from God to seep into my gray matter!

Tonight while cutting sandwiches, folding washing, mending holes in little girl clothes and now relaxing in bed with a cup of tea and my knitting, I have been listening to Joyce Meyer. I haven't listened to her preach for a long time and didn't realise I missed it until now. She is straight to the point, doesn't mince words, and puts everything so practically that even a child could get it.

The first preach I watched was called Simple Prayer and Simple Life Part 1 (3/11/2010 podcast). I found it valuable and refreshing. If you can take some time, please watch it as the message Joyce shares is practical and worthwhile.

The preach ended in a verse that I love, taken from the Amplified version...Philippians 4:6 -

Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.

I prefer the verse from the NIV, and I also love verse 7 -

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

These verses saved my sanity last year when I went through two particularly rough patches. I was reminded by these verses that God has everything under control and the I am to have faith and trust in Him. He will take care of all my needs, He will act on my behave to avenge any wrongs done against me, and He will love me more than ANYBODY on this planet will ever do.

I get excited when I think that God knows me better than anyone else does, including myself. He knows of my potential and how to build me up in spite of my weaknesses. He knows my heart and my mind. He provides something that nothing else in this universe could ever give - peace, assurance, unconditional love.

I need to reverently meet Him more often; verbalising my concerns and feelings. Yes, He already knows them, but He needs these things to be spoken out. To be given to Him. Then, and only then, can He act on them. The joy in verse 6 is this - we can take anything to God and He will answer us. Whether it be in our time or His time, well, that's His choice. But He will. He will take away our anxiety and cause us to no longer fret about things that He has in control.

So, to my verse for this month. As the New Living Translation is my weapon of choice this year (thanks to the lovely Jo Princess Warrior), I will be memorising this -

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

Thank You dear Heavenly Father for your wisdom, love and protection. Thank You for the reassurance Your presence brings by knowing, quite simply and easily, that You are watching over us and out for us. In Jesus' Wonderful Name, Amen

PS: DON'T FORGET! One post to go and it's giveaway time here! I have a great book to give away to a lucky commenter. Keep your eyes peeled! And yes, I will post it to ANYWHERE in the world!

1 January 2010 : The Beginning of the New...

The 1st of January, 2010 has been an enjoyable day. My girlie and I went to the cinema to see "The Princess and the Frog". While not a fan of any type of love story (much), I did enjoy this one for it's real characters (as real as one can get in cartoon, that is!). Then it was home for lunch and a rest, and then into the city to visit with friends who are holidaying in Brisbane for a couple of days. Jasmine is now with her dad and grandma, and I am enjoying the solitude but missing my girl already.

As it's a new day, month and year, I have felt very excited about the possibilities for change and for pursuing the vision that God has for my life. With my word for the month being forgiveness, I will be doing some study and meditation on this and posting soon. Another delight from God that I will be studying, meditating on AND memorising is verse number one out of 24 for the year, which is:

"My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life." - Psalm 119:50 (NIV)

There were SOOO many times during the latter half of 2009 that His promise did literally preserve my life! While I don't think I would have, or could have, done anything fatal to prematurely cease my existence here on earth, there were a few occasions where I wish it was just over. Finished. Kaput! I had had enough and I just didn't, point blank did not, or should that be DID. NOT., want to be here.

I did really know otherwise though. I knew the truth. My 'sane' self kept telling my 'insane' self that I was meant to be here. Praise God for the Holy Spirit sticking so closely by me during those very low patches.

So, what is God's promise? It is His peace, love, grace, mercy, compassion, and also His vision for me. As that is my theme for 2010, I feel that I must look into every circumstance and find what His vision was and is for me. Last year it was to become stronger in myself through Him, and to draw closer to Him. This year...I don't know as yet, but I do feel that my 2010 Word List will help me see what it is.

I love Psalm 119:50 from the King James Version -

"This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me."

The Hebrew word 'chayah' (2421)...'quickened' means to save, revive...basically it means to live. Without Him, without His comfort, which is His hope as noted in verse 49, I would not be where I am today. I would still be, but I would still be struggling.

2010 is going to be an awesome year. I will not have it otherwise and I know that God will not either.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for keeping me nestled safely under your wings in 2009. Thank you for leading me out of the dark depths that tried to envelope me. Thank you for your peace, love, grace, mercy and compassion. I pray for a fruitful 2010 seeking after your vision for my life. In Jesus' wonderful name, Amen.



PS: Join me, and others, over at Extravagant Grace for the 24 Verses in 2010.

He Is With Me...

"And behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of." - Genesis 28:15 (Bullinger's Companion Bible)

My birthday has come and gone with greetings, gifts and good food, but the best part of it was God's Word (above) that was given to me. His promise that He will not leave me and is with me always and wherever I go. The promise of His eternal devotion and support with one year left to go on my Exit Wilderness Project. Amazing words and an enlightening promise by the One who gave life to me and has allowed me to journey through to this point in time.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the promises You make and never break. Thank You for staying with me even when I was walking on the wrong path. Thank You for such a blessed birthday. In Jesus' Name, Amen

Promises of God...

"The future is as bright as the promises of God." - William Carey