By Shal-Mar Hill | Have you ever said something you wish you could take back? Even said something good that you thought Wow! Did that come from me? We all have done both and training our mouth is the most difficult thing for us to do. You know the myth saying if you can’t say something nice don’t say anything at all. We all have said some things that were not nice to say or said something beautiful, and wonder where did that come from. In a nutshell, we have the authority over the power of our words. God gave us the control over our mouths and what we speak.
Proverbs 16:24, reads, “Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.”
| | I constantly think about what I am saying in conversations and how I speak. I don’t always hit the mark, but I am more conscious about the way I say things, and what comes out of my mouth. I have learned that the powers of my words are effective. Let’s look at God and how he spoke.
(Genesis 1:3,6,9,11,14)
3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.
9 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.
11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.
14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
Throughout all these scriptures God spoke in existence how he wanted the earth to be formed. He knew that there was power in everything that he said. That is the same way we have to view ourselves when we speak things into the atmosphere. I make daily positive confessions from God’s word to keep my spirit man encouraged and uplifted. There are days that I miss doing this, and I can always tell when that happens. My flesh and emotions are leading more than my spiritual man. My emotions start ruling the outcome of my day and week. So, it is always important to speak inspirational positive things over your life. We don’t realize, when we say negative or positive words out of our mouth into the atmosphere. How it could affect the outcome of our life?
James 3:9-11 reads, “Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?”
I promise you, the power of our words are so important in how we speak to people, our children, and over ourselves.
How many of you are living the outcome of what you have been speaking over yourself, whether positive or negative?
By Nicole Wian "I’ve learned the hard way that pushing pain aside is not the same as pushing past pain."
| My New Year’s intent this year is to be real. Authentic. Honest. The truth is, I always thought I had this down. I though I was quite genuine and forthcoming, but – no. God has shown me that, for thirty-three years, I have not been real about my feelings. Perhaps, not even about my motives. I have hidden behind an illusion of ‘okay’ as in I’m okay. Just fine. This is okay. This is fine.
So basically, I’ve possessed more cash-register honesty than real honesty and if I’m not being real with myself, then I can’t be real with other people. God calls us to come from behind the facades of ‘alright’; take our hurts and our issues to Him for healing so we will be equipped to share our strength, our hope, and ability to encourage others. This is impossible if we refuse to be real, if we have not yet admitted our own struggles.
I believe the church is getting slightly better at this admittance, but sadly, there’s a long history of finger pointing and failure to look within the body. There is a long history of fake within the church. There’s a reason that so many of us often hear that those outside the church would rather not come in.
| | There’s a reason that so many friends I share recovery with will state that the God of their own understanding is Love and they’ll follow this statement up with the assurance that this is unlike the God of the Bible. That God they believe is not a God of love. I hear these people talk about the True and Living God they know and have a personal relationship with. I know the God they’re talking about. They do not. It’s not because their God is different than the God of the Bible, it’s because the body has not properly given skin to God, has not effectively communicated His love. People are asking, “Will the real God please stand up?” Sisters, we have got to stand up as representation of His love. But we can’t tell the truth about God if we withhold the truth about ourselves.
I’ve learned the hard way that pushing pain aside is not the same as pushing past pain. I’ve experienced the catching up of it and the chasing down of it because one way or another, God is going to make sure that pain grabs my attention. Not to hurt me, but because He knows that this will draw me closer and that it’s the only way to get me past it.
God instructs us to “be still and know” that He is God. I stumble a little on the ‘still’ part. He’s going to talk and I’m going to be forced to listen. ‘Still’ can equate to a whole bunch of feeling, a whole bunch of sitting in the pain – something I’m really not too good at. I’d much rather push that pain aside and pretend I’m getting on with life. Sometimes I don’t want to feel or even acknowledge. The reasons for this are many, but the core reality, is that while I’m shying away from the healing, I’m robbing others. I serve the God of the Universe, the One who makes all things new. How awesome is that? How much does God want to heal me so that I might aid in the healing of others?
Stubborn human that I am, I, too often, forget that ‘stilling’ a moment or giving it up to God brings relief. Release. Healing. God is the one person I can go to, drop my defenses, and be real with. That’s where I’m starting this year. I’m asking God to take my fear of pain, my fear of admittance. I’m willing to allow Him to use both to mold me, to make me new. If I’m real with myself, then, and only then, can I demonstrate to the hurting the realness of God.
By Mickela Rutledge
| Is there something that you really, really need right now in your life and you just don't know how you are going to get it? Do you trust God about it? Of course you do! I am going to take a guess and say that you have prayed about it and have asked God for it. You have even used every possible scripture you know about God supplying your needs and you sing about this in church too. Even your pastor has talked about it recently but yet and still you are trying to figure out a way to fix everything. I have been there my sister; as a matter of fact, I am there right now. But did you notice the small glitch in our approach? We asked God to help us and even affirmed our request with scripture but after that we tried to figure out a way to solve the problem. And that is where I like to believe God chuckles at our efforts!!
We have to stop merely "saying" we trust God with our lives and "actively" trust God with our lives. I have often been a perpetrator of this crime!! I would be in a situation where I really needed God' s direction or needed him to supply something for me. | | I would pray about it and claim that I was "putting it in God's hands" and then seconds later I was anxiously worrying about what I was going to do or talking to anybody who would listen about my situation. My personal favorite thing to do was thinking of different ways I could manipulate the situation!! This is not Godly at all!! Jesus says in Matthew 6:27, "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" Worrying about our problems will not solve anything and it shows that we don't fully believe that God is our answer. Our beliefs and actions determine the type of experience we will have with God. Jesus also said in Matthew 21:21, " I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go throw yourself into the sea'".
We need to relax and claim the peace that is ours through Christ. God wants us to make our needs known to him and not worry about them. He promises to keep us in peace, if we keep our minds on him. So throw away those Plan B lists and stop complaining about what you don't have. I know it is hard, but we have to thank God for what we have and thank him for making a way for our current situation even if we don't see it yet! God does not withhold anything good from us and he wants us to have what we need but he wants to work our faith and build our character. So, supernaturally believe with me, sisters, for the impossible! I am trusting that God will supply my need for a car. I can't see where it is coming from right now, but I know that God has all of that taken care of!! What impossible thing or situation are you going to actively trust God for in 2013? I would love for you to share with us!!
By Morgan Fisher | If you are not familiar with the story of Cain and Abel, here’s a summary of one of the most fascinating stories of the Old Testament. It is so exceptional because it reveals the first encounter of fighting and murder in the Bible.
Abel was the second born son of Adam and Eve and the brother of Cain. Abel was a shepherd. Cain was a farmer. The Bible does not reveal much about Abel; it is evident that he was loyal to God. When Adam and Eve fled the Garden of Eden because of their shame, they asked God how they could find favor in His eyes. God requested the sacrifice of a lamb.
| | When Adam and Eve made it known to their sons that God had requested this sacrifice, Abel took the demand very seriously and offered the best lamb in his herd. Cain, however, did not comprehend the significance of God’s request. Not only did Cain ignore the call of a lamb, but brought an average offering from his crops before God. God rejoiced about Abel’s offering and rejected Cain’s. Cain grew jealous of the praise God gave to Abel. Envy led to anger and anger led to the first murder mentioned in the bible. Cain let envy take over and murdered his brother Abel.
Hebrews 11:4
“It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith. “
Abel’s obedience was based on faith. Sometimes, compliance with God’s will for your life comes with a high price. Abel’s story is admirable and will live eternally. As a living, breathing, delicate, human beings, we can say that we desire lives that will later be known for adventure, sacrifice, and lifelong legacy, but are we willing to obey God no matter what the sacrifice may be?
“God, I will follow you until things get uncomfortable.”
Are we willing to step out of our comfort zones, sacrifice the “kingdom of me” mentality, and live fully, intentional lives for our creator? Can we throw away fear and put full trust in God’s will for our lives? Are we willing to think that it is better to die while following God's laws than to fight back? Are we willing to say, I am Abel?
By Kieya Hudson "I tried so hard to get people to fill my voids with THEIR words instead of GOD’S. So every time they would fail me, I’d fall back into depression."
| What are voids? How do I know I have them? How do I fill them?
Do these questions sound familiar to you? Growing up I would always hear people talk about voids, but I never truly knew what they meant. As a result of these unanswered questions, I found myself in a cloud of depression that I couldn’t see my way out of. You see, when voids aren’t dealt with by turning to the Lord, depression will always be the outcome.
What is a void? A void is anything in your life that leaves you empty. For example, emptiness in self-worth leads to insecurity, further leading to depression.
|  Image via: A Well Traveled Woman | How do you identify a void? Although a void can’t be physically described in a tangible sense, we know that voids are dark and empty.
How do I know if I have a void? How do I know that I’m avoiding it? You constantly find yourself in cycles of depression.
How do you fill a void? Voids can only be filled with God’s word.
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. – Genesis 1:1-4 ESV
Words have filled voids since the beginning of time. Sometimes, we try to fill our own voids with things other than God’s WORDS. We think getting a man will fill our voids of insecurity. But we still end up depressed because MAN can’t fill voids—only God’s words can.
Depression was something that I struggled with for years. Now, looking back, I can see why that was such a big giant in my life. I tried so hard to get people to fill my voids with THEIR words instead of GOD’S. So every time they would fail me, I’d fall back into depression. I didn’t realize that my battle with depression was tied to the voids that I kept trying to avoid.
Today, stop trying to avoid what isn’t avoidable. Allow the Lord to heal every void in your heart with His Words.
My Pastor touched on this in a sermon one day. We see that even in the beginning, God didn’t approve of voids. When He created the world and it was without form and void, He saw that it was not good. God then SPOKE LIGHT into the void and later produced LIFE (Adam). Life couldn’t even come until God dealt with the void. Many times, we try to avoid the voids in our lives because we don’t want to “deal” with them. We’d rather soak in depression, where we “feel” comfortable, rather than dealing with our voids. However, filling our voids with God’s words is the only way we can rise up from depression and start LIVING again.
Believer, just as God separated darkness from light, He desires to separate the darkness of depression in your life from His light. God, the Creator of the Universe, couldn’t even continue with creation until He dealt with the void He saw. Today, stop trying to avoid what isn’t avoidable. Allow the Lord to heal every void in your heart with His Words. Ask yourself when you’re feeling depressed, “Where have I stopped filling my voids with the Word of God today? Who’s words matter to me the most, God’s or people’s?” Allow God’s words, “You are fearfully and wonderfully made”, in Psalm 139:14, speak life into your void of insecurity. His words in Colossians 2:10 that declare, “You are complete in Him” should be all the validation you need to fill that void of loneliness.
Believer, stop trying to avoid a void when God gave you power to speak life into it.
“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” –Proverbs 18:21
By Amanda Casanova "Let’s stop believing that it’s OK to be shaken. God didn’t promise an easy life, but he did promise a life led by his will and a life marked by grace."
| I’ve been buying into a lie. It’s a lie that tells me that this world is going to shake me sometimes and I need to figure out the best way to combat that. I need to better manage my time. I need to set better goals. I need to make better plans.
Life is full of surprises.
Make lemonade.
Go with it.
Sometimes, I am so caught up in those lies that I become really good at trying to find rest in myself— only I’m woefully wrong. I realized the depth of my error when I tried making my own rock, when I tried making my own place of rest.
| | You can guess what happened because it’s probably happened to you too.
I forgot that I don’t have to figure out how to nurse my aching soul. I forgot that no measure of work from my hands would ever amount to the refuge of God.
Psalm 62:1-2 tells us: My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. Let’s stop believing that it’s OK to be shaken. God didn’t promise an easy life, but he did promise a life led by his will and a life marked by grace. Let’s meet those tough days with a decision to remain faithful to God. He is loving and strong, and our own efforts to save ourselves will fail. I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of failing, and I’m tired of not finding rest in me. So here’s how you make a change: Give up your rock. Whatever it is that you’ve built to make you better prepared for the wolves, for your job, for your marriage, for your life, give it up. Trust God to provide the rest you need with words that stand, that prevail, that save – and most of all, words that don’t lie.
Image via: A Well Traveled Woman
By Christina Stolaas Last night, my six-year-old daughter, Sakura, went on a special date with her daddy. To say she was excited would be a grand understatement! She was elated at the thought of getting dressed up like a princess and for three weeks would daily ask, “How many more days till my date with daddy?”Her excitement was well justified, for this wasn’t just “any date”-- she was preparing for the kind of evening that every little girl (and most grown women) fantasizes about!
The activities for the evening were planned by our fabulous church and included a limo ride to the Melting Pot for chocolate fondue! (Wow!)
My husband played the part of prince charming fantastically, he picked out an outfit that coordinated hers and gladly joined in on the fun! With four young kids in our home, one on one time is quite rare, so, he was genuinely anxious and excited about spending some devoted time talking with her! When they joined the group of girls and their daughters at church, almost immediately he discovered that when surrounded with a group of giggly and giddy girls her attention was divided! She easily gravitated towards the fun of laughing, comparing shoes and necklaces and sharing lip-gloss with her church girlfriends instead of basking in the individual attention of her father. As a result, my husband came home slightly disappointed because he felt he never really got to connect with her. He longed to ask her about school, and friends, and new likes and dislikes, yet instead found himself a bystander most of the evening. Ironically, he watched her enjoy the company of her friends more-so than the company of her daddy on their special evening.
As I thought about this scenario, I was reminded of the infinitely amplified jealousy that the Bible describes God as having for us, His children. I wonder if what my husband felt is a small glimpse of how God often feels about what happens in churches every week. Our father watches us get dressed up in our Sunday best, coordinating jewelry and shoes, make up and hair dolled up, we rush to church for our set aside “date” with Him. Yet, how easily our attention is divided and we are lured away from His presence. Our thoughts are cluttered. Our hearts are hardened to messages that are too convicting or personal. We are distracted by to-do lists, regrets from last week, or anxiety for the week ahead. Can we be honest enough to admit that sometimes as Christians we “do church” socially and enjoy laughing and chatting with friends more then connecting intimately with the heart of God?
He always sought to woo them back into a love relationship exclusively with Him as their first love.
God invites us to call him “Abba Father.” Literally, He says, “Call me daddy!” He wants to know you and I intimately, as a perfect father knows His child. His schedule is never too busy. Our Papa God’s loving offer daily is an invitation into the wondrous joy of His presence!
Jealousy is an intense emotion, often with negative implications. God’s jealousy, however, is rooted in a passionate love, and should make us feel secure and protected in our covenant relationship with Him. As demonstrated over and over again in the story of the Israelites and their repeated unfaithfulness, God’s heart broke when His people wandered away from Him. He always sought to woo them back into a love relationship exclusively with Him as their first love.
God is jealous for you. Not for your talents. Or your money. Or anything you can do, give, or earn. He’s jealous for you because He knows and wants what’s best for you. He understands the longings of your heart and alone knows how to fill the God shaped hole you have.
By Sondra Lewis  On Monday January 21, 2013 we watched the second official Inauguration of the 44th President of The United States of America “President Barak H. Obama”. Millions around the world viewed the monumental event as all eyes were upon America’s 1st family. As the comments swirled around the difference in demeanor of our second term president from the first time around and the classic style of our 1st Lady Michelle and her new bangs to whose designer gown she would choose. As I watched the interaction between our President and his daughters, Sasha & Malia, and how we've watched them grow over the last four years, the one thing that hadn’t changed is they are still “Daddy’s” little girls.
Some have never known what it is like to have a good relationship with their earthly father. I’ve been blessed to have such a one. My dad (Alfred M. Barnes) whom I affectionately called “Daddy” referred to my younger sister, brother and me as “Kid” when talking with us. Anytime he answered a question or expounded on a subject (In a Bill Cosby type of way) J he’d always start with “Kid…” We knew we were in for a long ride and there would be no short version (Ergo, my passion for writing and why it’s by the grace of God to do so in 1000 words or less).
My dad always had a word of wisdom to impart to us: “It’s not what people do, but how you respond”, “Tomorrow is not promised: You live for today, learn from yesterday and hope for tomorrow”, “Our primary purpose in life is to please God”, “I may not be the richest man but the most valuable thing I can ever give you is what I’m telling you now”. That last quote couldn’t have been truer as I live by words spoken by my dad each day.
He balanced those nuggets of wisdom with playful jokes and pranks, always surprising us with unexpected laughs that still make me chuckle when I think about them. However, when I needed real answers and real talk, he was all ears and I never felt as if any question was too dumb or any subject off-limits. I could always talk to “Daddy”.
Even after I was grown, married and with children of my own, I found a place of safety and unbiased advice when daddy told me “Kid, whatever you do, stand by your husband. Together, there is nothing you won’t be able to face”. Those were some of the last words my dad spoke to me about a month before he passed away. And those words (along with the Logos & Rhema) have kept me through the thick and the thin times of my marriage.
As an adult, when the longing to be heard as only a daddy can hear, I found it in my dad. The place I could (relatively) climb up into his lap, lay my head on his shoulder and pour out my heart to him. Although I’d grown up, have children calling me “Mommy’, and to some may be a strong, able and assertive woman – somewhere within was still a little girl. She is a little girl who sometimes can be unsure of herself and needs to know that she is valued. Who at any given moment, though smiling and receiving accolades and yes, even criticisms of others, can become weary and sometimes need to take a “stay-cation” just to talk to Daddy.
She is a little girl who sometimes can be unsure of herself and needs to know that she is valued. Who at any given moment, though smiling and receiving accolades and yes even criticisms of others, can become weary and sometimes need to take a “stay-cation” just to talk to Daddy. She longs for this. She needs this!
My daddy passed away years ago, and there have been times in my life when I longed to hear his voice once again. A few years ago, I experienced such a time. Feeling frustrated and not being where I felt I needed to be, I questioned my Abba Father (Daddy) about it. As I was moving items off my dresser as I’d done many times before to dust, a picture became a message. It was a picture of me at four years old. Only days before, my husband had said “I don’t know what it is, but something happens to you, and you become like...I don’t know (and he pointed to the picture) that little girl”.
It brought to mind an incident that occurred when I was that age: My parents lived in the downstairs apt of my dad’s aunt and uncles home. I’d come upstairs and my aunt was about to pour me a glass of milk when she received a telephone call. I (wanting to be a big girl and help her out) went into the refrigerator and took out the glass bottle of milk. Before I could get it out, (struggling to grasp the slippery bottle with my toddler hands) lost the battle and it fell to the floor and shattered. Milk & glass went everywhere. My aunt (not thinking and still on the phone) turned around at the sound of the shattered glass and slapped my face. I ran downstairs and (with the hand print still on my face), my mom and aunt had some not so pleasant words. That was then. Now, in my spirit I heard: “From that moment until now, you have viewed correction as punishment and this is not always the case.
The feeling you get when corrected is the same as you felt then. You are not what you did and you will make mistakes, but don’t be afraid to try. I have never stopped seeing you as “That little Girl”. I realized at that moment that an incident I hadn’t thought of in years had robbed me of my youth, my freedom and my growth. That the Father corrects those he loves and he loves his little girls. And though I’ve grown into adulthood, have had some peaks, and gone through some valleys, the one thing that has never changed is that I am still “Daddy’s little Girl!
By Christina Stolaas "The waters will fiercely rise and thrash me about, but I will not drown! The fire will engulf and encamp me-- the heat agonizing-- but I will not burn!"
| Sometimes I have found myself wanting to believe God wholeheartedly yet struggling with instances where I’ve felt God has slacked on His promises. Perhaps like me, you have had moments where God’s perceived absence speaks louder in your life then the scriptures promises. | | Maybe you’ve lost a loved one in an untimely manner or suffered an accident or physical injury that caused you to lose mobility and enjoyment of life. Maybe financial hardships, job loss, home loss, or unexpected tragedies have plagued you. Possibly you’ve been abused, mistreated or abandoned by those who were supposed to care for you.
"If you consider the promises God has made us, one is that in this life you will have trouble."
The fact is, for many of us, sometimes unimaginable pain and suffering will come into play that will likely prompt you to consider beliefs you’ve always held to be true. Although most of us would like a relatively easy life, and many of us as Christians expect it-- it likely won’t happen. In fact, if you consider the promises God has made us, one is that in this life you will have trouble. (John 16:33). Notice the wording doesn’t say you “may” have trouble. It doesn’t say trouble is a possibility and that some of us will face it. The bible is pretty clear-- trouble is coming. I don’t think this type of trouble is referring to a breakup with a boyfriend, or a dead car battery in the morning. From the words that come after its pretty clear that God is talking about life altering hardships.... “But, Take heart! I have overcome the world!” It’s pretty clear that life's minor inconveniences rarely require us to “take heart.” To my particular life-- the you will have trouble part gets a resounding amen! I can easily say-- God you weren’t messin around on this one. In fact, I experienced life altering trouble in my life from the young age of five and sometimes it seems it’s been continuous since then. Again, I’m not referring to little annoyances, inconveniences, or difficulties. My dad was abusive and damaged me physically, mentally and spiritually in more ways then I could even come close to describing with words. The “take heart” part is more-so where I question, struggle and sometimes want to shout at God-- “I can’t!”
"These descriptions all sound pretty fabulous, but I can remember times when I longingly pleaded, begged and cried for God to intervene and reach His Mighty hand down to deliver me."
Someone spoke something to me recently that altered my perspective and has been tossing around in my mind almost nonstop. I’ve sometimes had an issue with feeling like God didn’t “protect me.” Isn’t that one of His greatest promises? If you spend much time in Psalms the references are everywhere. God is referred to as our Rock, Fortress, Shield, and Shelter. These descriptions all sound pretty fabulous, but I can remember times when I longingly pleaded, begged and cried for God to intervene and reach His Mighty hand down to deliver me. He never did! So though I’m firmly grounded in my Salvation-- I’ve always had that nagging feeling in my heart that somehow God must have missed or mistaken on those promises in my personal life.
A friend challenged me to see that God doesn’t always protect us “from” circumstances but He does protect His children “through” them. When I heard this, it was like something clicked that I have wrestled with for many years. I certainly was not protected “from” many appalling events growing up in my house-- but it’s quite obvious I was more then adequately protected “through” them. The biggest evidence in my life is the fact that I’m not insane in the head (in a very literal sense), I’m not on the street strung out on drugs, etc and I’m able to function and succeed in society despite some fairly crippling personal trauma. That is certainly protection “through” years of dysfunction at the hands of my father.
This brings to mind a statement that someone made years ago in my life that has always bothered me considering some of the suffering I have faced, “Nothing can touch you that hasn’t sifted through the hands of God first.” That has never quite been digested well for me! Why does God allow some of these tragic events happen to God fearing men, women and innocent Children? There’s obviously not an easy answer. If a theologian or pastor could come up with a satisfactory answer that would soothe the ache of our hearts sufficiently they would have a best selling book that would never come off the New York Times list. Christians are not exempt to incomprehensible amounts of suffering and pain. Those who have experienced the emotional, physical or mental unthinkable, spend unbelievable amounts of time and energy grappling with the hard questions with God.
"Why does God allow some of these tragic events happen to God fearing men, women and innocent Children?"
But, if you put it into perspective-- it’s all about God’s glory. God uses our life, the really wonderful moments and the horribly tragic ones to orchestrate a story that glorifies Him. It isn’t about me! It isn’t about you! Our lives are meant to demonstrate His power, His grace, and His sufficiency regardless of the events He allows to come into them to “make His point.” This world is not our final destination, therefore our days here are intended to be used to paint the bigger picture that God is loving, merciful, and powerful. I’m beginning to learn what that means in my personal world although I’m certainly no expert. But, I’m challenging myself to see that the events that God has allowed to come into my life-- although not desirable or “fair”-- are meant to ultimately be redeemed for a higher purpose then my own wishes.
So what does protection “through” circumstances mean for me?
The waters will fiercely rise and thrash me about, but I will not drown! The fire will engulf and encamp me-- the heat agonizing-- but I will not burn! The winds will sway and swing me about, but I will not be blown away! The rain will pour and the hail will pound and bruise my flesh, but I will not be injured! The mountains ahead will be strenuous, steep, and at times seem impossible to conquer-- but I will be given the strength to climb one step a time!Oh, what a joyous ending John 16:33 has-- Take heart....for I have overcome the world! Photo Credit: A Well Traveled
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