Strength!

I was reading my Bible last night and was reflecting on the things God has allowed in my life these past few weeks.  It seems that the more time that goes by, the more I feel emotional and erratic. I know that this will be an ongoing issue in my life but it is still hard to process the difficult times in our lives. 

When I think about having a miscarriage and then also having to go through the last days of someones life that is dear to my heart, I ask myself how is the right way to deal with it, is there a right way, should I and could I be dealing with it different?  Or maybe I am just over analyzing this whole thing and just need to let myself feel the emotion and pain. What is the right thing to do?

This is what I have come up with: God is love!
I was reading Acts 3 and something clicked...
In this passage we see Peter and John going to go into the Temple and they come across a lame man.  He asks Peter and John for some money and this is what happens:

Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and 

ancle bones received strength. 

Acts 3:6,7

This passage spoke to my heart.  God took this man from weakness and made him strong.  We all have times of weakness (I know I do).  But God is our strength. God took this man where he was, He took him by the hand in the condition he was in and not because of an expected outcome. God also lifted him up.  God did not wait for the man to stand on his own.  He picked him up and set him on his feet. And then the miracle happened, God strengthened this man. 

Don't you see... This is what God does with us too...
He holds my hand when I am weak.
He lifts me up when I am weak.
He strengthens me when I am weak. 

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.  most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.  

2 Corinthians 12:9,10 

Paul is talking about his own weakness and how God used his weakness to show him that God is enough.  He is enough for all of us.  When we are weak, God's love shines through.  He is able to work in our lives like never before. But this is the best part, He is with us the whole way.  

I also had one more word catch my eye... Beautiful. 

And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful,...

Acts 3:2a

Coincidence? I think not.  He was placed by the gate that was named Beautiful.  I looked at this and tears came to my eyes.  I truly believe God finds our shortcomings, our faults, our handicaps as Beautiful.  His Glory and Grace shine through them.  I am not perfect (if I was, I would not be in an imperfect world), but I chose to be a light that will be used for His honor and His glory no matter what trials or burdens may enter in. God is love!

I Give You a Little of My Heart

It has been a long while since my last post and I wanted to share a little of my heart with you all.  I do not like to write a blog about just anything, so I wait for inspiration and the loving words of God to come to me.  So when things come into my life, I wait for God to teach me something and that God wants me to share that with you.  I wait till God says write.  And then I do. 

These last few weeks have been trying and emotional.  As I reflect on them I can't be more grateful for the love of God.  It is amazing how God gives you that special peace in difficult times.  In the past few weeks I went through the process of the miscarriage of our third child.  And this process is still ongoing. 

I want to share with you what I have learned so far from this time in my life.  This will be a learning process as time goes on and I am so grateful for that.  First off I want to tell you I am OK!  Not that I am great or fantastic or depressed or a mess (which I may be all of those at some point during this time in my life) but I am OK! 

Today was a blessed day.  God knew what I needed and He gave it to me.  He gave me exactly what I needed.  I got to hear some amazing men get up and Preach the Word of God in a way that moved me and showed me the Love of God.  My husband preached about the faithfulness of God.  He has been faithful to me every day of my life.  And then I got to hear my Pastor preach a message on being content.  I can truthfully say that I am very content with my life at this moment.  Now to be honest, tomorrow that may change.  But through the words these men were saying, I knew God was speaking directly to me.  And it was amazing.


This is what God has shown me in the past few weeks:   

Philippians 4:7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  

God's peace cannot be matched.  Everything in this world is temporary.  Good times come and hard times come, but the peace of God is understanding that He is right there with you, going through everything with you.  His peace is understanding that He loves you so very much. 

Romans 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Ephesians 3:19  And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

  

For a few moments last week all I could think of was what did I do wrong for this to happen to me?  Do I deserve to have more children?  Well... I put that out of my brain real quick.  I know the love of God.  He does not zap you because of something in your past.  If you are His child, He has already forgiven you.  He loves you unconditionally.  Yes, we may all have hard and difficult times, but my faith tells me that everything will work out in His timing.  His grace is sufficient. 

2 Corinthians 12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

If this world was perfect, we wouldn't have hard times or sadness, hurt or heartache.  But this world is not perfect because we are not perfect.  The valleys come and go and the mountain tops come and go but God stays right by our sides.  He listens to me complain, He holds me when I cry, He laughs when I say silly things, He rejoices when I trust in Him.  

I am amazed at the love of God.  His love is unmatched by anything this world can offer.  His love sent His Son to die on an old rugged cross for me.  If I was the only person on the earth when Jesus, the sinless Son of God, walked it, He would still have taken my punishment on Himself.  Why would God send His Son to die for my sin if He didn't love me?  

I feel His love toward me.  My desire is to share that love with amazing young ladies and women because He said you are worth it.  And you are!

 

When we found out we were pregnant we thought it would be great fun to surprise the boys and take them to Build A Bear.  It is great fun for the boys to do this.  Before we went in, I asked them if they would like to create an animal for their new baby.  They looked sad and replied, but we want one too... It was too cute and I knew what the response was going to be.  So I told them that if they pick one out for the baby, they could get one for themselves as well.  This is the bear they chose.  They named her Gumdrop.  It's little things like this that lets me know God loves me.