by | Faith Lived Out, Life Application
I am reminded of that today. Jesus makes all things new again. All things! What does that mean to you? To me it means:
- He can take a child whose mother left him at the doorstep of a hospital and make him new with a family that raises him up as their own.
- He can take a prostitute who walked around lost and crying out to him, but couldn’t open her eyes wide enough to see, and turn her into the princess of the Most High.
- He can take a meth addict who desperately sought to be a mother to her child, but couldn’t do it on her own, and open her heart to love like she’s never known.
- He can take a girl whose innocence was stolen as a child by a man she trusted and restore her to wholeness.
Oh, the things He can do!
My pastor introduced me to this video and it inspired me to write today. Though the graphics and the song bring sadness to my heart, I am reminded of His grace and mercy again as I have been made new. We can all be made new!
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. – 2 Corinthians 5:17
Embrace this video and find comfort in knowing just how saved we are.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQ7oAhYNEhg]
by | Life Application
2007
Me: What do you want for Christmas?
Caleb: I want you to be skinny enough to ride a roller coaster with me.
2008
Me: What do you want for Christmas?
Caleb: I just want you to be skinny so we can do things together.
2010
I’m learning that the little things in life are so important. The only thing I’ve known all my life is being overweight. It’s who I was – it defined me. Or so I thought. Bring God into the picture and you learn differently.
He is changing me. He HAS changed me; from the inside out.
Food fixed my pain. It soothed me. It hid me from the world. For every pound I gained I was one step closer to keeping people from getting close. I didn’t want anyone breaking through my walls. But the truth is deep down I desperately wanted those walls to be broken down. I got my wish.
When a little boy with the most precious eyes and big heart doesn’t ask you for money, the newest video game, or the most popular toy, but he looks you in the eyes and all he wants is you, how can your heart not melt? For years I’ve been so absorbed in my own pain and sadness that I could only exist. I couldn’t give him what he really wanted. I couldn’t give him me.
But that’s all gone, because I’m here now. I’m really here. God is good.
Caleb got his wish this past weekend. I sat on a roller coaster next to him, while he grinned from ear to ear and told me how proud of me he was. Those words coming from a little boy does something to your heart. He held my hand and said, “You’re doing it. You’re really doing it! I love you!”
It’s amazing what God can do when you get out of his way and let him do his thing. I’m living a life I never knew existed. I’m really living it!
As I stood in line to ride Wildfire I realized that my life has been much like this rollercoaster. I’ve been up and down, through the loop, backwards, upside down, and way over the top. But today I feel different. I’m enjoying this ride and know it will only get better.
One pair of running shoes: $60
Ticket to Silver Dollar City: $56
The smile on a young boy’s face when his wish comes true: Priceless
by | Life Application
Tonight my heart feels heavy and I can’t really describe why. I have sadness I guess. Getting in touch with my emotions isn’t necessarily my strongpoint, so bare with me here.
I took a friend out for dinner tonight for her birthday. We had a great time. It was just the two of us in the middle of the restaurant. At that moment I didn’t care if the rest of the world existed. Before I had to go back to Table Rock Freedom Center I wanted to stop by my apartment and get some things.
As I walked in everything looked strange, yet familiar. I opened cabinets and looked in drawers. I walked from room to room exploring. Then I sat on the couch and cried a river. A few days ago I began to wonder exactly how I had gotten myself to where I was. How did all of this happen? Really. How did it happen?
I will never live there again. I won’t ever sit on that deck and make up stories about my neighbors. I won’t ever cook in that kitchen. I won’t listen to Joyce Meyer in the bathroom every morning, as I get ready. I won’t drift off to sleep in that bedroom anymore. But I was reminded that God has another plan, and that I will get the chance to do those things again.
I started to go through my closet and I came across a t-shirt. I didn’t even know I had it. It was my “pop’s” shirt. He used to sleep in it. I thought the only thing I had left of him were some pictures and his ashes. I held it in my hands and cried. If only I could talk to him one more time. If only.
An hour later I told Jammie goodbye and decided that I probably shouldn’t watch her drive away. Instead I went to my favorite place in the house, the bathroom, and prayed. I needed His strength; I certainly couldn’t rely on my own.
I have since dried my tears and found my smile, as I sat in the kitchen and heard laughter from all of my sisters. I am home. It’s not the home I could have ever imagined in my lifetime, but it’s home.
This is the hardest thing I have ever done! There are moments I want to give up. I want to raise the white flag and tell God I cannot handle the tasks He has set before me. Is that selfish? Absolutely, but it’s honest. I realize more and more each day that I am absolutely nothing without Him. Nothing!
I am a mere human being on a tiny peanut of a planet who cannot, nor do I want to exist without my Savior. I know that tonight will be a distant memory to come. I know that happier days are coming. I know that God is planning another revival in my heart. So what do I do in the meantime? Wait.
As I write this I’m staring at a picture on the wall. It says:
When everything seems to go wrong – just PUSH
When the job gets you down – just PUSH
When people don’t react the way you think they should – just PUSH
When your money looks “gone” and the bills are due – just PUSH
When people just don’t understand you – just PUSH
PUSH – PRAY UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS!
I am off to bed. As I lie down tonight I will sleep with my daddy’s t-shirt on. But whose arms will be around me? My Jesus. They always are. Always!
by | Faith Lived Out, Life Application
Do you ever have one of those days where you have truly felt changed? You can’t exactly put your finger on a certain instance that changed you, but you just know. Yesterday was that day for me.
I had a great workout with one of my sisters. As we crunched and stooped and walked, we praised God for the things in our lives. We gave Him thanks for the smallest things to the biggest things.
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by | Life Application
There are various definitions for the word humble. The most powerful to me would have to be - to lower in pride; make modest. That definition speaks powerful truth to me.
The word humble is in the Bible over twenty times. Moses was humbled. Solomon was humbled. David was humbled. Jacob was humbled and Joseph was certainly humbled. What about Job? I would have to say Yes!
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by | Life Application
This post was originally written in August 2009. Since then God has healed my heart and made some drastic changes. He wants to heal your heart too.
Interesting question. I believe the answer is yes. I believe I saw it first hand.
My grandfather passed away on August 15. He was 84. Yes, he was old. Yes, he had been sick. Yes, his cancer was back. But I believe he died from a weakened heart. I believe he gave up because he felt lost.
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