Faith Remains ...

Good Afternoon I hope all is well with you. I have not written here in over three years. There are times when all energy resources must be committed to maintaining & sustaining what is most vital. Today is six-years since my Mom passed away - May 16, 2020. A great deal has transpired since then. I got laid off .... again My youngest son almost lost his life when a drunk driver in a truck struck him, sent him flying and then ran him over before fleeing the scene. There have been multiple bouts of illness. And this Monday will be one-year since my Dad passed away - May 18, 2025. I have learned of the passing of a dear childhood friend. And lost many relationships. There were situations in my past that I thought, 'it cannot get worse' I was sadly mistaken. Don't get me wrong - good things have happened too. My son survived - with a leg full of titanium but he survived. I found new work. I've started and am building a bakery business. My middle son got engaged - just recently. And I got an amazing 'daughter' and grand-daughter. That little girl is my absolute heart. And my oldest son overcame social anxiety - he has been instrumental in getting the business started. Through it all, God has remained faithful. And as a result, FAITH REMAINS. I told my future daughter-in-law, "God has given me a new tribe and a new village." No matter what you lose, God is able to bring about restoration - like he did for Job. Understand, no blessing or introduction of new 'tribe members' can take the place of lost loved ones. But God can set you in a revised village where you can love and be loved in return. My sons are still with me - that is something to be thankful for. My sweet 17-year old MinPin Chico left us (before my Mom passed) But even in that area, God blessed my grand-daughter with Toy Fox Terrier Cosmo. He has been a blessing to the entire family. Again, it does not replace what has been lost. But you can experience joy again - different - but again. Through it all, my faith has been POUNDED. It has been strengthenedand FAITH REMAINS, but it has been battered. Over the past week, I have come to this site mutiple times and read things I penned years ago. I have been amazed at how the words have encouraged my faith and soothed my soul. One of my favorite verses in the Bible has always been Isaiah 50:4 "The LORD God has given me an instructed tongue, that I should know how to deliver a word in season to them are weary." I had know idea that weary someone would be me. So why share all of this? I just want to let you know that GOD IS FAITHFUL - Even when we don't understand, when we are hurt and angry HE IS FAITHFUL. I put a period at the end of that sentence - because His faithfulness is the beginning and the end of our story - and every page in between. That is a reason to rejoice and be thankful. No matter how difficult things seem - He is with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Even when He feels distant, and you cannot see where or how or that He is working; He working still. Jesus replied, "My Father is still working, and I am working too." John 5:17 CEB The blood of Jesus covers us perpetually. The Person Jesus, is ever interceding on our behalf. If you are in a tough place today - let the knowledge of His love & faithfulness encourage you. Be Blessed!

Something Beautiful

 

Five days until Christmas 

It is hard to believe

It feels as though the year has flown by

As I prayed yesterday -

As I petitioned the LORD, and said ‘speak LORD, your servant is listening’, this verse dropped in my spirit:

‘I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD; plans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you a hope and a future.’ Jeremiah 29:11

It doesn’t always feel that way - especially if you are facing situations and circumstances which are so far beyond your understanding that they boggle the brain.

Yet, His Word is every bit as true as when He first spoke those words. His plans are good plans. And they never fail - no matter what it looks like to our feeble minds.

Every year when I decorate for the holiday season, there is inevitably a point I reach where I wonder if it will come together the way I envisioned it. 

If I am honest, there are times when my plans just don’t come to fruition. 

Last year was one of those years. Sick in my body, in the midst of a Lupus flare up and experiencing neurological issues, still trying to get my bearings and help my son recover from being struck by a drunk driver; nothing was as I planned. And I eventually abandoned my efforts to get things done exactly as I planned - resolving that it was as good as it was going to get because I just didn’t have the strength to complete my plans.

Life will sometimes crush your best intentions - 

     But not so with the LORD.

I am so glad that God is not us - that He is not me

He never sleeps or slumbers. He is all-powerful, always working and faithful to keep His promises. He always finishes what he begins.

‘God is not man, that He should lie, not a human being, that He should change his mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?’ Numbers 23:19

‘The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.’ I Thessalonians 5:24

‘Let us hold resolutely to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.’ Hebrews 10:23

‘He will never slumber nor sleep; He is the Guardian-God for His people … Yahweh himself will watch over you; He’s always at your side to shelter you safely in His presence.’ Psalm 121:4-5

‘And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.’ Romans 8:28

This season - this morning - if you still have breath in your lungs … know that the good LORD is still developing the beautiful picture that is your life.

He is making something beautiful!

It will all come together before your eyes just as He planned it from the beginning.

Keep Trusting Him & Have a Blessed Day!