I Can't Get Away....

No, I am not trying to escape....at ALL.

I can't get away from these words I read this morning....

"God will search the most horrible places for us. Not only will He save us from a life of sin, but He'll even wade through bitterness, pride, jealousy, anger and betrayal to rescue you!"

I was reading my friend Deidre's blog post for today. (If you haven't been following her February Month of Devotions - you should be!) And these words seem to echo in my head. It was if she was talking directly to me, reminding me of what the Lord had delivered me from, when I was in a deep pit, with only one thing to do, "Look Up" to HIM. 

He didn't have to search very far for me. Oh, He knew EXACTLY where I was. How I got there. How long I had been there. How far I would go. And then, I reached the end of ME. 

There I was, at the end of me, with no where to turn. I had tried to do it all on my own for years. My way. And I was nothing. Going nowhere fast. Useless. Unwanted. Terrified. Ugly. (just a few of my names at that time) Wallowing in self-pity. There was nowhere to look but up. And there HE WAS!! He lifted me out of that pit, and set me on a path to redemption, love, and grace. Once again HIS MERCY SAVED ME from that life of sin, sadness, brokenness, anger, unforgiveness, that I chose on my own, to love me and redeem me. 

I loved her post. It was so for me. A wonderful reminder of what God did for me. He loved me right where I was at that very moment. And He loves me right where I am today, right now. Even in the midst of trials and life. He will never leave me. He is always with me. 

Are you at a place, where you have no where to turn? Maybe you feel that you are not loved by a Holy God? The ONE true God? Oh, sure there are days I don't feel worthy of His love, and days I am just not enough. But, I do know this, HE DOES LOVE ME. He sent HIS Son to die for me. And that my friends, is more than enough! If you are at that place that you just don't know that God loves you..... join Raising Future Esthers  for the rest of this month as Deidre shares The Relentless, Transforming, Redeeming Love of God. (be sure to go back and read each day's post....you will not be disappointed!!)

And if you haven't read Hosea..... you really should. And if you want a good read that is  "A powerful retelling of the story of Gomer and Hosea," Redeeming Love is a life-changing story of God’s unconditional, redemptive, all-consuming love.

You Can Make A Difference

If you read this my post "I Hear an Echo" from the other day, this is sort of a continuation of that post. 

Yes, this is still echoing in my head, and my heart. I have been asking, "What is it Lord? Why does this continue to come up? I keep thinking, what is it that I am missing? How can I make a difference? It seems I am always, "doing something". So what is it. 

My husband and I have worked in Children's Ministry for a better part of 14 years. Over the years B has directed our children's summer camps and each year we meet with our counselors. One thing that I share with them year after year is the child that may drive you the craziest, is the one that needs you the most. We don't know what that child faces in his everyday life. Sad, but true. We hear, everyone is battling something. Well, children are no different. Except for the fact, they have a harder time fighting it. Another thing we share with our Ministry team is that we may never see the fruit of our labor, but there are those rare times that we see that we have made a difference in a child's life. Not all the children that have grown up in our ministry have stayed the course. Not all are faithful to the church or to God. But, there are others that you know "got it" as a young child, and we have seen them grow up physically and spiritually. Those rare ones that still seek the Lord are serving Him and walking with them. Oh, we would love to make a difference in ALL their lives, but that isn't always the case.

The Lord reminded me of how we make a difference in the here and now. We are not to worry about what happens tomorrow. We are to love those children, and to point them to Christ. Period. He will take care of the rest. He reminded me of this story.....

So, for now the answer to all my questions about, If not me, then who? If not now, then when?" is that I am to take each opportunity as it comes. Here I am wandering around, trying to figure out the BIG picture. It must be something BIG and GREAT that God is leading me to. But, for now that is not it at all. And that's ok. Because He is going to use me to make a difference, maybe not in the thousands., and certainly not to make this world a better place...but to make a difference for the here and now and to "make a difference for that one" that He placed before me.

We each have a purpose. God has ordained that. He chose us. In all this soul searching, I asked God to show me my purpose. He created me to praise Him. To glorify Him. Another answer came the other day when I made something my husband wanted. He said, "You take care of me don't ya?" As he hugged me, God nudged me...."there's your purpose".  I said, "Yes, I try, because, you are my purpose." Not only is my husband my purpose. But, my children as well. I tend to forget that they are my first ministry. So, you Mommas that think you don't have a purpose. God CHOSE you to be your child's mother. You... and He has a plan and a purpose for you in that. Everything else will flow from that ..... 

Do Something........anything 

Pray...send a card...call...encourage someone...support a ministry...volunteer...buy a pack of toilet paper, toothpaste, trash bags, etc and donate to a shelter...put someone else before yourself...God's word says to love one another....

so go.... love another...and

God will use you to make a difference! 

Worship Wednesday-God's Love

The next video is a little long, but so worth listening to.....take a moment to focus on God's love for you.

Sometimes I struggle.
Sometimes I fail to understand God's love for me.
Sometimes I forget He loves me just as I am.
Sometimes I try to earn His love.
Sometimes I feel as I am just not worthy.

But, all those thoughts are nothing compared to HIS love for me....and for you!!! Are you struggling with trying to earn His love? Maybe you don't really understand His love. For His love is like NO other. Dig deeper into God's Redeeming Love at my real-life friend's blog  during the month of February....you won't want to miss a post.