"Growth Is Painful"

"I feel like a banana that's being peeled one strand at a time. And each time a strand is pulled off it causes extreme pain. It's as if the peels are the outer shell of my life, and God is ridding me of all things that He knows I don't need in my life. It is extremely painful and sometimes very grieving. Only to think, I know there's got to be a reason for all of this because Romans 8:28 says "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." So, as we surrender our lives to Him, we give Him free reign to start peeling off the edges of the areas in our life that don't need to be there. Just like a mother must go through pain to have a child, but once the child is here, the pain is soon forgotten. From my experience, sometimes we must go through what seems to be excruciating pain whether its physical or emotional first, before we experience what God has for us."

"I am painfully learning that joy doesn't come from the outside, it comes from the inside. And that, only God can bring us true joy...Joy unspeakable! When we've lived our lives, and done things a certain way for so many years, it's hard to let go and allow God to shape us and mold us into what He wants."

These feet are my feet, and they symbolize that Jesus keeps them walking; literally and spiritually speaking..I've been through a lot, some things in which I brought on myself, and other things I didn't..However, God is good enough not to punish me, but to love me and re-direct my life, my steps, if you will..We serve a loving Father who wants the best for us. So, if you've ever thought, "I just can't go on anymore", look down at your feet as a reminder that God has kept you walking and He will never give up on you..He loves you and I more than we can ever imagine. No matter how much of a mess we have made our lives..Look to Him and trust Him with your heart today..Will you? I have!

"Letting Go"

"The pain that hides behind these eyes is deep so deep, 

I cannot sleep, I look in the mirror and what do I see, 

but two blue eyes looking back at me, they are deeper than what appears,

the pain I feel is  deeper still, it feels like being pierced by a thrown spear,

Lord I'm asking that you take this excruciating pain away,

and do it quickly with no delay, 

I hurt in my heart, in my body and find it hard as to just what I'm trying to say,

Except for asking You Heavenly Father to take this from me today"

(Isaiah 53:5-"But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.) 

"You know, it is really hard to let go of something or someone that means so much to you. Sometimes it feels like your heart is going to explode out of the massive pain that is felt from a divorce, loss of a job or death of a family member. Almost like a Tsunami that comes in and destroys everything, unrecognizable to the eye than before. The pain makes you feel like nothing can stop the total devastation of the heart. The pain is all too real, like your heart is literally being torn apart from your chest. Let it go and give it to God. lay it at the feet of Jesus. Worry brings fear, releasing brings faith! I stand firm to you Lord!"

"A Firm Foundation"

"The tides of life are forever turning, at the same time God's changes to hearts is churning,

We don't always need to move the way the wind blows,

We just need to get on our faces, seek God to know which way to go,

Because lots of times the picture is so unclear,

We must put our car in neutral and let God steer,

At times we feel we are at our wits end,

Only to find that God has rescued us yet again,

So I suggest you hold on to what you've got, whose blood was shed, your price He bought."

"Wait For the Lord"

(Psalm 27:14)-"Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." (David knew from experience what it meant to wait for the Lord. He had been anointed king at the age 16, but didn't become king until he was 30. During the interim, he was chased through the desert by jealous King Saul. David had to wait on God for the fulfillment of his promise to reign. Later, after becoming king, he was chased by his rebellious son, Absalom.)
Waiting for God isn't easy. Often it seems that He isn't answering our prayers or doesn't understand the urgency of our situation. That kind of thinking implies that God in not in control or is a liar. But God is worth waiting for (I am learning this one). Lamentations 3:24-26 "calls us to hope in and wait for the Lord because often God uses waiting to refresh, renew, and teach us". So, I challenge you to make good use of your waiting times by discovering what God may be trying to teach you in them.