New Year, New Choice

I have never struggled with starting over. I have struggled with working through.

Some things in life need to be stopped. Some need to be reconditioned and some just linger no matter what you do because they are out of your control. It is the lingering challenges which have caused me the most pain, strife, and stress. However, these challenges have given me opportunity to learn how to love and forgive even when it makes no sense or it hurts. They have molded me into the person I am today, person I am proud to know, love, and vouch for. These lessons have helped me learn:

·        To lean on God first instead of trying my way first and then asking him to get me out of the mess I made.

·        To trust that he knows best in every aspect of my life.

·        To ask and wait on him to show me the way.

·        To be confident in my relationship with him.

·        To know beyond a shadow of doubt that he made me for his reason, he loves me, and he will provide for me.

·        To know that he will complete the good work he started in me when I abide in his love and strive to uphold his laws and commands in his word.

As you start this New Year look to Proverbs 3:5-7 (NIV)

 

 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart
   and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit (ask and trust) to him,
   and he will make your paths straight (not necessarily easy but you will be able to see him).

 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
   fear (be in awe, respectful of his authority and power) the LORD and shun (run from) evil.”

I tried for years to create enough self awareness, focus, and power to have true joy in my life to no avail. I am an imperfect human and therefore I cannot attain or create the perfect self power. I am not God but I know who he is. I know I cannot have a life filled with love, joy, peace, mercy, grace and self-control without a personal relationship with Jesus.

I am starting out my new year with his eternal promises, mercies, grace, and love. I have resolved to live Romans 4:20-22

^“Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. ^“

 Have a blessed New Year!

The Emotions of Christmas

I have been alone, sad, hurt, and afraid because of the circumstances, situations, and emotions of my life for many Christmas Holidays. I was tempted to stay in the pit of darkness where all the depression, self pity, self loathing, anger, and resentment live and multiply. But what good is this pit to my heart, mind, and spirit? Will I find happiness there? Will my life be better? No!

The only ray of light in my heart comes from God. His light is my star, my compass, when I can’t see. It shows me the way to find the good, hope, salvation, and promise in my life. This star light can and will always penetrate the darkness when I allow it to.

I have discovered it is my choice to be imprisoned by my past and present negative perceptions and emotions or my choice to allow God’s light to heal and transform them with love, peace, and joy. I choose not to be the condition of my emotions or my situation but the promise I am through Christ. Only through God can I overcome the negative forces seeking to destroy me. Jesus is my rock, my shield, my strength, and my salvation. He is the heart of God coming down in human form to show me what perfect love, grace, and mercy look like on this earth.

Baby Jesus is my proof I have hope and salvation. He is our Messiah! He is Christmas.

If you don’t have someone to share Christmas with, open your heart. You are never truly alone when you reach out to Jesus and receive his gift of hope and love. He is there waiting just for you. Loving you, every breath you breathe.

The Heart is a Funny Thing

It is made of tissue yet it is driven by an inner center of emotion, need, and desire expanding or expelling its physical and spiritual life. How my mind digests the experiences and circumstances in life directly affects the condition of my heart.

Once I had a very shattered heart I thought could not be soldered back together. I was wrong. I realized in my spirit that once I gave ALL the pieces to God he could mend my broken heart. He cannot mend what he doesn’t have.

Through the healing revelation of God in my heart I can see his love, grace and mercy in my life’s lessons. He has helped me to see I am not who I was and has given me a vision of what I can be, more like him. This process is my path, my plan, my purpose, my heart.