Philippians 3:12-14

Straining Toward the Goal 

Phillipians 2:12-14

12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 

   As I read my bible these days it seams I understand things that I have always known... but never understood. Like Lot's wife, I knew about her...but when I read the story today I understood it in a totally different way. I don't want to be like her and look back, and I surely don't want The Lord to turn me into a pillar of salt! I can't let the past control my future. I am still learning and searching for truth and the only place I have found it is in my bible. I have wanted to find it in friends and in family but it's not there... It's only their opinions. Gods opinion is the only one that matters. God is my refuge and my rock he is my salvation and the one who frees me from all unrighteousness. So. If you find me distant, I'm searching for something more than this filthy world offers. I'm searching for peace in Gods creation and His unfailing word. I'm not looking for small talk, it's not worth my soul....Im thankful for this aha moment where everything makes since. Thank you Lord for showing me your peace, love and forgiveness! 

Gods word is one of the greatest tools we have. Ask The Lord to help you model what it teaches. 

Jesus's Table

Soo.. I'm super excited. I got this awesome chair with a heart shaped back that I Love, it's torn all to pieces but beautiful and I love it just the way it is! Today I was cleaning and moving around and placed it at our table, tears started flowing immediately. The chair reminds me of my heart broken ,torn and raveled. It also reminds me that God has something better. The chair could be fabulous with a fresh coat of paint and some fabric. God wants to take us and remake us into something beautiful. As I will the chair. The chair is now Bella's seat at the table. She will always be with us, in our minds and hearts at every single meal we eat. The pillow in the chair is from her bedding! I'm so excited about HER chair at OUR table and even more excited that HER chair is already at Jesus's Table!

Time Heals No Wounds

There is a well-treasured saying that even Christians take comfort from during times of duress and tragedy, "Time heals all wounds." 

May I just tell you loudly - I OBJECT!! Time has no inherent healing power. Only God has healing power! I know women who are just as bitter and angry today as they were ten years ago. Time hasn't healed their souls. I know women who are playing the blame game louder today than they were 30 years ago. Time has not healed these exhausted, hoarse women. 

Only Jesus has healing power and so if you have a broken heart and long for comfort, then you must burrow into His presence where miracles happen not because of time, but because of Him. Are you allowing the nurturing closeness that He gives especially to the brokenhearted to heal your heart today? 

No one can mend a broken heart but the Lord. Other people's words will encourage you and bring a measure of healing but the ultimate healing is always from the Lord. Kind deeds and gestures may remove the sting from a broken heart, but nothing and no one other than the Lord can place that crowning healing touch on your life. He has the power, love and divine skill to actually cure you from the extraordinary pain that you are going through. 

God is able to restore your soul and perform a spiritual heart transplant if that is what it takes to move you into health and hope again. This seems impossible when you have a broken heart but it is not impossible to God! The will of God is always restoration and healing. 

We can easily understand the concept that the Holy Spirit is endeavoring to communicate through the psalmist in the phrase, " - and binds up their wounds." The word picture that is being painted through the Hebrew language is the beautiful illustration of a tailor gently mending and sewing together that which was torn apart. If you have a broken heart, friend, I know Someone who has the expert skills to easily and perfectly mend it. Not only is He able to repair your broken heart, but He has the desire to do it.

I refuse to sink

My heart is heavy as I cry out to The Lord, forgive me, for the fear that overtakes me.

But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “FEAR NOT, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?

And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Of David. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock.

I refuse to sink....

Sharon Sterling Allen

Brookhaven, MS · 

We talked about words in Sunday School yesterday...good words and bad words and how they affect you. Every book I've read recently has talked about letting go. I almost hyperventilate thinking about that. I cannot imagine letting go of my Haley. In my mind I know they don't mean forgetting your child, the words just seem harsh right now. Today I read a post on a grief blog that makes more sense to me. It talked about shifting. Yes, I am working hard on shifting. I am trying to shift to the good memories and "let go" of the memories of the last day. Our family is trying to shift from thinking about our loss to thinking of our blessings. We are shifting from thinking about what Haley didn't get to experience to how many lives she touched in her 21 years. Every day I hear a story of how Haley has touched somebody that she had never met. It makes you think about what your legacy will be. Will people remember you as being compassionate and friendly, always ready to listen as was Haley? What a learning experience this has been for me!

What do you Long for?

We all loaded up Friday full of energy, laughs and coffee. We were excited to get away and have a little fun! I was uneasy. Praying constantly "Lord keep me together" please. I just want to be like everyone else with there minds wandering on shopping, eating and The Lord. Yes I do still think on normal things but usually my happy thoughts are shot down with doubt-insecurity and Bella. You see.. She literally consumes me, my every thought. all . day . Long. We just take every single moment for granted. I long for The Lord to consume me the way she does. It is a constant battle in my mind between satans negative thoughts and Jesus my Savior. Anyways we ate and ate some more and headed to see Beth Moore! Here is what I brought home after a weekend of great friends and worshiping our Savior!

What do you long for??? If your like me your a bit puzzled at the question. I hope this helps you. 

A longing is defined as a desire, a lust, to covet, to literally stretch out with the hands to reach after. We long for Love and for relationships. We desire things of this world and once they are attained we desire something else.

Did you know The Lord longs for you?? Have you ever Longed for him? Honestly I have lived 27 years not trouble free, but under the thought process that I had it ALL under control myself. I didn't need God but just every now and then. But Geez Louise I can not make it a day without him now. Not a minute. I would break and break everyone with me. Satan could use me to destroy my whole family and I stand or sit lol here now and I REFUSE to let him. I honestly Long for The Lord, I need him... I pray each of you would need him like I do. To feel helpless and own your own is no way to live. Trust Jesus... Reach for him... He will hold your hand or carry you which ever you need.

I am feeble and sorely broken; I have groaned because of the disquiet of my heart.
Lord, all my desires are known to Thee; and my groaning is not hidden from Thee.
My heart panteth, my strength faileth me; as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me. 
Psalm 38:8-10

1) All our Longings lie open before The Lord. 

2)  If it is not long, it's not a longing. 

3) If it never aches, it is not intense enough for longing.

Some people put lids on there longings and some people hang theirselves by them.

Therefore The Lord LONGS to be gracious to you, and therefore he waits on high to have compassion on you. For The Lord is a God of justice; how blessed are all those who LONG for him.     Isaiah 30:18

A longing is a want for so long it becomes a need for your soul.

4) A longing fulfilled is a tree of life. Not The tree of life but A tree.

And he showed me a pure river of the Water of Life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, there was the Tree of Life, which bore twelve kinds of fruit and yielded her fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.     Revelation 22:1-2

For we are Gods handiwork created in Christ unto good works which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.     Ephesians 2:10

For I recon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us for the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.  Romans 8:18-19

5) If God prepared it, we were wired to long for it. You got that??? If God prepared it we were wired to long for it?? I had to say that one several times! In other words we try to fill the void we long for with desires. Which does not work... If God prepared it, we are wired for it!

6) We are created to long for companionship.

7) Lust is the souls demand to shortcut a longing fulfilled.

8) We long for Grace.

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day and not only to me, but also to all who have LONGED for his appearing.     2 Timothy 4:6-8

9) We Long for God.

So what do you long for? Jesus or the world? I long for Jesus and for him to use Me, he has a master plan and he wired me to long for him. I long to reach others to help them seek his face. To help place your hand in his. I Pray Lord use me.. I pray you mend me and my broken pieces into a beautiful pitcher overflowing with your Love and compassion. Use my loss as your gain. Keep my eyes on you. Thank you Lord for answered prayers for friends who understand me and love me despite my shortcomings. You have overcame the world! In Jesus name Amen. And amen!

Everything high must come down
Every stronghold shall be broken
He wears the victors crown!! Praise Jesus He overcame the world!

Praying for a Rainbow

 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth. Gen 9:16

Everything is beautiful then the rain comes, lightening strikes and trees fall. All the rain stops and out comes a rainbow from behind the clouds. This is a great example of my life, it's still raining and were praying for a rainbow. Rainbows do not always come after the rain but sometimes they do. This is my fear.
What if our rainbow never comes??

Lord I put my hope, my trust, what's left of me...the shattered pieces of my once beautiful in my own eyes life, all in your hands.  I want to hope, dream and trust but my flesh is scared of death. Help me to trust you and you alone and only listen for your voice. 
 In Jesus name, Amen.