Redemption, Restoration and Healing

Yesterday was raw and real. Emotions of that day came flooding back as though a raging wave had pulled me under. Guilt and shame overwhelmed my heart, and all of those icky moments flashed before me.

 At first I tried to pray it away...begging God to let me forget about it and dwell in thanksgiving that He had brought us 6 years from that day. But then a conversation I had recently with a friend came to my mind, 

"Have you mourned it, acknowledged it?". When I talked to her I truly believed I had. Years, upon years I had tried to erase that day in my mind. It was a LONG six years! I was not equipped for that day. I never in my mind, believed that what happened, would go as far as it did! If I had known...let me just say, I would have done things very, very differently! 

BUT, GOD KNEW.

God knew all that would transpire those six years. God was there the entire time. ....each step, each victory, each milestone, each heartbreak, 

all of it!

Little by little God reveals his purpose in it. There is nothing more that I want other then for God to use it for His glory. God is in the business of REDEMPTION & RESTORATION & HEALING. 

I pray that we can move forward to a new chapter.

HEALING

Philippians 3:13-14

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Letting Go~ The Commitment Choice

Letting Go

I consciously choose to commit all my life and will to Christ's care and control.

Matthew 5:5

Matthew 11:28

Five Barriers To Commitment

1) Pride -Prov 18:12

2) Guilt- Ps 40:12, 1 John 1:9, Ps 32:5

3) Fear

4) Worry- Phil 1:6

5)Doubt- Mark 9:23-24

Four Steps of the Commitment Choice

1. I accept God's son as my Savior.

2. I accept God's Word as my standard.

3. I accept God's will as my strategy .

4. I accept God's POWER as my strength.

The commitment choice means you are making the decision to open the door of your heart to Jesus Christ.

God Cares....

God Cares About My Situation

Psalm 103:13-14

Like as a father pitieth [his] children, [so] the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we [are] dust.

Jeremiah 31:3

The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, [saying], Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

God's love never fails. He loves us on our good days and our bad.

God's Love is unconditional.

Romans 5:8

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

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My thoughts

It has been a struggle the past few days and I need this lesson.

Guilt is eating me alive. But to know that when I confess my sin, he is faithful and just to forgive me of my sin! The new class I am taking on Monday nights is pretty intense. It is bringing up issues, I just really struggle with.

Next....

God can change me and my situation.

The HOPE Choice.... Part 1

Philippians 2:13

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of [his] good pleasure.

THE HOPE CHOICE

Acknowledge God's Existence

Understand God's Character

God's Character from Jesus Christ

1 God knows about my situation

I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities; Psalm 31:7

Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: [are they] not in thy book? Psalm 56:8

O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee. Psalm 69:5

Tomorrow...God Cares...cont part of 1 of 3

The Battle...Week 1

Romans 7: 15-21

For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that [it is] good Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find not For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

Matthew 5:3-10

Blessed [are] the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed [are] they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed [are] the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed [are] they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed [are] the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed [are] the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed [are] the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.Blessed [are] they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

How we play God..

We try to control our image by wearing masks, playing games, and hiding the truth about ourselves.

We try to control other people by manipulating each other through guilt or shame or praise or even through silence.

We try to control our problems by saying things like " I can handle it; it's not really a problem. I don't need any help. I can quit any time"

We try to control our pain by avoiding it, denying it, escaping it, medicating it, drowning it, or postponing it.

Consequences of Playing God

1) FEAR

2) FRUSTRATION

3) FATIGUE

4) FAILURE

Three Important facts of life

1) I am powerless to change my past

2) I am powerless to control other people

3) I am powerless to cope with my hurts, hang-ups, and habits

good intentions are not enough, willpower is not enough, we need another source of power... WE NEED GOD!

James 4:6

But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.