Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Spring is coming!

It was a dreary, winters morning as I sat at the kitchen table having breakfast and gazing out the window.  The sky was gray and most of the trees were just twigs.  No sun in sight.  No flower in sight.  Yet the birds were flying from twig to twig singing their song.  Not a care in the world.  The dark, lifeless environment surrounding them didn't change their song one bit.  In spite of what they could see, they seemed to know for sure that spring was coming. 

As I gazed out the window, I had things on my mind that I wondered what the outcome would be.  I wondered would it work out "this way" or "that way".  I knew the situations would indeed change, but I wasn't sure what that would look like compared to how they looked now. That's when the birds ministered to me.  (Yes! Ministering birds!)  Like them, I'd never lost sleep over wondering if spring would come after winter, so why was I concerned about God's timing in this situation?  Why had my spirit stopped singing?

It's sometimes hard to imagine spring in the middle of winter, but God has a way of shedding the old things, then making things new.  A burst of new life, new beauty, new joy, new peace and new beginnings show up to represent a new season.  I knew I didn't have to wonder if God would change my situation (or change me!). Just as sure as spring was coming after winter, I felt a sense of knowing that God was going to do something new and beautiful in my life. 

In the middle of these thoughts, I looked a little closer at the twigs on the trees and I could see tiny bulbs at the end of each branch.  Tiny little bulbs that, over time, would develop into beautiful green leaves and colorful flowers.  New life was coming and the birds would continue to sing in all seasons.  They trusted God's order.  I smiled because I could just imagine all the tiny bulbs God has put in different areas of my life that would bloom in the right season. 

My spirit lifted as it was reminded that everything has a season (Ecclesiastes 3:1) and certainly spring is coming.  It's God's timing, God's order and God's plan.

Let us be reminded not to be discouraged by what was lost or what needed to be shed.  The beauty just ahead will blow your mind.  Trust God's plan and watch Him reveal the new season He has in store for you.  Keep singing.  Keep trusting.  Your spring is coming!


Love Always,
Shy

http://lovealwaysshy.blogspot.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovealwaysshy

Wednesday, January 9, 2019

Image of God

I'd been home from the hospital for a few days now, but was still confined to the sofa since I didn't have the strength to conquer the stairs leading to my bedroom.  This meant I didn't have the comfort of my bed, but it also meant I didn't have the reflection of the surrounding mirrors my bathroom offers.  Let's just say my bathroom mirrors leave no angle unseen which is why my teenage son never leaves home without checking himself out in my bathroom first.  Those mirrors tell the whole story!

Well, after about a week of terrible back pain from being on the sofa, I was desperate to get in my bed.  So, with the help of my sister, I held the railing of the stairs and took one step at a time until I reached the top.  It was a daunting task, but feeling like heaven was waiting for me at the top of those stairs was enough to make me press on.  This experience gave "stairway to heaven" a brand new meaning.  Finally, a few minutes later, I was in my bed.  Exhale...

Shortly after, came the moment of truth - a shower, or should I say THE MIRRORS!  It was like I could hear the screeching sounds of violins from a horror movie as my eyes darted around the room seeing every angle of what used to be my body.  I was horrified!  I didn't recognize the girl in the mirror and my heart sank.  Who was I?  So frail.  So scarred. So visibly flawed.  So broken...

Before the enemy's lies could plant themselves in my spirit and take root, the Holy Spirit spoke truth.
You are fearfully and wonderfully made.  Psalms 139:14
You are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good work.  Ephesians 2:10
You are more than a conqueror through Him who loves you.  Romans 8:37
You are made in the image of God. Genesis 1:27
You are to die for!

Holy Spirit to the rescue!  Truth spoken over my life changed how I see myself.  I now see a different reflection looking back at me when I look in the mirror.  I see a reflection of my Father.  I see the truth!

Today, let's listen to the truth about who God says we are.  Let's believe His words and stand boldly in the reflection of Him.  And never forget we were made in the image of God and that is more than enough!

Love Always,
Shy

http://lovealwaysshy.blogspot.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovealwaysshy

Thursday, January 3, 2019

God's Plan

"Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.  For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false.  Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay."  Habakkuk 2:2-3

It was New Year's Eve and I was reviewing my vision board from 2018.  I prayed and asked God to show me areas where I needed to make changes or adjustments going into 2019.  The good news was He didn't require a complete reconstruction of the vision.  Whew!  However, there were a couple of areas in which He gave me more clarity.  I was surprised that they were not reflected on the vision board before now, while at the same time it was an "AHA!" moment considering the doors He was opening for me.  More than anything, I wanted my life to line up with God's plan.

Later that evening I went to the New Year's Eve service at my church to celebrate my victories of 2018 and start off 2019 in worship.  What an awesome service it was!  Both the worship and the word were food to my spirit and soul.  But of all the things the pastor said, one thing stood out to me almost as if it were to be the bumper sticker of my life for 2019.  He said, "If you fully surrender your life to Christ and put all your trust in Him, you will never have to plan your life again."  That statement made me pause and really consider the magnitude of what that meant.  Imagine never having to plan your life again...

Pray and ask God for the vision for your life.  He has a plan for you.  Listen for direction and watch for signs along the way.  You will hear Him say, "This is the way; walk in it."  (Isaiah 30:21)  Listen.

Write it down.  Keep the vision where you can see it and run with it daily.  Run with perseverance and trust God's timing. (Hebrews 12:1)

Give God your "yes" and trust His plan as he guides you "on purpose".

Let's make 2019 the year that we trust in the Lord with ALL our hearts and lean not on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5) and we'll never have to plan our lives again.  God has a plan!


Love Always,
Shy


http://lovealwaysshy.blogspot.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovealwaysshy

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