The Father's heart for us!

We could never do anything to earn what He did for us on the cross. And what He does for us each and every moment while He sits in Heaven and in our Hearts:)

He chose to do so simply because It was His will to give us life and for us to live it abundantly! 

 

He died for us

He chose us

He loves us

He likes us

He knew us

He knows us

He wanted us 

He justifies us

He appoints us

He called us

He works all things together for our good:)

Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. He didn't, and doesn't, wait for us to get ready.

Thought of the day; Fasting hopelessness

 He presented himself for this sacrificial death when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready. And even if we hadn't been so weak, we wouldn't have known what to do anyway. We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him. (Romans 5:6-8 MSG)

Thought of the day: Fasting hopelessness 

I love the lyrics to this song"I knew what I was getting into when I called you"

"Just don't give up and don't give in.. If you don't quit, you win"

We all need to know He loves us not for anything we do or don't do.. He just does:)

Romans 5:8
The Message (MSG)
6-8 Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. He didn't, and doesn't, wait for us to get ready. He presented himself for this sacrificial death when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready. And even if we hadn't been so weak, we wouldn't have known what to do anyway. We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him.

Thought of the day: fasting hopelessness 

"Willing victim" such a true statement .. We must not be willing to be a victim. We must choose to be a victor! 

I choose to be a victor today not a willing victim:) 

It's our choice ..the little decisions of victor leads to a life full of freedom and abundant life!

My hope is found in Jesus, NOT Dr. Phil

Thought of the day; Fasting Hopelessness

My hope is found in Jesus, NOT in Dr. Phil

I am once again reminded that my hope is found in Jesus and not in anything of this world. 

I must admit, back in December when the Dr. Phil show called to invite my daughter Maddie on their show, that we had finally  found hope.

 Hope for medical care to help our daughter finally process her past trauma and grief. 

This week we were told that her treatment plan had ended. They feel like they have done all they can do to help her. Her treatment plan was learning how to breathe correctly to manage her anxiety. I was happy with this plan in the beginning because we thought this was necessary for her to learn to manage her anxiety and get to the next step. She was in desperate need of counseling that would help get to the root of the problem. Her trauma needed to be healed not managed for the rest of her life.

 I am very disappointed in how they cared for Maddie and her pain with such disregard. Looking back I see that they only wanted to show what unprocessed grief could look like if not dealt with and healed. They had no intentions of rolling up their sleeves to help her get to the root of the problem.

Which brings me to this... In the world of mental health, most doctors teach patients to deal with the symptoms. What I have learned with the "Great Physician, Jesus", is that He wants to get to the root of the problem. Dealing with the symptoms keep us in bondage. We must go back to the pain with Jesus and sometimes a trusted counselor to allow Him to give us healing and a different prospective. When we do this He gives us a perspective to live with the circumstances we can not change. 

With all this being said, I do believe that nothing is wasted with God. I believe He allowed the past events to occur that will produce good if I place it in His hands. I am reminded again that my hope is not found in this world. I confess that I was shifting my focus and placing my hope in Dr. Phil more than Jesus these past months. Lesson learned... Lord, forgive me for placing my hope in anything but you. I repent and ask that you forgive me. Now, Lord show me your hope for the daughter you love way more than I ever could this side of heaven. 

Help me refocus on you.. our only hope, our only deliverer, our great restorer. 

Our journey continues. I must settle on the fact that He did not want to restore her through the Dr. Phil show.  I am reminded of what He told me at the beginning of this journey. He said,

"The LORD himself will fight for you. Just stay calm."- Exodus 14:14

So, until I see her living in freedom I know He's still working it all out! 

The journey Continues.. and I know it's going somewhere good if He's in control. 

My Hope as a mother

Thought of the day: Fasting Hopelessness

My hope as a mother

I don't have to be perfect

just simply surrendered


I remember the first time I simply surrendered to Christ. 
It was moments after my sweet Jack went home to be with Jesus.
I was not aware at that time what was actually taking place in my heart. 
Looking back today, I see so clearly. 
Moments after we were told that Jack did not survive I began to pray.
My prayer was, Lord I am tired of wondering where I will go when I die. I want to settle this issue with you once and for all. Lord, I am not sure how this works.
 I just want to know from now on that I am yours
and
I am returning to my home in heaven because I want desperately to see my son again. 

 I was confessing that I was tired of trying to be perfect.
and admitted I needed a savior.

You see what brought about that prayer was the thought I had in church every Sunday before this very moment.
 The thought was, I wonder if Jesus remembers me?
I had been baptized at the age of 10 but thought the life I lived from that point on was a huge disappointment to God.
I had made many mistakes in my life and felt like God didn't really like me or even notice me.
 I just couldn't measure up.
My only hope was to remind Him each Sunday that I had been baptized as a child so my name should be on the guest list when I reach the pearly gates..right????
I was never settled with my salvation because I somehow thought I had to earn it by being perfect.
Truth is we will never be perfect. That is why we need a savior. 
I asked the Lord the other day to show me where He was that night Jack went home to heaven. He showed me a picture of Him with His arms around me holding me. He said, Julie I love you and have always loved you.. It's time you settle that once and for all. You cant earn my love. I love you simply because you are mine.. not because of what you do or what you have done. You have never disappointed me because I am never disappointed. I stand outside of time and know every detail about your life even the ones that disappoint you. Simply surrender to me and I will be the perfecter of your less than perfect life.
My hope is 
Christ in me.
I have learned that the most perfect me is me radically pursuing Jesus.. 
and it looks like this
A mother who stopped trying to be perfect 
and 
just simply surrendered to the only one who is perfect... 
Jesus

Jesus, help us surrender ..

Bring back your wonder
Bring back your song
I got it all wrong
I've pushed you down deep in my soul to long

A Prayer for the grieving heart

I wanted to share this wonderful prayer that expresses our hearts during times of grief.

written by Steve Stockman

In a week like this

LORD, we come to the end of another week 

Except that it hasn't been just another week

It has been the worst week of our lives

and even worse for some

LORD, help us to be Honest, Vulnerable, and somehow Hopeful in the reflection of our feelings.

LORD, we have been shocked

Shocked by how one tiny second can tear our lives apart

Shocked by how far humanity can fall

Shocked by how callous and painful our actions can be, how low we can stoop.

LORD, we are grieving

Grieving for the loss of lives with so much love and energy still to give

Grieving for the man and woman and child we will never be able to to hold again

Grieving that our history is so sad and twisted.

LORD, we are confused 

Confused at why this should happen

Confused about how this should happen to the innocent

Confused about where You and Faith enter into these events.

LORD, we have been angry

Angry at why we allowed our family and friends to go shopping 

Angry at how evil people could rip our world asunder

Angry that you allowed it to happen.

LORD, we are seeking

Seeking some kind of feeble consolation in the midst of our deluge of tears

Seeking some kind of Hope that good might come from this evil

Seeking your spirit, Whom Jesus called a Comforter, to whisper into our Maddening Silence.

LORD, we are squinting for Faith

Faith that the majority might have some kind of a say in the future

Faith that Love will end our Hate, Good will end our evil,

and Grace will touch our broken hearts

Faith in a God who is as angry as we are

and who is reaching out His hand to us.

LORD, we are remembering

Remembering those who today can no longer be shocked, grieved, be angry, be confused, seek or squint for faith

Remembering that you watched as your Son, covered in blood, died at the futile whim of injustice

Remembering that His death is the only thing we can grope after in the dark of a week like this.

LORD, we have planted our loved ones deep in the bloody earth of Ireland this week

We have watered them with our tears

LORD, may You allow them to be seeds of a LOVE that will grow into our Peace.

LORD, Remember us.

Amen.

The Thin Line - Steve Stockman

Hope is God can handle what I can not

Thought of the day: Fasting Hopelessness

Hope is God can handle what I can not

The statement above is a lie. 

Its a subtle lie, because it's one word that makes it a lie.

Its just how the enemy works. 

Did you know that the enemy can not "create" anything new. 

He can only manipulate what God creates. 

The enemy has no power to create and that is why he loves to subtly change truth into lies... 

with just one word. 

The saying, "God will never give you more than you can handle" comes from 

1 Corinthians 10:13

and its often misquoted.

"No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”

This verse gives us much hope, but it does not say that God will not “give you more than you can handle.” It’s talking about temptation only – that we will not be tempted beyond what we can endure. 

This is an important lesson to learn.

For people to think they are somehow protected by God from “too much” suffering is a dangerous, false teaching. In fact, He sometimes uses suffering to get our attention.

Its been my experience and saving grace that there are things in this life that I can not handle. I have sat at the door of death and wondered how am I ever going to make it to my next breath. 

Truth is if it were up to me in those moments I would have chosen to quit and go on up to heaven. I would have never made the choice to stay and endure. I can testify that not me but God in me handled those choices. 

When we admit we can not handle the hard things in life it allows God to handle them. 

I wanted to pull out my soap box this morning to debunk this lie!
 If we don't see the sublet setup for failure we will live in defeat , guilt and shame for not being strong enough or wise enough. 

Kelly Clarkson even has it half wrong

"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger"

Is only true if you were carried by God through it. 

If you still need proof, Hebrews 11:7-40 should paint a pretty good picture for you. 
My guess would be that the Hero's of faith never thought they would endure their calling if God himself didn't carry them through. 

Noah would have never known how to build a boat big enough to carry on the human race. Yet, God gave him every dimension of the boat when he depended on God.

Abraham and Sarah would have never been the parents of many nations in their own strength at 100 years of age. Only God can do that..

Joseph would have never been able to endure 13 years of prison and slavery with out God carrying him through to see his dreams come true. 

Moses would have never delivered the Israelite's from Egypt without the
"I Am" with in him. 
And there was Job, who question God, "Who are you?" and God carried him while He answered his questions.. He restored to Job more than he had lost.
And lets not forget Jesus,
who could not carry His own cross with out God carrying Him to defeat death ..
They did this together so we wouldn't have to do it alone!

I could go on, but I think you get the point. 

My hope is that we will all know the truth and it will set you free to hand over what you aren't expected to handle on your own.

I love you Jesus!