Just a few weeks ago the world's attention was turned towards the royal wedding taking place at Westminster Abby in London. The flowers, the food, the dresses, the decorations...it all was being talked about everywhere.
Yet this evening I was thinking about how incredible it is that we are also part of a royal wedding, and are married to a King. Actually, the King of all Kings. So all the privileges and comforts of marrying into the royal family are ours. We have immediate access to the throne anytime we want to go there. We are honored and held in high esteem. We are provided for in every way. And the dowry paid for us was the life of our King Himself. What greater love could there be? What wedding more worthy of the world's attention?
I know how difficult it is for us at times to see ourselves as His beloved bride, when we struggle so with the conception of who we are and who He is, both very skewed by the lies that sexual abuse has coerced us to believe. But we must believe the truth. We are precious to the King, adored by Him, and truly loved. And the marriage is forever.
A Support Group for Survivors of Sexual Abuse
Monday, May 30, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Just Child's Play
Man may think he has a heads up on the technology of instant, worldwide communication systems, but his knowledge is just child's play when it comes to God's network. Our Heavenly Father crosses timezones, has amazing links, and never has a power outage or drops a call. Every time I experience His networking system, I am left speechless, teary-eyed and awe-stricken. Take today, for instance.
I woke up feeling anxious. As many of you know, I am soon to leave for Italy where I will be speaking to support groups who help abused women. I think I was allowing myself to feel rushed and worried about having so much to do and prepare for this trip, and time seemed like it was running out. I felt the responsibility to bring a message of hope to each women at the meetings, feeling overwhelmed by the weight of it. I know better than to be anxious, I know God is in control, that it's not about me, and I should relax. But I just couldn't. So I plainly told Him I was having a rough time and He would have to help relieve the anxiety, because my efforts to be at peace were proving futile. So instead of Facebook, the "God Network" began.
Shortly after my plea to God the phone rang. It was a dear friend from Florida who said she felt she had to just call and tell me she loved me. She is going through a difficult time with a very sick husband, so my anxiousness did not seem worthy to even discuss. But we did, and her words were "You were born for this day. God's got you covered from the front and behind. Have fun with this mission and enjoy what He is doing." I knew she was right, and the next few hours I diverted my "introspection" to listening to praise music as I worked on a purse.
Then by late afternoon, my morning plea was turned into tears of gratefulness. The wonderful lady that I had met seven years ago and suddenly reappeared in my life a few weeks ago, (last blog entry) stopped by to give me the bookmarks I had made for the ladies in Italy, that she had laminated for me. That's not counting the 100 tissue holders that she made for the trip! But the most awesome thing was when she handed me a little gift. It was a card she had laminated, with beautiful butterflies, and this verse: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him"..Romans 15:13. Could it be more direct than that?
But that's not all. We talked for a while, I shared a song with her called "Broken into Beautiful" that I will be using in Italy, and I gave her one of the tissue holders which I had decorated with ribbon and a beautiful organza butterfly. It was a blessed time together of sharing all that God is doing. I couldn't thank her enough for all she had done in helping me show the Italian women with these little gifts that they are loved and special. She left, and I started back to work.
Then I heard a knock on the door. It was Margo again. She said "God wouldn't let me get away without buying more books." I was speechless. She had already been more than a generous supporter of this mission in every way. But she handed me a check for fifteen more books and five abuse booklets. And she added some extra! I signed all the books, thanking her over and over again. She was plugged into God's network, and I was the recipient, and of course, the ladies in Italy.
After she left, the tears came. They flooded my face and dripped on my sewing table. Tears of gratefulness. Too much for words. God was speaking to me, loud and clear, exchanging my worries for the awareness of His greatness, His plan, His purpose, His provision. Connecting the past to the present and future, all in one moment. But that's His operating system at work, His wonderful, powerful network where believers hear his commands, move by His Spirit, and are not bound by time.
I woke up feeling anxious. As many of you know, I am soon to leave for Italy where I will be speaking to support groups who help abused women. I think I was allowing myself to feel rushed and worried about having so much to do and prepare for this trip, and time seemed like it was running out. I felt the responsibility to bring a message of hope to each women at the meetings, feeling overwhelmed by the weight of it. I know better than to be anxious, I know God is in control, that it's not about me, and I should relax. But I just couldn't. So I plainly told Him I was having a rough time and He would have to help relieve the anxiety, because my efforts to be at peace were proving futile. So instead of Facebook, the "God Network" began.
Shortly after my plea to God the phone rang. It was a dear friend from Florida who said she felt she had to just call and tell me she loved me. She is going through a difficult time with a very sick husband, so my anxiousness did not seem worthy to even discuss. But we did, and her words were "You were born for this day. God's got you covered from the front and behind. Have fun with this mission and enjoy what He is doing." I knew she was right, and the next few hours I diverted my "introspection" to listening to praise music as I worked on a purse.
Then by late afternoon, my morning plea was turned into tears of gratefulness. The wonderful lady that I had met seven years ago and suddenly reappeared in my life a few weeks ago, (last blog entry) stopped by to give me the bookmarks I had made for the ladies in Italy, that she had laminated for me. That's not counting the 100 tissue holders that she made for the trip! But the most awesome thing was when she handed me a little gift. It was a card she had laminated, with beautiful butterflies, and this verse: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him"..Romans 15:13. Could it be more direct than that?
But that's not all. We talked for a while, I shared a song with her called "Broken into Beautiful" that I will be using in Italy, and I gave her one of the tissue holders which I had decorated with ribbon and a beautiful organza butterfly. It was a blessed time together of sharing all that God is doing. I couldn't thank her enough for all she had done in helping me show the Italian women with these little gifts that they are loved and special. She left, and I started back to work.
Then I heard a knock on the door. It was Margo again. She said "God wouldn't let me get away without buying more books." I was speechless. She had already been more than a generous supporter of this mission in every way. But she handed me a check for fifteen more books and five abuse booklets. And she added some extra! I signed all the books, thanking her over and over again. She was plugged into God's network, and I was the recipient, and of course, the ladies in Italy.
After she left, the tears came. They flooded my face and dripped on my sewing table. Tears of gratefulness. Too much for words. God was speaking to me, loud and clear, exchanging my worries for the awareness of His greatness, His plan, His purpose, His provision. Connecting the past to the present and future, all in one moment. But that's His operating system at work, His wonderful, powerful network where believers hear his commands, move by His Spirit, and are not bound by time.
Monday, May 2, 2011
There Are No Mistakes in God's World
It's so easy to be tempted to think when life isn't going well that God has made a mistake. That He has failed in some way. But He is God, and cannot fail. We see only the part that hurts or frightens us, but He sees the whole picture, from beginning to end. And if we will trust that He is ultimately the Lord of All, then we may get a glimpse of His love and mercy, even in the darkest hours.
Last week at this time I was not sure if my husband would be undergoing a difficult surgery that had the possibility of changing life forever as we know it. It wasn't good. My trip to Italy to minister to abused women seemed like a hopeless dream. I was not sure what was happening, and had plenty of questions for my Father. Yet, (as I wrote in my last blog), God met me in the hospital waiting room in the form of two wonderful strangers who quickly became a spiritual support for me, and I a blessing for them. It was a divine appointment. In the midst of the storm, I saw "Jesus walking on the water" through the encounter with these two people.
I came home from the hospital and was writing the last blog when my phone rang. A woman I did not recognize began to introduce herself. These were her very words: "I met you seven years ago at the Billy Graham cove and purchased your book, My Eyes Have Seen Thy Glory. Just last night I saw it in my bookshelf, took it out, flipped through it, and decided to read it again. I then felt that I needed to call you and order 25 books to give as Easter gifts. I felt God was telling me you may need funds for missions. I hope you have some more books, and am so glad your phone number hasn't changed." I was shocked! Stunned! Seven years later a woman who I only met once was calling me for books. And she had no idea that we always use the book proceeds for missions and that I had a pending trip to Italy!
The next day she came by the house to pick up the books, and also decided to purchase a purse! (I design and make women's purses). We talked for three hours about God's goodness and how He makes no mistakes. Our meeting seven years prior was all part of a total plan. We ended our time together with prayer. I felt encouraged that all would be well.
My husband underwent some more testing later on last week and all the results were normal! Praise God! The Italy trip is on!
I'm meeting with this woman again tomorrow because she wants fifteen more books and some of the sexual abuse booklets that I just published. I have no idea of all the ramifications of our paths crossing seven years ago, and now being suddenly reunited. I only am reminded once again that God is in control of the universe, as well as the events in our lives, and He makes no mistakes. He can get us through the darkest night, and joy does comes in the morning. May His Name be praised forever!
Last week at this time I was not sure if my husband would be undergoing a difficult surgery that had the possibility of changing life forever as we know it. It wasn't good. My trip to Italy to minister to abused women seemed like a hopeless dream. I was not sure what was happening, and had plenty of questions for my Father. Yet, (as I wrote in my last blog), God met me in the hospital waiting room in the form of two wonderful strangers who quickly became a spiritual support for me, and I a blessing for them. It was a divine appointment. In the midst of the storm, I saw "Jesus walking on the water" through the encounter with these two people.
I came home from the hospital and was writing the last blog when my phone rang. A woman I did not recognize began to introduce herself. These were her very words: "I met you seven years ago at the Billy Graham cove and purchased your book, My Eyes Have Seen Thy Glory. Just last night I saw it in my bookshelf, took it out, flipped through it, and decided to read it again. I then felt that I needed to call you and order 25 books to give as Easter gifts. I felt God was telling me you may need funds for missions. I hope you have some more books, and am so glad your phone number hasn't changed." I was shocked! Stunned! Seven years later a woman who I only met once was calling me for books. And she had no idea that we always use the book proceeds for missions and that I had a pending trip to Italy!
The next day she came by the house to pick up the books, and also decided to purchase a purse! (I design and make women's purses). We talked for three hours about God's goodness and how He makes no mistakes. Our meeting seven years prior was all part of a total plan. We ended our time together with prayer. I felt encouraged that all would be well.
My husband underwent some more testing later on last week and all the results were normal! Praise God! The Italy trip is on!
I'm meeting with this woman again tomorrow because she wants fifteen more books and some of the sexual abuse booklets that I just published. I have no idea of all the ramifications of our paths crossing seven years ago, and now being suddenly reunited. I only am reminded once again that God is in control of the universe, as well as the events in our lives, and He makes no mistakes. He can get us through the darkest night, and joy does comes in the morning. May His Name be praised forever!
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