Dear friends,

I am going to share a few things that have been on my mind and that I shared with a friend. As with most of us, I am in a journey there is a “something” I am pursuing, I seek meaning in nearly everything I encounter. Life is more than eating, sleeping, working and playing. The answers I seek are often obscure and difficult for me to articulate, which frustrates me and the people I feel brave enough to share with. I received some advice today that probably should have clarified some things for me but instead, left me uncertain. It was posed to me that “Perhaps what I seek is what I openly and freely share with others.” Could it be that simple? Maybe even the “Golden Rule?” Would I welcome and receive goodness and joy that I give away to friends and even strangers?   These are the words that were on my heart yesterday…I am filled with agitation and pressure of promises made that are encapsulating me and I am feeling claustrophobic. Joy eludes me and I know why, at least partially. I am guilty of not sharing all of myself with God, my devotional time has slowed and the desire inside me has a shadow over it, this is my fault I know, I took my eyes off of Jesus and placed them upon myself…how very foolish. With all the wisdom of the writers of the Bible, I dare to think I can do better…I am nothing without God. I should be joyful that in spite of myself God wants and awaits my return. Why is this so difficult? Pride? Yes, there can be no other explanation…I am not worthy but I very much want forgiveness and love, not the love I have experience, I’m not sure that is even the correct word, I wish I were able to put the feeling I desire into a word that explains what I need…love only attempts to explain it. It’s more than physical, more than appearance, more than a feeling…it is a state of spiritual enlightenment perhaps not even possible to attain while enslaved in this vessel of humanness. God please rescue me from myself. Take my mind and give me your will. This is my prayer.   So, that’s how my day started…through my stubbornness and pride, God triumphed by sending a message through an email from a site I use for encouragement called, “a little birdie told me” (thank you Margaret). Here’s what it said,

Dear Weary Girl,

You are tired today, aren’t you? You are tired of holding up the whole wide world, tired of being so darn tough, tired of being tested in every which way, tired of passing the tests only to be given another one.

It’s okay for you to have days like this. IT REALLY IS OKAY. YOU ARE OKAY. LIFE IS OKAY. And everything is going to turn out okay.

Everything is going to be okay, dear girl. It really is. You are going to make it. Please get some rest, take care of yourself, and keep your spirits up. Keep your eyes on the end goal and try your hardest to be patient with life’s lessons. You are so wise. Remember that good people have bad days sometimes. Smart people do dumb things sometimes. Bad things happen to good people sometimes. And still, everything is going to be okay.

Breathe in. Breathe out. Take a hot bath. Listen to your favorite music. And TRUST. And then keep trusting.

It’s gonna work out. You are going to be okay.

You are sooooooo loved.

xoxo

It was as if God was speaking directly to me!  My friends, may we all find the joys we seek.

~Blessings and Peace~

Bravegirlsclub.com

This idea of robbing ourselves of joy struck me today after I cancelled lunch plans with a group of wonderful ladies from church. Of course, the weather was bitterly cold and snow had recently fallen and I was tired and feeling very unmotivated, all of these things were absolutely the truth but when I finally got up and was preparing to go to work there was a sadness that was covering me…I could pretend to blame all of the above circumstances but the truth is I alone decided to rob myself of the joys of fellowship and community by not going to lunch. I can say the same thing for each time I decide to sleep in on Sunday mornings or miss a bible study and especially my daily devotions. The result of these kinds of decisions impact us all in different ways. I have been feeling very overwhelmed and I ask myself why? The answer is I have lost sight of God and His Will and defaulted to trying to do and handle things according to my will…duh, no wonder I’m tired and overwhelmed. I recently watch the mini-series “The Bible” and a study of “Jonah” I am reminded that God’s way is always the best way but we (humans) tend to be rebellious and want to do things “our’ way and things rapidly degrade from that moment on. Once we recognize the error of our ways, the best thing to do is to return to God, quickly…but again, we (humans) at least some of us put way too much thought into it. We tend to think of what we can do to make things right with God but the answer is nothing…except go to God, He is waiting with open arms and filled with joy that we have returned to Him. His love and grace are sufficient for ALL!

~Blessings & Peace~