Hi All,
I made a boo-boo on my last post...I said scared when I ment scarred.... sorry about that.....
I will be posting my Thanks Giving blog in a day or so....
Until then Have a very blessed week!!!
Love & Prayers,
Judy
Now for a timely message from Gentle Shepherd....
Reading: Leviticus 25:4-5
A TIME OF REST
It is important to realize there is a time for everything. There is a time of sowing, pruning and reaping. In our Christian life we will experience the pruning of our lives so we can produce greater fruit, but also we will know what it means to come into a place of rest.
When you consider pruning, you realize that it involves the testing of our faith. When we are being pruned, it can prove to be a trying process that results in maturity. God is always trying to cut away the foolishness to channel our gifts, talents and strength in such a way that quality fruit will come forth from our lives.
During pruning, we must trust God with what He is doing. It can be painful because certain aspects of our life can prove to be important to us. When He brings the sword down between us and the very things we have considered important, it can be painful. We have to trust that His ways are perfect at such times.
Pruning can also expose the aspects of life that are hindering us in our spiritual growth. Such characteristics are often attached to worldliness or our pride, and need to be cut back to the point where there is a separation from such influences and attachments. Wherever there is a separation, it can become a point of discipline for the Spirit of God to bring into order.
Once a plant is pruned back, it will produce greater fruit. It will accomplish what it was designed to do, and it will complete its cycle. In these Scriptures God designates that even that which produces fruit must be allowed to rest.
As Christians, we must occupy, be pruned and produce fruit. But, we also need to learn to come to a place of rest in our relationship with God.
Prayer: Lord, we thank You for Your grace. You are faithful to show us love and grace by pruning us. Amen.
©2008 Rayola Kelley, Gentle Shepherd Ministries. Permission is granted for
non-commercial (free) distribution provided this notice appears.
www.gentleshepherd.com
Questions or comments welcome. Email: ministry@gentleshepherd.com
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
Been Thinking....
This is a very tricky time of year for us survivors out there to say the least, so I thought I might share some of the struggles I have getting through it.
It seems that although I love the changing of the seasons, especially in the fall with the colorful foliage and such there is always an underlying dread as the fall days roll into winter.
On top of that I have a birthday in December that always throws a challenge in with the mix.
During the fall months approaching winter, passing Halloween,winter solstice, Christmas etc.... well it can be rough. This is the time of year when rituals were hard and heavy for us survivors of the satanic system and it seems that in spite of our faith body memories, flashbacks and just plain uneasiness can creep in and stop us in our tracks at times.
I always want to think that this will be the year when I will be over all of that and sail right on through with out even a whimper. But alas... it has not happened for me yet.
Does that mean I am a failure in the faith? Does that mean I have backslid into unbelief and fear? No I don't think so. While I do feel uneasiness and moody and at time downright angry pushing into what feel likes a mini meltdown I do not believe I have failed somehow and given into any major fear. I am human, period. I have survived trauma that most can not imagine and in spite of my faith, my mind and body often seem to have memories and feelings I can not control.
I know for a fact that anyone who survives from any kind of trauma has these feelings at times and struggles to get through them as best they can. We are still in these heavy flesh bodies and because of that, the weight of past sin can still effect us in sometimes major or minor ways. It is not because we have failed somehow or because we have lost our faith, it is only because we are human. And although the Father has healed me in many wondrous ways I am still a pretty scared and damaged human being...my hope is in that He loves me anyway and will see me through the process called life and use me in spite of all my brokenness.
Another thing I do know as I walk through these hard times during the year, is that it reminds me how much my Father and Savior have delivered from. I might have to deal with and feel the collateral damage of days past but I am not living there anymore. I am free....and even if my mind and body seem to forget that at times... my spirit knows it is true and that gives me the faith and strength to push on through.
So please do not beat yourselves up out there if you are having a rough time of it. You really are not alone. Not only do us other survivors understand and walk this same walk, the Father understands as well and He is walking right beside you holding you up at times when you are too weak to go on.
Remember all it takes is a small grain of faith the size of a mustard seed to know He is always there and has your back covered. Think about it...how small is a mustard seed? Pretty small, so we do not have to have big faith to stand.... only a little seed.
Love and prayer for all of you out there....
Judy
It seems that although I love the changing of the seasons, especially in the fall with the colorful foliage and such there is always an underlying dread as the fall days roll into winter.
On top of that I have a birthday in December that always throws a challenge in with the mix.
During the fall months approaching winter, passing Halloween,winter solstice, Christmas etc.... well it can be rough. This is the time of year when rituals were hard and heavy for us survivors of the satanic system and it seems that in spite of our faith body memories, flashbacks and just plain uneasiness can creep in and stop us in our tracks at times.
I always want to think that this will be the year when I will be over all of that and sail right on through with out even a whimper. But alas... it has not happened for me yet.
Does that mean I am a failure in the faith? Does that mean I have backslid into unbelief and fear? No I don't think so. While I do feel uneasiness and moody and at time downright angry pushing into what feel likes a mini meltdown I do not believe I have failed somehow and given into any major fear. I am human, period. I have survived trauma that most can not imagine and in spite of my faith, my mind and body often seem to have memories and feelings I can not control.
I know for a fact that anyone who survives from any kind of trauma has these feelings at times and struggles to get through them as best they can. We are still in these heavy flesh bodies and because of that, the weight of past sin can still effect us in sometimes major or minor ways. It is not because we have failed somehow or because we have lost our faith, it is only because we are human. And although the Father has healed me in many wondrous ways I am still a pretty scared and damaged human being...my hope is in that He loves me anyway and will see me through the process called life and use me in spite of all my brokenness.
Another thing I do know as I walk through these hard times during the year, is that it reminds me how much my Father and Savior have delivered from. I might have to deal with and feel the collateral damage of days past but I am not living there anymore. I am free....and even if my mind and body seem to forget that at times... my spirit knows it is true and that gives me the faith and strength to push on through.
So please do not beat yourselves up out there if you are having a rough time of it. You really are not alone. Not only do us other survivors understand and walk this same walk, the Father understands as well and He is walking right beside you holding you up at times when you are too weak to go on.
Remember all it takes is a small grain of faith the size of a mustard seed to know He is always there and has your back covered. Think about it...how small is a mustard seed? Pretty small, so we do not have to have big faith to stand.... only a little seed.
Love and prayer for all of you out there....
Judy
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)