A Love Letter to the ONE

God has guided me down some really interesting, tough, exciting and trying paths in the past five years of my life.  The last several years have been a mixture of pain, tears, laughter and joy.  The one thing that has always remained the same is my hope in Jesus.  Without that hope, this blog would not exist, I would not stand before you a confident woman and I would not be here to tell you how much Jesus changed our lives and how He is waiting to change yours.  God has given me a platform to speak, not just my mind, but his Truth, His Word, His Hope for us.  Especially in the times we are seeing now with so much devastation, heart ache, bitterness, anger and unforgiveness we need Jesus more than ever!!!  He is our only hope in this lost and dying world, He is the only hope for those who are lost, who are bitter, who are hurt.  I know this because He became my only Hope in many of those times above.

I will not shy away from telling people what Jesus has done for me.  In some of my darkest moments, when I felt one bad thing after the other happened and I couldn't get my head above water I had the promise of salvation to pull me up and lift my head above the perils that I was sinking in.  It wasn't easy to get through infertility, or two years of illness or having both parents almost die months apart. It wasn't easy watching one person after the other get pregnant, 30 people I know give birth in one year, it wasn't easy knowing I had people very close to us judging us for our faith in God to deliver us from our trials....but God never said living a life for Jesus would be easy as long as we were on this Earth.  He never said we wouldn't be judged, or looked at like we were crazy for taking a route that looked completely ridiculous to others because that's what God said. God never promised we would not experience disappointment, pain or ridicule even from our own family.  But what He did promise me far outweighs what this world has to offer me and that is why my heart belongs to Jesus....He has promised a joy everlasting, He has promised me victory in every battle, He has promised prosperity, health, healing, salvation and LOVE!  He is Love. God loves me!

People may say, why didn't God do this or why didn't God do that, but it's a never failing hope and belief in His word to turn EVERYthing and work it for His good and His glory.  In the Bible, Jesus' disciples were asking Him why certain things happen even to believers in Christ.  Jesus' response resonated with me so much so and I see His answer resonate in my life.  He responded "but his happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life."  I love this because it demonstrates so clearly that God will show Himself mighty in our lives IF we let Him.  He can and will turn every situation around so He can gain the glory...how amazing is that...to have that hope...to have that LOVE.  I see the work of God displayed in our lives right now. I see how Jesus has has given me beauty for ashes in our testimony of infertility and adoption.  What once looked bleak, lonely, fruitless has transformed into an amazing testimony to help others follow God's plan, know His purpose for them and stand firm when their legs are shaking under a surmountable weight of despair. We now have the opportunity to help other couples going through infertility, we are bringing orphan awareness to our church body and we are saving children from a life alone, without Jesus.  I cannot think of a better way God has turned our trials into triumphs!  He has made all of what we went through worth it, so we can share with others (including our children) the Love He has for us and the life He has planned for us as long as we continue to hope and trust in HIM! 

I know this word is for someone reading this blog.  If you feel alone, confused, depressed or hopeless...know there is a Father in Heaven who gave His only Son to die for YOU, for your pain, your anger, your trials, your broken heart.  He fills the void we all feel until we ask Jesus to fill it.  Jesus won't force you to Love Him, He has given us free will to have a relationship with Him or not...that's how just and Good He is. But without Him, we only have man, this world to hope in and honestly I do NOT want to hope in this world right now.  Trust the Lord, He loves YOU and He will show Himself MIGHTY in your life if you ask him to.  Remember God is for us not against us!  I cannot thank Jesus enough for what He did, hanging on a cross, He took it all for me so that I may live a glorious and joy-filled life sharing His Word and His Love to those who will hear!  Thank you Jesus...I love You!

God is GOOD and we are BLESSED!

to bestow on them a crown of beauty
    instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
    instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
    instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
    a planting of the Lord    for the display of his splendor.

Isaiah 61:3