It Is Forever Written

I wrote a poem yesterday.  Not my usual choice of writing style.  But the words were flowing, so I went with it.  My heart poured.  God always meets me on the page (or computer screen).  It was an intimate and beautiful moment He and I.  A moment for me to be thankful and praise Him.  Sacred, deep and part of how I worship Him.  My love to my Lord and our story....forever written.

Though, as I finished writing ...my computer flickered and a window appeared to ask me if I wanted to save my document and before I could respond...it flickered again and started shutting down.  It does this periodically to reconfigure things.  It always kicks back on and brings all windows and documents back up that had originally been on my screen.  I hoped that all would be there when it came back on.  Everything came back except the ONE document.  The one with my poem of praise and thanksgiving.  OF COURSE!  Right? 

I just sat there.  Dumbfounded.  Now what?  How can I write that all over again? Can I even remember it?  Is it now forever UNwritten?  Gone? 

Then I thought, how ironic that the very poem my computer erased, talked of how I used to be silenced and how when I accepted Christ, He had given me a voice.  It spoke of what He had done for me, in me and through me.  It spoke of His Grace and Love.  It spoke of the call He put within me for writing and speaking.  All now gone from my computer.

The praise music thumping in my ear buds, penetrated the moment....the words of the song encouraged me.

I was reminded of a verse that speaks of how God never takes away what he has already freely given.  This beautiful relationship that God and I have and our story can never be erased.  It is forever written. This story of God and I will always be within me, no matter how many times Satan tries to shut it down.  I felt a nudge to try again.

I opened up a new document.  Closed my eyes and saw in my mind's eye the first line of the poem I had originally written.  My fingers moved.  I typed and typed.  The words of the poem gradually appeared on the screen.  It flowed from the same place from which it had before.   And once again, it was in it's finished form.

I realized as I looked at the screen that the poem was exactly word for word as it had been before.  I saw in a simple everyday living moment that that which has been given can never be taken or erased.  My story is forever written.  The story of what God has done for me and how he shines through me, can never be darkened.  His love and grace are never to be undone. 

"For God's gifts and His call are irrevocable. (He never withdraws them when once they are given, and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call.)" - Romans 11:29 AMP   

It is forever written.

Friends, if you are a new Christian or new returning Christian, I want you to know that what has been given to you can not be taken away.  What ever God has done in your life since you accepted Him, it is for all time.  He will never remove his love or grace for you.  He doesn't suddenly think one day, "You know, she/he just isn't acting the way I would like.  I just won't love her/him anymore."  This new walk you are on may have some challenging moments, but be encouraged that you will always he HIS chosen son or daughter.  He will never stop loving you.  And that when ever Satan tries to put out God's light in you, he will not succeed.  Your story is forever written.

I included the poem I was working on below.  Make sure you read the VERY last line.  It was not in the original poem.   It is definitely the cherry on top.  I love how my God used Satan's computer shut down and erasing of my document for the beautiful reminder in this post.

A Chosen Daughter

My little girl heart was orphaned.
Father of Father's you adopted me.
If adoption means to be chosen,
then I am Your "Chosen" Daughter.
My name written long ago.
My life upon your lips.
You breathed life in me twice.
Once at first light.
The other, as I slumped weeping 
at the foot of your sacrifice.
I cried for purpose of 
the scattered pieces beneath my knees.
You promised.

You took my once silenced heart and whispers
and brought the words into the light
and gave volume to a voice once unheard.
You took my hand and pulled me up
and told me of my worth and your great love for me.
YOU TOLD ME WHO I AM.

You en-dwelled a spirit in this brokenness.
The beautiful began to tether the shattered ugly together.
Your LIGHT shining through, using my beautiful mess
as a beacon .... to...You.

It is forever written.

Being A "Newbie Christian" Alongside Our Children



It's exciting when we are a new or returning Christian and there is a desire in our heart to learn more about God, what is in the Bible and to start a prayer life.  But it can feel daunting looking at that big intimidating book!  I mean we want to learn, and find encouragement and comfort, but the Bible is full of big words and sentence structure that is NOT from our modern times!  We want to start a prayer life, but what does that look like?  Where do we begin?  And as if we didn't feel overwhelmed enough, we would love for our children to start learning and praying as well, but how can we help our children when we are learning alongside them?

I found it was easiest to start very small and simple.  It was best to be patient and gentle with myself on my own process and know that it is going to take time.  And that it is MORE about the "journey" than an end arrival or place.

That's why I love this idea of the Prayer Pail below. It's a decorated tin can or bucket that is filled with craft sticks with scripture glued to each one.  AND/ OR has topics, issues or people to pray for written on each stick.  Sit it on the kitchen table and pull one out each time you sit down to dinner (or lunch or breakfast).  Read it or have your "emerging reader" read the scripture, words or names.  Take a moment to talk about what is on the stick and/or say a quick prayer.



As you are gathering scripture for the sticks feel NO SHAME in using the Table of Contents and Concordance (in the back of the Bible) to help you find scripture.  Never feel embarrassed in Googling scripture on a particular topic either. 

Take this month of November and find scripture on thankfulness and gratitude.  Write the ones that speak to you or jump out at you.  Write a week's worth down on the craft sticks and put in your Prayer Pail.  Write names of people, issues or topics of interest that you would like to take time to pray over. Pull one out each evening at the dinner table (or any meal).  Don't worry about repeats!  Start small.

As far as praying.  I know this can be awkward at first.  When I started, my children were my only audience.  They were the most nonjudgmental group.  Yay!  So any way that I did pray was okay with them.  Kind of like when they ask us to sing a song to them?  They don't care how well we sing, just that we do.  If it's still too hard, let your children pray.  If that is still too far too fast, have a quiet moment with your thoughts or wait until you are ready.  It's okay if it takes time, God is there.  He knows the desires of your heart and He is not pushing you:-) 

Friends, be patient and gentle with yourselves in this process.  And know it is ok to be in the same starting place as our children.  (It may actually be a more forgiving process than for those who are just coming to Christ without young children.)  For many this "Christian thing" is brand new and for others there are old wounds to heal from former faith communities.  There is not a right or wrong way and there is no time limit.  Worry not where someone else is in their journey or if anyone tells you where they think you should be as a new Christian.  God already has your process and your children's journeys planned.  His perfect timing is your soul's peace. 
 

"God Never Gives Us More Than We Can Handle." - WHAT?????

 

 

I found this quote this morning and was instantly encouraged.  The number of times I have gone through some of the most difficult situations of my life, I have had well meaning family and friends use the following sentence as a hope filled statement,

 

"God never gives us more than we can handle."

 

 

Ug!!!  I never heard it more than when my husband's best friend died and then two weeks later I miscarried our second child.  We were at such an all time low.  The loving people in our lives used this phrase to uplift us.  It did anything but, and became a discussion my husband and I had on a daily basis on how it was the most frustrating and empty phrase we had ever heard.  When this band aid statement was being said to us through this time, it was all before my husband and I had embraced Jesus as our savior.  I now know why that phrase was so disheartening and hollow.

It wasn't Biblically True.  

 

In 1 Corinthians 10:13 it says, "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man.  God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."

 

And in James 1:13 it says, "Let no one say he is tempted, 'I am being tempted by God.', for God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one."  God is not handing you the evil hardship you are going through, but he will use it to grow us closer to Him.

 

God does not expect you to "handle" this on your own and He will come to you in your weakness of "not being able to handle it" and provide a way out of the darkness.  And in the process you'll become closer in your relationship with our Heavenly Father, by the act of "pressing into Him". 

 

If a well meaning friend or family member uses the all too familiar, "God never gives us more than we can handle," re frame it for yourself into the above quote and know you are not alone.

 

Be encouraged friend! 

 

Challenge Questions:

Is there a well intended statement that keeps rubbing you the wrong way? 

Have you checked with scripture to see if it is True?

If it isn't True, can you find a way to re frame the phrase for yourself?

If it is True, can you identify why you're upset?