Who are you?

I've got a lot to say and not a lot of time before I head off to work...so I'll eat my little bowl of oatmeal and type in between bites!

I have been pondering the last few days on the significance of my identity.  I have also been pondering one of the most beautiful names for Jesus, Immanuel.

This particular name for Jesus is most often heard at Christmas, that beautiful time of year that we celebrate and remember how God came to earth to be with us.

But sisters, listen to me, this one name...this one truth..."God is with us" is sooooooo important to you and to me and to who we think we are, believe we are or know we are.

Does that make sense to you?  On one hand it's so elementary but on the other, it is completely profound.

So my question for you today is.....

Who are you?  And what difference does Immanuel make to you?  Tell me.  I want to know.

The first one to write me back...will get a little treat...

Shout Out!

I'm writing for Pilgrim's Heart today while she's out of town telling her story.

It's a powerful story of how God rescued her and changed her life.

You know, God has given all of us a story to tell...and when we tell others about what God has done for us...his name is glorified not just on earth but in the heavenly realm as well.

Some people think that if their story isn't dramatic they don't have one to tell...I say...

"That's crazy talk!"

Jesus has revealed the truth to me about different lies I have believed about God and myself.  He has provided for me and protected me and shown me grace and faithfulness.  He has been with me during hard times and happy times when I recognized his presence and even when I didn't.

When we proclaim the goodness of God in our lives we are kicking the enemy of our souls where the sun don't shine.

I say..."Let's do it!"

Let's shout it out what God has done for us...let's tell our stories and bring glory and honour and praise to our Greatest Love.

I cannot help but think of Paul...one of the greatest teachers of all time.  He started.....by telling his story.  He says in Ephesians 3:8-10

To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church (that's us) the manifold wisdom of God might be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. (italics mine)

Wow!  Chew on that verse for a while.

People can argue with all kinds of things....and they definately know how to argue about religion...but nobody can argue with your personal story of what God has done for you or how he has changed your life.

Thank you Jesus for rescuing my heart and loving me for who I am.

God is...

For the past few weeks,  I have been in contact with four or five young girls who are struggling with deep issues in their lives.  One has told me she has tried God and it didn't work.  Another can quote scripture to me but has not been in church since she was a child.   Another one tells me she is mad at God.  She blames Him for her current rebellion.  Another is dealing with the loss of her mother and trying to stay strong in the Lord but is at a very dry place in her life. 

Two of these girls are dealing with sexual abuse that happened before the age of 15.  Both have been doing drugs to cover the pain they can't deal with.  Two have lost their mothers before the age of 18.  Another, was given up for adoption at birth and is struggling to find her true identity.  To cope with her feelings of uncertainty, she finds comfort in alcohol.  One young girl I have been talking to is 15.  She has a baby who is over a year old and is in foster care.  She says she has not had anything to drink in about four months and is trying to get her life on track again.  

Sometimes, all I can do is listen to these young woman when they call me or email me.  I cannot take away the sorrow they are feeling, but I can tell them what God has done for me.  Hearing what God has done in the life of someone else, often encourages us and we realize if He did it for them, He can do it for us.   Sometimes, all we need to know is that someone has been there and we are not alone in what we are going through.  

As we walk through the pages of the Bible... we read story after story of God's faithfulness.  As we read the scriptures and get to know Him... He is our lifeline. He is our hope.  He is our joy, He is our peace.  He is our contentment, He loves us.  He has always been with us, through every trial and every sorrow.  He has guided us through the darkness of night and the deep depression that overcomes us at times.  He was with David, Ruth, Paul, John, Job, Peter, James, Martha, Mary.  He is... and always will be.  The hope that we have is through Jesus and our relationship with Him.  He is...

This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.  1 John 1:5 

This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in His presence whenever our hearts condemn us.  For God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything. 1 John 3:19-20

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.  God is love.  Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.  1 John 4:16