The struggle is real Happy Thanksgiving!!

 

 

I found this cup at Walmart last year and thought wow, this is so truthful.  The struggle is real for so many of us!!  I hope you find this encouraging for today and always.  God is good all the time and all the time, God is good!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!!!  I am so grateful for all of you and the roles you all play in my life.  My daughter is my true blessing from God, and without Kirk who God sent to me as a miracle, I wouldn't have our Emily.

I am grateful for each and every one of you.  There are way too many of you to name but each of you know who you are!!!  I have so many friends and family that stood next to us during our most darkest of times, and then I have so many new friends that have been a true blessing and seen me thrive and fly out of the darkness.  I have so many widow sisters that I continually pray for every day, along with their families.  Each and every one of you are so special to my heart.

My Lord and Savior is my biggest blessing!!  He rescued me when I was down in a pit that no one that hasn't been on this path can fathom.  He held out His hand and pulled me up!!!  I am so thankful for His precious blood to cleanse me of this world!!  He taught me to put my eyes upward and to praise and trust Him in all circumstances, good or bad.  So for me, I will continue to praise His Holy Name and trust Him with everything in my life.  I was doing a terrible job by myself, but He has blessed me beyond measure.

I know it's hard for some to think about being thankful when you have endured so much pain and heartache.  I get it, I was there with you not too long ago.  But I am here to tell you that if you surrender and give your throne to the rightful owner, you will feel so much peace.  You will be able to find joy and happiness once again.  It is a reality with Jesus! 

Here are a few scriptures that you can read and meditate on as we go through this Thanksgiving weekend.  I know it's a hard weekend so many of us, but together and with Jesus we will get through and enjoy the time with family and friends. 

Psalm 69:30  "I will praise God's name in song and glorify Him with thanksgiving."

Philippians 4:6 NIV "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God."

Lamentations 3:65-67 "I called on your name, Lord, from the depths of the pit.  You heard my plea: "Do not close your ears to my cry for relief." You came near when I called You, and You said, "Do not fear."

I pray that you all have a very Happy Thanksgiving and will celebrate with family and friends.  I pray for a safe and protected travels for each of you and I pray for peace, joy, comfort, and healing.  I love each and every one of you!!!

Afflicted in Pain

"But as for me, afflicted and in pain-may your salvation, God, protect me." Psalm 69:29 NIV

PAIN - PLATFORM OR PRISON

These past two weeks have been crazy to say the least.  I received either texts or calls from several friends and family members informing me of sick loved ones or deaths.  I don't remember a time when I received so much bad news in a short period of time.  I'm not going to lie, a day or two it was too overwhelming.  When my phone rang or text notification came through, I reluctantly answered.  On the other end, I would learn of heartbroken family and friends dealing with difficult situations; real life chaos.  My heart goes out for every single one of you, always know that.  I have been praying for so many loved ones.

Why do bad things happen to good people?  We ask ourselves this question every time we hear awful news.  In quiet times after Kirk passed, I would sit and ask God why?  Why did this have to happen to him, to us.  Jesus answers this question in John16:33 NIV.  He says, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart! I have overcome the world."  Jesus answers this question plainly.  He tells us, gives us a warning that we will have trouble in this life.  He tells us that our lives will not be picture perfect and that there are no guarantees.  The ONLY guarantee we do have is HIM!!!  In HIM, we can have peace when the waves are crashing on us so hard we can't catch a breath.  In HIM, we can have hope that He is with us and for us.  Our God is a great God and he will never leave  or forsake us!!! 

Our Savior has conquered this world and overcame the grave!!  We have that firm foundation to stand on!!

I went to a celebration of life of a man that is close to our family.  His youngest son gave his eulogy and at the beginning he said, "Our pain can be a prison or a platform."  Wow I was blown away!! How true is that?  I believe it's very true.

For me personally, I had a big decision to make after Kirk suddenly passed.  How was I going to respond to this journey that I was thrust on; a journey that I didn't want.

I knew that I didn't want to be a prisoner of the pain.  I made the decision that I had to reach out to God and cry out for relief.  I knew I couldn't do this journey alone.  Psalm 16:8 NIV states, "I keep my eyes on the Lord.  With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken."  With His help, I was able to start this journey with Him upholding me. 

Another thing I knew was that I wanted to make my grief a platform to help others that are just starting or having problems with their paths.  After much praying and God's nudges and intervention, I have been blessed to be able to help several women.  I was also blessed to have been introduced to Ann of Peace Restored and to start a relationship of helping and serving widows in our area.  With this pain in my platform, I am able to bless others with my journey. 

In my case, to try to make sense of the age old question: Why do bad things happen to good people?  It's because these bad things are used for God's good and purpose.  See, my bad thing has helped several women, children, and a couple of men to see the good in this life; to show them what endurance, patience, faith and trust looks like in the face of tragedy.  My life shows others that you can do this, you can live through the grief, and one day you will thrive and find joy and happiness again. 

What do you choose?  Have you chosen being a prisoner of your pain or have you decided to use your pain as a platform?  I sure hope you chose the latter and be a light in someone else's darkness.  This world needs many lights shining for God's glory.

Will you be a light for Him? 

Lord, thank you for blessing me beyond measure.  I still don't understand the pain and this journey that I'm on, but I am blessed to have You by my side every step.  Lord I pray that I can be a light for at least one person in my life and all the Glory goes to You.  It's in Your Precious Name I pray..Amen!!