It has been 2 years! A lot has happened over the years and I wasn't sure if I'd ever blog again. But I love to write and I knew I would do it in some form again some day. I thought about starting a whole new blog all together but I could never come up with a new name and content. So I took it as a sign that it just wasn't time yet. I didn't want to force anything...So I waited! And I am so glad I did. Instead of starting something new and different, I felt the Lord nudging me to continue what I started...new, but being transformed!
You see...three years ago, I had a different last name, living in an apartment with my two boys, going through one of the most difficult life changes to date.... A Divorce!! I was still blogging at the time but it was more therapeutic than anything. I worked really hard at not divulging too much info and keeping it centered on God. But two years ago I stopped blogging all together. Life was complicated and I truly felt unworthy to keep writing. There were days I would wake up and think, "who am I to impart any kind of wisdom to anyone?" I definitely couldn't post anything about marriage or parenting because I felt that I had failed at both. I had a failed marriage and I definitely wasn't winning any "mommy of the year" awards.
But here I stand today, still inadequate apart from God but wanting to finish the work He has started [click on the "Why This Blog" tab to learn more]. I am so glad I didn't abandon the blog "New Mercies 4 U!" I can testify that He really does give you new mercies each day...mercies afresh...mercies He is building on. You see, although we are given new mercies, it doesn't mean we forget the last set of mercies. Use them! Use them to tell your story and to proclaim the never stopping faithfulness of our sweet savior and friend!
Today my life looks different. I have been married to my precious God-send for almost 1.5 years. You can click on the "About Me" tab to learn a little more about him. But words don't do justice in describing this sweet man. He loves people well and is the most unselfish person I know. He is the perfect example of Christ to me! And the perfect picture of "new mercies," the faithfulness of our covenant God. My life's journey has been long and hard at times but I can say without a doubt that God is faithful!
So today, I start back at "New Mercies 4 U!" It will be a little bit of everything to encourage "U" in "4" areas...Spiritual, Mental, Emotional, and Physical. Who knows, you might read a post or two written by my sweet hubby. There will be posts about cooking, traveling, decorating, fitness, health, marriage, parenting, and more. But before you get anxious, let me just say...anything shared on here is to encourage you to tap into the fullness of who God created you to be...NOT to cause anxiety that you aren't doing anything right. And if at any time you start to feel that nudge that you are not enough (as I do sometimes), remember..."The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning!"
Happy Blogging and Happy New Year!
Showing posts with label My Life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label My Life. Show all posts
Thursday, January 1, 2015
Sunday, January 8, 2012
God is Sovereign!
Circumstances! We all go through them! Some not so noticeable, others rip our hearts out! The sad truth that I have come to realize over and over in my life is what Kay Arthur summed up very well in her book, As Silver Refined..."Life is fraught not only with stress and tense relationships and everyday disappointments but also with acute, piercing pain. It's part of the trials and tribulations bred into our lives, like weeds in what would otherwise be a garden. Pain is here (and will be until Jesus comes) because of sin and sinful men, and essentially there's nothing we can do to change that."
That makes you want to spring out of bed in the mornings doesn't it!
NO! But this does...."For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." Eph 2:10
God knew me before I was even conceived. He knew what He had planned for my life! He knows everything about my personality and knows everything about my life...beginning, middle and end! HE CAN BE TRUSTED with every moment of my future! HE IS SOVEREIGN!! He is Creator and Orchestrator of everything! He is the Great Story Teller!
I could feel overwhelmed by my circumstances and struggle with hopelessness, defeat, and discouragement but HE HAS NEVER ABANDONED ME! I have history with HIM! Sweet history! He has shown Himself faithful time and time again so why doubt his goodness now? (By the way, I have to remind myself of this daily...it doesn't come easy!)
Here is where I get real!...
There are times that I have thought that I was going to just die with pain. So many things that the little girl inside of me can look back at and become bitter and angry. It took years for me to reconcile in my heart the fact that I had an absent mother and an emotionally absent father. I grew up in a very poor neighborhood that I was ashamed of. I would always look at all my friends who seemed to have it all (nice house, car, family intact) and think, "what is wrong with me?"
But I see God's Sovereign hand in it all!
God placed sweet Godly people along my path. I don't even want to mention their names for fear that I would leave someone out! They know who they are! They are the ones that walked me through sorting out my past that was riddled with sin from others as well as my own sinful reactions to some deep wounds in my life. They are the ones that invited me into their homes and lavished me with great love that kept me coming back over and over again. They are the college roommates that encouraged me daily with their walk with the Lord and their hearts for honoring Him in their relationships with guys. They are the ones that invested heavily in my life to point me to Jesus. They are the ones that cheered me on when I graduated from college because they knew that I could do it and that even though I struggled through it...it didn't mean I was "less than." They are the ones that encouraged me that God had something special in store for me. They are the ones that walked through my dads death with me when I was 23 years old and reminded me daily that God would heal my wounds and use this as yet another stepping stone to becoming more like Him. They are the ones that encouraged me to stay faithful and not waver in my journey with the Lord and my pursuit for Holiness. They are the ones that mentored me in motherhood and being a godly wife. They are the ones that sat under my leadership (wow, humbling) as I mentored them and led them in Bible Study. They are the ones that walked through my moms death with me and reminded me that God had redeemed a sweet relationship that I didn't have when I was little and encouraged me that I did all that a loving daughter could do to end well with her. They are the ones that continue to pour wisdom, insight and love into my life as I walk along yet another tough road along my journey!
This is why I have such a passion for discipling young women. If God can take my life and make it beautiful through using the body of Christ, He can use me to turn another life around to pursue the Lord in ALL things!
GOD IS SOVEREIGN! He is not surprised!
In all the heartache and pain that I have gone through up to this point (and I only named a few) I am always reminded of God's character. I know that He is All-knowing, All-powerful and Ever-Present! I know that HE IS IN CONTROL! Therefore, I don't have to worry! I can just continue to pursue Him in His Word and allow His Truths to become the path that guides me!
It is HARD! It is PAINFUL! But one thing I know...I am confident of this...I shall see the goodness of the Lord!
To turn away from God only leads to more heartache and pain, but to press into Him brings sweet satisfaciton even in the midst of difficult circumstances!
~kerry
That makes you want to spring out of bed in the mornings doesn't it!
NO! But this does...."For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." Eph 2:10
God knew me before I was even conceived. He knew what He had planned for my life! He knows everything about my personality and knows everything about my life...beginning, middle and end! HE CAN BE TRUSTED with every moment of my future! HE IS SOVEREIGN!! He is Creator and Orchestrator of everything! He is the Great Story Teller!
I could feel overwhelmed by my circumstances and struggle with hopelessness, defeat, and discouragement but HE HAS NEVER ABANDONED ME! I have history with HIM! Sweet history! He has shown Himself faithful time and time again so why doubt his goodness now? (By the way, I have to remind myself of this daily...it doesn't come easy!)
Here is where I get real!...
There are times that I have thought that I was going to just die with pain. So many things that the little girl inside of me can look back at and become bitter and angry. It took years for me to reconcile in my heart the fact that I had an absent mother and an emotionally absent father. I grew up in a very poor neighborhood that I was ashamed of. I would always look at all my friends who seemed to have it all (nice house, car, family intact) and think, "what is wrong with me?"
But I see God's Sovereign hand in it all!
God placed sweet Godly people along my path. I don't even want to mention their names for fear that I would leave someone out! They know who they are! They are the ones that walked me through sorting out my past that was riddled with sin from others as well as my own sinful reactions to some deep wounds in my life. They are the ones that invited me into their homes and lavished me with great love that kept me coming back over and over again. They are the college roommates that encouraged me daily with their walk with the Lord and their hearts for honoring Him in their relationships with guys. They are the ones that invested heavily in my life to point me to Jesus. They are the ones that cheered me on when I graduated from college because they knew that I could do it and that even though I struggled through it...it didn't mean I was "less than." They are the ones that encouraged me that God had something special in store for me. They are the ones that walked through my dads death with me when I was 23 years old and reminded me daily that God would heal my wounds and use this as yet another stepping stone to becoming more like Him. They are the ones that encouraged me to stay faithful and not waver in my journey with the Lord and my pursuit for Holiness. They are the ones that mentored me in motherhood and being a godly wife. They are the ones that sat under my leadership (wow, humbling) as I mentored them and led them in Bible Study. They are the ones that walked through my moms death with me and reminded me that God had redeemed a sweet relationship that I didn't have when I was little and encouraged me that I did all that a loving daughter could do to end well with her. They are the ones that continue to pour wisdom, insight and love into my life as I walk along yet another tough road along my journey!
This is why I have such a passion for discipling young women. If God can take my life and make it beautiful through using the body of Christ, He can use me to turn another life around to pursue the Lord in ALL things!
GOD IS SOVEREIGN! He is not surprised!
In all the heartache and pain that I have gone through up to this point (and I only named a few) I am always reminded of God's character. I know that He is All-knowing, All-powerful and Ever-Present! I know that HE IS IN CONTROL! Therefore, I don't have to worry! I can just continue to pursue Him in His Word and allow His Truths to become the path that guides me!
It is HARD! It is PAINFUL! But one thing I know...I am confident of this...I shall see the goodness of the Lord!
To turn away from God only leads to more heartache and pain, but to press into Him brings sweet satisfaciton even in the midst of difficult circumstances!
~kerry
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)