Better Late Than Never

Just a quick note: Below is a post that I wrote sometime before Christmas. I didn't have internet access at home during that time which is why it took me so long to get this posted. I hope you all are having an excellent New Year so far! God bless.

I am so thankful to have this opportunity to write a new post. We do not have internet at home. However, I am thankful to have the means to write and just get it posted later. Which is usually when I make it to the coffee shop up the road. I am being so completely and utterly blessed in my journey with Christ. It can be so easy to look back with regret, as I recognize the time that was wasted in pursuing other things that didn't offer anything of eternal benefit. God has been faithful to bring me times of refreshment through His eternal springs of Living Water...His Word. I have so much to share and am going to take my time as I have it to tell of the glories of God in my life.

Christmas is just around the corner. Less than 2 weeks away as I write this. I am thankful for the season to give. Yes, we can give all year round. However, Christmas is a time where hearts are prepared to receive. Through the years in my walk with Christ, I have truly learned to appreciate the gift of giving. Of course it is fun to receive something from someone and the thoughtfulness behind it. However, there is a joy that is given when giving. That to me is only part of the underlying beauty of Christmas. It was God's joy to bring forth his Son Jesus. He knew that we were in need of a Savior and that by faith in Him, we would receive the gift of eternal life. God could have no greater joy! John 3:16 is a great reminder of this very truth. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." That is the gospel. And with that, I hope you will consider what it is you are really celebrating this Christmas. Without Christ, there is no Christmas. It is then, just a vain holiday with no real meaning behind it. I am so happy to know the true meaning of Christmas!

Well, as of late, I have been experiencing a variety of different trials while trying to maintain my closeness to the Lord. There have been challenges with my son at school and at home, struggles with work, struggles in the body of Christ, personal challenges in areas of my life where God desires to use me and help me grow. There are numerous things going on and I am just bursting with joy. Yes, joy! When the going gets rough, it means God is working and our foe, the devil...doesn't like it. There are things going on behind the scenes that we don't always see, but God sees it all. And in just the right time, those things will be brought to fruition and we will have a greater faith because of it. So, with all of this going on, I began reading the book called When the Enemy Strikes by Charles E. Stanley. I actually borrowed it out to someone and since it wasn't being read, I asked to have it back. What is interesting about this, is the date that I took it home again and started reading it. December 7th, this past Friday. When I opened the book to the first chapter, called The Face of Evil, the first sentence reads this: "I still vividly remember how I felt on December 7, 1941." I was thinking that it was no mere coincidence that the date was the same, but only 71 years later. I am already nearing the end of chapter 5. Timing is just so right when seeking after the things of God. Truly it is. I opened my Bible earlier because I was just in the mood to read. I didn't know where I would read but I had it on my heart to get into 1 Corinthians. I read 5 Chapters and decided to stop. After doing some things around the apartment and for my son (Yes, we finally moved!), I decided to get back to reading that book. I'm reading along where the author is talking about spiritual discernment. There is some scripture, so I finish off that portion of the chapter by reading it, then would take another break from reading. It sounded so familiar, those verses. Of course, at the end of the scripture, I notice the reference is 1 Corinthians 2:9-12. Well, that explains why it was on my heart to read that book in the Bible. It was God's way of confirming His Word to me. I have had a lot of experiences just like this and it never fails to amaze me. My prayer lately is that I would experience more of God's supernatural power in my life. He has a way of magnifying the little things we often find passive or insignificant. He longs to fill us with joy in experiencing not just the things He does, but His timing of it all. It reminds me to....stop! God's timing is always perfect. There is no reason to worry or hurry. Worrying doesn't add time to our life, it takes away. Hurrying only causes us to miss out on the little things God is doing in between the bigger things. Hurrying even cases mistakes. These little events and things that happen while we pray and wait will add to our faith, while He is working on the bigger things. The path He guides us on is filled with all kinds of wonders, but they are hidden things and we should be ready to expect the unexpected. It all happens in accordance to HIS timing. After all, Ecclesiates 3:11 says that God makes everything beautiful in its time. Consider also, Isaiah 42:16 which says, "I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them: I will turn darkness into light before them and make rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them." Isn't that lovely? So haaaaang on.....the wait will be well worth it!

Thank you again for taking the time to stop by my blog. I hope that you are enlightened and encouraged to go spend time with God and get more familiar with His Word and His ways. Did you know that there are things He longs to reveal to you only? That way, you can experience His power for yourself and then go and tell others about it...increasing your faith and theirs? It is true. Your God Story is a perfect example of that. We all have a story to tell. Just like snowflakes look exactly the same to the naked eye, none of them are alike. They are all unique from each other. So the same is with our God testimonies. You may think that your God story only resembles the millions that are out there and isn't worth telling. But truth be told, there is a uniqueness in your story that makes it your very own and unlike that of anybody else. It is very worth telling. Embrace the beauty of your own personal God story. All the things that God is doing in my life are adding to the beauty of my God story. I am so excited to share and hope that you will, too! Enjoy the Lord!

Have a safe, peaceful and Merry Christmas!