Jesus Is The Same
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. I am not. I am not the same at all. As a matter of fact, I am not the same person I was a few weeks ago.
Several months ago in the fall, one of our older children moved out on their own. Change, an exciting change as we witnessed God's abundant provision for our child firsthand. Then, life got real, said child got tired and bored, and more changes began occurring. As parents there was one major recourse and that was prayer. Pray, pray, pray, and pray some more. We did.
Christmas came then went. A new year came and went. Weeks passed with our family knowing something wasn't "right" but not being able to find out what was "wrong". A few months passed. Now instead of watching God's mighty hand of provision and victory working in our child's life we were watching a downward spiral that would have terrified us had we not been trusting in the Lord.
One day an explosion rent our hearts. The explosion that hit our hearts with the ferocity of a tsunami arrived in the quiet form of an email note. "Dear Papa and Mama..." the brief email began. As the words of that tiny announcement paraded before my eyes, my heart was screaming "Oh no, no, no. Please God let this be one of those ridiculous joke emails. Please, God, no. no. no. no."
No matter how much I wanted it to be a warped joke, it was real. The words were true. One of our beloved children had made major life decisions contrary to the truth of God and His ways. Not only had our child left the foundation of truth laid for them, but they had also chosen a life filled with potential danger and abuse.
It is amazing how almost everything changed for me after that email. Very little remains the same. One thing does remain. God and His Word. God is good. God is faithful. God is glorious. God is love. God is true. God is real. God remains. God saves. God keeps. God satisfies. God heals. God restores. God is. In the middle of the pain, God is. God always has been, always is, and always will be. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit never change, never leave, never loose their hold on me. God is.
Over a month later, our child has now been rescued by God's miraculous grace and mercy. Our child is safe at home learning what it means to live free and whole in Jesus. And mama? Mama is not the same. Mama is changed. Mama is more grateful to God than words can tell for how He has rescued and delivered her child from darkness. I am giving God thanks in advance for His continued working in all of my children's lives. God restores, redeems, and makes new. Mama is blessed. Abundantly so.
Abundantly Blessed
Several months ago in the fall, one of our older children moved out on their own. Change, an exciting change as we witnessed God's abundant provision for our child firsthand. Then, life got real, said child got tired and bored, and more changes began occurring. As parents there was one major recourse and that was prayer. Pray, pray, pray, and pray some more. We did.
Christmas came then went. A new year came and went. Weeks passed with our family knowing something wasn't "right" but not being able to find out what was "wrong". A few months passed. Now instead of watching God's mighty hand of provision and victory working in our child's life we were watching a downward spiral that would have terrified us had we not been trusting in the Lord.
One day an explosion rent our hearts. The explosion that hit our hearts with the ferocity of a tsunami arrived in the quiet form of an email note. "Dear Papa and Mama..." the brief email began. As the words of that tiny announcement paraded before my eyes, my heart was screaming "Oh no, no, no. Please God let this be one of those ridiculous joke emails. Please, God, no. no. no. no."
No matter how much I wanted it to be a warped joke, it was real. The words were true. One of our beloved children had made major life decisions contrary to the truth of God and His ways. Not only had our child left the foundation of truth laid for them, but they had also chosen a life filled with potential danger and abuse.
It is amazing how almost everything changed for me after that email. Very little remains the same. One thing does remain. God and His Word. God is good. God is faithful. God is glorious. God is love. God is true. God is real. God remains. God saves. God keeps. God satisfies. God heals. God restores. God is. In the middle of the pain, God is. God always has been, always is, and always will be. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit never change, never leave, never loose their hold on me. God is.
Over a month later, our child has now been rescued by God's miraculous grace and mercy. Our child is safe at home learning what it means to live free and whole in Jesus. And mama? Mama is not the same. Mama is changed. Mama is more grateful to God than words can tell for how He has rescued and delivered her child from darkness. I am giving God thanks in advance for His continued working in all of my children's lives. God restores, redeems, and makes new. Mama is blessed. Abundantly so.
Abundantly Blessed