God Is Love

My Jesus My King

Have a blessed Good Friday!

What fills your void?

Why is it that we struggle so? Why do we hold on so tightly to things that we know are no good for us? Why would we be willing to go down in ruins knowing that we could stop it all from happening? Why can't we give up the control we think we have, when in reality what we are struggling with or addicted to, is really controlling us? I'm not just speaking of drugs or alcohol, but also money, things like possessions, work, eating, exercising, not eating, fame, glory, attention, security, shopping, fear, or even people. Why is it that we keep trying to fill a void that only He can fill? Why do we keep piling in all of this when we know it will never do the trick.

It starts out innocently enough but eventually it takes over. It grows and manifest and becomes the thing we think we cant live without. The tolerance grows higher and higher and we are left needing more. It becomes our secret sin that we think no one knows, but in reality everyone knows. It makes a fool out of us. It turns us in to something we never wanted to be. It can take us from the on top of the world to living on the streets homeless in no time flat. It can rob us of our relationships, spouses, kids, homes, jobs, it just wont stop until we stop it. When is enough enough?

The struggle isn't really the addiction, its what we fill the void with that we all have. We can search and seek and pour in and consume all we find, but if its not Jesus it will leave us empty. I have been there. I still struggle. We all do. The important thing is we have a God who has not left us alone to fight our battles but is there fighting for us. I may not know what it is like to struggle with a serious drug addiction but I know what it is like to struggle with your thoughts. I may not know what it is like to struggle with alcohol but I do know what it is like to struggle with  be held captive to fear.

Beloved I have been down in that pit and without Jesus it wouldn't be long before I was right back there. He is the only thing that can fill that void. He created us with the void so that He can be the one you put in its place. I just want to encourage you today know matter what struggles or hardships you are enduring. Relationships in trouble, addictions, bandages, brokenness, or even illness beloved just cry out to Him. He was sent to bind up the brokenhearted and aren't we the brokenhearted? My love, He is healer!

Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
Because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the afflicted;
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners.

Fat Albert

Nothing like getting on the treadmill at the gym, looking up, and seeing Fat Albert on the television. Now that's some inspiration. No seriously that was some inspiration!

So, last night I decided to get my self up and head to the gym. I hadn't worked out since Monday and honestly I didn't feel like walking through the doors of the gym let alone walking on a treadmill. I've been in a funk lately; been struggling through some things. Fighting battles that are really the Lords to fight. I've been wrestling with things that I am no longer held captive to. Not really sure what was going on I just kept trying to figure out why I was struggling. I know God has a plan, I believe Him, trust Him, love Him, but I just had no peace.

When I saw Fat Albert on the TV, as funny as it was it gave me some insight. You know its kind of like putting that picture of yourself on the fridge when you need to lose some weight. So every time you went to the fridge you would be so disgusted you would just turn and walk away without even a morsel. You know the picture, the one you would just me mortified over if someone actually saw it. The one where you look at it in disbelief that its really even you. The one you can't stand to look at but at the same time you just can't look away. Like a train wreck. Well that's what I realized I needed to do. I need to put a spiritual picture of myself up.

I need to daily, sometimes hourly remind myself of the bondage I was once in, the battles I fought, the insecurities I had, and the fear that took over parts of my life. I need to see that so I can be reminded that Jesus redeemed me from that. He has healed me, released me, set the captive free. I no longer have to live as a wounded person because I am free. I am free in Christ. Those insecurities that creep in, do I measure up, do I matter, can I do this. I need to put them in their rightful place and that is not here in my mind. The Bible says Jesus is the Prince of Peace and peace is exactly what I needed. Peace of mind. I needed to go before the Lord to receive peace. He is peace so He can give it and He does. The Lord is doing a work in me and as hard as it may be on me at times I am ever so grateful. He loves me, oh how He loves me, and He loves you! I want to encourage you sweet friends that if you are struggling as I have been. Take it to the Lord, He is faithful. He hears your cries, knows your heart, He is just to forgive, He desires fellowship with you. He can heal your brokenness and I am living proof that He does. This is one captive He has set free! Hallelujah!

Fight hard and be Thankful

Fighting for peace of mind today. I hate that devil! He likes to try to come in and fill me with doubt, insecurity, and fear. He thinks I'm gonna fall for it again, not this time. I'm not the easy target I used to be.

Our family received some hard news today. At some point recently my Mom has had a stroke. She is doing fine, it was minor. If there is such a thing. It has affected her memory mostly. She fights to remember things that might come easy to you and I. She will be having some more test ran soon that will hopefully tell her more. The crazy thing is yes, she has shed a few tears, but she has an undeniable peace about her. She says that even though she is still in shock, God has given her comfort.



Mom and I
2009



Her and I are in the middle of a Bible study right now that is pretty intense and has us searching the scriptures back and forth with great passion. The Lord is amazing the way he works. I'm not sure that she would be this calm if she hadn't been walking so intimately with the Lord right now. I am so grateful for God's timing. Its almost to much for my little heart to bare.

I love my Mom dearly, shes one amazing woman. She has given me so much and has given up so much for me. I am blessed to have her. My prayer is for God to heal her this side of heaven. Everything in my being cries out for that, but if He chooses not to, I am more than grateful for this time in my life. This time where Mother and Daughter can sit next to each other and cry tears sorrow and joy because of the love of our one and only Jesus.

Thankful to be a shoulder she can cry on. Thankful to be daughter who loves her. Thankful to be a friend to encourage her. Thankful to have a Lord who hears me when I stand on her behalf and cry out in the name of Jesus. Thankful to have a God who heals. Thankful to have a God who fights for her when then enemy attacks. Thankful to have a God who loves her. Thankful to have a God who has redeemed her. Thankful I have God. I LOVE YOU LORD JESUS!

Miracle of the Moment

Good Morning my loves,

It is all very still in the house this morning. Kiddos are still sleeping and very soon it will all start to rev up. I wanted to take some time to ask you how you are. How is 2013 starting off for you? Are you feeling refreshed with a new hope for the next year? Are you excited for the change of a new season? Or are you still holding on to 2012 with all you have? Are you going into 2013 kicking and screaming? Are you like me and change is hard, or to be honest even the thought of change is hard? I'm usually a no person by nature or maybe it’s more by fear. My first response is usually no. I don’t like change, it’s uncomfortable, unpredictable, and sometimes doesn’t work out. I want the guarantee, the for sure. I sometimes worry a lot about what the future holds and miss out on the right now. But knowing the Lord like I do, I knew He wasn’t going to allow me to stay that way for long.

2012 was a good year but a tough year. A lot of change! I mean A LOT of change! Through that though the Lord has dealt with me with much mercy and grace. He has allowed me to dig my heals in and throw my fits but also He has loving picked me back up and renewed His promises in me. He's shown me how flexible I can be and how when trusting in Him the pain is eased. He's given me new hope and shown me that He has a plan for my life and its all for His glory. He has opened my eyes to the miracle of the moment. I miss out on so much when all I do is focus on the past or on the future. I miss out on the right now. My days are filled with two amazing sons and one cute little niece that I have the privilege of spending a couple of hours with each day, home school, sports (my little competitive soccer player is becoming a man right in front of my eyes ), being able to see the world through my 3 year olds eyes which let me tell you is a blast, a husband whose heart is devoted to God and our family, a lot of extended family and after living away for 10 years its more than a joy to be able to spend time with them, amazing friends, and a mission that the Lord put upon my heart.

So if I am so focused on what’s next or what I left behind, I miss out on the joys of right now. Living my life for now may seem like a simple thing to do, but for someone like me that has trouble with letting go of yesterdays and is fearful of the unknowns of tomorrow, right now is a hard thing to focus on at times. I pray that as we all go into this New Year we will learn to have our eyes wide open for today. Let the past be the past and let tomorrow come as it may.

I want you to read some of the words of a song written by Steven Curtis Chapman. Let these words resonate in your soul toward all you face.

"Miracle of the Moment"

‘Cause we are who and where

And what we are for now

And this is the only moment

We can do anything about

So breathe it in and breathe it out

And listen to your heartbeat

There’s a wonder in the here and now

It’s right there in front of you

I don’t want you to miss the miracle of the moment

There’s only one who knows

What’s really out there waiting

In all the moments yet to be

And all we need to know

Is He’s out there waiting

To Him the future’s history

And He has given us

A treasure called right now

And this is the only moment

We can do anything about

So breathe it in and breathe it out

And listen to your heartbeat

There’s a wonder in the here and now

It’s right there in front of you

I don’t want you to miss the miracle of the moment

And if it brings you tears

Then taste them as they fall

And let them soften your heart

And if it brings you laughter

Then throw your head back

And let it go, let it go, yeah You gotta let it go

And listen to your heartbeat, yeah

Breathe it in and breathe it out

And listen to your heartbeat

There’s a wonder in the here and now

It’s right there in front of you

I don’t want you to miss the miracle of the moment

Available on Steven Curtis Chapman's This Moment CD, or on iTunes.com

Enjoy your day and every moment of it!

Love you so,

Edie

 

Onething 2012

Happy New Year Beloved!

What a great way to end 2012 and begin 2013. We spent some time at the Onething Conference this past weekend and it was amazing. I encourage each and everyone of you to attend a Christian conference at sometime. You will leave there not as you entered. Just to see 20,000 people worshiping the Lord will bring you to your knees. It was renewing and refreshing.

As I looked out over everyone with their hands raised in worship it brought tears to my eyes because my heart felt like this is what heaven will be like. People of all ages, race, size, and shape worshiping the one true God. I am so thankful for what the Lord has done in my life. He has pulled me out of the pit and set my feet on solid ground. I am thankful for His love, grace, and mercy for without it I would be living one miserable life without any hope.

As I look back on 2012 and ahead to 2013, I see a lot of things I want to do differently and some that I want to stay the same. Most importantly though I want to further my relationship with the Lord. I want to know Him more intimately and love Him more deeply. I want to be so close to Him that I can not tell where I end and He begins. He has done so much for me in my life, for my loved ones as well. I am excited to see how He will use me to further His kingdom in 2013. I am thankful for the ways He has used me in 2012. I owe Him my life. Praise Jesus Christ alone, the One True God!

So what about you, any blessing in 2012, any changes you want to make in 2013?

Just a heads up the Exodus Cry Abolition Summit (Combat Human Trafficking) is Jan. 2nd-4th 2013 go to exoduscry.com/abolition-summit for more information.

Cant wait to see how God touches my heart at the summit. Hope to see you there.

Let's EMBRACE 2013 and all God has for it!
Lovin you all deeply,
Edie