Created in His own image

"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth."

Genesis 1:26 KJV

This month we have had plenty of adversity hurled at us and many blessings. A time when one of the most difficult mountains to climb financially is coming up and frankly, it's too big to climb alone. I have to believe in the unseen and in the midst of this trial is the unwaivering feeling that I couldn't do anything else but what I am doing now, what I was created to do. Years of doing many things that I have been successful with to a point and enjoyed mastering but never as natural as what I do now, everyday, every moment without regret. 

God has restored me. I grew up wondering how I survived my first three years of life and  because I was unwanted by my parents I also wondered why  God allowed me to live, what was the purpose. Of course it is hard to imagine a God that loves you and wants you when you have suffered rejection from a mother and a father.  Parents after all convey acceptance or rejection, relationship skills and bonding and we learn from our parents. I learned I was not wanted. From my adopted family I learned I was defective and should be grateful that they took me in the first place. God, according to most church teachings, drives home the point that myself and others are not worthy of God's grace or Jesus's sacrifice even though when we accept Jesus we are forgiven and born again with a new spirit. 

God has restored me. I'll admit it has taken years for me to rise above all the negative thoughts and feelings of rejection. I am happy to say I know why God blessed me with life and didn't allow the circumstances of my birth and childhood to steal that life or extinguish it. What's more God never abandoned me. The closer I press into Him the more I know He was there all along. 

My new life is one that moves and changes by the moment and every moment is in His presence. He is with me when I work in the barn with His creatures and shares in the joy of the simplicity of my stewardship over the farm and all it's inhabitance. He has raised a daughter with me. He has loved me for who I am and has revealed to me that I am good and worthy of His love. 

I can't imagine the path I am on not being what I was destined for and so I trust in Him to deliver, to overcome, and to provide. Whatever His will for me I know I was created in His image and have found the life He created me for. 

http://www.ransomedheart.com/more_dailyreading.aspx?id=5/14/2011

http://www.ransomedheart.com/more_dailyreading.aspx?id=5/14/2011

Pray Isaiah 54: Be a blessing to others

Pray Isaiah 54: Be a blessing to others: "2 Corinthians 9:11 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity w..."

http://www.ransomedheart.com/more_dailyreading.aspx?id=4/26/2011

http://www.ransomedheart.com/more_dailyreading.aspx?id=4/26/2011

Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone) - Chris Tomlin (with lyrics)

Temptation

Matthew 26:41  "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

I am learning things about myself that I am happy about and other things that I don't like so much. I lived years with excellent self control and a discipline and kept very focused. Now it's not so easy. 

I guess I've grown weary of being strong and I feel more vulnerable now. It's easy to give into temptation and loose focus when this happens. 

The Lord has blessed me so much and I need to cling more to him now and pray for wisdom. To love God more than things and people here on earth and to remember I'm never alone even though it's nice to have human arms to comfort me. To be obedient and not sin. Yes, temptation and thoughts will cause me to go a stray.   

Thankfulness

I don't have a picture or a bible verse today just a happy heart and I want to thank God for it. I don't want to forget to thank the Lord or to overlook His kindness. It is good to feel loved by God and it is good that He helps me learn to love myself.

I am experiencing growth and healing in my life and it is good. Peace is more precious than anything and family. How wonderful it is to be loved and to love. Kylie is so wonderful and she has such a good heart. I am surrounded by the people I love and who care for me. Friends and family. To be free to nestle into the love of the Lord and experience peace, it is a taste of heaven surely.