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guidance

Trusting God’s Guidance

A few years ago I had the opportunity to go on a rafting trip down the Salmon River. Read how that experience parallels my journey in Christ.

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I had a hard time even looking out the front windo

My daughter just gave birth to a beautiful baby gi

My daughter just gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. She (my daughter) and her husband are delighted, and my husband and I are overjoyed as well. The joy of new life reverberates throughout our family and friends as they hear about this precious child. Everyone celebrates with us.

This little one's eyes are open for the first time to the world around her and to those who loved her from before her birth.

This tiny, delicate human being is totally dependent on her mother and father for everything. Her first nourishment will be mother’s milk and it will be quite some time before her system can digest more.

Her parents will nurture and guide her as she grows and, though she’ll make mistakes along the way, their love for her will never waver. They’ll be pleased with each new skill that she develops and won’t ever stop cheering her on.

When she’s older, she may willfully disobey and want to go her own way on occasion. Yet when she returns, her loving parents will welcome her back with open arms and forgiveness in their hearts.

The joy we feel as we welcome this new life correlates with our lives when we are “born again” through Jesus Christ and begin following Him.
Jesus Said To Enter The Kingdom Of God We Must Be Born “Of Water And The Spirit” John 3:5-7

This New Life Will Be Different From Our Old Life And Will Last Forever - 2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 Peter 1:23 NLT, Titus 3:5 NLT

When We Are Born Again To Follow Christ We Are Able To Experience God In A Way We Only Previously Heard About - Job 42:5, Isaiah 32:3 NLT, Psalms 34:8 NLT

As Baby Christians, We Can Only Grasp The Simple Things Of God - 1 Peter 2:2-3

As We Grow In Faith We Can Begin To Learn The Deeper Things Of God - Hebrews 5:13-14

Fellow Christ-Followers Are Cheering Us On In Our Walk Of Faith - Hebrews 12:1 NLT

At Times We Want To Do Things Our Own Way But God Is Always Calling Us Back To Him - Jeremiah 3:22

No Matter How Far We Run From God, He Is Always Waiting With Love And Compassion For Us To Return To Him - Luke 15:20

Even More Than Earthly Parents With Their Own Child, God Guides Us, Delights In Us, And Rejoices Over Us - Zephaniah 3:17

Thank God For Our New Life In Christ!

How can we bring joy to others in this season? Rea

How can we bring joy to others in this season? Read new post (link in bio)

Instagram post 18334061494054808

Instagram post 18334061494054808

'For our light and momentary troubles are achievin

'For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.'

2 Corinthians 4:17-18

I go east, but he is not there. I go west, but I c

I go east, but he is not there. I go west, but I cannot find him. I do not see him in the north, for he is hidden. I look to the south, but he is concealed. Job 23:8-9

In times of prolonged darkness, loneliness, pain and struggle, where is God? I mean, I know what the typical Christian answers are:
– He’s working behind the scenes to bring good out of my situation – Romans 8:28
– He’s up ahead of me, preparing my path – Psalms 23:3
– He’s teaching me an important lesson and as soon as I have learned, He’ll bring me through – Philippians 2:13
– He’s right there, I just need to be still and let Him fight for me – Exodus 14:14

I’ve actually posted about most of the above topics and meant what I said about them.

But right now, my home feels like a desert. I can’t see Him. I can’t hear Him. I can’t sense His presence. My heart is very restless, seeking, searching.

So, for all of us, I wanted to post some verses that remind us that God is here even when we can’t find evidence to support it. You may want to bookmark this post and come back to it when you need reassurance of where He is.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. Psalms 34:18

In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. Jeremiah 29:12-13

God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Psalms 46:1

The Lord will work out his plans for my life— for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for you made me. Psalms 138:8

“Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20

So to answer my question, “Where are You, God?”, He whispers, “right here, child…right here.”

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. Psalms 139:7-10

I had what I consider to be my first serious episo

I had what I consider to be my first serious episode of major depression in college. I was clinically diagnosed with major depressive disorder after a year of postpartum depression in 1993. So I’ve been living with this for a long time. And I’ve learned that although it can be debilitating, it is temporary and I will climb out of the pit in time thanks to the grace of God.

Sometimes…
-it’s just a slow sinking feeling like being in quicksand. But there’s nothing I can do to keep from being swallowed whole.
it is relatively mild and cycles through for several weeks.
-it is deep and draining to my core and lasts for months on end.
-there seems to be no reason for it, and sometimes an event, circumstance, or memory can usher in the darkness.

I’m speaking only for myself here.

My depression is…
-The overwhelming blanket of sadness over my entire body that makes it nearly impossible to see anything but darkness.
-The crushing heaviness on my chest that makes it nearly impossible to breathe.
-The unending fatigue and other physical symptoms that make it nearly impossible to rise out of bed each day.
-The isolation that comes because I don’t have the energy to pretend to be okay that makes it nearly impossible to stay connected to friends and community.
-The foggy brain and lack of focus that makes it nearly impossible to accomplish anything productive.
-The overpowering guilt for feeling this way even though things are much better for me than for many others, that makes it nearly impossible to approach friends for help.
-The monumental sense of unworthiness that makes it nearly impossible to approach the throne of God.

As a Christian, I know God is always with me even when I can’t sense His presence. I know He will forgive me for not feeling worthy to commune with Him.

And most importantly, I know what is nearly impossible alone, is possible with God.
If you are battling depression, I encourage you to get in touch with a biblical counselor or a minister at your church. You can also email me directly at j2grateful@gmail.com.

“In prayer it is better to have a heart without

“In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart.” – John Bunyan

Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you w

Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Colossians 3:23

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