In the middle. Hang on!


Things often seem dark in January through March - The middle!  The fall crisp colors are gone, and there is typically no pretty snow here in Kentucky.  Spring feels so far away!  Honestly I'm not a fan!  It can make all that's already hard seem even more so.   If you're fighting your way through I'm just sayin', yeah me too.  We all have stories, and we all know people with hard stories, and we all know the news.  But I won't stop there, not today.
Yeah. Life. Hurts. But!

Recently,  my spirit has been reminded in the most gentle ways, that God, the Creator of the Universe humbled himself as a man ( Philippians 2).  He suffered to the point of death, so that even in our suffering, we can have LIFE!  So He too says, yeah me too!  "He sees, He knows, He is making a way." He did this so you and I would know there will be an end to suffering.

Jesus is the reason we can fight FROM VICTORY not FOR VICTORY!  Easter, the ultimate celebration of Jesus is an every day truth.  We don't have to wait for April!  We don't have to wait for Heaven.  He is risen NOW, and because of that, we RISE.  BUT we DO NEED to encourage one another in that HOPE. 
We. Have. Hope!

"13But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words."

Many of us have hard days we need to "take back."  If you've been there you know what I mean.  Maybe this season we can begin to take back the joy that God wants us to have.  Because He sees and knows, He doesn't expect us not to grieve the hard, but He holds out His arms to us to Hold us.

 This March 17 will be 2 years since my brother left this earth.  I'm finally feeling like "taking it back," bringing back the joy that he brought to that day every year, one of his favorite days!  I'm at least willing to try by the grace of God.  Amen?! And isn't it great that we have freedom to heal at our own pace, and He is watching over us all the while.  

 A friend of mine recently reminded me of the Spiritual armor that God gives us and the perspective that we need.  I'm just going to throw out a few chapters of Scripture that I need to keep top of mind.  Romans 8, Psalm 16, Ephesians 6, Psalm 69, Revelations 12:10-11, and Zephaniah 3. Just a snippet from each...

Let. My. Words. Be. Silent. And. God's. Word. be. LOUD!  

 Romans 8 says, (be EAGER for heaven, yet PATIENT for God is at work.)

5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 


11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity,... 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

Psalm 16 says, (we have more than the here and now.)

5 The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
Ephesians 6 says,

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places...18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication..."

Psalm 69 models a beautiful prayer from the heart of David,

69 Save me, O God!
For the waters have come up to my neck.
2 I sink in deep mire,
where there is no foothold;
I have come into deep waters,
and the flood sweeps over me.
3 I am weary with my crying out;
my throat is parched.
My eyes grow dim
with waiting for my God.

6 Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me,
O Lord God of hosts;
let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me,
O God of Israel.

13 But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord.
At an acceptable time, O God,
in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.

18 Draw near to my soul, redeem me;

30 I will praise the name of God with a song;
I will magnify him with thanksgiving.
31 This will please the Lord more than an ox
or a bull with horns and hoofs.
32 When the humble see it they will be glad;
you who seek God, let your hearts revive.
33 For the Lord hears the needy
and does not despise his own people who are prisoners.

34 Let heaven and earth praise him,
the seas and everything that moves in them."

Revelations 12:10-11 says, (let us testify!)

10 Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens,

“It has come at last—
salvation and power
and the Kingdom of our God,
and the authority of his Christ...

11 And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb
and by their testimony.
And they did not love their lives so much
that they were afraid to die.

 Reckless Love, by Cory Asbury

Finally, yes, one more... I hope these Scriptures let you "taste and see that the Lord is good." Psalm 34 and that He has a plan far beyond the here and now that will blow us away!  Hang on!

Zephaniah 3:17 says,

The Lord your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.

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