Are You Hurting?

My heart is heavy this morning.

There is hurt all around me. Many of my dearest friends are struggling with pain and disappointment -heartache that runs dreadfully deep. I am struggling with my own, as well.

Do you know people in pain today? Are you one of them?

In a seemingly hopeless world full of strife, sickness, depression, brokenness, loss, pride, despair and death, the Word of God is truly all we have in which to place our trust.



This morning, I want to extend to you... Hope. Truth. Encouragement. Wherever this post finds you today, this I know, He is still God.

He is God in your pain.
He is God in your loss.
He is God in your sickness.
He is God in your sadness.
He is God in your strife.
He is God in your wondering.
He is God in your waiting.

He is still God.
He holds all things together, even if all seems to be falling apart.
I pray these words bring light to dark places...

Seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Colossians 3:1,2

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28

Yes, we are of good courage. We know that when while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith and not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7

We do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. 2 Corinthians 4:16,17

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust, I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? Psalm 54:3,4

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58

Where shall I go from your spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? Psalm 139:7

Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord! I have fled to your for refuge! Teach me to do your will for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground. Psalm 143:9,10

Then Jesus said to him, "Be gone, Satan!"... then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him. Matthew 4:11

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18

Jesus said, "I have said these things to you that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart, I have overcome the world." John 16:33

What verse brings you hope in times of deep hurt?

Please, take time to share this with a friend today. You just never know...

A Raw Look At My Heart

This post won't be pretty. Or funny. Or poetic.

Today's blog is a bit raw and quick. A look into where we've been the past 72 hours.

Mamaw has had her lowest of lows the past few days. Sunday morning I went to see her. Her color was ash, her skin was cold to touch and extremely clammy. She was slow to respond. Glazed.

Sounds like death to me.

I was terrified.

Come to find out she was severely anemic and in need of blood. So... two units later, she started to perk up. Praise Jesus.

But the blood did not eliminate her confusion and slow response. And her pain. Oh my word, her pain.

Major major major back surgery for anyone. Throw ninety years on top of that and bad things can happen. And lots of those bad things did. More details I won't go into.

But you know what? I saw the Lord deliver that sweet woman. I have seen the favor of the Lord rest upon her. Upon her room. Upon her care. And upon each nurse...and by the way, if you are a nurse...I love you.

Her doctor - amazing. Brent said, "I don't even need surgery, and I want him to operate on me."

But still, the past two days I have sat in the chair beside her bed. Tears rolling down my face. Crying uncontrollably at times, just so sad to see this woman, who I love so much, suffer and struggle. It is a helpless feeling.

And I could feel my spirit start to sink. The darkness of her circumstances were a harsh reality. My heart grew very faint.

I felt very alone in that room with her.

But by God's grace, I would be reminded of my '"people"... my praying people.

Who, by today's technology, are just a text away.

I sent several this weekend.

I know people say, "I felt your prayers for me" and maybe they mean it. But I really mean it.

I didn't just "feel" the prayers. I watched them come to pass.

E V E R Y single prayer - answered.

Two passages have been life to me this weekend.

The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, endure forever. Psalm 138:8

The Lord doesn't only make things "good" that concern Mamaw. He perfects them. Isn't that good?

And yesterday as I sat and prayed, I honestly confessed to Him, "Lord, I just feel so alone."

Within a millisecond He replied, "Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand." Isiah 41:10

Aww, such a sweet word from Him. I am never alone. He is always with me. Even in that cold, sterile room - He is with me. I have nothing to fear. I have no reason to be discouraged. He is my God. He is upholding us. He is upholding Mamaw.

This morning I can say, Glory to God...Mamaw is doing much better. Miraculously so.

And as for me, I am much better. Encouraged. Strengthened by His Word. Comforted by His presence.

Please continue to pray. I am so thankful for the readers of this blog. So thankful for your prayers and encouragement. I haven't replied to all of your comments and prayers, but I have received them and adore you. The words "Thank you" don't suffice.


For you.

I am so grateful.

He Brings Restoration

The past couple of days I have been in Kentucky visiting one of my dearest friends. While I was there I needed to have some dental work done by her husband, who just so happens to be an Oral Maxillofacial Surgeon.

Let me tell you, my teeth are quite deceiving. They may look healthy and white, but oh do they cause me trouble. I won't bore you with my dental history, but I will tell you that I am in need of an implant and crown on tooth # 19.

Last year I went to him and he pulled the tooth. Step two should have been - come back in a few months and we will put in an implant. Well, time passed and life got so busy. I couldn't get up there as quickly as I should have.

When I got into town, I went in for an X-ray. Not the news I had expected.

Doc: "Looks like you have some deterioration."

Me: "What does that mean?"

Doc: "The bone, where we pulled that tooth, has deteriorated. I need to rebuild that bone before we put in the implant. The implant would have nothing to hold to if we tried to put one in right now. Your structure is gone."

Restoration -1 : an act of restoring a : a bringing back to a former position or condition : reinstatement b : restitution c : a restoring to an unimpaired or improved condition d : the replacing of missing teeth or crowns
2 : something that is restored; especially : a representation or reconstruction of the original form

I am seeing this pattern everywhere right now.

Brokenness...Impair...Disenegration...Deterioration...Frailty...

Repair.....Reconstruction....Restoration.

I am seeing this need for restoration not only in my mouth, but in broken marriages, broken churches, broken friendships, broken families, broken dreams.

Broken hearts.

But I see another pattern.

I see patterns, time and time again, in Scripture. Patterns of Restoration.

God brings Restoration.

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 1 Peter 5:10

God's Pattern of Restoration is evident.

He restores:

- Position (Gen 40:12)
- Fortune (Deu 30:3)
- Inheritance (2 Sam 9:7)
- Structures (Neh 4:2)
- Our rightful place (Job 8:6)
- Joy (Ps. 51:12)
- Life (Ps. 71:20)
- Comfort (Is. 57:18)
- Generations of Devastation (Is 61:4)
- Land (Jer. 16:15
- Sight (Acts 9:12)
- Sinful Man (Gal 6:1)

God doesn't just "improve" us. He establishes us. He makes us strong, firm and steadfast. He makes up for years lost (Joel 2:25). He transforms us.

He brings restoration to our souls.

David Brymer has a song titled Restoration. The lyrics read...

You've taken my pain and call me by a new name.
You've taken my shame and in its place you give me joy.

You take my mourning and turn it into dancing.
You take my sadness and turn it into joy.
You take my weeping and turn it into laughing.
You bring restoration to my soul.

This is what the Lord can do.

God, I praise you. The God of restoration. My heart is heavy for the broken. Will you bring healing? Will you turn sadness into joy today? Heal the wounded hearts? Rebuild, repair and restore your hurting people. Thank you for you great, abundant, unfathomable love for us. Thank you for what you've set out to do. Thank you for brokenness. For it is in brokenness that you can rebuild. And transform.

Embracing Pain

I don't like pain.

I avoid it at all costs.

I always have.

Pain makes me very uncomfortable.

I remember, as a little girl, being very uncomfortable with other's tears.

Funerals did me in.

Divorce did me in.

Too much pain.

I hated to see my mother's face, strained and red. Streaked with tears. I remember wanting to make her laugh. I remember acting silly.

Or ignoring her.

In hopes to minimize grief.

I do that same thing, still.

I am a minimizer of pain. I don't like it, so therefore, I catch myself downplaying any emotion of my own or others that resembles hurt.

Of late, the Lord is doing a new thing.

Francis Chan writes, "There have been many times when I've tried to lead the Holy Spirit. I've wanted to direct Him and tell Him what to do and when to do it. The irony is that the Holy Spirit was given to direct us. The Spirit is God, a Being who requires that we submit ourselves to be led by Him. I honestly believe that most of us - while we might say we want to be led by the Spirit - are actually scared of this reality. I know I am." - Forgotten God.

Well Chan, me too.

The truth is that, sometimes, the Holy Spirit leads us to difficult places. It is the Spirit's leading that makes us want to serve the homeless, give away our money, adopt an orphan, sell our possessions, confront a brother, step out on water, lay hands on the leper, walk into the wilderness, or die on a Cross.

Although, the outcomes may be rewarding, and God never abandons, His leading can be very scary. And for a time, painful

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:24

Crucify (stauroō)- metaphorically, "the putting off of the flesh with its passions and lusts," a condition fulfilled in the case of those who are "of Christ Jesus."

Well, I will be the first to admit that I have no "desire" for pain. Not one "desire" for hurt. No "desire" for tears. But, those who are of Christ crucify their passions and desires. Therefore, I put off my desire for easy. I put off my passion for pleasure. And I enter into pain, if He so leads.

I enter into pain, with faith.

Because what He is ultimately leading me into is Holiness. Sanctification. Making me into the likeness of His Son. Purifying His Bride. Drawing me to Himself. Allowing me to share, with Him, in suffering. To be more like Him. To need more of Him.

To "desire" Him - over my flesh.

Even though, being led by the Spirit, in true crucified style, may be scary, and often painful - He is always good.

He is always right.

He is always present.

His goal is always our Holiness.

And His Glory.

"In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." - Jesus speaking. John 16:33