I have had the opportunity to read the posting of others. I am blessed by their transparency, vulnerability and creativity. Thank you for that. It inspires me to attempt the same.
I recently have been going through a difficult time. A time of spiritual ackwardness; dry, complacent almost lethargic. It has scared me. I have not had a zest for life and even worse than that have chosen to flee to isolation and shut down. That behavior is so not my personality, but it came to be. I am happy to say it has not come to stay but only come to challenge me. Going through this time I have to continually make the choice to not live in the way of destruction but to put the effort into getting back to the way of life. "The way of life"; God's truth, His promises, His word, all of them the same yesterday today and forever. No matter how I feel, no matter the circumstances around me. I have been reflecting on the spiritual disciplines that were in place when my relationship with God and others was rich. Daily reading His word, quietly sitting in His presence, getting with women who pray for me and encourage me. I am deligently going after the things of God, not only to regain the fervor I once had but to also be more mature and refined in Him.
"I Am Fully Known" has been inspired by 1 Corinthians 13-11-13
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man (woman), I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. Isaiah 40:31
ReplyDeleteI miss this beautiful woman below! It has been awhile since we sat by the fire "side by side"?
I have been sensing for awhile now, that something has been going on and you haven't quite been yourself lately? Although reading your blog makes me sad that you have been feeling down, it explains (and almost gives me a feeling of relief to know), it isn't just me, you feel like isolating from? I felt that somehow I alienated you my friend; and couldn't help asking myself... was it something I had said or done to make you disappear?
Your faith and hope are strong Diana, and if you must isolate (temporarily), I will be praying that it is for purposes of rest and rejuvenation, and you keep pressing ahead; fully equipped with God's Word by your side. You have always been "the strong one" for me, and I am quite certain, many others as well. Unfortunately, Hormonal changes seem to take on "a life of their own", just as we ladies are attempting to age gracefully? LOL! It's ok to "Just Be" for now, as long as "these three remain" Faith, Hope, and Love. The greatest of these is love!
I am thanking God for you, for Self Confrontation, and for the courage He has given you; to ask the hard questions that others prefer to avoid? I am happy to hear you are surrounding yourself with women of faith and I am keeping you in prayer my friend, always!
Your sister is right, we do go through seasons? God has designed us to rely on Him in our times of strength and in our times of weakness. In some seasons we are strong and do the feeding... and in other seasons we are weak and need to be fed? I LOVE YOU EITHER WAY, and I will always be thankful that God chose to put you into my life!
I liked Pastor Mikes talk yesterday where he asks, "how long will I have to put up with this?" UNTIL! Thanking God that He has given us solid food (His Word), to sustain us and loving friends to remind us, that it's ok....we have each other to fan the flames and to surround you with hot coals until the time is right for "your coal" to ignite and burst once again, into a flame! The cycle continues, as long as people are willing to stay close to Gods fire! In isolation, the fire goes out and God's burning energy is no longer in us.
Come my dear.... lets go sit... side by side... close to the fire!
There is just something "spiritual" about a camp fire! Ummm I can smell it now! I LOVE YOU MORE THAN YOU KNOW!! <3 <3 <3 MISS YOU TOO! <3 <3 <3
- call me, I have not turned down any invitations :-) I am not sure who posted this response (pretty sure though)
ReplyDeleteI have had a few people talk to me about this possibly being a hormonal episode....mmmmm...not sure? I feel like God has a plan through it all and I need to entrust all that I am feeling and going through with Him. I am learning....that I get tired of being the strong one and that the consequence of not being strong is dangerous to my relationship with Him and with others.
Thank you for loving me and I am sorry that what I am going through has affected you :-( this has been a picture of how we are al members of the same body and when one of the members suffers all of the members are affected.
"The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part, the parts we mention and the parts we don't. IF one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt, and in the healing. If one part flourishes, every other part enters into the exuberance."
1Corinthians 12:26 The Message