Did you know that often times the broken places in our lives can be the BEST places?  How you may say?  It gives God a way to show forth His power, His grace, His favor and His strength in us.  Yes– so you may be shedding uncontrollable tears in this moment but just know that every tear you sow is not to tear you down or weaken you, but it is to build you up and strengthen you…

Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Corinthians 12:8-9 English Standard Version (ESV)

And the Word declares for us:

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 English Standard Version (ESV)

I think about this family and what we are facing and know that God is IN IT! He is the Author and the Finisher.  He is the Alpha and the Omega.  He is the beginning and the end.  And as much as this tries to weigh us down we are still fighting, still smiling, still laughing, still praising God, still ministering and still working through as many raw emotions that try to surface.  What is deeper inside us is bigger than our circumstances.

We have faced hurt repeatedly.

Death repeatedly.

Loss– oh a lot more than one can tell.  But in and through it all, God has managed to sustain us and pull out of us the best.  In feeling broken, tattered and torn He has us building a terrific testimony.  Our faith will rise above our fear in the most adverse situations.

This will all pass as Nicki Koziarz states in “5 Habits of a Woman who Doesn’t Quit,”  Victory is often found in the most unfamiliar and uncomfortable places–we will find the treasure in the trial.

We may find ourselves in broken places often–but it is here that God makes it the BEST places where we encounter His peace, love, power, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, victory and triumph.

So February, we welcome you as we have now been brought quickly to the 2nd chapter of the 12th within Twenty-Eighteen and we see Your power emerging in us, through us and for us every day!

What a rough day! Between site planning, moving and attacks trying to rise up, it has certainly been a struggle.

I finally got a quite moment in what seems to be another challenging yet powerful year. I feel so many mixed emotions and I am trying to drown them out along with a whirlwind of other meshing factors.

Trying to stay positive, productive and functional but I am getting a little tired. I hate when everything else around me grows so much that it makes me feel like I am shrinking down to nothing.

I don’t want to be the “Debbie Downer” but doubt comes so strong to overpower any inkling of mustard seed faith I may have. The small thing should be the driver to get me through.  To try to pass through all the hurdles, curves and distractions of life. But it gets rough.

Good day..good day…good day… here comes a BIG bad day. And the knot at my throat grows too and the tears of frustration start rolling down. After every victory there appears 10 more valleys!!!

So what am I going to do… right now I am going to sit back, shut down and shut up.  I’m going to have to settle a bit more inside so I can gather up the strength to use where it will be most necessary.  I can’t win every battle and every fight but I can still run in the race. Doesn’t always promise a win–but a finish–THAT’S A PROMISE!

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”  Hebrews 12:1-2

Because I started to take such huge leaps of faith for ’18 it feels like massive heaps of doubt is trying to overtake me.

What will I do now?

I am going to drown out the doubt.

I am going to drown out the negativity.

I am going to shut my ears to discouraging words.

I am going to close my eyes on gruesome stares.

I am going to drown out the lies with the truth of God’s word!

I am going to look away, walk away and back away from all the antagonistic voices that are trying to shout over my victory and progress. I am in a good place. I am better. I can do more.  I can obtain it.  I choose to believe GOD and not the faces or doubting voices!

Then when the victory comes again–I will have escaped from the depths of these valleys and moved on to an even place. A God place.  All because I know it was the Spirit of God prompting me to take the huge steps of faith!

Watch it work Christina! Watch God work!!!!!

It’s time to let go so God can do the rest. Another huge leap of faith! Let’s go!

It’s all about RENEWING!

RESTORING!

REBUILDING!

It is time to cast (throw using force) your cares on Me says God.

I know you are afraid but do not be afraid. I will work all things out for you.

Trust Me.

Believe Me.

Watch Me.

It’s normal for fear to rise up. It’s normal for doubt to rise up and confusion to question My voice.

Don’t be afraid, as I told the Israelites. Walk through the waters that I part for you. Initially it’s shallow then gets deeper and deeper. But as you look you will find that I paved the way just for you. Just get to the other side. It becomes shallow again.

I know this doesn’t make sense.

I know the enemy is always chasing after you but FEAR NOT, for he cannot hurt what I protect. He cannot shake what I keep.

If I ordain it then be sure that I will ALWAYS sustain it. Don’t fret because that will only cause you harm (Psalm 37) but trust Me. Trust Me in all things. I follow through. Seek Me and you shall find Me.

Stand firm and stand in My Word. It works! Just keep looking at that…. My Word. Keep listening for that… My still small voice.

“Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”” Exodus 14:13-14 NIV

And so God says it!

What God ordains, He will sustain.

Be at peace.