It was once said that home is where the heart can laugh without shyness and where the heart's tears can dry at their own pace. I hope this space will be a place you find yourself at home. I hope you will find safety, comfort and joy on these pages. You are seen and you are loved dear friend. Thanks for stopping by!

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Repentance leads to life

ISAIAH 58:9-11 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. “If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

What a gift for God to remind me of this verse and to be faithful to convict my heart when I go astray. How often I point the finger, speak words that do not impart grace and oppress others, when really the issue is in my own heart. Forgive me Lord.

I had the blessing of reconciling with a friend today after months of pointed fingers, both feeling the other had let them down, both hurt deeply, mourning at the loss. But our faithful God interceded and by His grace He will restore and redeem.

We have an enemy who is like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. He comes to destroy our relationships, breaking our unity in and distracting us from serving Jesus. We desparately need to be on our knees for our relationships remembering that we do not fight against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers. May we be aware of the battle and stand with Jesus, remember greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world...we already have victory.

Please Lord, give us your children, hearts that love You and love our neighbors as ourselves.
Give us Your eyes to see, Your mind, Your vision, Your grace, Your mercy, forgive us and purify our hearts. We are a broken people, but You are much greater still...
We look to You...

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. John 15:13

And the second, like this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." Mark 12:31

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