..God, you are so faithful.

this is the closest i've been to seeing my dreams, within reach of coming true..

all the pain,

all the persevering through,

all the times of holding on with no end in sight.

 the tears cried with a broken heart,

You filled me with faith to believe beyond the present moment.

the times of looking to you with hope-filled eyes,

believing in the One making promises to my heart

-and holding onto those, even as my world was crashing around me.

and here i stand, healed and whole.

many promises fulfilled, just as you said.

(and more i hold in my heart)

i'm in awe of all You are,

overwhelmed by all your goodness.

thankful for the fire that refined my faith.

i'm here left saying the same i did in the midst of the storms,

...God, you are so faithful.

"..i will lead the blind by ways they have not known,

along unfamiliar paths i will guide them;

i will turn darkness into light before them

and make the rough places smooth.

these are the things i will do;

i will not forsake them."

Isaiah 42:16 niv

a father's impact on his daughter

I found an article that I had gotten over ten years ago. I read through it again this morning and thought I would share...

"Father's have an incalculable impact on their daughters. Many believe all future romantic relationships to occur in a girl's life will be influenced positively or negatively by the way she perceives and interacts with her dad. If he rejects and ignores her, she will spend her life trying to replace him in her heart. If he is warm and nurturing, she will look for a lover equal to him. If he thinks she is beautiful, worthy and feminine, she will be inclined to see herself that way. But if he thinks she is unattractive and uninteresting, she is likely to carry self-esteem problems into her adult years.

I have also observed that a woman's respect for her husband is significantly influenced by the way she perceived her father. If he was overbearing and uncaring during her developmental years, she may disrespect her husband and question his judgement. But if a dad blended love and leadership in a way that conveyed strength, she will be more likely to live harmoniously with him."

Now although I can see this all being true, I do not believe it is final. God is more than able to redeem, restore and become all our earthly father is not. There is no perfect parent, but God! He's the perfect father who accepts us even when our mother and father reject us- Ps 27:10. Many times though, we will view God the father through tainted eyes because of the view we have of our earthly father. Whatever that may look like for you, for everyone it is different, we must find who He truly is and take to heart what He says about us. He is loving, present and very much interested in every detail of the lives of His children. He is not silent but longs to speak to our hearts and draw us ever so closely to him. He's a good daddy God!

Ps 45:10,11 "Listen! Oh daughter, consider & give ear; forget your people & your fathers house..for the KING is Entralled by your Beauty"

Isaiah 62 (the message)
Regarding Zion, I can't keep my mouth shut, regarding Jerusalem, I can't hold my tongue,

Until her righteousness blazes down like the sun
and her salvation flames up like a torch.
Foreign countries will see your righteousness,
and world leaders your glory.
You'll get a brand-new name
straight from the mouth of God.
You'll be a stunning crown in the palm of God's hand,
a jeweled gold cup held high in the hand of your God.
No more will anyone call you Rejected,
and your country will no more be called Ruined.
You'll be called Hephzibah (My Delight),
and your land Beulah (Married),
Because God delights in you
and your land will be like a wedding celebration.
For as a young man marries his virgin bride,
so your builder marries you,
And as a bridegroom is happy in his bride,
so your God is happy with you.
I've posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem.
Day and night they keep at it, praying, calling out,
reminding God to remember.
They are to give him no peace until he does what he said,
"Tell daughter Zion, 'Look! Your Savior comes,
Ready to do what he said he'd do,
prepared to complete what he promised.'"
Zion will be called new names: Holy People, God-Redeemed,
Sought-Out, City-Not-Forsaken.

forever thankful

A note from Jesus: ISAIAH 61

God has sent me on a mission.

I have some great news for you.

God has sent me to restore and release something.

And that something is You.

I am here to give you back your heart and set you free.

I am furious at the Enemy who did this to you,

and I will fight against him.

Let me Comfort you.

For, dear one,

I will bestow beauty upon you where you have known only devastation.

Joy, in the places of your deep sorrow.

And I will robe your heart in thankful Praise!

I remember when I first read this.. I stood there, at that time, in all my brokenness & self destruction...and my heart enlarged. I remember the feeling of hope that arose on the inside of me. Could it really be that there was One who had come for me, one who sought me out from the beginning of time, who knew all of the hurt endured, tears cried and all the fearful moments. One who longed to fight back for me, who saw worth in me to restore back what had been lost and stolen. One much greater and bigger than anything I had ever known before, who didn't see me in light of all my flaws, failures and sin but instead saw me through the eyes of mercy and grace. Not who or what I was but who He created me to be. In this moment of time, the King met me here, He picked me up from the mess I was in, cleaned me off and began to speak so tenderly to my broken heart. Little by little, He healed; piece by piece He replaced my brokenness and made me whole. He went to the places no one would venture to go because of fear but not Him- He came boldly for me. My knight in shining armor.  All that I thought was lost and too far gone, Jesus restored back to better than it could have ever been or imagined before. He restored an innocence in me that I had never known. In His eyes, I was white as snow and in time, I began to believe it too.  The heaviness, guilt and bondage I was trapped in for so long was gone. I found true freedom. Freedom from my past, my past that didn't have to define me or my future any longer. Because I came from brokenness, didn't mean I had to be broken forever. Jesus drew a line in the sand for me. He redeemed my life from a deep pit and made me new. All of which, I was so undeserving. But by His beautiful grace and mercy, He didn't see me or my worthiness, He saw Jesus, who paid my debt before I was ever created. The fullness of the cross brought me life. My words could never fully express the thankfulness, passion and love my heart holds for Him. I know fully the depth He brought me from. He ushered me into His light so I would no longer have to walk in darkness. Now free from shame and guilt, I walk in newness and freedom that is offered to me every new morning.

"...she who has been forgiven of much, will love much." Luke 7:47

he cares about the details.

so refreshing to know God himself cares for each and every detail of our lives.

"...he determined the times and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being."

Acts 17:26-28

aside from all my insecurities and doubt, i know i am who i am by the grace of a loving God, who amazingly enough - is for me, for us all.

this morning i was writing and began to pray that my life would truly be an offering to him. my heart longs to be pure and laid out before the Lord. God, all i want is what you want. my delight is You and my desire is for your perfect will. nothing more counts for anything. You alone are my everything and without you I am nothing.

praying my life would reflect Him in every way.