Let us be redeemed

Happy Tuesday!

Tomorrow Jack has an appointment with the ears, nose and throat doctor...so prayers for a doctor that can help us with some questions and concerns we have been having. Thanks :)

Some of the reasons I started to blog were to be able to encourage people in who they are as a child of God...to encourage others to believe that they are valuable because God says they are...to share my testimony so others can see what redemption can look like...and to share how God's Word speaks to me. I am not really sure what God has in store for this blog and I am not even sure how many people actually read it or what God is doing through it. I am not sure if I am suppose to know...but I do wonder sometimes. I just know that I feel led to keep writing for now.

"Has the Lord redeemed you? then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies." Psalm 107:2

I have been reading through the book of Acts the past few weeks. One of the main themes of this book in the Bible is sharing the Good News through opposition and hardships. Peter, Paul, Silas and Barnabas never gave up in their need to share with others what God wanted them to share. They persevered through all kinds of things. They stood firm in their faith and what they believed. They shared and shared and shared. The journeyed from place to place and where ever they landed they shared. They were bold. I love their boldness. They told the truth. They did not compromise in their faith.

I have been meditating on this. I know that God has a plan to use my testimony for his good. I don't know what that will look like, but I do know that I have to be willing to share with others. I have to be willing to speak out and tell others about the Good News.

God's Word needs to be woven through the fabric of our hearts so that we are available to share who He is to others. The amazing part of it is that it is not only non believers that need to hear the Word of God...there are so many believers that need to hear more of who God is.

As I went through the fast from make up, I was given such a gift from God. He shared in such an amazing way about who he wanted me to be and how he wanted me to think about myself. I am to be a representative of Him. I have spent countless hours trying to represent myself incorrectly to the world, trying to blend in to the way they tell me I should be. But God wants us to know who we are in terms of His definition. And He wants us to represent Him. Are we going to wake up and choose to prepare our selves to the world or to prepare ourselves to the Lord?

I have realized over the last few weeks just how many people struggle with eating disorders, past traumas, depression, low self worth, shame, guilt, fear...I hear it every day and see it as if it wasn't there before. Sometimes it amazes me that there are so many. It breaks my heart. It stirs my heart. It keeps me up at night and invades my thoughts through out the day. God so wants to free the labels and the burdens from his children. God has such a deep love for us. The other day when I was praying for a friend, God just overwhelmed my heart with His love for her. And as I wondered why He gave me this to feel, I realized He wanted me to know how He feels about each of us.

There is freedom. The freedom comes through faith and trust...it comes when we release all of these labels and burdens over to God so they no longer are attached to us. God wants us to be content in who we are as the masterpieces he created us to be.

I know it is so hard. I definitely struggle everyday. But I also rejoice everyday in how much love He has for us.

I know that restoration is available to anyone...if you need it...don't give up...keep praying, believing and trusting.

Love, Teresa