"Doing Without" a Heart. NOT okay

So You Think You're Okay?

Think Again. Forgiveness - It's a funny thing -It creeps up on you when you least expect it. Un-forgiveness really. You're going along in life just fine then. Wham - outta know where it hits ya  like a heart attack. 

Sometimes we can get wounded, hurt, deep down inside - and it never really "heals". At least not the way it should. Tissue begins to form over the injury, like scar tissue - pretty soon we don't see the wound, or really even feel it much. We grow accustom to the scar tissue that covers the area where the injury took place. We may even have gotten used to the limited mobility that has stemmed from the over growth of tissue where the injury was. 

It has become a part of us. Our relationship with the person that hurt us becomes strained.  

We pretty much have buried the hurt so far deep down inside, we have forgotten the magnitude of it's origination. Oh we remember when it happened - IF someone brings it up. But we may "play it off" that we have "dealt" with it and "forgiven" those we hold responsible for the hurt. But we know, deep down inside; there's something still there. Something that is only noticeable to us, God and those closest to us.

It would be one thing if it was just an emotional scar that was invisible. Truth is it is keeping us from excelling in the "more excellent things". We know this too. Something else we are unwilling to admit and we are willing to do with out. In fact "we have convinced ourselves" that we are in fact - not doing with out, at all.

We go on striving to create lives that seem fulfilled and God centered.  While in the back of our minds and hearts we can feel the pressure, be it all so slight, of that scar tissue, tugging, pushing on our heart and spirit. It’s as if there is a constant  cloud following hanging over our head.

Truth be told. We are actually doing "with out". We are sacrificing the "more excellent things" in life that God our Heavenly Father has designed and desired for us to have. We may not readily amit it - but we know it's true. 

Honestly, we don't like that we are. 

What we want is God's perfect will for our lives.

So how do we get there? From where we are now?

Well, for starters we need to face the fact that we have been injured - and - that we need to be healed - completely healed.

 

You see God, Our Heavenly Father, did not send His Son to die for us so we could just "muddle through" painful times and have our wounds heal over with patch work stitches and numbing scar tissue - that would simply allow us to "carry on our lives" and only "face those who hurt us" when absolutely necessary.

No, Our Heavenly Father sent His Only Begotten Son to die for us so that we might have reconciliation - to Our Father in Heaven AND TO EACH OTHER.

Sometimes, a wound needs to be opened up and cleaned out -

 before it can properly heal.  

Yes, it can be painful.

But it is well worth it.

Our Heavenly Father gave His ONLY Son - He paid the ULTIMATE price to HEAL the relationship between US and HIM. It wasn't even HIS fault we were separated.  

Won't YOU give THAT person in your life a chance?  The way God gave YOU a chance?

Freely forgive - as you have been forgiven.

Set someone free today and -

Receive healing - be complete.

It's Not Always a 12 Step Program

Hello,  normally everything I post on here is an "AmyColleen" original...or perhaps at the least is something like a song that is  borrowed and sandwiched between something I am writing to make my point.

However I read this this morning and felt that it was more than worthy of a re-post.
With a full credit of course.

October 22/23

Forsaking Anger


Ephesians 4:30-32

A righteous life has no room for lingering anger, whether in the form of rage or resentment. Fury that hardens in our hearts becomes a stronghold for Satan.

The fleshly method for "curing" wrath is to either let it out (rage) or suppress it (resentment). Neither is effective for solving problems or making an angry person feel better. God's way of dealing with this dangerous emotion dissolves it and sets the believer free. As today's passage reminds us, we are to "let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from [us], along with all malice" (v. 31). But to do so requires that we recognize it's there.

Whether we are annoyed at ourselves, another person, or God, we have to own that feeling. Pretending that the emotion doesn't exist or that we've somehow risen above anger is useless. If you're angry, admit it and then identify the source. Knowing who or what ignited the initial fury can prevent people from misdirecting irritation onto the innocent.

Here are some questions to help in identifying a source of anger:

• Why am I angry?

• At whom am I angry?

• What caused me to feel/act this way?

• Where or when did this feeling start?

• Have I been angry a long time?

Once we know the source of our anger, it's time to forgive, no matter what. Fury and unforgiveness often go together, and they're heavy baggage that will drag you down. God calls us to set them aside and take up love and kindness instead. Forsaking anger means walking in His will with a light step.

For more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. Charles Stanley, please visit www.intouch.org.

                      Used with permission from In Touch Ministries, Inc. © 2009 All Rights Reserved.

Weird

Weird

I have found myself in a place I do not wish to be.

I am realizing (just now) that for many years I have believed a false truth about certain people whom I love. It makes me sad.

I know, (now) that I kept on believing this false truth out of a denial of the real truth or even out of a hope that they would change, simply because the reality was so painful.

I knew

I wasn't ready to deal with it.

Well, I can't deny it any longer. I guess I could deny it, it just wouldn't do any good. 

The reality of the lack of good character in these people has now become so over powering that it has widdled it's way into my chest like a knife. 

Tearing my heart apart and leaving gaping holes and torn flesh behind. NOT good.

I never thought - I couldn't imagine - I refused to believe 

They could be so cruel

But then we all have the ability to be cruel at heart

It is only by the grace of God that we are any bit o' good!

So I hold nothing but love in my heart for each one I speak of and in fact more love than anyone would even imagine. As I pray daily for the restoration of our relationships. 

The hard thing about it all is having to let them go. 

I need to trust in God's word. I need to believe that the Lord will vindicate me.
  I need to practice WHAT I PREACH!

It's easier said than done! Let me tell ya! I give this advise out allot. I believe every word of it. 

Every single word! 

Now that I am banking my life on it.

 I am finding it more difficult than I ever had

 to follow my own advice. :)

Seriously. In my life walk with the Lord I have crossed over many streams, rivers, desserts. I have walked through many fires, wastelands, battlefields, spent long lonely nights by myself not knowing where I was going, what I was doing, how I was getting food for my kiddos....

THIS PLACE where I am now. This place is different.

You see it's as if I have been "here" before having never been here before.

It's as if I can "see" myself and the things I am doing, like I am watching myself in a dream/movie or something. I have this shalom/peace that comes over me when I pray about these  that grieve my soul. I know I need to let them go. 

So - GO! Already ✫ƸӜƷ•°*”˜˜”*°•.ƸӜƷ✫...•°*”˜˜”*°•.ƸӜƷ✫...•°*”˜˜”*°

I will try....I will

It's like going up a hill

I am told I can

Oh,  I need another plan....

The love on my end is far too great

How long is whole venture going to take?
I just can't do it - I keep taking them back.
Oh dear Lord help me!
 ✫ƸӜƷ•°*”˜˜”*°•.ƸӜƷ✫...•°*”˜˜”*°•.ƸӜƷ✫...•°*”˜˜”*°ƸӜƷ✫