Category Archives: redemption

“To Trust or to Understand”

Calling, Freedom, Healing, Journey, Peace, Protection, redemption, Rest

We all have a vague idea of what we think our lives should look like, at least what our feeble minds can fathom, but are we okay, surrendered to the Father if that changes and our lives shift so completely and we barely recognize who we are or where we are?

On the darkest of nights when the waves of pain hit you with searing blows, and the tears spill down your cheeks like a torrential river. Your heart feels like it’s been ripped in two and your lofty dreams lay shattered all across the floor on display for all the world to see.

On the day when the battle has been the realest yet, the storm is raging all around and within you, you cling to the tiniest glimmer of hope you see, yet the final blustery gusts of the storm batter your weak and exhausted body and you sink to the floor in utmost despair.

When yet another wave of grief has hit your spirit and as the new day dawns, it seems to take every ounce of strength to even get your feet on the floor and then you wonder how you will ever manage to stay on your feet?

The truth is, each one of you have experienced one or all of the scenarios above. It’s hard for our feeble minds to process through any one of the scenarios mentioned above and see the good in any of it, but is it really for us to see or even understand why God is having us walk this season of life?

There seems to be a lot of focus on understanding every scenario we are faced with, when really all the Father wants us to do is trust Him, resting and knowing that He, ultimately is the One in control and He will take care of us just as He promises.

What is our motive behind needing to understanding everything we face? Is it because we don’t trust God to be faithful and reveal His perfect plan for each moment of our lives, and we want to hang on to at least a fragment, in our feeble attempt to control what is really completely out of our hands.

Oh dear ones, may the Lord instill grace, abundant grace as you walk forth, in the season of life you are in! May He give strength to take that next step, and may you know and believe that He can be trusted, even tho the circumstances make absolutely no sense to you.

You are loved!

•God is the Author•

Healing, Journey, redemption, restoration

With head bowed, tears streaming down his face he turned and walked away from the grave where he had just laid the love of his life, he thought he had prepared himself for this moment, yet when those first shovels of dirt landed in that grave, the emotions within himself were like a fresh fountain turned wide open. The physical state of his heart felt like a freshly plowed field, each furrow laying in plain sight for all the world to see, and oh the pain, it felt like an endless, lonely road to walk.

She awoke with a start in the early morning hours, unsure of what had startled her awake, but she was aware that her physical being was in tremendous levels of pain. Her heart feeling like it was ripped from her chest and shredded into millions of unrecognizable pieces. The reality was there was a painful path she needed to walk to find healing from past wounds caused by those who should have protected but had caused pain instead. Read more 👇🏾 http://southerngalwithadventures.blog 2018/03/03/596/

A few months pass by, the heartache within him was lessening, yes of course the pain and loneliness was still ever so real, but the Father in His gentle and compassionate way was healing what had been ripped wide open, was ever so gently being knit back together. The journey was hard, but the Lord was with him and gave him strength.

For her the months that had passed were somewhat of a blur, many days she barely had the strength to keep on going, but the Father In His tender compassion carried her along and she was beginning to find joy even amidst the hardest of days and she now began to understand the Father’s love in a new dimension.

In his heart he knew that the Lord was asking him to trust Him in a new depth, and to begin to seek to love again. He knew it, he felt it and he told the Lord, one day as he was seeking Him for direction, “Even though I may never see the light of day again, I will still serve You!”

The Lord spoke to her so distinctly one day as she walked to the mailbox, “My daughter, there is part of your heart you have not entrusted to me. Will you allow me to care for the part of your heart, where a man will someday care for you? I promise you, my daughter, I will take care of you!” Her answer was a barely audible yes, despite the tears, but she knew it was the Lord speaking!

Another month passes by, and now it’s obvious, the Lord has and is still speaking. A prophetic word given by the Lord is being fulfilled and while she never dreamt a story would unfold as such, the Lord orchestrated and sees a picture much bigger then we could ever lay our eyes on. What a mighty God we serve!🙌🏽💃🏽😭

“For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs; you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.” Psalms‬ ‭66:10-12

Two lives, two hearts, and now He has led them together, to pursue each other, to dare to love again!

‬ ‭

“To Trust Again”

Calling, Freedom, Healing, Journey, redemption, Rest, restoration, Safety

The ground has lain dormant through the harsh cold months of winter, enduring every icy blast of cold air and freeze after freeze. Everywhere you look is brown, no sign of life seems to be in sight. But then with each passing day, the sun shines a bit longer, the air becomes a bit warmer and suddenly you notice little green shoots pushing through where everything had been brown before.

The farmer anticipates the thawing of the cold ground, daily he checks the ground in his field awaiting the time when he can work the ground in preparation for the planting season. He purchases seed, he prepares his machinery, oiling all the necessary bearings, ensuring that the moment the ground is ready he can be turning up the soil in preparation.

Fast forward a month and the day has arrived, the ground is finally ready and has been tilled to perfection and is ready to receive the seed which has been purchased to be planted. Pound after pound of seed is planted into the now warm and fertile soil, as the tractor and planter makes it continuous rounds across the field.

Now in faith the farmer anticipates the growing of the seeds, he knows the process and has prepared himself for the thawing of the soil, the preparation and the planting, but now comes the part where his Faith and Trust must be in the Lord!

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” John‬ ‭12:24‬ ‭

So how about you my friend, has there been a season that looked like winter in your life? Has your heart grown cold and it seems like you won’t see the light of day again? Has one whom you love dearly, hurt you to the point it seems you would never get over it or ever be able to trust fully again? Does your heart ache with every breath you take, and you wonder where God is?

Oh my brother, oh my sister! My hearts weeps with you, but may I challenge you, to take a look at the farmer and learn a mighty lesson. Even when you see nothing growing and all is brown and seems cold, will you take a step of faith and plant a seed of faith and walk forth? Will you keep readying the machinery ( your spiritual life) so that at the first hint of warmth and sunshine you are ready to begin the preparation process?

A seed is purchased and then the ground prepared and then it’s planted. But the next step is, the seed MUST Die to what it was so it can grow into what it was intended to be! Allow the Lord to bring healing, so that you may grow into new levels in Him!

Because of Him🙌🏽

~Vinny

“A Heart to Belong”

Calling, Freedom, Healing, Journey, redemption, Rest, restoration

Breathing a weary sigh, she stepped outside letting the door close gently behind her, thinking that maybe a breath of fresh air would help clear her mind, so that she could focus. Despite her best intention, the feelings of frustration and despair kept washing over her, why did it seem like she was all alone and none would understand the turmoil and anguish within her heart?

In her mind she replayed the all too familiar scene from the evening before when she had flung herself across her bed sobbing, it had felt like her heart would break from the pain. The fear had clenched her and gripped her like never before, the fear of not being loved was real and even now that very thought and other thoughts threatened to cripple her as she walked along.

Was there no one that cared?

Was there no one who would love her?

Was this all there was to life, a vicious cycle of tears, heartache and pain?

Was it worth it, really worth it to endure the pain and the struggles of life?

Then there was the gentlest of voices amidst all the questions and turmoil within, “my daughter, I care about you, I created you in my image and I love you, will you receive my love and allow me to care and heal the pain within your heart?”

“You may not understand this season my daughter, but I see each and every tear you cry, and I know that you question why, but I am asking you to trust me with your heart and allow me to carry you through this time? I know it seems scary, I know it seems vulnerable, but I promise I will not fail you?”

“Will you entrust me with the every area of your heart? Will you allow me to care and heal what has been broken and shattered within? I am your Father and I desire to care for you and your heart.”

With tears streaming down her face, her flesh attempting to rise up and stop her from taking action what she knew she needed to do, she spoke into the night, “Yes Father, I trust you to care for and heal my heart, it seems vulnerable but I am trusting you!”

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” ~Proverbs‬ ‭3:5-6‬ ‭

My friend, it is not easy for trust that has been broken, to be regained immediately, in fact; it often takes years to regain/restore that trust, but we serve a Father who delights in us, He rejoices over us and He wants us to be Whole and abide fully in Him! What will you trust Him with today?

“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” ~Zephaniah‬ ‭3:17‬ ‭

“He Is”

Healing, redemption, Rest, restoration

It doesn’t take a lot of time to recognize that there is much pain and heartache in our world today. We, as individuals have been hurt, there’s pain deep within our hearts, but we dare not be too vulnerable, because we care about our reputation and want people to think well of us.

What if we are to be the one that is vulnerable to be an example to those around us? When people have been hurt, it’s so much harder for them to trust people and be vulnerable about life and the things they struggle with. What if you and I could be that safe place for someone today?

What about that person I met today in passing and I could tell that they were hurting? I causally asked how they were doing, secretly hoping they would say, they are doing fine, because I didn’t have time. Is my schedule that much more important, when in actual reality I am on the Lord’s time and I am His servant and am called to be His hands and feet?

The question I have felt the Lord asking me, “my daughter, why not be vulnerable? Why not, be honest about the things that are your weak areas? Do you not trust me to be enough in every situation? Don’t I promise that my Grace is sufficient? Do you not believe?”

For all pain and for every single hurt, there is One who Heals, His Name is Jehovah Rapha, the Lord our Healer. Will we lead and point people to Him, knowing and believing that He will heal the pain, so they can trust again.

“If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you.” ~‭‭Exodus‬ ‭15:26‬

For every need there is a provision already awaiting, He, the Alpha and the Omega has provided everything we need. Do we believe and act on it? He is enough!

An infinite God can give all of Himself to each of His children. He does not distribute Himself that each may have a part, but to each one He gives all of Himself as fully as if there were no others. A.W. Tower

“Beyond the Surface”

Freedom, Healing, Journey, Love, Protection, redemption, Rest, restoration

Seeing you walk down the street I would have never guessed the level of pain you had faced in your young life here on earth, but then you allowed me to come closer, you invited me into your space. You welcomed me with open arms into your abode, you served from your meager supply and I felt right at home with you. Sitting across the table from you, I began to see study your face and your eyes told of unimaginable levels of pain and shame from your past. We discussed minor things and then eventually moved into deeper things of life and your eyes became downcast and you could no longer meet my gaze. So I handed you a piece of paper and you began to write. As the paper filled up, so did your eyes with countless tears. Your penmanship changed as you described very difficult times in your young life and my heart wept for you as I read your story. I wanted so badly to take the pain away, but I couldn’t, I could only point you to the great Jehovah Rapha, the Lord our Healer. He is able to exceedingly above and beyond all we can ask or think.

Days later we sat beside each other in a church service and you reached for my hand, you gently massaged it and then lovingly held it in your hand as we listened to the Word of God being preached. It was then that the Lord spoke to me and confirmed what I had begun to perceive and understand and it was this:

“In every nation, every tribe and tongue, there’s two main desires that every person has; to know they belong and that they are loved”

It does not matter how pain you have experienced or how much turmoil there has been in your life, there is still a desire to be loved and to belong. It’s a desire put there by Your Heavenly Father to draw you close to Him! It’s nothing to be ashamed of, we are created to be dependent upon Him!

One can try to hide those desires by filling life to the brim with carnal things, but they will not fill the void within your heart, and you will find yourself running on E constantly. Yes, carnal things may bring temporary happiness, but then you will need something else to fill that void. It’s only in the Father, that you will find unending Joy! He is the real Joy giver.

My dear friend, you will not fill that longing deep with your heart, until you run to the Father and allow Him to minister to your heart and spirit. Listen to the words of the psalmist, most likely inspired in a painful time in his own life:

“The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy. The LORD is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works.” Psalms‬ ‭145:8-9‬

Now my friend, I challenge you, will you dare to go below the surface and allow the Lord to use you and speak to you, to bring healing to your own life and to those around you? Will you allow Him to use you to Be His hands and feet?

“He’s Always Faithful”

Calling, Healing, Journey, Love, Peace, Protection, redemption, Rest

When all around me seems uncertain

The need before me ever so great

Oh Father, I choose to trust You

You’re always on time and never late!

Oh Father, will you come and meet us here?

We are in desperate need of You!

We thank You that Your Mercies

Are without end and every Morning New!

In You I am believing and trusting

To meet us in this hour

Oh Father, will You come

In Thy fullness and in Thy power?

Oh Father, I surrender it all to You

And my all on the altar lay.

Thank you Father for Your Grace

That is sufficient for every single day.

Father, I thank you that You are

The one and Only Jehovah Jireh

The One who is the Great I Am

And the Lord our Provider.

Oh Father, I praise Your Holy Name

Thank you for meeting us in our need.

To You belongs All Glory and Praise

You are a Good, Good Father indeed!

Oh Father, we proclaim Your Goodness

Your Faithfulness is without end

Oh Father, we praise Your Name

That we can always on You depend!

The Red Sea

Freedom, Healing, Journey, Peace, Protection, redemption, restoration

I wonder what it was like that day

As the children of Israel stood on the banks

Of the Red Sea, a seemingly impossible

Obstacle before their very eyes.

The army of Pharaoh overtaking them.

Did the fear from within arise?

In their distress, they cried out to the Lord

The Lord began to speak in a mighty way

“Do not be afraid, stand still and see

The salvation of the Lord above”

For what He will do today for you

Will demonstrate His greatness and love.

“The Lord will fight for you

You only need to be still”

Oh the Word of the Lord spoke clearly

They watched Moses stretch out his hand

Then as the waters begin to part ways

And as the sea became dry land.

The waters now became a wall

To the right hand and the left

They walked across on dry land

Gathering on the other side

They watched their enemy follow

But then it was evident, the Lord was on their side.

Where the waters had been divided

For them to cross the Red Sea

The Lord now caused the waters to return

The way He had appointed and designed

That transpired when there was obedience

And they themselves with the Lord aligned.

We all have a Red Sea on our journey

The obstacle staring us in the face

The enemy threatening us from behind

To find comfort, we want to run and hide

But would you turn your eyes upward

And in your Father wholly confide?

So in your fear and trembling

Cry out to your Father in Heaven

He will hear you in your distress

He will fight for you, but being still you must

He will give you peace beyond understanding

But in Him you must place ALL your Trust.

“Then the waters returned and covered the chariots, the horsemen, and all the army of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them. Not so much as one of them remained. But the children of Israel had walked on dry land in the midst of the sea, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. So the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. Thus Israel saw the great work which the LORD had done in Egypt; so the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD and His servant Moses.” Exodus‬ ‭14:28-31‬ ‭

“He is Compassionate”

Freedom, Healing, Journey, Peace, Protection, redemption, Rest

We are a society that craves comfort, we hate pain and any sort of discomfort, we avoid it at all costs. But there are time when you come face to face with what is reality, the truth, and the pain that grips your heart is real, now what choice do you make?

In such moments the flesh longs to find comfort despite the the pain and reality of what is on the horizon. Traipsing around it won’t help, and pretending it’s not there doesn’t make it go away. The spirit groans, the heart aches, and the flesh rebels. It’s a face to face, head on battle with the darkest moments of life, reliving what is most painful, yet it’s necessary to do so, so there can be emotional healing.

The Father speaks, “ I will not forsake you” and clinging to that promise one dares to take His hand and slowly move ahead, step by step toward the place they have avoided for many years, the pain being more real then they could ever remember before. The reality of losing something precious is heart wrenching and it seems the pieces could never ever be put back together.

Step by step they continue to walk, now strength is gone and the child burys his face in His shoulder and clings desperately to the Loving One beside her, knowing that if they let go, it’s over for this time. The walk is one of entering a tunnel of darkness without end and they enter slowly, because the Father, carrying them now, understands the pain they are experiencing and He compassionately holds him close.

The child realizes that now He has ceased walking and it can only mean that they have arrived at the place. So still clinging to Him, the Solid Rock, the Refuge and Strength of their life, he knows that to find healing emotionally, they must allow themselves to go back and relive the moments, no matter how painful it is. The memories flood over him like a crashing wave but the child knows the One who holding him is an anchor that is safe and secure. The pieces of the heart and emotions, shattered and torn many years before are being knit together as the child allows himself to go to “that painful place”

Lifting his head and turning for just a brief glance once more, as one would to catch a final glimpse of a grave about to be covered, a grave of painful memories that will never be opened again because Jehovah Rapha heals completely.

Now burying his face into the shoulder/chest of Him who carries him, Jehovah Rapha carries the child weak, worn and exhausted of All strength from battle, a battle that was Victorious because the Father was a part of it. They exit the way they had entered and though the child is spent of all strength, he forces his head to lift and he notices the path once a place of destruction is now illuminated with light.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.” ~Psalms‬ ‭119:105‬

The child knows the words, “I will not forsake you” were spoken by no one other then the very Father himself, Jehovah Rapha has healed.

“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” ~Deuteronomy‬ ‭31:6‬ ‭

Friends, pain is heartbreaking but healing brings peace and rest. The Father is compassionate and He will ALWAYS be with you as you walk the journey, keep your eyes on Him and He will carry you.

“He is Compassionate”

“Oh Such Love”

Contentment;, Freedom, Healing, Journey, Love, redemption, Rest

The woman coming to the well to draw water, seeking to fulfill a physical need, meets the One who fulfills a deep spiritual need within her and gives her Living Water.

My heart is continually stirred as I ponder this story and as I have read and reread the passage recording this beautiful story of redemption. Such a beautiful story unfolds as the woman, who’s name we do not know, comes to the well and meets her Messiah. Let’s meditate on the well for a moment and why Jesus may have chosen that spot to sit and rest.

It’s quite obvious that Jesus had traveled quite some distance and the fact that He chose to sit and rest at a well is really of no surprise. Let’s think of a well as a place of rest, a place where one can be refreshed by the cool water that is drawn from the well.

“Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour” ~John‬ ‭4:6‬

The Samaritan woman coming to draw water was seeking to fulfill one or more physical needs, one of those being thirst and another being to draw water perhaps for washing for her household. Imagine her surprise as she draws near to the well and sees a man and a Jewish man at that, sitting by the very well she was coming to draw from. At the hour that she was coming, typically there was no one else even close to the well; therefore, that would explain why she chose that time to come and draw water at the well.

A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.” ~John‬ ‭4:7, 9‬ ‭

Why would Jesus ask the woman for a drink? In those days, the Jews had no dealings of any kind with the Samaritans but Jesus did not let the rules and traditions of those days stop Him from speaking to the woman.

And as we read further into the story we see how Jesus showed genuine Love and compassion for this woman. He spoke truth in loving tones, his heart filled with compassion for her, He showed such loving Kindness to her. Her physical need was forgotten but her spiritual needs that were unknown to her beforehand were taken care of as she listened to the words of Jesus.

Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life” ~John‬ ‭4:13-14

It’s obvious her life was forever changed as we read a bit later in the chapter. The Love of Jesus always changes a person and they are never the same.

“The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” Then they went out of the city and came to Him.” ~John‬ ‭4:28-30‬

‬

My brothers and sisters, are we receiving and accepting the Love Of the Father. Oh how He loves each of us so abundantly! He calls us His children, that alone should cause a spirit of thankfulness to rise up with in each of us. Our lives should reflect an unending lifestyle of worship, praise and adoration for our Heavenly Father🙌🏽

“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” ~1 John‬ ‭3:1

As for myself, I have found my perfect pattern in Jesus, who said, “The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” I am no longer motivated by personal ambition. I have discovered a sweeter, purer motive: simply to please my Father. ~Derek Prince