When my daughter was four years old I was talking to her at bedtime about God and that we accept Jesus into our hearts and she replied, "God is in everyone's heart." She listed some kids names and then said he is even in all the adults hearts. Which made me immediately think of Jeremiah 31:33 “But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day,” says the LORD. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people." 

I was in awe of how kids can say such wisdom at times. It got me thinking of how they are so much more open to the spirit than most adults cause they haven't been tainted by this world. It also makes them more susceptible to hearing wrong spirits, which is why it's so important to pray with and over our children teaching them what is right. 
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Furthermore, it had me thinking about how people say it's human nature when they do this or that (referring to something bad) and how wrong that is. We are created in God's image so our human nature is actually pure. The true problem is when Adam and Eve ate the fruit they caused a sin nature to taint the pure human nature. But God had a plan to fix that, thankfully. Jesus came and died to cleanse the sin nature from us to make us pure again. That way the Holy Spirit could dwell within us. God is about free will so we have to acknowledge that we need Jesus to save us and ask him to be our Savior.

Yesterday at church the pastor’s message was about sometimes you got to go to the desert to learn to really depend on God and learn to follow his purpose for your life. He doesn’t cause the bad to happen but he doesn’t stop it either at times for good reasons. This really struck at me and I had a realization. Two years ago today Curtis my husband suffered from two spontaneous seizures never having them before in his 40 years of life.  It’s a day I will never forget. I almost lost my husband and the effects of that day had us go through a tough season in our lives. Yesterday I realized though that it started my desert trip figuratively speaking of course. 

I had a bunch of my plans that I expected to happen. My plans weren’t bad they just weren’t God’s plans. I kept trying to do things with my own determination and strength. It was exhausting; physically, mentally, and spiritually. In God’s plans, you can have peace and rest. During my desert time to start with things got worse  because in many areas I was still trying to do things on my own and not fully trust God. When I ended my rebellious independence six months into my desert stay and put all my dependence on God, I had a peace that even though in the natural things didn’t look like they could ever possibly work out in a good way God was going to fulfill his promises. 

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28 NLT
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

I stepped out of my comfort zone many times following God’s lead and I am so grateful I did. His plans really are better than mine. He made way after way taking negative circumstances and turning them to positive.  This last year and half has had ups and downs however, it’s been an eye opening and interesting journey.  I found God’s purpose in my life and it was a desire I had has a kid that I forgot about. I even started a business venture that is slowly growing where others I had tried in the past all failed to even really launch at all. Curtis’s health over the last couple months has been improving greatly. I got my husband back and the kids got their daddy back. 

I share this as an encouragement to others that despite what the natural may look like God has good plans for you. Put your dependance on him. Seek his direction on what to do. Follow his guidance even if naturally it seems crazy. He will not lead you astray. He will be there with you always cause he doesn’t leave or forsake his children. He is a faithful daddy.

I love how God gives us different perspectives/revelations depending on the season we are in. 

Years ago I heard a song that said “He gives and takes away" and I remember getting angry at it. To me at the time it sounded like it was saying God will give you something then just take it away to be mean. I wrote a post ranting about that he only takes away if you ask him too. 
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I recently heard the song again and couldn’t help but smile because I have a different outlook on it now. God gives good things he doesn’t take the good things away.

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 

For example: he doesn’t take a loved one cause he needed an angel. 
However at times God does take things away. He takes away our sins, shame, guilt, pain, brokenness, and such when we ask him. 

John 1:29 "The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"
Psalm 34: 17-18 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

I also believe that because he sees the whole film of our lives and not just a few clips he takes away things that aren’t the best for us. 

For example: maybe a job opportunity that in the moment sounds amazing or one feels is their only option. When in reality it’s truly not the best thing for the person in the long run.  I have been there several times for myself and my husband and I can say in the moment it was so disappointing. As time went on though we learned that it was a blessing it was taken way because there was something way better for us. 

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
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We have to depend on God for everything. We have to trust him to give us good and take away what is not good.

Happy New Year!! I have heard people talking about goals & resolutions for this new year and I wasn't feeling those words. I wanted a different and better word for me. One that didn't make me feel like a failure if for whatever reasons the things on my list didn't happen. I was taking apart my Christmas tree this morning pondering on what word to use and it hit me: Hope. I hope and trust God will empower me. I thought I would share this idea and several scriptures on hope. I pray all that read this have a blessed year!

You are my refuge and my shield;
your word is my source of hope. Psalm 119:114

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD.” Jeremiah 17:7

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

“‘The LORD is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I hope in Him!’” Lamentations 3:24
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“Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will rest in hope.” Psalm 16:9