Where God has brought me

Before I begin I would like to share a bit of where I am today. This blog was originally going to be an outlet for creativity that I have pushed aside for many years. As it is, my plans were drastically altered by events I had no control over. I have used this forum to process my grief, sorrow, pain and also my joy, hope and most importantly my faith. Along the way I have met some pretty wonderful christians who have stopped in from time to time to offer love, prayers and encouragement.

The events I speak of are all connected to my oldest son's five year battle with drug addiction. It started with occasional marijuana use and eventually led him to a heroin habit that propelled him to commit several crimes that have resulted in his incarceration.

God has often used their blogs to speak to me. Sometimes it has been by seeing a passage of scripture through the lens of their life experience and in doing so gleaning wisdom I otherwise would not have seen. At other times it has been a much needed laugh but most often it has been to see pictures of His unending love, mercy and grace as they work out their salvation in Him.

God has brought me a long way since the first post. He has been with me every step of the way. Guiding me, prodding me, and sometimes when I was too weary to take another step He has carried me.

So for now I want to use this blog to share what he has shown me, what He continues to show me each time I stop and listen to Him. Today it is through my daily devotions. I use a wonderful devotional book entitled My Utmost for His Highest  I also use a book entitled Jesus Calling. I am so thankful for my brothers and sisters in Christ who have answered the call of the Lord to share the wisdom and grace He has given to them. In sharing the love of God we fulfill His word.

John 13:34-35 
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.


Today as I read through the daily offering in My Utmost I highlighted two passages. The first "In other words, simply show the person what God has shown you". What has God shown me? Mercy, grace, and endless love. I recall a teaching that mercy, is not getting what you deserve and grace is getting that which you do not deserve. Yes! I am so thankful that I serve a God rich in mercy and grace for surely I do not want to get what I deserve!

the second passage is "being a disciple means deliberately identifying yourself with God's interest in other people".  Recently I learned that the word disciple means "student". So, to be a student of Jesus Christ I need to deliberately identify myself with God's interest in other people.

Basically when I interact with others what I need to do is to look at them through His eyes and show them what He has shown me. The scripture reference for today's devotional is Matthew 5:48 
.... be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect". Not always an easy task but always the right one.