2014 Restore

Restore.

My one little word for 2014. I am sad to leave this word behind as it has meant so much to me this year. In many ways God has used this word to heal wounds and in other ways bring exposure to wounds I didn't even know I had. This was my first year choosing a word and I am so glad I did! I love the time of reflection. I love how God brought situation after situation into my life to restore me. Just looking back on 2014:

The Simple. Simple little things like persistent flies during my quite time, yes those creatures that disturb us during the Summer, or in Texas all year long! Those flies that never give up, they persist and persist just like I need to persist in my relationship with Jesus.

The People. People who have welcomed my family but not just welcomed, but love us. All of us. Even me.

Prayer. One of the biggest lessons learned is to stop in the moment and pray for the person sharing his/her heart with me. Guilty of saying I will pray for you, how much more powerful is a love that stops in the moment and wraps its arms around you with words from a prayer. That is the kind of love I desire to give the people around me and strangers I come in contact with.

There is life to be found with the brokenness. As I have prayed for restoration this year God has rubbed me raw in areas. It has been painful at times. From my Dad's cancer to friends losing their son to our own financial crisis. I have sat many times crying over a bill passed due and finding out our home in Illinois would be foreclosed upon. One thing remains, one thing is true, and that is Jesus. He is Hope, He is Peace, He is the Master Restorer. 2014 has been a beautiful restorative year one that will be a monument in my walk with Jesus. Tomorrow I will have a new word and I am eagerly looking forward to how God will use it in my life. 

2015 will be a year of "free".

11 “In that day

“I will restore David’s fallen shelter—
    I will repair its broken walls
    and restore its ruins—
    and will rebuild it as it used to be,
12 so that they may possess the remnant of Edom
    and all the nations that bear my name,[e]”
declares the Lord, who will do these things.

Amos 9:11-12

for my sensitive child Jonah

I want to tell you how much I admire you. How much I am you and all that I have learned being the 'sensitive kid'. There is a lot of grief being the 'sensitive kid'. People will make fun of you for getting your feelings hurt easily and tell you to grow a backbone. I am hear to tell you not to. Tune their voices out. Don't believe their lies and what I believe are Satan's lies.

There is strength beyond your child self in you being sensitive. Compassion is in your soul and it compels you to reach out to those you see hurting and you reach far. You see the hurting people. For you they are hard to ignore, even the slightest change in voice, in their action, in facial expression, it does not go unnoticed by you. Sadly this world is polar opposite of your disposition and people don't know want to call it and they will call it many things.  Jealousy, judgement, hate everything but what it is. Jonah it is a gift, a precious gift God has given you.  This world needs more people like you. People who use their sensitivity for the sake of Christ and show compassion and mercy to those who don't deserve it. Son you inspire me and my prayer is that you will never believe the lies like I did and think you need to change and grow a backbone. It is my prayer that you will allow God to use what this world sees as a weakness and allow your attentive spirit to spread the love of Jesus.

There is nothing wrong with being sensitive. Crying easily is nothing to be ashamed of, for it means your heart is open and Oh, my precious son, how I pray that you will allow your heart to remain open to Christ as you walk this road to become a Man of God. Always remember that God loves you, always remember that your mom and dad love you, you are precious to Him, you are precious to your family.

I love you, Mom