The story He writes

He told me "Why do you worry about the story that is already written?"
"Jesus, what if I don't like the story? What if my worst fears take place in that story?!"
"Don't I make all things beautiful in their time? Your story is no exception, the story of your family is no exception. I'm using it, what right now you cringe over, I will use to bring greater things. Think of it as a lion's den. Trust Me."
And it's a real battle to not give in to fear. Yet, He said the lion's den? What happened after Daniel came out of the lion's den?

I heard that story so many times as a kid. The King was aghast when Daniel came out of the lion's den alive and whole. He told Daniel "Truly your God is the living God" and he commanded his entire empire to worship the God of Daniel, who had saved him. That time in the lion's den, with the fear of maybe being eaten by beasts, is simply not worth comparing with what God was planning after that. 
Maybe the lions in your den seem like they're gonna eat you, like I sometimes worry in my own story, but God will bring us out and do extraordinary things as we surrender to what He has penned and planed since the beginning of time. 
Thank you, Jesus! Thank you for being the best writer ever! All those books that fascinate us, book-lovers, have stories that are left in the dust compared to the love, wisdom, power and beauty you put into our stories. Thank you for being so good!

"All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." -Psalm 139:16 (NIV)

Exactly what we need

"It's amazing how the Lord always give you exactly what you need and more, and sometimes we don't realize it but, even those problems and battles we go through are his way of telling us he loves us. Because he knows the bigger person we'll become because of them.

Isn't he the best?
He knows us and what we need better than we'll ever know!"

This is a little message that Sandy sent me tonight and the reason I share it with all of you is because maybe you're like me and need to know that the so-called bad is in fact good in disguise sent by a loving God who -and I will repeat- loves us.
We're not dressing up the bad with apparel that makes it look nice, we're not being blind optimists, we're looking at things as they really are. We're looking at a God who loves us, who created the world, charted our lives and knows the course. So the problems -ranging from the annoyance younger siblings cause when they get into your things, to big fears about the future, financial struggles, a loved one who is sick, to have to do something you really don't want to do- well, any problem in the end is Heaven-sent.
Yes, I know. I said it. -Takes a deep breath- Here I go again:

Problems are Heaven-sent.
-smiles-

Sandy is an angel. You can't imagine how much I admire her, you gotta meet her sometime.

She's such a fighter! I love the bold, determined look in her eye when she's set on doing something. I've seen it there when she's about to or is doing something hard that she knows is worth it.
I really love and greatly appreciate the way she says, in more than one way, how everything's alright and will get better all the time!
Her life is a living testimony of loving when you don't feel like it and taking on what life brings knowing that there's a Divine pitcher who's directing every single circumstance that comes into her life and she just has to bat them with all she's got. I'm so proud of her as she runs to base, and of the many homeruns she hits!
That girl is a victor because she doesn't give in to Mr. defeat that says "Oh yes, I want to be part of your life."
She's a victor because she continues to look to Jesus come what may, and you know what? Jesus has never failed her. Why should He fail her now?
I'm so proud of her.

"Be joyful always"

I was lying in bed, reading a great book by Stormie Omartian titled: “Praying God’s will for your life”.
In it, I read “Be joyful always” (Thessalonians 5:16). Those words danced in front of me. As I thought about them, I smiled and started thanking and praising Jesus for how He makes me smile and causes me to sing and puts light in my eyes even in the midst of very trying circumstances! Who else can do that?!
I then looked over to my colorful quote box, I put my hand in and you won’t imagine what I found! It said:

“Do you know that I see every tear, I feel every heartache, I understand every trial? I understand it all, and I have the antidote too. So please don’t hesitate to tell Me whenever you feel a bit down, okay? I will send whatever will fill the void, and relieve that little trial or ache or unpleasant feeling –for it is My desire that you are happy each and every day. –Jesus”

Wow! I know He loves me but He makes me stand and stare in awe every time He lets me know once more!
Not only is He with us through all of life’s trials, but He gives us peace in the middle of the storm. When my heart could break into a million pieces it’s only Him who holds it together and helps me to believe that everything is in His hands and that He will work things out for our greater good. On top of that He goes out of His way to make me happy throughout the day. He always does so, it’s just that many times I fail to notice.

While thinking about this, I remembered that talking to Kevin last night my mom came over and told him: “It’s so good to see you smiling and happy!” To which Kevin responded with another of his adoring huge smiles and said: “There isn’t a reason to not be happy!”
Now mind you, Kevin was coming out of a fever right then and his nose was clogged. He can’t walk for the time being and has just been able to use his arm again after wearing a cast for 2 months. He’s away from his friends, he’s cooped up in his room, he can’t go out to work or help around the house like he usually does; and being the helpful, outdoor, people person, go-getter that he is, this would make it especially difficult and would be reason enough to wear a frown. But instead, Kevin chooses to smile, to be joyful always. He chooses to look at the fact that he’s with his parents and younger brother, he has true friends and loved ones who love him loads and are praying for him, he’s making the most of his time by pressing in on school. And he’s garnering riches and treasures from the cave of this experience that he knows he probably wouldn’t gain any other way. He walks with a happy tune playing in his heart, which then comes out of his lips and encourages many. He encourages me tremendously!

“Be joyful always” yes, Jesus tells us to be so but He never asks us to do anything alone.
It’s amazing that He gives us every reason possible to be happy and grateful. Feel your heartbeat for a few seconds. It’s rhythmic and beautiful. I’m sure you can have many other things to be joyful about. Jesus says that He loves you and has a grand purpose for your life. He says He’ll help you fulfill your dreams. And He won’t leave you alone, when everyone else walks out He stays there, as He always has, and gives you the courage to start again.
He doesn't just give us strength through the joy of the Lord, but He gives us the strength to be joyful always.

"The joy of the Lord is your strength." -Nehemiah 8:10

Threading a needle

From Jesus with love

When was the last time you tried threading a needle? You probably licked the end of the thread and held the needle up close, squinting, straining your eyes as you carefully and repeatedly tried to maneuver the thread through. Sometimes it threads easier than at other times, but almost always there are those moments of difficulty and frustration, right up until you finally get it through. Now why would you bother threading that needle in the first place? Because there’s a purpose and a plan. You need to create something or mend something.
Remember this the next time you feel like your trials are threading you through the eye of a needle and you’re experiencing pressure, frustration, and anguish. There is a plan and a purpose—My plan—and that is to create something glorious with your life: a tapestry that is going to wow the world with its deep colors, intricate detail, and beauty, the kind that can only be created through the trying of one’s faith. It’s those difficult and hard-earned lessons that make the tapestry of your life stand miles apart from all the rest, because so few are willing to endure and persevere through the trial in order to create that life of beauty and substance.

The bravest

What's there when nothing else is?

There's a part in the "August Rush" movie that made my eyes widen, my heart skip a lil beat and an expression of realization wash over my face.
Lois was talking to Evan, the little boy, and told him: "Never leave your music, never forsake it. Because when there's no one and nothing else, your music will be there, a safe refugee where you can go to and find strength to live on again. I learned that the hard way."
To me, the one thing that has been my refugee time and again, in the worst moments I've gone through, as well as the good, has been Jesus.
Seeing it this way, no one would ever dream of abandoning the one thing that will be there for them when nothing else can.
For those of us who want to keep our sanity, our wholeness, our living life, Jesus is not just the only thing that can keep us together come what may, but also the only thing that will be there when all else deserts us...how could we ever think of deserting Him..?! -He lives to give us His all.