Archive | February 2015

Consider Yourself Hugged

Feb12

Funny – this photo is of a curly haired little girl – why is my hair as straight as a string?

Phone Photos 2.12.2015 083
Here I am with my baby doll. I sure loved my baby dolls. Now, as I look back, I can tell you that all those baby doll hugs were a sad replacement for the hugs I needed and did not receive.

At this age, I enjoyed twirling and twirling in my bedroom until I was dizzy. I thought that room was so BIG. I’ve been back there since, and it is in reality, not very large at all.

The back yard was BIG as well, a great place to play in the snow. As an adult I can walk across that yard in ten giant steps, or twenty baby steps.

Hmm, perspective.

This photo is before the abuse began.

Well really, it began before this, but my four year old mind did not understand the concept of emotional abandonment.

Reconnecting with this little one was not an easy task, but we have reconciled, and now journey into the future together. No longer are we estranged from each other, but we gain strength and understanding of all that has taken place.

I thank my Jesus for leading me to Bonnie’s writings and for allowing me to retrieve that which was lost.

Today, along with being able to help people understand who they are in Christ, I also seem to have a “Ministry of Hugs”. I’m told my hugs give strength – I will tell you here and now that the strength that is received comes from Christ alone.

He is my fortress and my strength, and I love to share what He has restored to me.

Consider yourself hugged.


http://www.faithbarista.com/2015/02/maybe-the-story-that-breaks-us-makes-us-beloved/

Is Receiving Ever Easy?

Feb5

                                                                                Beloved Brews Linkup

 

Is Receiving Ever Easy?

With a giver motivated husband, it is easy to see how that motivation can make it difficult to receive.

My motivations for giving are at times somewhat less pure, wanting to be noticed maybe, or doing the right thing.

Motivations not rising out of a place of love can cause guilt and condemnation when on the receiving end of a pure gift from someone else.

I have learned, and am learning still, as I watch him giving of himself over and over and over, that when the tables are turned it is a bit difficult to for him to receive offerings from others.

Over the years I have encouraged him to just “Smile and say thank you.” He is becoming much better at it, and can even do it sometimes without being prodded. I then find myself repeating these same instructions in my head quietly to myself.

It is a joy to behold, this learning and growing process, the one where Holy Spirit speaks and we listen.

What a great example for our grandchildren, who need clear role models in a generation of caring for all the wrong things.

The biggest issue I suppose is that when we are gifted something, feelings of unworthiness rise up on the inside of us.

The truth of the matter is that we ARE worthy, not in our own strength, but in Gods strength.

Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27. It is Christ in us that makes us worthy.

By ourselves we are not qualified in any way to claim that we can do anything. Rather, God makes us qualified. 2 Corinthians 3:5

What great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3:3a

He gives lavishly, we receive His gift.

Is it easy?

No.

Is it necessary?

Yes.

It helps us to recognize Him for who He is, the Giver of all good gifts.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

*

Click on the Faith Barista badge at the top of this page and you will connect with the

Beloved Brews Thursday writers link up.