{ image source }
Gentle Reader,
After a month away from the #fmfparty, I got to chat with my friends tonight. My sisters. It is a beautiful thing, how Christ connects people who have never met face-to-face.
It’s Kate and the gang. We: send.
Go.
As I drove home from work last night, I was struck by how God has gone out of His way to preserve my life. I came close to dying in utero. Then the doctors thought I had brain damage. The first of three eye surgeries, my heart stopped while I was on the operating table. I was in a school bus accident. A mysterious illness in middle school left me passing out at random for months afterward. My first boyfriend pulled the emergency break on a icy road and my side of the car came within inches of smashing into a light pole. Nearly carried out a suicide plan three-and-half years ago. A damaged gallbladder that had to be removed. And then the tumor.
I am…stunned. Really. To think that the Lord would see me through such storms, that He would keep me alive and kicking….
There are days when I question why I’m here. I wonder about the purpose of my life. Yet clearly there is a reason I’m still breathing. God would not send such grace to me if there wasn’t. He would not have kept me from death if I had fulfilled whatever it is He has planned for me.
This gives me a boost of boldness and confidence. The evidence of His sustaining and protective hand makes me feel incredibly, overwhelmingly loved. And as the apostle said:
“…love casts out fear…” – 1 John 4:18 (NKJV)
I can speak the truth. I can walk with my head held high. I don’t have to be afraid of the opinions or schemes of others. If I can hold on to this truth, maybe He will send me into the lives of those who need their own fears blasted out of the water by His amazing, unending love. This is a message I will gladly share.
Stop.
Thank you for sharing…so glad God’s love and grace has saved you from so many “near misses”! You were saved for a reason; praying for God’s guidance as you live in what he has planned for you!
LikeLike
Thank you, Barbara!
LikeLike
Ah, Marie, my heart hurts for you yet I can see how grace has stepped in a helped you realize He holds you in his hands and has a great purpose for you. May you continue to grow and seek to obey and allow God to send you where he needs you to go!
LikeLike
Amen!
LikeLike
Marie, I shouldn’t be alive. God has done the same for me.
LikeLike
And when he does this he is preparing us for more of the impossible for his glory. Your dedication to him is establishing a huge purpose for you. Many are called, few are chosen. You are chosen.
LikeLike
This blesses me, Cathy. I love Him so.
LikeLike
Marie – May you know to the depths of your heart that you are here for a purpose beyond what you can even imagine. Know that He will equip you & send you to accomplish His purposes. So glad I stopped here from FMF today. I think this is my 1st time here, so “Nice to meet you!” 🙂
LikeLike
It’s good to know that we don’t have to do this on our own, isn’t it, Joanne? He definitely equips us for everything. Glad to “meet” you, too!
LikeLike
It was great to connect with you last night! And you have an amazing story to share! Yes, God has a great plan for you and it will be exciting to watch it continue to unfold! Blessings on you! 🙂
LikeLike
Blessings to you, too, Rachel! Stay warm! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are so bless!! God has a great work for you!!! Continue being faithful.
LikeLike
Thank you, dear. May you sense His loving arms around you!
LikeLike
Oh I love this, sweet friend! It was so nice to have you back last night! What a list of powerful testimonies you have! Clearly – Someone has some plans for you! Thankful that His plans are still unfolding… and that we can trust that they are good!
LikeLike
His plans are always good indeed. Sometimes I have to remind myself of that fact a thousand times a day…but it never stops being true!
LikeLike
Looks like the angels are having fun keeping up with you!
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLike