What a lovely way to spend Father's Day!

"My heart is so overwhelmed with joy I hardly know what to do with it! My baptism today was so much more than I could have ever thought possible. There were tears of joy and some laughter thrown in for good measure. God is so good! He IS restoring the years the locust have eaten! What a day of celebration it was today...I just love Jesus - beyond words! ...I think I feel a blog commencing :)"

This is what I put on EP's facebook status just a little while ago tonight, and it hasn't left my mind. Guess I better alleviate this before it causes me some damage from holding it all in, eh?! What a lovely way to spend Father's Day - with my water baptism! First of all, the weather was perfect! (It has been all weekend, which made for our two day garage sale yesterday and Friday!) And secondly the significance of the day is just sweet!

As this weekend approached, I was doing completely fine. The preparation for the yard sale usually seems to be a bit of a daunting task, and I had it all under control along with the 'piles' around the house of sale items. That was until nearing the end of the week! I had just gotten into the purging mode that I started ripping the place apart looking for more 'stuff' to get rid of! In doing so, this left my house looking like 10 grenades went off - not a pleasant sight. However, like I said the weather co-operated for both days and I believe it's safe to say it was a success! I managed to get rid of a lot of things and make a little bit of money to put towards some summer holidays...more than likely it'll be camping!

Ok, so that brings us up to the end of yesterday. As the focus came off the yard sale, I was left with the 'disaster' of my own doing...I was so exhausted I just didn't want to deal with it. So I didn't, lol! I had a 'working visit' with a friend of mine later on last night which took us until about midnight, and when I got back from taking her home I couldn't wind down. My brain didn't appear to be set on any one thing, which makes me wonder if it wasn't the enemy just trying to have me worn down for what was taking place today. I surely wouldn't put that past him.

Last I saw, was 4am on my clock, then was awakened at 730am for my day began! As I prepared my things to take (ie; towel, bathing suit, testimony, and of course my hair dryer!) and got myself ready, I had a wonderful time of worship as my music calmed my heart and helped 'set the stage' for what was to come. Then, the nerves started to set in. Or perhaps the term 'anxious' would be better to describe what I was feeling. I mean I wasn't fearful of anything...it was more like 'Ok, let's do this!' I was however, still very much aware I was going to be in a vulnerable place when sharing my testimony with the congregation. (It was of encouragement to know that several family members and friends were there as support for me too!) That being said, I was determined to not let the enemy get to me in any way and I relied on the Lord for just that. And of course, as always, He proved faithful!

Once I got to the church and we (there were two others as well) got changed into our gowns, there was a little period of time where the waiting was starting to ware on me. I could feel my stomach flipping, and began pacing. Now understand this, I wasn't beside myself by any means, it was just the great anticipation that was building...like when you're about to go out on a first date! (Sorry, that's the best comparrison I can give, as I've never jumped out of a plane or off a cliff or anything of that sort!) So it was all good! Our Pastor then came in the prayer room where we were waiting, and we took a few photos then held hands and prayed. Following that we were on our way! As we approached the baptismal tank, I could hear the worship being led and immediately felt Jehovah-Shammah (the Lord is there). He had placed a calmness upon my heart and all was well as the music soothed my anxiousness. He knew exactly what I needed and was right there with me, and I very much knew it!

I was the last of the three to go, so I got to witness the others before me, which was a blessing in itself. My friend was second and she had me already using my hanky! Then it was my turn. Pastor called me down into the tank and I began to share my brief testimony. There were spots where I became a little choked up, but I just paused until I gained myself and continued on. I was totally in the moment and sharing what the Lord had placed upon me to share. It was wonderful! I pray that there would be even one person spoken to by God and that a seed was planted today.

As I said in my opening, I believe the Lord IS restoring the years the locust have eaten (Joel 2:25). This is a promise He has made...IT IS WRITTEN! I have seen restoration in many things...large and small...my life transformed is just one of many!

What is the Lord restoring in your life? Or perhaps the question should be, what do you need to ask the Lord for restoration for?! He makes all things new...just ask!...and believe in our God that makes all things possible through Him!

Thanks for walking with me!
Until next time,
'K'

Yay, it's EP's 1st Anniversary!!

Yay, it's EP's 1st Anniversary!!  It's so hard to believe that a full year has gone by since I started blogging here! The time sure has flown to say the least!  Looking back on some of my past posts over the last year, I'm brought back to the remembrance of what I was going through when I wrote them and just how God has answered some prayers, dissolved situations that were hindering my walk with Him, and has kept me 'waiting' with other things.  God is just so great!  Here's to another year of Eternity's Perspective...Lord willing :)

This time of year is so exciting for me!  Besides the fact that the nicer weather is here and summer vacation is just around the corner - not that work stops :) - but it's significant time in my faith journey.  This coming Friday, June 17th, marks 5 years since I surrendered to Jesus and asked Him to take complete Lordship over my life!  I haven't looked back since...although there definitely times when I questioned if it was worth it all - sad to say, but I am human!  And now to make another significant mark...on Sunday, June 19th, I'm going to be water baptized!!!  I'm so super excited...even though there is the small fact of me sharing a bit of my testimony.  This is a huge deal to me, and I've waited patiently for several months for it to all line up.  To me, this date is so fitting because of the 5 year mark of my redeemed life, but also because it's Father's Day!  How cool is it that?!  What a way to make my heavenly Father smile by following a commandment and being baptized.  Of course, along with that is the public declaration of my faith in Jesus Christ...  I'm gonna cry that day, I just know it.  I did even when I got the confirmation from my Pastor of the date, lol!  I'm a sap, I know!  But I find I am more emotional when the Lord moves me...yanno?!  Like when I'm just so overjoyed with seeing His work, His answers to prayer, His restoring relationships, His love and mercy and compassion...  Or when my heart breaks like His over the unsaved, or the helpless, or the unwanted. 

There is an event coming up in our city that many area churches are participating in called "Love (insert our city name)".  Although I'm working a wedding the majority of that day, I'm so excited for this to be taking place!  Even just the fact that churches of all denomination are pulling together to make this city-wide event happen is truly wonderful.  To show our city that true Christ followers really are the hands and feet of Him just gets me excited.  I sure hope I'll be able to participate in at least the remainder of the day.  There are going to be so many free services available for those in need...lawn cutting, dump runs, haircuts, spa services for single moms, a 'free' store, etc, etc.  This only begins to list the many things that will be provided that day.  Let's pray it's a huge success - 'cause we know it will be! 

Father God, I just thank You and praise You for everything You've done and everything You are!  Blessed be Your name.  You know exactly what every one of Your children is experiencing right at this moment, and I just ask Lord that You come down and show Yourself to those who are questioning You.  Wrap Your loving arms around them now Lord, and place a hedge of protection around them now.  Shower down Your blessings on those who are obedient to You Lord, and remind them of who You are - the Sovereign King!  May we continue to walk in Your light Father, and be so bright in the darkness around us that others will be drawn to You through us Your children.  In Your matchless name we pray, Amen.

Blessings upon you all as you continue on with your week!
Until next time,
'K'

"A renewed thing"..."Change the mind"

What a great evening it was.  I was blessed with spending some time with great woman in the church and getting to meet some I hadn't been formally introduced yet.  This is a renewed thing happening in our church...a Woman's Ministry (WM, I'll likely later refer to it as).  It's as simple as it's name!  An inter-generational gathering of godly woman seeking to unite and train one another up in Christ so that we can go out and be the bright lights in the darkness surrounding us.  God is good!  I can feel many great things and many different directions for this ministry.  Please pray for this and the women who have taken on the role of heading this up.  God bless them for their obedience to follow what you have set out before them!

Earlier this week, I caught one of Joyce Meyer's programs on tv.  Her message was from her series about 'Change the Miind'.  I wrote down a few points from what she said (as I'd never remember what it was I heard later) and now my attention has been drawn back to those notes, I believe, to share with you!  I know that these things aren't necessarily things we haven't already been aware of, but it's of biblical truth and encouragement to be reminded. 

Here are my little bullets from what I gleaned:

• What you know has to override what you feel
• Change is a lengthy process and can be frightening because we feel 'out of control'
• Change only comes when we confront fear
• We need to be saying, "I don't need self-confidence, I need 'God'-confidence."
• Don't make decisions out of fear
• Don't make decisions when emotions are really high or really low
• Give yourself time to adjust to the change
• When you make a change and it doesn't turn out the way you thought it would, remember that God has a bigger plan
• Continue in your obedience to the will of God
• Don't quit on things God doesn't want you to quit on; even when you're tired; this is when refinement happens
• Our thoughts have to change before our lives change
• Constantly tell Him, "God, I believe YOU can change ANYTHING"...and truly believe it

This whole list of points hits me to some degree...and not at surface level either.  I can't count the number of times when I have been completely beside myself because I'm basing something on feelings rather than what I know to be true - the facts.  And I know I still, to this day, do it...however, that being said I'm more aware of this being the case and I immediately go to a trusted friend to bring me out of it.  Once I'm put in the right way of thinking again, I then go to God, with a clearer mind, and revisit with Him what I know He has promised.  Now I know some people would say that it should always be God one goes to first, and that is the case for me usually, but in the instance of it being my heart and emotions, I know myself enough that I generally need to have that person 'in my face'...God knows this of me, and has planted those few people in my life for such times as these.  So please don't misunderstand that I'm going to others 'over' God...not the case.

The point about when we make plans and they don't turn out the way we thought they would...that really hit home to me.  I thought back to how many times I was certain something was going to work out 'this' way, and it ended up going 'that' way...or better yet, a way I could have never anticipated it going?!  This just reminds me how my thoughts are not His thoughts.  Like I've said in previous posts, I have a brain the size of a pea, so why would I think I could figure God's plans out?!  Humbling to say the least!

The one that really stood out to me personally was the one about not quitting on things God doesn't want you to quit on.  This was confirmation for me, and it just girded me back up again.  There has been something I've been struggling with for the last (almost) two years now (I believe I've mentioned this before in previous post(s) ).  I've often questioned if this is something He has really put upon my heart, or if it's just the enemy trying to be clever and trip me up.  Over the course of this 'thing', I've wanted to quit many times and have literally requested to God that I be finished with it all - just wipe my hands clean of it, because it's just too hard on my heart and I wasn't seeing any real progress with it all.  Each and every time the Lord's given me some kind of 'sign' (if you will) to continue.  I stomp my feet, but continue on in obedience.  After all, I did tell Him I want to obey...but it's another thing to show your obedience and and follow through with that commitment!  So, it was of great encouragement to receive that confirmation from the Lord again the other night.

Perhaps there is something in your life that needs to change.  Or maybe it's that you feel you have been in the midst of a change and you don't see an end in sight.  Trust in El Roi, the God who sees.  He sees it all...your past, your present, and your future.  Isn't it wiser to trust in the One who knows your next step and walk in faith than it is to rely on our little pea brains and be so afraid of the unknown causing us to never move forward?!

Hopefully some food for thought...or at the least some encouragement to continue trusting in Him!
Until next time,
'K'