The Joy of New Beginnings APRIL 2023 |
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SCRIPTURE FOCUS: John 11:25-26 TPT |
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"I am the Resurrection and am Life Eternal. Anyone who clings to Me in faith, even though he dies, will live forever. And the one who lives by believing in Me will never die. Do you believe this?" |
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I remember well … this morning so many years ago. Jesus knew me. He saw my heart. Pregnant again. Living in shame and guilt. Missing Him. Longing to be back in church. But way too ashamed to face everyone. 2023. Where have the years flown off to? Easter is here again. One never passes without me recalling the mercy and grace of a Living God, poured out so freely on me that pre-dawn morning. Here’s a small portion of my story written in Holy Interruptions. |
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It was the crack of dawn, Easter Sunday, and I woke up to what sounded like choirs of angels singing in my head: I am the Resurrection and the Life He who believes in Me will never die. I am the Resurrection and the Life He who believes in Me will live a new life. Stunned, laying still in my bed, I breathed in the peace and mercy that Jesus was pouring over me at that moment, recognizing His forgiveness and love for me afresh. He let me know, clearly, I was His girl, and He was calling me home to live my life for Him alone. |
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I woke my little girls up, got them dressed in their best dresses, and told them we were going back to church. Joy rang through our hearts and home that Easter morning. We were going home. I called my brother, and shouting “halleluiah,” he promised to pick us up for church, but he’d be a little late. When I heard we wouldn’t be on time, dread and shame draped its familiar self over me like a blanket. Being late meant we’d have to walk to the front of the church and sit in the first pew. My belly made it clear there was a baby growing inside. But as quickly as shame fell over me, it lifted off, as if by Another. God planned for my return home that morning and He would let nothing ruin it. |
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I shuddered as we opened the doors of the church and saw the crowds. But my fear lifted as I heard this song being sung: I am the Resurrection and the Life He who believes in Me will never die. I am the Resurrection and the Life He who believes in Me will live a new life. Jesus knew if we had been on time, the music wouldn’t have made the same impact on me as it did. God was opening the door for me to come back to Him––like a bride walking down the aisle to the One she loved. Overwhelming love and acceptance rushed over my whole being, and I knew I was in the presence of a Holy God who called me to live my life for what matters to Him. I have never looked back. |
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Holy Interruptions: When God Taps You on the Shoulder He Came After the Broken (A small portion of Chapter 1) |
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I wanted to share this memory with you today. Maybe, right about now, you need to know how much Jesus loves you. So much, He’d have His angels sing to your heart, like He did for me. Ever felt the sting of guilt or shame? For me it was a third pregnancy out of wedlock. The shame was staggering. Have you looked at your life and wondered if it even matters? Do you have anything of any substance to even give? Yes. You do. Your story matters. And by being willing to share your story with others, how Jesus forgave you, and has set you free from guilt and shame, or whatever it is that kept your heart locked, you have the potential to change the course of history and the hearts of others. |
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Jesus uses our stories to affect the outcome of eternity … one heart at a time. What a privilege. Maybe you’re struggling. You’ve lost sight of the truth. It seems many have. I want to send a gentle reminder: Jesus intentionally endured that cross, taking on ALL our sin––past, present, and future. Our shame. Our guilt. Our anger. Our frustrations. Our exhaustion. Our disappointment. Our hurt. All that troubles you and plagues you, He took on willingly for you, personally. Yes, you. |
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This isn’t rhetoric. These words aren’t spoken from a religious, repetitive zealot. These words are truth and life, and I am living proof that Jesus loves us and meets us right where we are. Right here. Right now. Not the perfect Christian you that keeps all the law. Not the churchgoing you that is at every service. Not the perfect Sunday school teacher you. Not the perfect mother you. Not the loving, attentive, wannabe amazing wife you. No, not at all. He endured that cross, suffering the way He did just for you. You the way you are. Imperfect. Desperate for Him and His love whether you know it or not. |
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I was pregnant a third time. Not married. Already born again. So, shouldn’t He have cast me aside? Discarded me like a dirty girl? No use for her life. She’s a loser. Nope! He saw my desperate heart. Longing to love Him. Needing to be saved from myself. He came and He rescued me again that Easter morning. You see, Jesus doesn’t rescue us only once. No. He has rescued me many times over the years, lifting me out of various struggles. He lifted the cloak of guilt and shame that was suffocating me. He covered me over with so much love. He sang to me with His angels, wooing me back, letting me know I was still His girl and He had special plans and purposes for my life. |
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God was opening the door for me to come back to Him––like a bride walking down the aisle to the One she loved. Overwhelming love and acceptance rushed over my whole being, and I knew I was in the presence of a Holy God who called me to live my life for what matters to Him. I have never looked back. |
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Because of His resurrection, I have love. I have life and hope and a sense of purpose. I have a chance to live my life, now, for what matters to Jesus. I get to tell the story of His love for me. And my story and your story…they have the potential to change the course of history, affecting the outcome of eternity, one heart at a time. Because of Jesus. He’s our story-changer! Jesus is a Living God! A God who didn’t remain in the grave. Who sings over us these words … |
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I am the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in Me will never die. I am the Resurrection and the Life He who believes in Me will live a new life. Rejoicing in His Resurrection I love my new life with Him. I never tire of my life with Him. I never weary of telling the story of how He changed my life. I know for certain, my story matters. Yours does too. Are you willing to share it? I hope so. You’ll never be sorry, especially when you see how eternity is affected by you sharing His love and His forgiveness with others … one heart at a time. On this journey together, Deb |
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