The Hurt & the Healer

Sometimes things happen in our lives that we can't explain. We weep and we cry out to God, asking Him why He allowed it to happen. Why He is giving us this pain, and why our prayers for it not to happen did not work.

Except the prayers did work. It's just that sometimes God's answer is not the answer you were seeking for. And you are left with a broken heart, torn out by the pain that's swallowing you. You weep, you hurt, you cry yourself to sleep. You feel like nothing can fill the pain.

But that pain can be healed, and there there is One who can give you peace like no other:
God.

He can take away your pain, your suffering. He holds your tears in His hands. He loves you, and everything that happens happens for a reason. He is the Creator, the I am, the Healer. He can take your porcelain heart and mend it. So bring your cries to Him. Let His love wash over you, and let Him breathe you back to life. ♥

Forgiving Friends

Do you ever think, "I'll never forgive her!"? Do you ever tell yourself that you will never talk to your friend again? You yell at someone and you walk away, angry and betrayed. You resent them for what they did, for what they said. And when you feel that nagging thought in your head telling you "That was harsh" or "Forgive them" you push it away.

But God does not want that. God wants you to forgive.

"Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." -Colossians 3:13 

When you realized you were a sinner and repented from a true heart, God forgave you. He forgave you for every little sin you've done. He set an example, and He wants us to follow it. You mat think, "I can't. What they did was unforgivable." Or, "It hurt so much. How can I possible forgive them?" God did not say that. Instead, Jesus not only took all of your sins from you, He also forgave you for hurting Him.

Being hurt badly is not an excuse to not forgive. No matter what you say or think, you CAN forgive your friend. With God, anything is possible. It may take some time, and you may need a while to heal, but when you ask God, He will help you forgive your friend. ♥

Like a Tree

The Bible says that, like a tree, you'll know about a person by the "fruit" or results that are produced by their actions and behavior (Matthew 7:17).
You also have to think about where that tree has been growing before you make judgements.

Poor soil (the people and values at home), minimal water and fertilizer (discipline, love, correct teaching, and forgiveness), and storms (problems and challenges) are things that can slow or prevent the growth of fruit in people's lives.

Get to know those people at church or at youth and find out why they're having trouble growing fruit. Instead of labeling them, you'll have more understanding and maybe your love and acceptance will help them start growing fruit! ♥

Waves and Love

God's love is like the ocean. It is impossibly deep and never-ending. The water in the ocean never dries out. Neither does God's love.

Have you ever watched the waves on the shore? How the water builds up and crashes onto the ground, washing away any of the shells that were stuck in the sand?

We are that sand. We have these shells, our sins, stuck in us. Without the waves, those shells would not get washed away. God's love, God's mercy, IS the ocean. Jesus' blood washes away all of our sins! Just like the waves wash away those shells.

Those shells, those sins, are lost in that great big ocean! Smoothed away, forgotten, like they were never there. That's how great He is. He can sweep away our sins. If we repent, if we ask from an honest heart. He forgives. He cleanses. He loves. ♥

Radical Faith

Have you ever noticed that in most religions your salvation depends on the things you do?

Usually, it means doing enough good things here on earth to earn a spot in heaven. In Romans 3:10-18, God shows us that we're all desperately sinful and we need him to save us. There is no way we can work our way to heaven!

 "God shows his great love for us in this way: Christ died for us while we were still sinners" -Romans 5:8

Where does our behavior fit into the equation?? If we can't earn salvation, and Christ already lived a perfect life and died instead of us, why does the Bible make such a big deal about living the right way??

Apparently some Jewish religious leaders were thinking along those lines back in John the Baptist's day. 

They thought that Abraham's descendants - God's "chosen people" - automatically guaranteed they were okay in God's mighty book. But John made it clear that when God changes our hearts and lives, our actions will show it! 

You have been saved out of a life of sin into a life of good service to God.

Aim to make everything you say, think, and do reflect the fact that you've been transformed by God's grace into one of his beloved children! :) ♥

Masquerade

You've repented. You've accepted Christ. You go to church, and you spend time with your fellow believers. You are friendly and outgoing. Everyone sees you as a happy person.

But nobody knows. Nobody knows you cry at night from a broken heart - because you have sinned so much. No one sees how you fall over and over, and each time you try to get up, you get weaker and weaker. You find it hard to go on.

Everyone at church seems so strong in their faith. You feel so small, and you don't want them to see that you don't feel like you belong. So you put on a smile, and act like nothing's wrong. You are still that happy, outgoing, joyful person everybody knows.

But God invited everyone who's had their heart broken. God invites everyone who is hurt, weak, and in need of Him. Everyone who's fallen in their faith and can't stand. So why do we hide behind masks? Why do we pretend to be strong when we are not?

Because we are afraid. Afraid that if someone sees our brokenness, that they will laugh at us or shun us. But it shouldn't be like that. If you open up to someone, the love of Jesus should be enough. Enough to help you, enough to give you strength.

So open up. Don't be afraid to ask for help when you are hurting. Maybe then we can put away the stage we have set up and build an altar.  ♥

Relationships

Are friends or boyfriends your lifelines in getting through each day? Watch out! Expecting too much emotional support form others can really damage or ruin relationships, because nobody can be all that for you. Did you know true fulfillment only comes when you go to God with your deep-down hurts, needs, and desires?

He won't change, leave, or stop loving you...unlike people who will hurt you, quit on you, and eventually leave this earth. Relying on God for happiness and belonging will make you a secure, whole person others enjoy being around. You'll also be able to love people in a healthy way, without too much expectations or always worrying about getting hurt by them. ♥

Bible Foundations

Heaven

Do you ever try to imagine heaven? The Bible is packed of clues about it!
 For instance, heaven will actually be on this earth after it's made like new, and Jesus will rule the world from the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:9-27).
You'll get a brand new, flawlessly stunning version of your own earthly body! (Romans 8:11).
In some ways, heaven will be a little bit like earth now, only a thousand times more awesome.
There will be trees, mountains, cities, rivers, animals, food, and all kinds of new stuff to do (Isaiah 65:17-19).
It gets better! God will "wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death, sadness, crying, or pain, because all the old ways are gone" (Revelation 21:4).
Imagine...everything you already love without sin, pollution, violence, tragedy, or sickness.
Life on this earth is temporary. When you start thinking more about your future heavenly home, those difficult and disappointing days don't seem so bad - and life on this earth gets a lot easier to take.

♥

Welcome!

What kind of stuff has been on your mind lately? Guys, sports, school, family problems, relationships, grades, life? Or maybe deeper things like: Where do I belong in this world? Is there any way my heart will ever be healed or satisfied? What am I supposed to do with my life? How can I stop being afraid of what lies ahead? What's the purpose of life? Is God real?

When we are honest with ourselves those questions often come to mind. We don't know where to turn to, or what to think. But the worldly resources we have don't fill the questioning emptiness inside. So where do we turn to?

The One who created us.

God brilliantly and flawlessly put us together. He is holding us in the palm of His hands. And he knows our longings, questions, and fears even better than we do. God's Word reveals the love and power that we need and want to sustain us throughout our daily lives. So how do we receive it?

We can accept God and understand that He deserves ultimate glory, praise, devotion, surrender, and adoration. 

"The Lord will always lead you. He will satisfy your needs in dry lands, and give you strength to your bones. You will be like a garden that has much water, like a spring that never runs dry." -Isaiah 58:11

This blog was created with the purpose of helping women achieve a pure heart that truly loves and seeks God through all the circumstances in her life. ♥