His arms are opened wide

I’m realizing as I share my story that for the last 20 years. I’ve done what all mothers do, make everything about my kids! I’ve prayed over, worried about and put their every need before my own. It’s what we do!

I’m doing the Bible study “When God Doesn’t Fix it” and this week she gives an illustration that on a family ski trip, her dad wanted to walk before her in the snow, so it would be all packed down and she could follow in his footsteps. Its what my parents do for me and what I try to do for my own kids. But, they’re getting older now and I’ve seen my very prayers answered for them.

It’s my time to shine. my time to heal and my time to see my prayers for myself being answered.

This may seem repetitive if you’ve followed my story. It’s because what I’m living out now are the very prayers I’ve already wrote and posted about with the very scriptures and messages I’ve already shared.

Being verbally put down, I believed in all the negativity that was put in my head. In October of 2016, I heard a message from Pastor Danny at Emmanuel about changing our perspective of how we see things, how to change our lens. I’ve linked it before but will link it again. From that message, I began to see myself through God’s eyes and it began this jourmey of a change. One day at a time, one thing at a time.

**I went back and listened for what I heard the first time. But, when i really listened to it again, I heard a whole new message. One on faith and how we can hinder Gods work by our lack of faith or we can bring our faith to the table and see our prayers answered.*

https://myeclife.org/page/460?Item=69

The illustration from the Bible study talks about how trials are opportunities. An invitation to glorify God, transform our lives and to drive us into the arms and footsteps of Jesus. The best place to be in the good, bad and ugly times! This has been a recent prayer for my own life. I’ve ran away from things for so long and I just recently shared with someone that I don’t want to do that anymore, I want to rum towards God with my arms open wide When we do this, it’s amazing what He can do in us and through us!! Make yourself willing to embrace His arms opened wide, to be used by Him and for Him.

Going through these times is what helps us learn and grow and then be able to share with others our stories. And, it’s just that, we’re going through it! When He goes through it with us, not only does He bring us thorough it, He allows us to break through, taking us further than we could ever imagined.

We all have our own stories, but with Him, He will bring us through and set us free indeed.

As I’ve been on this journey, one of the things that has amazed me the most are the people that God puts in our path that have “been there” or He has chosen to speak through to carry us through.

My emotions have been like a roller coaster because especially when your on the highest of highs is when the attack’s are the greatest! I’d gotten to the point where it didn’t matter the good things that were happening and can continue to happen, I couldn’t take it anymore and wanted to give up!

I was reminded to keep fighting, that God wouldn’t give me more than I could handle and when we’re being stretched is when we’re at our best! The message at church this week was exactly what I needed to hear to bring me through to another day.

I feel like I’ve overshared the song that has been my prayer. But, I just keep praying it and this week I heard the same song, but written in a different version. He talked about how we have to allow God to change us to handle our circumstances when are circumstances aren’t changing.

A friend that I talked to this week has just faced almost the same situation that I’m facing personally right now. I hate that we have to go through this kind of stuff, but she’s ahead of me and as she shared her outcome, it gave me great hope! He’s already won the battle!!!! I just have to stay strong and let Him see me through! In return, I was able to share some things I had heard to give her hope for things she was struggling with.

Another friend this week shared with me how she’d broken off a relationship with someone that couldn’t let go of his past. While I don’t have that exact problem, it is hard sometimes to do things different than I’ve always done

But, I don’t have to hope for anyone’s approval or blessing other than God. It is my hope and prayer to one day hear from Him, “Well done my good and faithful servant.” His approval is the only one that matters.

I’m realizing that God is changing me. I’m a new person, with a new life ahead of me and I need to set new boundaries, this time on my terms with God at center. I don’t have to jump when someone else tells me too. I have the book “Boundaries”. I’m going to re-read and apply it!

I’ve seen this song shared this week and I wanted to share. It sounds like, we as women, all feel this way at times. The lyrics are really good!

Thanks for letting me share!