FAMILY Archives • Page 34 of 49 • New Nostalgia

Being Made New And Beautiful

{push play, then click through to YouTube. It is worth it}

Our worship leader in church today lead us in prayer. In the middle of the prayer, she said “Lord, you make us beautiful.” This song above, “Beautiful Things,” immediately came to mind and it has been on repeat in my brain all day. It is a favorite of mine. Its words go perfectly with a reading I have found lately that has also been on my brain. I thought I’d share them with you:

From Jesus Calling:

As you become increasingly aware of My Presence, you find it easier to discern the way you should go. This is one of the practical benefits of living close to Me. Instead of worrying about what you should do if…or when… you can concentrate on staying in communication with Me. When you actually arrive at a choice-point, I will show you which direction to go.

Many people are so preoccupied with future plans and decisions that they fail to see choices they need to make today. Without any conscious awareness, they make their habitual responses. People who live this way find a dullness creeping into their lives. They sleepwalk through their days, following well worn paths of routine.

I, the Creator of the universe, am the most Creative Being imaginable. I will not leave you circling in deeply rutted paths. Instead, I will lead you along fresh trails of adventure, revealing to you things you did not know. Stay in communication with Me. Follow My guiding Presence.

______________________________

I love that my Creator does not “leave me circling in deeply rutted paths” but “leads along fresh trails of adventure.” As He does this, He guides me, changes me, grows me. Sometimes it is painful, change often is. Refining often comes through fire, and oh, how uncomfortable it can be!

Malachi 3:3

He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver..

A good refiner never leaves the crucible but, as the above verse indicates, “will sit” down by it so the fire will not become even one degree too hot and possible harm the metal. And as soon as he skims the last bit of dross from the surface and sees his face reflected in the pure metal, he extinguishes the fire.

Arthur Tappan Peirson

Ecclesiastes 3:11

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

Isaiah 61:3

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

Isaiah 64:8

But now, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Cancer Journey/ HEALTH/ Love/ Spiritual

Living Like I’m Dying & A Health Update

I heard this song in the car today, on the way to the doctors office.

Ready for confession time?

The last 2 days I have been holding a grudge against someone I love dearly, because I was hurt by them. Instead of lovingly communicating and talking it out, I just wallowed in my hurt and decided I was mad. Now granted, I have not felt great, physically, the past few days (I will get to why in a moment), but I’ve learned that physical pain is no excuse to treat someone with disregard, creating emotional pain for everyone involved.

This song spoke to my heart, a great reminder of what cancer has taught me this past year–we all need to live like we are dying. “86,400 seconds” is all we have in each day, and every second counts! I don’t want to be wasteful with my moments.

After a long discussion with a doctor today, I left his office and again, started thinking of the importance of this song.

I have been having stomach pain the last week. It is in the evenings, and there have been 2 nights where I thought I may have to go to the emergency room if it didn’t let up. They are checking my gallbladder for stones with an ultrasound tomorrow. They are also going to check my stomach lining next week.

This is the test that has me a little nervous. Women with lobular breast cancer are more likely to get ovarian and gastric (stomach) cancer metastasis. I just had a dear friend die from stomach cancer. I’ve seen firsthand what what would be in store. Facing reality, I know that could be me.

Despite this reality, I have a peace. A peace that “passes all understanding.” (Phil. 4:7) I know, KNOW there is a perfect plan for my life, no matter how long or short it is. I KNOW God has me in the palm of His hand, and nothing can separate me from His love. This makes me think of my favorite Bible verse:

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38,39

This peace, this unending love from my Creator, allows me..frees me.. to live like I’m dying. To release hurt, to come out from “hiding behind skin that’s too tough,” to say I love you enough. To admit fault, wrongdoing. To ask for forgiveness and to forgive. To let go of “Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda” and live like I shall, can and will.

To take the 86,400 seconds in a day and be present in them.

Won’t you join me?

“Live Like We’re Dying”
by cutie Chris Allen 🙂
Sometimes we fall down, can’t get back up
We’re hiding behind skin that’s too tough
How come we don’t say I love you enough
Till it’s to late, it’s not too late

Our hearts are hungry for a food that won’t come
And we could make a feast from these crumbs
And we’re all staring down the barrel of a gun
So if your life flashed before you,
What would you wish you would’ve done

Yeah, we gotta start
Looking at the hands of the time we’ve been given
If this is all we got and we gotta start thinking
If every second counts on a clock that’s ticking
Gotta live like we’re dying

We only got 86,400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or to throw it all away
We gotta tell them that we love them
While we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we’re dying

And if your plane fell out of the skies
Who would you call with your last goodbye
Should be so careful who we live out our lives
So when we long for absolution,
There’ll no one on the line, yeah

We only got 86,400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or to throw it all away
We gotta tell them that we love them
While we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we’re dying

Like we’re dying, oh, like we’re dying..

We only got 86,400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or to throw it all away
We gotta tell them that we love them
While we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we’re dying

You never know a good thing till it’s gone
You never see a crash till it’s head on
Why do we think we’re right when we’re dead wrong
You never know a good thing till it’s gone

We only got 86,400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or to throw it all away
We gotta tell them that we love them
While we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we’re dying

Like we’re dying, oh, like we’re dying..

We only got 86,400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or to throw it all away
We gotta tell them that we love them
While we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we’re dying..

Counting Gifts/ FAMILY

One Thousand Gifts #30

One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are

#684-#697

~my friend whose gifts continue, even in her death

~her family, an unexpected gift

~lunch where hearts entwine, a priceless gift

~a gift of books from her mom. Words written in one, the gift of knowing her more.

~a warm coat, wrapped in love when worn

~a clean, peaceful bedroom. My favorite room in the whole house.

~a day to rest and reflect after a busy week

~stomach pain that disappeared when the sun appeared

~bad dreams that are only that…dreams, not reality

~finding the perfect vegan pumpkin bread recipe! {post coming soon!}

~a pumpkin patch family outing, paid for by her. Hearts reconnected after 10 years!

~being embraced by her family and everything shared: bonfire, food, warm clothes, glow bracelets, hugs.

~in laws who take my kids to movies and delight in doing so

~a husband who spends his weekend giving to others: a daddy date with the youngest to a haunted house, a daddy date with middle girl out to eat, and a Sunday afternoon spent mentoring & preparing a young man for college.

Counting Gifts/ FAMILY

One Thousand Gifts #29

One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are

Most Mondays, I list the gifts here at New Nostalgia.

Today, I have so many on my heart, but little ones home from school keep my brain too noisy to express them on paper. Today would be the “hard eucharisteo,” the giving of thanks in the trials of life.

I lost a friend last week, one very dear who knew the hard eucharisteo, and lived it. While sick and in pain, her words…“I am just so thankful for this day. I am so thankful to be alive one more day.”

I can’t articulate on my own today, but Ann did so eloquently, as she always does. I am sharing some of hers, for today they are also mine.

#681~for the troubles that cause me to turn towards You

#682~for the sicknesses that invite me to bring a sacrifice of thanks

#683~for the grief that bears gifts of its own

Counting Gifts/ FAMILY

One Thousand Gifts #28

One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are

#661-#680

~new stripey shoes that match with everything

~rain

~pride revealed

~her grace in death

~survivors sharing stories

~songs on Sunday, they heal

~a heart pulled toward those in pain. His leading.

~new doctor relationships. Their kindness.

~peace despite upcoming surgery

~peace despite upcoming health decisions

~knowing the Peace-Giver

~the beauty of leaves changing

~the words of a very sick friend “I’m just thankful to live one more day. This day.”

~my husband. His support. His words that erase my fears. His affirmation.

~a counselor that knows me, that knows God, and points me toward Him

~clarity

~a successful garage sale

~beautiful weather to sit and sell in

~pumpkin pie oatmeal

~my writing used: “I read your post. I felt for lumps. I found one. It is cancer.”

Love/ Music Renews/ Spiritual

I Am Remade

Is there someone in your life that hurls accusations at you? That won’t forgive your shortcomings? That reminds you on a consistent basis where you are failing? Who points fingers at you, making you feel like everything bad that happens in life is your fault? Who makes you feel like you have done something wrong when you have not? Or, when you have messed up, keeps holding up a mirror forcing you to stare at what you have already confessed?

Is that someone you? Is that someone you love dearly?

Whether or not it is another person or your own self- talk, accusations are meant to destroy. I believe they ultimately come from the one whom all evil flows– Satan, the Accuser.

From “A Confident Heart” by Renee Swope:

God’s spirit will convict you, but His heart will never condemn you. How do we know whether what we are experiencing is condemnation that comes from the Accuser, or the voice of conviction that comes from God?

Condemnation sweeps across our thoughts with generalized statements- “Your such a failure,” “Your so hypocritical,” etc. When it is the Accuser, the tone is condemning, questioning and confusing. It leads to guilt and shame.

Conviction that comes from God will be specific. It reveals a sinful action and attitude and instructs us on what we need to do to right the wrong. He’ll give us steps to take to change behavior or attitude.

~Instead of Your such a failure as a [wife, mom, daughter, friend], the Spirit might say, You were really critical the way you talked to _______. (your husband, child, parent, etc.). you need to say you are sorry and ask for forgiveness. Then tell them something that will build them up instead of tearing them down.

~Instead of You’re so hypocritical, the Spirit might say, You judge others for gossiping, but you are doing the same thing when you talk about your neighbor are at work. Tomorrow at lunch break, apologize for what you said and share a few things that are positive about her.

God uses conviction lovingly, to show us our sin and lead our hearts to repentance.

–Renee Swope “A Confident Heart”

A Confident Heart: How to Stop Doubting Yourself and Live in the Security of God’s Promises

We’ve got to get our “good enough” from Jesus. When we belong to Him, we’re clothed in His righteousness, forever beloved and accepted; a constant recipient of His steadfast love and grace.

–Gary Morland

My prayer:

Lord, thank you for remaking me. Thank you for a love that is patient, is kind and keeps no record of my wrongs. I trust your perfect love for me and I know that because of that perfect love I don’t need to be. I will remain in your love and I will be confident of this: that He who began a good work in me will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus!

The video above is powerful. The song is a favorite of mine. I hope you enjoy.

You Are More by Tenth Avenue North

There’s a girl in the corner
With tear stains on her eyes
From the places she’s wandered
And the shame she can’t hide

She says, “How did I get here?
I’m not who I once was.
And I’m crippled by the fear
That I’ve fallen too far to love”

But don’t you know who you are,
What’s been done for you?
Yeah don’t you know who you are?

You are more than the choices that you’ve made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You’ve been remade.
Well she tries to believe it
That she’s been given new life
But she can’t shake the feeling
That it’s not true tonight

She knows all the answers
And she’s rehearsed all the lines
And so she’ll try to do better
But then she’s too weak to try

But don’t you know who you are?

You are more than the choices that you’ve made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You’ve been remade.

‘Cause this is not about what you’ve done,
But what’s been done for you.
This is not about where you’ve been,
But where your brokenness brings you to

This is not about what you feel,
But what He felt to forgive you,
And what He felt to make you loved.
You are more than the choices that you’ve made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You’ve been remade.