Forgetting What Lies Behind

 

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  

Philippians 3:13-14

This has been a cornerstone verse in my life. Do you have a cornerstone verse? One that you seem to come back to again and again to inform your faith and guide your walk? This whole section in Philippians does that for me because, like many, I have quite a pile of dirty laundry in my life which I would just assume forget. I try.... and I try again.... yet somehow I keep going around the same mountain. Whether that mountain is worry or a poor choice or a character trait I would really like to overcome in myself such as anger or frustration. Sometimes these points in personality and experience can even cripple our self-perceived ability to minister to others. To share life and really wonder whether we are the one best-qualified to speak into someone else's situation....

But here is Paul. The same Paul who persecuted Christians. The same guy who admits to some mysterious "thorn" he must bear. This guy, whose letters have impacted the world of Christianity so profoundly... he even admitted he fell woefully short. 

But he didn't give up.

I doubt he truly forgot his choices of the past, but he had the comfort of a God who does. Who buries our sin and mis-steps so deep they become non-existent when we choose Him over our hangups. With this confidence Paul always seemed to walk, squarely facing forward, striving for that wonderful point beyond. Forgetting the grip of sin and rejoicing in the pull of salvation....

I remember this Paul. I know God washes all that dirty laundry clean. Stains are forgotten. I can keep pushing, keep walking, keep trying and trusting and hoping because I serve a God who KNOWS but chooses to forget all that is not worth accompanying my voyage to heaven.

*****

This has been another 5-minute Friday. Please pop over and say HI to some of the other great writers there...

 Before I close though, quick question.... have you humbly brought your sin and shortcomings to God and asked Him to forgive and forget... have you chosen Him over the folly? If you have, walk forward and keep striving, He has you in the palm of His hands! 

Blessings,

Lessons in Togetherness

 

It has been almost 2 years since my last post.

2.years.

The result of a season of processing and change. Trying to determine what was next.

I spent the time reading much, doing the usual homemaking day-to-days, traveling and simply investing in family - together.

I have always felt isolated in life - different - whether by faith or interests or sheer independence. But the past 2 years have bread a togetherness in our family and a peace in our souls I just can't put into words.

It has been beautiful.

It has been timely.

It hasn't been without bumps and bruises... but the rough patches have served to make us stronger and dig deeper together.

Now, 2022 has been the capstone in this process, bringing equal measures of challenge and celebration. The excitement of traveling together to old and new places has been intermingled with health diagnosis after health diagnosis, some confirming years of struggle.... others completely unexpected and nearly devastating. I have had to learn a new way of life. In the midst of all the cans-can'ts-shoulds, I need to eat different, go through regular P.T. and reconsider the structure of each day in the midst of this housewife life which, traditionally, has made greater demands than I am currently capable of.

But I am not alone. 

God is my everlasting strength and over the past 2 years, He has reminded me of the power of togetherness in family.... of the support and encouragement they are... "alone" is truly a choice and He was calling me to walk into the embrace of together. I am so blessed for that simple fact. It is work - but it is a good work - growing and molding not just our family as a whole, but me personally as well - making me more pliable to shake off loneliness and embrace togetherness more wholeheartedly.

As I maneuver the newness of this stage of life, doors open for opportunity, hubby and I as a team, pushing ahead in a venture which has been a lifetime dream of mine and I am blessed all the more. (more to come on this)

God has not put us in a place of utter loss, rather, he has moved us to a place of new opportunity - together.

*****

This has been a 5-minute Friday installment. I have missed this community so much! I'm excited to be writing for the great WWW again (naturally, I never stopped pouring out my heart in written words, even if no one else saw it!). Please pop over and say HI to the other great writers there!

Also, big announcements coming on the Blog and social media. This past year I lost my Faith and Home domain but we are working on an alternative as we also prepare for a HUGE endevour - stay tuned!

To keep up on the in-between, visit my Instagram account... I will see you here soon!

Comment below with lessons you have learned in togetherness!

Blessings,