Hold on to hope

I baked yesterday and my brother asked me if I was okay. 

He knows I only bake when something is wrong. 

It’s so great to be known and seen. 

Yesterday, I claimed that I was fine. But this morning, I feel like eating the rest of that loaf of bread. 

My brother went on a date last night. 

It’s hard not to wonder when will it be my turn to date again. This morning in my Bible time, a relevaton came to me that I am going to share with you. 

Ephesians 2:10 says, 

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” ESV

I journaled that God knew that man’s name before I was born. So why do I worry? Well because I am human and female, I need something to do. It’s easy to feel forgotten, but in Joshua 23:14 it says that not one of the good promises He made has failed. I believe in my heart of hearts that God is preparing my guy for me, while He has me walking through this unforeseen route of singleness. I’ve been here before; I know the path well. However, it’s still lonely. I believe God is doing something new in me.

“Behold I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the wasteland.”-Isaiah 43:19 ESV 

The waiting is hard, but it’s not without hope. 

Hold on to hope y’all!

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭1‬ ‭ESV‬‬

MH

Shame is not my name

I lived much of my past in guilt and shame.

Shame of things I have done. 

Guilt of mistakes I have made. 

However, this morning I was reminded in my bible reading that if I believe in Jesus, I will never be in shame again. 

“Behold, I am laying a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”-1 Peter 2:6 ESV 

Whoever believes in him will not be put to shame. 

That is some good news for me this morning and maybe its just what you need to hear. Your name, your reputation will not be put to shame. If you are a believer of Christ Jesus, His precious blood spilt to pay for your shame. You have been washed clean. 

“Have mercy on me, O God,
    according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
    blot out my transgressions.
 Wash away all my iniquity
    and cleanse me from my sin.”-Psalm 51:1-2 NIV 

If you are not a believer in Jesus, I hope that you will recognize your need for him. All you need to do is call out to him, He is waiting to lift you out of the mud and mire of your past. 

“I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,
    and he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
    out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
    and steadied me as I walked along.”-Psalm 40:1-2 

You are not your shame.

You are a daughter, a son.

Shame is not your name.

Or mine either,

MH

Wholehearted Trust

My word for 2023 is ‘TRUST’

My word for the year was not revealed to me until January 1^st. The pastor was preaching on Proverbs 6:5-6,

“Trust in the Lord with your whole heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths.” (ESV)

The Holy Spirit used my pastor to speak to my heart.

In years past I told God that I wanted a good man in the new year. Yelp, that hasn’t happened. This year I need to trust the plan He has for me, it’s so much better His way.

This year I hope to gain a deeper trust in God and his timing. If He promised it to me and you it’ll happen, but it’ll happen in His timing.

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him…”-Psalm 37:7 (NIV)

God’s timing is the BEST timing. His ways are not our ways, He sees things we can’t. Trust, for me, means releasing my grip on my plans. I haven’t really had plans for my life, since He turned my world upside down and showed me what I was capable of with a pen. My plan and His plan are on the opposite end of the spectrum, but it is so much better his way. Even if I am waiting on the desires of my heart to be fulfilled in five years times. It’ll be worth it to wait on the Lord.

“but they who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up on wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary they shall walk and not faint.”-Isaiah 40:31 (ESV)

He has a better plan and I need to trust it. 

“I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for evil, to give you hope and a future.”-Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV)

May we all take trust with us into the rest of the days of 2023.

 

He’s got the whole word in His hand. 

 

MH