Spring is in the air here in eastern North Carolina! Watching the flowers come out and color the world makes this my favorite time of year. Now for those of you who are stuck in places that winter continues to reigns...do not fret- it will pass!
That is what I have been learning lately...seasons do pass. If you have been reading my posts, you know that I have been facing fires for what seems like forever...but now...it does not seem like it was as big of a battle as I had thought. It passed! I survived! The strength of Christ carried me through. And it strengthened my faith! I am able to look back at the battle and see what I have learned and how it has formed me more into the image of my Father. I learned to love more like Jesus- even when it was not a lesson I thought I needed to learn. I am someone who loves people! I easily get along with people- the only person I have ever had a hard time loving or getting along with has been my ex-husband. And with him I made the excuse of- well he hurts & disappoints the two most important people in my life-my boys. He is not the father he needs to be; therefore it makes him hard to love. But he is the only one I have ever really had to deal with those feelings of disdain for. So to have so many people turn against me and to be told I don't fit with a certain group- really hurt and shoved me into a deep, deserted pit of frozen cold winter ice crushing me into depression. I honestly did not see myself coming out of it either. But...I learned to forgive and let go of the hurt & pain in a new way. I also learned to love with this new love, this Christ like love- a love that was able to face those that hung Him on a cross and say, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."
What I have been learning was also confirmed in the message at church today. I am going to post the video of the message on here as soon as they get it loaded. He had us up doing Karate Kid moves! Gotta love that! He said Daniel was frustrated & confused; he did not know why the master had him waxing cars and painting fences, but you see the master had a plan and knew what Daniel needed to do in order to learn! I am so thankful my Master knows what I need better than I do! I am so thankful that even though I would stay in summer year round- He knew I needed to go through that winter season to learn powerful lessons that taught me to persevere and love. That's it- love, period. No excuses, no if, ands, or buts about it! Just love like Jesus.
Winter- especially to this flip-flop wearing, summer weather lovin', beach bummin' blonde- seems to last forever! But here it is- SPRING TIME! We made it- which means time to go buy some new flip flops :)
When we are in the mist of the messy, dead, cold, barren season- it can be hard to focus on the positive, it can be hard to see the path before us, it is hard to find the finish line when it is buried in fifty feet of snow! When we face circumstances that seem larger than life it can be hard to find the Father- or so it seems. But we need to continue to press in and persevere because it WILL PASS AND THE FATHER IS FAITHFULLY THERE! And no matter what season it is- WE NEED TO PRAISE HIM! Because He uses the seasons in our lives to mold us and teach us.
And once it does pass, it makes us that much more thankful for the spring! I am so thankful that I am now seeing the end of the struggles that have been stressing me out and causing many sleepless night. I am so thankful that seasons pass and circumstances change and we can be refreshed and renewed by an awesome, faithful Jesus who- even when we cannot see the purpose of the season and the path before us- He always can! If we seek Him in all seasons, he will guide us through!
Now...it's time to go watch the new Karate Kid with my boys :)
Love,
Christina Gail
