Excerpt from my journal during my time in Maine:

Good Morning Dad~

You have me in such a beautiful place this morning. Sitting here in an open field with the warmth of the sun on my back and a chill in the air. The closest anyone is to me is a few minutes walk away - close but unreachable. That is how I see teh enemy to me - i am in a glorious place - Your presence and I am unreachable to him - only as I allow can he touch me - You have opened my eyes to his ways - Your Spirit warns me when I am in danger - help me to heed His voice - to keep my ears tuned to His leading.

1 Peter 1

The Lord has been showing me so much:

I need to greatly rejoice through this season of trials; 1 Peter 1:6 "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials...

Because I am kept by God's power through faith; 1:5 "who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."

A trial of my faith which will bring God glory; 1:7 "that the genuineness of my faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,"

Help me to bring glory to You through this trial, Father.

The reminder to keep the loins of my mind girded up that I may not stumble, keeping my hope in Christ to the end; 1:13 "Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;"

Being holy as Christ has been; 1:15-16 "but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, 'Be holy, for I am holy.'"

For Your Son who was ordained before the beginning of time to be given for me - to redeem me, that my faith and hope might be in Him; 1:18-21, "knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God."

Reminding me to obey the truth through the Spirit with unfeigned love of the brethren, loving them fervently with a pure heart; 1:22 "Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,"

All this I will learn how to do by Your word which shall never fade away; 1:25 "But the word of the Lord endures forever."

There is so much in my heart today...life has taken such a turn...what a glorious thing the Lord has done to lead my friend to freedom. Yet at this turning it has caused us to take on different roles while the Lord continues this healing. There is a rejoicing in my soul at His marvelous works, this incredible miracle that He has bestowed upon us. There is such confidence in me of all the Lord has spoken and shown Himself faithful in over the past, yet their is an aching as I learn to walk in this new way, as I learn to be a cheerleader from the side lines, instead of walking beside my friend, it has to be at a distance. The Lord has reminded me as I took many years to heal, why the length of my healing was so long...I always had someone, not THE ONE, holding my hand, wiping my tears, breaking my heart and "mending" it. I know with all my heart the power and ability of the Lord, yet my mind does not want to allow me to take on this new role, to adjust to walking at a distance...

A subtle ploy

How subtle was that ploy today
In the message where an old friend would say
"Have you been looking for me?"
Wouldn't you like to come and see
What we could have been missing
As we try to make our old life history
Attempting to plant a seed of wonder.
Could this old friend that I have been trying to put under,
Have something better than what God has for me today?
"No, I will not give in to the old yoke of slavery,
Turning my back on what God has for me...."

God's ability

"Is He not strong enough? Is He not pure enough? To break me, pour me out and start again? Is He not brave enough?

"Will my weakness fall and now make me suffer for a lifetime? Is there any way to be made whole again? If I feel and find forgiveness by the strength I've never had will my scars forever ruin all God's plans?"

These are the words in a song by Staci Orrico...there is great pain in my heart for a dear friend of mine who is plagued by the past, the pain, the life, the rejection, the constant reminder that the enemy brings, the lies, the deceit, making the mind believe that change is not possible.

Ah, my dear friend, if you ever read this, I pray that you know that He IS strong enough, be willing, give Him permission to do His will in your life, in His way, to cleanse, heal, erase the past...He is willing, are you? I mean are you truly, your words tell me yes, but have you truly yielded your precious life and soul to our Father? I love you, my friend...

For any of our brothers and sisters reading this, please be in prayer for all those around you, you may have no idea what their battle is like, talking to them each day, the things that can be hidden from your site...be diligent in battling for those the Lord has placed in your life.

Ahhh...the beginning of a long weekend

It has been a long week and I am so looking forward to this weekend...starting in about 4 hours :) It is going to be one full of fellowship, fun and sharing Christ's love.

LeRoy's brother and his fiance got into town this morning at about 3 and Cyrille will be joining us from France tomorrow. I am praying for seeds to be planted and watered and what a glorious blessing it would be to witness the salvation of these three souls.

Plans for the weekend include...heading out to Bear Creek Lake where our options of adventure are never ending...hiking, biking, canoeing, horseback riding...what shall we do? Busch Gardens, a potluck at church, Monticello for the annual swearing in of immigrants; making them US citizens (I have been told this is the most beautiful ceremony), and a couple of barbecues and fireworks.

Well, friends, I pray that you are staying close to our Father and experiencing the fullness of His blessings: love, joy and peace...

My desire...a consumed life

Till My Life is Consumed By The King

May all that I am...and all I become
be hidden in Christ for His glory.
And may He so consume me until His grace becomes
more and more of my own life story.

May His tender attributes of mercy & humility
replace my own human nature each day.
So I'll run to His presence & He fills me up
when I worship at His feet & pray.

May the rhythm of my footsteps keep time with His...
so I don't linger long after His commands.
And I see nothing more than a servant of God
when I look at my own feet & hands.

May I daily give praises to this King that I love
and seek to draw all attention to Him.
For I'm just His child...walking near the cross
and cleansed by forgiveness of sin.

May others truly see Christ living in me
and pure faith....no matter what comes.
Till my own flesh is eclipsed & all that they see
is the marvel of God's only Son.

May each stage of my life...from successes to sorrows
bring Him honor whatever life brings.
Till I'm just a vessel overflowing with Christ
and my life is consumed by the King.

© Sheila Gosney 2005