Humiliation Can Be Useful

“Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops." Matthew 10:27

There can be no one person that has suffered more humiliation by his own family than Joseph in the book of Genesis. His brothers were jealous of him and sold him into slavery. He was falsely accused by Potiphars wife and jailed. His life had many humiliating events that took place. I look at Joseph's life and consider myself fortunate to not have suffered as much as he has by his own flesh and blood. Yet, he always trusted in what God was doing in his life and declared God's goodness!

When I am in the middle of the conflict, I don't just feel abandoned by the one who has abandoned me in my life, I feel like God left me too. At those moments in life I begin to seek God completely. I know that He is the only one that can heal the pain inflicted by others. I also know that He allowed it for His greater good and His glory and I need His strength in order to continue moving forward in my own life. These are the times I feel like giving up the most but it is at these moments that God wants to do something that benefits Him and His Kingdom. Everything isn't about us but instead about Him ~ so when we find ourselves in those humiliating circumstances remember God allowed it for "His" purpose according to Romans 8:28 "Everything works together for those who love God for those who are called according to His purpose." 

Humiliation may not be a comfortable place but it can end up being a very "Holy" place in our relationship with Christ.

"We are devastated but not destroyed. God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in time of trouble." Psalm 46:1 

 This picture was taken March 2013 while visiting St. Augustine, Florida.

Loving Each Other

 

Fear Of Change

“And the Lord spoke to me, saying:  ‘You have skirted this mountain long enough; turn northward. Deuteronomy 2:2-3

This was written in 2014 when we began to talk about retirement and what that was going to look like.

There have been many changes these past few years. Change in my church, in my work, with my friends and with my family. God has given and God has taken away these past 10 years. Now God is moving us to make even more changes and we are making plans. Change is never easy but it always seems to be better for us once we have accepted it into our life. 

Even though there have been so many changes I still fear the thought of what we are planning for our future. It is so much easier to live in the what we know and have learned to handle. God has lee both me and my husband to come up with the same plan. He and I are so different and have a tendency to feel the opposite in most things so when we are on the same page, it is a sign as far as we are concerned because it is so rare.

We have been traveling some in the desert these past few years grieving the losses. We have also enjoyed some of the much needed change. Now we are in the acceptance stage of our lives and would like to move forward to what God has in store for us. 

My prayer ~ Lord lead us today and each day as we embark on this new journey!

This picture was taken when I visited Vizcaya in Miami with my niece Theresa in 2006.