Do You Believe – Beauty From Ashes

I may lose some followers after this post and that’s okay. I’m not here to make friends. I’m here to tell you the truth. Not my truth. God’s truth.

I’ve recently seen comments stating that we are our own gods. That we accomplish things within ourselves. I disagree whole-heartedly.

I can’t fathom where I’d be if I didn’t believe in God and how He rescued me from one of the darkest times of my life. Had I done it within my own self, I’d be in prison or dead today. That’s a fact.

I look back on where I was 10 years ago. Wow…that just hit me like a ton of bricks. TEN years ago my story started to take shape. Little did I know what I was going to face come September of 2013. God knew. God knew exactly what I was heading towards and what was going to take place. It makes me sick to my stomach at the thought of even revisiting those times. Am I upset that God allowed those things to take place in order to get my attention? No. Because looking back, I can see His protection over me. It also allows me to share with so many others and give them hope that we can be set free of an abuser.

I am no longer a victim and I have forgiven. Not for him or anyone else. For myself. God’s word says in Matthew 6:14, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you.” I need God to forgive me of my sins, daily. I don’t want my forgiveness to be blocked because I chose not to forgive him or others who’ve done hurtful things to me. I couldn’t have truly forgiven him or anyone else without the help of God. I, in myself, could not have ever done it. I would still be holding onto the hate and hurt had I tried to do it on my own.

I am confident in who I am today because I am confident in God. I know that I am His child. I know that He will protect me.

There are small miracles daily. Don’t believe me? Walk outside and look around. “Mother Nature” doesn’t create what you see. Evil doesn’t create what you see. The human race doesn’t create what you see. God created what you see when he spoke it into existence so many years ago.

We recently planted a garden and everyday when I walk in it and check on the plants that will provide food for my family, I thank God for providing that to us. It was never meant for us to depend on big box stores for food. We were always supposed to grow our own food and harvest our own eggs and meat. I believe that’s why he gave us the animals and all the different types of plants and trees that yield fruit and vegetables.

I recently listened to a podcast (Apple Podcast: Stories and Songs, Episode 1. Meet Charity) and she shared something that her Dad told her one time as they were riding around on their farm and it resided with me and I want to share it with y’all. The speaker said that she felt such peace out there on the farm and her Dad said its because there is no evil there. She didn’t understand at first and her Dad explained. He said that there is nothing out there for evil to fight for.

I believe that’s why we feel at peace while sitting in the sun or outside among the trees or in our garden. Its peaceful because evil isn’t present there. My goal for our garden is to have a sitting area to just go and sit in the presence of God.

If those little things doesn’t show you that God does exist, what do you think would? You’ve been searching for something to fill a void for so long. You’ve done meditation, yoga, burned sage to rid the “evil” spirits or to cleanse the air to provide peace. Yet, have you tried God? Have you asked God to provide the peace in your home that your craving? Want true joy? Oils and burning sage won’t give that to you. Want to ward off evil spirits? Only God can do that for you.

What do you really have to lose by giving God a try? I can tell you…you have absolutely NOTHING to lose but EVERYTHING to gain.

I’m going to put Brodie’s Sinner’s Prayer poem below and I hope that you make the decision to give your heart to God today:

Sinner’s Prayer

Lord you’ve been good to me and wiped the tears from off my face

Even while I was your enemy, you showed me your good grace

You laid down your life so I could have a second chance

Your blood was the ransom for my any circumstance

I’ve walked this road called life and screwed up on my own

Now I’m asking for your help ‘cause I can’t do it all alone

I realize I have sinned and need your guidance and your aid

Forgiveness for my sins I’ve asked and its been paid

I may never be perfect but this is where I start