God's Timing and the Women That Help Me Long For Heaven

This morning I can't help but share with y'all God's faithfulness to me. A very wise woman told me a couple weeks ago that God has given me everything I need to live a faithful and righteous life. I really can't stop pondering that thought. It has given me hope throughout the days I genuinely want anything else other than to be faithful. Most of the time I want what is fleeting, what can fill, if only for an instant. BUT...

God has changed my heart this week, and it is such a thing of beauty to all that have seen the transformation. God wants to give good gifts to His children, and I am a recipient of such gifts. He has given me joy to soar on wings like eagles, faith to trust Him when I can't see around the next bend, satisfaction in His love for me, and healing in the most needy parts of my heart.

Now, I don't want you to read this and think I have anything together; the exact opposite in fact. BUT, Jesus has pulled all the needy and unattractive parts of my soul and body together and made something long-suffering, hopeful, and willing to serve. Y'ALL. This is beyond human understanding of being "good" or "happy." This is genuine joy and love from the Father, and it is so sweet.

Some staples of my healing process have been the relationships with the INCREDIBLE women God has placed in my life while living in Austin. It is amazing that I didn't know these women 14 months ago, like at all! BUT, oh how sweet they are to me now. They have sharpened me, waded with me through my mucky soul, and bear hugged me when I need someone to rejoice with. They are those that are sending me to Thailand jumping up and down and screaming my name. They are those that if I could will all the blessings in the world on them in one moment, I would. To you who have called me sister and friend, prayed for me amidst my desire for spiritual milk when you knew I needed bread, thank you. May our God greet you this day with the affection only given at a cost and may you receive it running with no time to look back.

God is beautiful and worthy of all our praise; not because we owe him, but because he invites us to and we have the ability.

 Job 1: 20b-22
 Then he fell to the ground in worship ²¹ and said:

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
    and naked I will depart.^[c]
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
    may the name of the Lord be praised.” 

 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.