Out of the Darkness

     When I began this blog a couple of years ago, I thought it would be so easy to write. I have always found writing to be freeing and I have loved putting pen to paper since I was a girl. I also have a passion to teach the Word of God to women through sharing my life experiences. However, I had know idea, where the Lord would have to take me before I could truly begin. I was headed to the refining fire, for the Lord to burn away all of me, so that I could have more of Him (I love that song).

"What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops." Matthew 10:27

The past two and half months have been filled with panic attacks, constant anxiety and sleepless nights; that finally escalated over the past three weeks into my inability to eat solid food or even function at times. I knew that I had to take heed and listen to what God had been saying to me for four years, "Be still and know that I am God".  I had no choice but to follow Him with total abandon.  There were toxic memories in my brain from past hurts that combined with the pain I had experienced over the past four years, as a Pastor's wife, were a perfect recipe for the strongholds of hidden anger, bitterness and a critical spirit. I had to come away with the Lord. So, with the blessing and support of my husband, family and employer; I packed up my SUV and headed to Hilton Head, South Carolina for an entire week. Just me and Jesus, lots of paper and pens and several Bibles (one on the dining table, one on the living room table and one next to my bed), Jesus Calling, My Utmost for His Highest and my computer.

I have been here 31 hours and God is so faithful. In just over a day, He has assured me over and over in His Word and the writings of other Christians, that I am right where He wants me. This is about trusting Him with everything. It is about ABIDING in Him, in His Word and prayer. It is about having something to share with others that is from Him and the overflow of what He is doing in my life. It is about allowing Him to minister to me and replace the pain with love, forgiveness and the promises of His Word. Oswald Chambers, in my Utmost for His Highest said, "When you are in the dark, listen, and God will give you a very precious message for someone else when you get into the light. Now He gives you the gift of humiliation which brings the softness of heart that will always listen to God now."

Dear, sweet, sister that may be reading this blog and walking in the darkness; "BE STILL AND KNOW THAT HE IS GOD". Hold on! God is with you and will not leave you because He is faithful. He is your friend and He cares for you. Priscilla Shirer said, "...the travel is not always easy when you're headed in the direction of abundant living...but the prize of abundant living will make it worth the trip". Get ready to proclaim what He is whispering to you from the housetops!