Showing posts with label free. Show all posts
Showing posts with label free. Show all posts

Wednesday, 19 November 2014

Hope Out of Despair #3

Close to the heart.....

When bad things happen to things close to the heart, often we find that our dreams, visions and hopes all come crashing down with it.

Maybe its a difficult season, not tragic, just a constant uphill journey... we get tired.

Maybe its tragedy, our life and all we thought seems to go up in smoke around us... where do we look, how do we move on from here?

Maybe its sickness, ill-health, disease, disillusionment, depression, discouragement.....

Maybe we don't even know what it is...

The reality of life is that there are mountains and there are valleys. No one is immune. Every single person faces trials and challenges.

Its what happens in you, in your heart, in your mind and in your world as a result of the things inflicted upon you. Thats what actually matters.

The truth is, as hard as it is, you CAN choose the outcome. You CAN choose if this thing will mean defeat or if you will walk until there's victory.

Im not saying you dont feel the pain in the moment. Im not saying we ignore grief, our emotions, our feelings or at all pretend that things are ok.

I am saying we can't stay there forever.

We must choose to face, and embrace the season of grief, pain or difficulty in order to move from it into a new season. It may take a long time, but as long as you are still walking through it, keep walking.

If you bury it, you will carry it. And unless it is given opportunity to be healed, it will likely destroy you later in life.

Scientifically its being proven more and more that most sickness and disease can be found rooted in some kind of unforgiveness, bitterness, resentment or brokenness that has resonated within a person for a long time. Sometimes so long the person has forgotten its even there.

We have got to learn to let things go, to let oyrselves be healed and made whole again.

We were designed to be connected with other people, people we trust, those who love and care and help to carry us through (or at least hear us out) during all seasons of life. The good, the bad and the just plain ugly.

We were also designed to be connected to our Creator. A loving God who gave everything for us. And when everything falls apart, He is really the only true and completely faithful friend who can be relied on 100% of the time for 100% of our needs.

If we dont look to Him, we will likely be filling the gap with something or someone else who just cant be that to us.

We were designed to live whole. To not carry the weight of the world. To not carry bitterness, unforgiveness, resentment or pain at our lifes circumstances.  We can try really hard to overcome, but I think most often that we cant truly overcome in our own strength.

We need support and we need the help of Jesus.

So if I could speak to your world today I would tell you to seek Him. To ask Him to help. Even if you dont know Him or doubt His existence. Ask Him to show you who He is.

My life is a story of brokenness, repaired and rebuilt by Him. He is worth knowing. He LOVES you more than you can imagine and He has seen everyday of your life.

He is the only one who can truly "save" us or make us completely whole.

Have courage to try again. Don't let go of the things that you "once" dreamed of.

Walk wisely and sensibly, but get up and walk.

Have hope dear friend. There is hope for change. There is hope for the things you have let die.

While there is breath, there is hope for better things ahead.

Jeremiah 29:11-14a NLT

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the lord . “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,” says the lord.

Much love
Arna x

Tuesday, 9 November 2010

I always wanted to dance....

When I was a young girl, I always dreamed and hoped, that one day I could be a ballet dancer, or be good at gymnastics.



I totally love shows like dancing with the stars.  I love the rythmic gymnastics in the Olympic games - I could watch people dance for hours.  Modern dance has lead to hip-hop, and jazz and other genres - and I certainly love watching a good, clean dance piece.

Well, in my recent 'journey' - I realised that not having the opportunity to dance as a little girl - (the finance being one reason, and having an 'unlikely' dance figure being the other) - had actually left a bit of a hole in me.  Quite a big one.

A part of me, in need of redemption - by the Lover of my Soul.

Now I'm a rather out-going person, but to frollick unskillfully and prance around 'dance' where others can see me (apart from husband and child) is TOTALLY out of my comfort zone.



So in this journey of freedom finding - I have discovered something - I can dance like a six year old - in front of my Daddy (Jesus) - and He thinks I'm LOVELY!!!!!  (Even if every other human being thinks I'm nuts.)  And you know what - if I'm dancing for Him - I don't really give a stuff what anyone else thinks.

I have long thought that if the church could just get FREE and dance before our King - maybe we'd do better than the night clubs at reaching people.  We need people who are FREE, (who don't need a dose of liquor in them) - just loving God and loving themselves & each other. 

Young people just LOVE to dance.  Most people just LOVE to dance.

Friday night youth - yes - I danced...

Sunday morning church - yes I danced...with ribbons!  mind you, I had two beautiful, FREE, 6 year olds standing beside me, ribbons in hand, not caring what the 300 or so other people in the room thought.

Was it fun - HECK YES!!!!  Did it make my God smile - HECK YES!!!!  and I couldn't help but laugh when I got a very approving grin from the other side of the room - my Daddy in law.

So God is redeeming this area of my heart - where this unlikely young woman in the eyes of the world - looks at the face of my Creator - and JUST WANTS TO DANCE.

 

I am DANCING - and loving every moment.







Perhaps my next shopping expedition will be looking for tights & a tutu.