Surrender to the Wave…

My church doesn’t practice confession. Well, not in the traditional sense. We believe, for the most part, that confessing sins is something to be done between an individual and God. In prayer, we tell God that we are sorry for a sin that we have committed, and ask for His forgiveness. More accurately, we are to repent, which means to “turn and go the other way”. Saying sorry alone is not what God is after. He is a God of transformation. He longs to see a change of heart. A life oriented in a new direction.

This past Sunday, my Pastor shared the story of David and Bathsheba. He described the downward spiral that led David to hit rock bottom, morally, in his life. David pursued Bathsheba shamelessly, despite the fact that she was a married woman. Her husband, Uriah, was one of 30 elite warriors that headed David’s forces. He almost certainly fought alongside David on numerous occasions. Uriah was brave and honorable. He risked his life fighting for his king. This was not a random, unknown soldier.

David took Bathsheba anyway.

Versed in Truth – February’s 2nd Verse

Hello dear friends,

The second passage I have chosen to memorize this month can be found in 2nd Corinthians…

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10   (NIV)

A ‘Through’ Kind of Faith….

Why does life have to be so difficult? Where is God? Why doesn’t He intervene in my circumstances? When will the suffering end?

Do you find yourself asking these questions, dear one? I know I do.

To be honest, I’m not sure I really expect a response. It’s more a means of expressing discontent, then actually seeking an answer. I understand, on some level, that this is just a part of life. That we will never fully understand God’s ways, this side of heaven. Recently, however, I sensed God speaking to these very questions.

Innocence Punished…

In a previous post (Child Forsaken), I shared a recurrent nightmare that haunted me throughout my childhood. The dream began during the period of time when I was being abused. It would rip me violently from sleep, and leave me trembling in the darkness of my room.  Alone…

I often woke up in a panic, my heart racing and drops of sweat running down my face. Though I was trembling with fear, I didn’t dare cry out for my parents. I was afraid that if they found out about the dream, they would find out about the abuse as well. I worried that they would be angry and would punish me severely. I was convinced that they would stop loving me if they knew.

Perhaps you wonder what was behind this fear. It may seem so unnatural that a small child would wake up from such a terrorizing dream and not cry out in fear for her parents.

I had my reasons.

Versed in Truth – February’s 1st Verse

Hello friends,

I’m a couple of days late sharing the first Scripture passage I have chosen to memorize this month. I have decided to focus on learning the following two verses from Colossians…

“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

Colossians 1:13-14 (NLT)

I love the truth that we have been rescued from the dominion of darkness and blessed with the freedom of living in the kingdom of God’s holy Son. In the kingdom of light.

There are days when the kingdom of darkness still seeks to oppress, consume and destroy. The truth of this verse will help me to stand strong against the lies of the evil one, remembering that Satan is a defeated foe. I can stand firm knowing that although life will be difficult at times, I do not need to be afraid, “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows, But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NLT).

I will add this Scripture passage to the Versed in Truth page, so that all of these wonderful promises can be easily found in one place.

Blessings friends,

Kamea

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Child Forsaken…

Ever since I was a little girl, I have been plagued by nightmares.

One dream was particularly disturbing. It began during the period of time when I was being abused, and would often rip me violently from sleep. I would wake up terrified, my heart racing.