Hello Again!

I started writing this morning by asking the Lord how to even begin.  I know that it has been a long time since I have written and this morning I am writing out of simple obedience.  In short, I know that God is asking me to.

This last year, 2012,  has been a year of quiet silence for me.  I've had to walked through some pretty tough things.  Never in my life have I faced a year of such drastic change.  I don't think there was a corner of my life left untouched.  However with the start of this new year I have been able to clearly see the lessons that God, in the midst of everything, blessed my life with and subsequently, all the difficulties and change that 2012 held became elevated to a place of pricelessness.  

As I start out fresh in 2013 my goal is to share some the lessons I've learned.  Perhaps they'll help you as they have helped me.  I want to make a commitment, here in a place of open accountability, (that would be those of you who read this :*) to share an honest dialogue on the things that so many of us face and begin to walk out the lessons I've learned so that they are not wasted.  And let's face it, I don't want to have to learn them again! :*)

Thank you, to those of you who have taken the time to read the few words that I've written.  I hope you will continue to share words on the page with me, that more will join us and that God will be glorified in the process.


Julie

P.S.  First new post tomorrow!

Transition....Transition...Giving thanks for a life in process.....

I remember so clearly the first time I heard a message on transition.  The speaker was passionate, eloquent ....and the message captured my heart.  I prayed that day, and for many days after, that God would always keep me in a place of transition.  It became so engrained that even my children began to quote me on it.

Quite a few years have passed since that first message, and the romance of the process has long since worn off.  Transition, being the change you want to see in the world, is messy, hard, and often lonesome.  It is definitely a road that not everyone is willing to travel.

Transition means so many things to me.  Keeping a teachable heart.  Looking inwardly first when faced with a tough situation.  Growing in character.  Lancing wounds.  Having grace for others unwilling to change.  Learning patience (ugh) while embracing the journey.

But years later, I still have a hearts cry to live a life of transition.  To be willing to look at the hard stuff in my life... the hurts, the areas of character development, the risks God wants me to take, are still what drives me.

The reason?  God meets me in the process.  After all of these years of life with Daddy-God, living out transition has brought a closeness, an intimacy and a desire for more of Him than I have ever known.  He has set me free from so much of what held my life in bondage.

As I look towards this Thanksgiving season I find myself thankful to the pastor who first taught me this wonderful truth.  I'm thankful for those I live life with who have also embraced being teachable for a lifetime.  My heart is full of gratitude for the wonderful grace, growth and redemption that God has provided in the process of transition.

So this morning once again, I breathe deeply, close my eyes, gather my courage and whisper, "One more time God, help me to transition and grow.  Give me eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart willing to............."

Philippians 1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.