#MovingForward

This week in Chapter 4 and 5 of Renee Swope's book A Confident Heart, she talks about the pain of our past and moving past the shadow of our doubts.
 
When I was watching football this weekend I kept hearing the sports announcers talk about moving the ball forward and thought about these chapters.
 
Have you ever watched football?

In football the goal in each game is to advance the ball, to keep it #movingforward, to cross the goal line.

A touchdown!

From the kick off to the touchdown, moving the ball forward is what all players work towards. Players spend each day conditioning themselves physically and mentally for game day.  

What is their ultimate goal?

To win games and the chance to play in the Championships at the college level or the Super Bowl at the professional level.

Whether we are fighting.....

past abuse/present abuse
unforgiveness
work issues
doubts
insecurities
friendship issues
divorce/marriage/children/empty nest

.....or just plain stuck.

It's time, as Mandisa's song says to "Press On"... "one foot in front of the other" #movingforward and not looking back.

It's time to give it ALL to God for Him to heal us and direct our steps. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour we become New in Him.


 

 God doesn't want us to stay where we are...

hurting
confused
lost
angry......
 
as Renee Swope wrote on page 68..



 "Brokenhearted. Captive. Prisoner. Darkness.

These words described how I felt for so long. I had been brokenhearted. I had been held captive by fear. I had lived as a prisoner in the darkness of depression. These words were so personal  that I wondered if God had written them just for me."

 

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,

because the Lord has anointed me

to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives

and the release from darkness for the prisoners.

To proclaim the year of the Lord's favor

and the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn." Isaiah 61:1-2





 
Just like in football...it's time to start #movingforward towards that ultimate goal...HEAVEN...and the beautiful Kingdom that awaits us.

Just like football players practice and condition each day so they are prepared for whatever plays come their way... we too as Christians have to condition ourselves to be prepared for whatever life throws our way.

How?

By #movingforward from our past and doubts. By reading the Bible, studying the Bible and having a personal intimate relationship with God each and every day. We have to let go of our past hurts our present doubts and anything holding us back from Him. It was and is so hard to do sometimes but the peace that comes from giving it to God is unbelievable.He will meet us right where we are we only need to reach out to Him.
 
It's time to keep #movingforward and drawing closer to God. Allowing Him to be the lamp unto our feet and the light unto our paths.
 
Jesus is calling, are you going to answer and obey Him by #movingforward?

Perfect Love

I am reading Renee Swope's book A Confident Heart and in Chapter 2 she speaks about God's #perfectlove.

 

God's #perfectlove is all around us. It can be seen in the flowers, clouds, sunrises and sunsets.

 

Hearts are seen as symbols of love. We tell people we love them and write a little heart or even draw hearts on paper when we are thinking of someone.

 

A few years ago I was struggling with family, health and just feeling overwhelmed. When I closed my eyes plugged in some worship music and got lost in worshipping God. I had a glass in my hand, that I forgot I was holding, it broke and shattered on the floor. As I was picking up the pieces I found a piece of glass in the shape of a heart. Not a perfect shape but an imperfect shape. Here is that piece of glass.

 

 



 



That piece of imperfect heart shaped glass reminds me of God's love for me. We don't have to be perfect to experience His #perfectlove.

 





 

Through our doubts, insecurities, comparasions and fears one thing remains constant and that is the perfect love of God.

 

 

 

 

Renee Swope says on page 41 of her book, "Jesus knows your pain, fears, doubts and disappointments. He understands your dreams and desires. Although some of us feel uncomfortable that God knows so much about us, it is good to be known, to be listened to and not judged. Jesus is the only One who can meet our deepest needs to be accepted and delighted in simply because of who we are. We can offer nothing but our presence, and He will desire us just the same."

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everywhere I turn now I find hearts...(on the walls where a candle is burning, on our fence, on our fireplace, tissues and even in a can of vegetables) ..... as if God is leaving me little love letters reminding me of His #perfectlove, saying I LOVE YOU, LOVE GOD!!