Receiving The Blessings With The Curses

He gave them the lands of the Gentiles, 

And they inherited the labor of the nations,

That they might observe His statutes And keep His laws. 

Praise the LORD!

Psa 105:44-45

God is so good to me! He gives me everything I need and more! He has provided for me and my children all of our lives but specifically since 2009 when cancer rocked our world. We have lacked nothing and received more than we could have ever imagined had we worked towards the same end. God proved that He is my provider and I pray I never forget all He has done for me! One example of His provision in my life can be found here...Got Milk?

Deuteronomy 9:6-7 Therefore understand that the Lord your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stiff-necked people. “Remember! Do not forget how you provoked the Lord your God to wrath in the wilderness. From the day that you departed from the land of Egypt until you came to this place, you have been rebellious against the Lord. 

The Lord has taught me through my own wilderness how I have been rebellious towards Him. I have lashed out in anger and been stiffnecked towards His unfolding plan for my life. I pray I never forget how the Lord has loved me despite my unbelief and unyielding spirit. Grief At It's Best is a post I wrote in the midst of overwhelming pain. It is good to cry out to God when we don't understand but we must never lose hope! 

These joined with their brethren, and their nobles, and entered into a curse and an oath to walk in God's Law.... Nehemiah 10:29

It is both a blessing and a curse to chose to be a Christian. I would rather trust and follow Jesus' ways than my own! I may fall into various trials and suffer many afflictions following Christ Jesus but, I would rather choose to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in this world, for I look to the reward. Sometimes we are Called Aside, away from fellowship and from friends to be tested by God to see if we are willing to follow even if that means we follow Him alone. 

My reward is not living my best life now! It is living in light of eternity and clinging to hope that one day Jesus will come back and right all the wrong and wipe away every tear and there will be no more sadness no more pain and no more death! He has promised! Grief Run Deep, Where is The Hope?

The miraculous truth is I can have heaven on earth now as I continue to surrender my life to Him! His ways' are perfect, His word is true, His grace is enough, His peace surpasses all understanding and His love is unending! Thanksgiving in the midst of the Valley of The Shadow of Death is one way we can experience heaven on earth. 

Lord I don't always understand your ways' especially when pain comes my way, but I trust You and Your word says You will use all things for good. God I pray You would take this pain and use it for Your glory! I cannot change what already is but I can surrender it into Your almighty hands to do with it as You please. I am Yours Lord and there is no safer place I could be!