Rescued by a Savior --- Proverbs 31 OBS Blog Hop

“The Lord your God is in your midst,
A victorious warrior.
He will exult over you with joy,
He will be quiet in His love,
He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.”
~ Zephaniah 3:17, NASB

This week is the last week of school and then we are officially on SUMMER VACATION!  I look forward to this because it’s time for a little rest and relaxation and FUN!  No schedules (well, less of a schedule), outdoor movie nights, playing outside past bedtime, fire pits, playing in the pool, going on listening walks, and last minute decisions to just go somewhere are fun!  Plus, I want to make great memories for my kids.

I love the fancy free feeling of the summer.   

I lived my life fancy free for a long time.  No rules or just breaking the rules was fun…at the time of doing it…but regret always came shortly after.  Paul says in Romans 7:15, “For I do not understand my own actions.  For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” My life may have looked fun when I was younger but it was a hot mess – until I let God begin to rewrite the story of my life. 

  

“We are called human beings and not human doings for a reason.  Beings find purpose from the One who created them.  Human doings find their purpose from what they do.  And this will never satisfy us.  Purpose is not something we earn by being hired servants.  Purpose and identity are gifts we receive when we are born from above.”
Derwin Gray, Limitless Life

It’s only after becoming a parent that I started to understand how God can still love us even after we mess up for the 1,000^th time.  Even with my wrong actions, my disobedience, trying to do life on my own and going way ahead of Him.  He is still there with His arms wide open.  Because isn’t that what parents do…no matter what…we love our children. 

Remember the story of the rebellious son- Jacob- demanding his inheritance from his father and sets off to satisfy all his desires and spend all his money.  And after losing it all he returns home afraid of rejection.  

 “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him” (Luke 15:20).

  

His father RUNS to him with OPEN arms.  

This is what God does – His unconditional love for us is so GREAT!

Realizing that my purpose cannot be met outside of Jesus was my first step back towards Him.  Every day we have a decision to make…will we take the next step and follow Him? 

He rewrites my story by me being obedient to Him.  I’m so thankful that He only asks that I take the next step…He doesn’t ask me to do too much all at once because He knows it would probably freak me out and scare me away.   

“It’s hard to step out of the boat when you’re anchored to your fears.” Susie Larson

When I try to do things in MY strength, MY will, and ignore God…it usually makes me feel beaten inside and tired.  But when I turn back to Him…He embraces me just like Jacob’s father embraced him.  With GRACE and LOVE.  Because that is what parents do.  

For such a time as this – be obedient to Him.  Minister to my children…continue with my blog inspiring others to look to Jesus...forgive…and love.  Right now that is what I am supposed to be doing.  Obedience leads to intimacy and my job is to trust Him.  Trust that He loves me more than He hates my sin. 

 

“When God has a woman to work with who is willing to surrender to Him, He will move mountains and disrupt kingdoms when necessary to act on her behalf.”
Tony Evans

I’m rescued by a Savior that is rewriting my story.  My job is to be obedient to Him and allow Him to put all of my pieces – past, present and future together and make me more like Jesus. 

  

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.  If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.  And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? Matt. 16:24-26

So…summer is here and being free is a good feeling BUT letting go and letting God is a much better feeling to me.