for you, the readers, my friends

Thank you all so much for your words of encouragement on the comments and in emails. I got them all and I appreciate you, your words and your prayers!

God is amazing and has brought me through this valley once before, He will do it again. He LOVES this time with me and I enjoy getting to see His face in the midst of the fire. I do not LOVE the fire, do not misinterpret that... but I do love the shield and the Hero pulling me through!

Just through the emails and comments that I have gotten, and even other conversations I have had with other friends, I think it is VERY safe to say that this is a tough season for everyone right now. There have been so many "attacks" on our friends and loved ones homes. In every circumstance I have been hearing the same thing, "I am not sure what is going on but everything just seems out of whack", More or less.

I do not feel alone in this battle any longer. I know there are others in this burning hot flame with me. I believe this is a season of purifying. God is purifying our hearts to look more like him.

I have heard before that when hard pressed by circumstances whatever is inside comes "squishing out". Man if all that has been coming out of me in this hard season stays cooped up in there much longer I will rot! This is awful stuff! I am not even kidding. I have been using words I dropped at the "I DO" entrance to giving my life to the Lord! I mean they just crept up on me one day and it stuck. Now that I am being hard pressed, it is all pouring out. NOT GOOD!

Thank you LORD for the cleansing, but please help me to be obedient in responding well to rebuke. I need more of you and less of me! I want to abandon myself to your praises Father! I need your presence more than ever right now!

A dear sweet friend of mine wrote me an encouraging email the other day and I just wept. It painted the perfect picture of where I feel like I am right now.

I would like to insert a portion of the email here and I pray that it may speak to you as well and that you will see God's heart for you too.

You are not alone!

"...my heart was in pain and I asked God why isn't there anyone here to pray for me -with me. And he reminded me of a scene in the garden when he was alone... His closest friends had gone to rest while he was aching -preparing to die to himself -and save the world. "Sound familiar on a smaller scale?" But he also reminded me of the one to whom he was praying the one who for a brief moment in time left Jesus so Jesus would never have to leave us. You are not alone... "