Redeemer!

God is the greatest redeemer of all time!   You've been through a heart wrenching situation.... don't despair...   You're pain is His pain.    God doesn't enjoy seeing us go through stuff.     He feels your pain.   Let that sink in a bit.... Truly you are not alone in your pain.

The one thing I've learned over the years is that If I will keep giving God the pain and keep running to Him for healing  that he will redeem the whole situation so that eventually, down the road, I'll be able to say that I was glad I went through it.

I know that sounds impossible.  When my allergies got so bad that I had to sell my horse at 17 my whole world collapsed and I felt lost.  Fast forward ahead and God gave me a hobby farm and many horses after I got hold of my inheritance in healing!

He's promised Saints!  And He's exalted above all things His name and His word! (Ps. 138:2)

He's promised that The Glory that will be revealed in us will be so much greater than the pain we've gone through!(Rom. 8:18)

He's promised to redeem all our painful circumstances.  He's promised to heal our families(descendants)!  He's promised to be there for us when we are alone! (Isa. 48:17-19, Heb. 13:5, Deut. 31:6)

So what I've learned to do is to claim 7x what's been stolen,  Just like David recovered all plus got all the spoils, so can we IF we persist. (ref. 1 Sam. 30: 1-26)

Food for thought eh? 

Have fun!

Hugs and Blessings,
Brenda Gale Thompson

Summer is almost here!

Hi.  I haven't dropped off the planet.  I have gotten my gardens going this year and I put in two hummingbird feeders so there wouldn't be so many fights.

Also, I have been riding my horse with a dear friend and it's been so much fun!

Here's me before we actually go out.

 Anyhow, I was recently asked how I manage to keep smiling with all the work I do volunteering at church.  I think the key is to ask God how much you are supposed to do and only do that amount.  I'm having to get better at saying, "No."  And no means no.  No guilt trips will move me.  If God's not in it I don't want to do it.

Too many people get burnt out at churches with the work load and then they don't want to do anything.  I don't want to get to that point.  When I struggled with saying 'no' to people in authority over me I got a book out from the library about boundaries and how to enforce them.

You can only do so much!   It's not your responsibility to keep their world turning!   So make sure you take your day off a week and keep your relationship with God your top priority.   If you expect your reward from God you are doing well. If you are expecting promotion, recognition or opportunities from your Pastor etc. you might be disappointed.

Clear concise communication about what you can and can't do will help to avoid conflicts down the road.  It's so important.

I hope what I shared helps you to keep your priorities straight.  There's absolutely no point in getting so busy that you don't have time for God.  You can't replace that hour every day with him.  That's how the growth happens.  We think we're waiting on God to do something and all the while He's waiting for us to come away and just spend time with Him. It's tragic how easily the days slip by!

I am reminded of an acronym that Gloria Copeland uses...

S = Satan
C = Constantly
U = Uses
D = Distractions!

Therefore, let's keep scheduling in our time with God before the day fills up.

Bless you!
Big hugs,
Brenda Gale Thompson