Journey of the Heart ~♥~

Being submitted is yielding to the will or authority of another. That is not very popular in these days of independent thinking. There is just something innately in our flesh that resists submission, as if they win and we lose. It is however, the core of our faith in God through His son Jesus Christ. Submitting is about accepting and acknowledging where you are powerless and trusting God to take over.  

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding" Proverbs 3:5.

Most of us have difficulty trusting and submitting at some point or in some area of our life. Even though we know..."He who trusts in himself is a fool. . ." Proverbs 28:26. Being submitted to God is a process, a process of surrendering our own will to that of God's. For years I struggled with submitting to God's call for me to write. Then I discovered the wonderful world of blogging.

When God first called me to write I laughed like Sarah did when God said she would have a son in her old age. I also lacked the faith to believe God could make possible the impossible. My response was "I can't write." Not "may your will be done." I didn't understand...

"God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen.” I Corinthians 1:27-28

This foolish, weak thing, finally surrendered to the call and still every day is a struggle. A struggle to submit to God's will and not my own thoughts, insecurities, and plans. I planned to follow an outline and try to write everyday. Yep...I got nothing.

The main theme God has been speaking to me through out this journey is learning about control. About God being in control and I am not. If I was talented enough to write and physically able I would just go on in my own abilities. God has me in a position of being completely submitted to Him.

So, I don't know where this journey is going to take me. I will share what He is teaching me, when He is teaching me...or correcting me...and trust in His perfect timing. For I have learned that I do not have the ability or power to overcome my weaknesses.

Only Our Heavenly Father has the power to make the impossible possible. If I was able to do anything in my ability I would be able say it was by "my power" and "my talent" and "my strength"... not Christ in me the hope of Glory!
 
I have created this blog to share the lessons I have learned on the heart. I am not writing to make money or because I am witty and have any grand adventures to share. I am not writing because I enjoy writing, which I don't; nor because I am good at it, which I am not. I flunked several English classes because I neither understood grammar or cared to learn about it. I am writing out of submission.

I try to blog and share when I have the strength. I write two blogs: This is my Journey and Journey of the Heart. I contribute on HeartCry, Recipes and For a Brighter Day.  I would love to have you travel along with me by joining Networked Blogs or Google. I need the prayers and support of my friends. I am so blessed by the friends who have already joined.

On this holiday celebrating love and the tradition of exchanging man made hearts are we exchanging our spiritual hearts with God. Do you have A Heart for God? We will send Valentines and post love notes on walls, but is that real. Is that the love that comes from the heart of God? How wonderful to have a holiday based on love, but we are bombarded by so many distractions, so many versions of love in our life and on the media, that I believe the enemy is trying to distort and pervert our concept of love.

God has created our hearts to be filled by Him. There is an empty place in all of our hearts that only can be filled by God. If it is not we start looking...looking for things to fill that void. It can be food, possessions, activities, cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, and anything else the world has to offer, but mostly relationships. Especially women, we are taught from an early age that our "Prince Charming" will sweep us away and our life will be a fairy tale. It sets us up to replace that void for the "love" of a man.

If you haven't experienced or been taught at an early age to fill that void with God you believe that is what love is. Especially on Valentines Day. We focus on... our man... looking for a man... depressed because we don't have a man... maybe I will just eat chocolate. Many people are turning to food to fill the void that only God can fill. Again the answer is love. Not only the love of God, but love for ourselves. Not the self center kind, but a wholesome acceptance of our strengths and weaknesses.

So, on this Valentines Day, may you receive the most priceless heart of all...A heart for God. May you have a desire for more of God in your life...just as you hunger for food and thirst for water. May the desires of your flesh be turned into an intimate relationship with Christ. May your pain be healed and the emptiness filled. May the words "I love you" turn into actions of love. 

With much love, wishing you a Happy Valentines Day!
May God Richly Bless You ~ ♥~ Brenda

I don't get out very often, but every couple of weeks I try to get to the store. With one look out my window I decided to wait for the snow to melt... there will be sunshine in a couple of days.

It seems I have spent a lot of time waiting. Waiting to write until I feel better. I told myself it didn't matter. What did I really have to say anyway. Bottom line, it is not about what I have to say...it is about what God has to say and Christ in me. There have been so many lessons the Holy Spirit has put on my heart. I would discuss a few with friends and think..."I will put that down when I feel better." Well...feel better never came...feel better may never come. Maybe that is the greater lesson. The lesson of perseverance in adversity.

I struggle believing that people can be blessed even with something that is less than perfect. It is not about "me" anyway...It is... "Christ in me, the hope of glory" Colossians 1-27. Instead of waiting for the sunshine...I needed to wait for the Son to Shine. I have let in too much darkness. The enemy had me thinking I just might take these lessons to the grave.

Sometimes when I walk around the cemetery while visiting my parents graves I think "this is probably the largest collection of unfulfilled dreams...people who died before their visions were realized." I pray I can endure. I pray I don't die before my visions are realized. I pray I don't let the enemy steal my dreams. I pray I can begin to live an abundant life. For my friends who might be struggling also...

Are you waiting for everything to be perfect? Do you have analysis paralysis? Don't die before your visions are realized. Don't let the enemy still your dreams. Don't wait to live an abundant life.