Don't give up...NEW LIFE is ahead!

Photo taken by Aida Oct 2013, Oregon-"Marci's Pink Tree"

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

The Message (MSG)

^16-18 So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.

God makes new life starting from the inside out by HIS grace. Then he celebrates the new life in us by giving to us in lavish ways!

During the darkest days of my life, as my life seemed to be falling apart and I was being putting into a fiery furnace of testing faith, I looked physically horrible and my circumstances grim. I was now a single parent on a small income, barely rising to the surface of the seas I was drowning in financially to see any light ahead for myself and the daughters I adore. I was side swiped by a train. I was not taking care of myself physically and I had lost so much weight I was asked if I was an anorexic. I was pale and lifeless, weak at heart and strength. It hurt to even breath. I began to suffer panic attacks and was told I was mentally ill by psychiatrists. And I began to believe the lies, and grasped at my fate with any medication Dr’s would dispense.  I began to self medicate this doomed hopeless fate. I was a prodigal daughter and I was Job from the Bible. My daughters and I were Mesach, Shadrach and Abendigo and the fires were raging around us. Only a SAVIOR could turn our fate.

On the outside it was dark and ugly.

On the inside God was doing the deepest work of my life. And HIS GRACE was penetrating even the crevices of my heart that I didn’t know existed. His LOVE was about to explode some furious disease of which my heart would be permanently changed forever. I was on a jungle journey to radically defining to Whom I belonged…MY FATHER, the God of the Universe, the same,yesterday, today and forever and the RESCUERER and LOVER of my soul was after me. IN pursuit. And Wooing me with the most amazing mercy I have ever known

And in a instant it seems after years of misery, I was given a new face, a new body, a new heart of flesh instead of stone and a new LIFE…that led me to the LOVE of my life: my husband, Steve as of September 1st, 2013.

And in that LOVE, God has given me the sight to see myself as the Princess I never thought I could be. And with that new lease on life, I have been lavished with all a little girl could ache for.

Picture this, an orphan who is suddenly among royalty, playing in a castle, and feasting on the finest fare of the Kingdom.

That orphan and that princess is me.

God does far more here than meets the eye. He gives in this life amazing beauty and richness. Yet he outdoes HIMSELF if that is possible for God! He transforms us with the internal changes we experience inside ourselves if we allow HIM to work in our hearts with abandoned trust. That Gold  can never be taken from us. It lasts forever. It goes with us into ETERNITY. And our lives leaves an inheritance to those we leave behind of which no price tag can be placed. Jesus in us, remains long after we are gone.

I warn you passionately with all that is within me, DO NOT GIVE UP! Trust HIM Ruthlessly. How could you give up? Just imagine all the GLORY that awaits you and others in Him.  

That’s good stuff!

Press On!

~Aida

10/17/2013