|
I grew up believing in the Lord as a very small child. It seemed
that from a very young age the Lord blessed me with a sweet love
for Him. But as I grew, it seemed as though the toughness of life
(those done to me and those I did to myself) seemed to overtake
me. I spent many years living a suicidal life (always dreaming of
“stepping out” but never acting on it). Somehow, I couldn’t see
His love for me and the protection He had always provided for me.
 I was not a person that you would meet and think “she’s so
unhappy”. I was bubbly, happy and appeared in control no matter
what the circumstances- the straight A student in college who
contemplated ways to get out of the difficulties we call life.
All I could see were the times I had felt so unloved and alone.
What I didn’t realize was that there was a great God, creator of
the universe that loved me enough to say to me in Isaiah: “See, I
have engraved you on the palms of my hands.” (Isaiah 49:16)
 Somehow, in all of my troubles, the thought kept tickling the back
of my brain that there just HAD to be more. It couldn’t just be a
life of “making it”- “survival of the fittest”. I had always
professed to be a Christian. But my life seemed flat, somehow. Not
the victory that the Bible and preachers talk about. The Bible
says that “I’ve(Jesus) come to give you life and life more
abundantly”. This was hardly how I felt. My life felt empty and
chaotic with me barely keeping it together. I ended up a single
mom of two children who was divorced twice- way to go good
Christian girl.
So, in 1996, I packed up the kids, car, and dog and drove a U-Haul
packed with everything I owned and moved to Alabama. My mission
was two fold. One to finish my education and two, to seek
diligently this “abundant life”. I wanted to live beyond what I
had always done.
 So, I began to seek. To get into a church where I was taught about
what God really wanted for me and that he had a plan for my life.
I began to quote to my children Jeremiah 29:11. It says: For I
know the thoughts and plans I have for you, says the Lord,
thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not evil, to give you
hope in the final outcome. Really? Hope for me? To say the least I
was a skeptic. But I started seeking anyway.
 These are a few of the things I have picked up along the way. I
can say that the book of Isaiah was a light to the path God had
for me and has for you too. I hope these verses and thoughts will
help you along your way as you seek the One who created you, Died
for your salvation, and ever seeks to give you an Abundant Life in
Him.
In His Love, Amy
He saved me- from the torments of Satan
He loved me- through my failures
He brought me- out of my circumstances
He is the reason why I live- why I sing
I have found that if I don’t sing, it’s not Him- It’s my
disbelief.
A testimony to His goodness:
Sin pervades
Love Reigns
Satan sought to destroy me
Jesus came to save me— and you too.
Jesus wants you whole- that’s why He was broken for us.
I thought I’d ruined it all, but He says in Isaiah 43:18-19:
Do not (earnestly) remember the former things; neither consider
the things of old. Behold I am doing a new thing! Now it springs
forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed
to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the
desert.
How barren, dry and empty I was. I had no hope. But when I sought
Him, he gave me all hope.
Again, I thought He never thought of me, but He says in Isaiah
49:16:
See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.
What kind of love is that? On the palms of His hands so He will
see my name everyday and think of me.
He also say that we can trade “ashes” for “beauty” for those who
mourn: Again Isaiah in 61:3:
...and provide for those who grieve in Zion- to bestow on them a
crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of
mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor. It goes on further in the chapter
to talk about rebuilding the ancient ruins, that we will be called
priests of the Lord (Me? Are you kidding?), that we will receive a
double portion instead of our shame and everlasting joy will be
ours. That people would see me and call me blessed.
Wow! Sounds too good to be true. But what I found was that when I
began to “seek Him with all my heart” that slowly, these truths
crept into my being and I truly feel that this is how I now live.
Do I still have problems and faults? Of course I do. Do bad things
still happen? Of course they do. As long as we live on this earth,
life will not be without difficulty. But guess what?! We have a
God who will never leave us or forsake us. I haven’t even skimmed
the surface of what God says He has for those who trust in Him in
His Word. I encourage you to find a church that teaches from His
Word and for you to seek out His Word for yourself. Listen to good
preachers who will tell you the truth (two good examples are Joyce
Meyer and T. D. Jakes). You can listen to them on TV and the
internet. But you also need godly people around you, praying for
you and guiding you- holding you accountable. I can tell you that
throughout my life, God has placed people who held me accountable
and prayed for me. He’ll do the same for you. You just have to
listen.
We’ll be praying for you. Please keep us posted on your progress.
In His Name,
"Amy Elliott"
|
