Shoulder2Shoulder

You're invited to my party! Come one, come all! You don't have to get dressed up, I'll be in my jammies. Don't bother wearing makeup, we'll just cry it off. I'll be serving comfort foods like ice cream, candy, potato chips, cookies, cake, and, of course, what party would be complete without chocolate? I'll be the DJ and I'll play all the hits including "One is the Loneliest Number," "All by Myself" and "It's My Party, I'll Cry if I Want To." There will be plenty of tissue for crying in our beer.

I could have sent this invitation many times over the years as I threw countless pity parties for myself! A handful of caring friends would come to these parties and sympathetically listen as I whined and cried about how horrible my life was. Or sometimes it was just me, myself and I. Bitter, party of one!

The one person I DIDN'T invite to the party was the Lord. Had I invited Him, it wouldn't have been a pity party! I'd have realized that I wasn't alone, that no matter what the circumstances were, He has never left me, never failed me! I am blessed beyond measure! I wouldn't have been stuck in my depression but would have had hope... hope for the future, hope that things would turn around in my favor, hope that tomorrow would be a better day!

I'm happy to report the Pity Party has been canceled!!! Instead, I will rejoice in the Lord and His marvelous works! Instead, I will thank Him for all He's done for me and how He brought me through! Because He lives, I can face tomorrow! Because He lives, all fear is gone!

"For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome."
Jer. 29:11 Amplified

Lord, thank You for not giving up on me when I'd given up on myself. Help me to keep my eyes on You and not my situation. Let my actions AND my words glorify You today, Lord. Amen.

Good morning my friends! Let God use you to comfort someone grieving the loss of a loved one or who is alone this Christmas season. God bless your day!

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
2 Cor. 1:3-5 NIV

Me: Hello God.
God: Hello...
Me: I’m falling apart. Can you put me back together?
God: I'd rather not.
Me: Why?
God: Because you're not a puzzle.
Me: What about all the pieces of my life that fall to the ground?
God: Leave them there for a while. They fell for a reason. Let them be there for a while and then ask me if you need to take any of those pieces back.
Me: You don't understand! I'm breaking!
God: No, you don't understand. You're growing. What you feel are growing pains. You're getting rid of the things and people in your life that are holding you back. The pieces are not falling down. The pieces are being put in their place. Relax. Take a deep breath and let those things you no longer need fall down. Stop clinging to pieces that are no longer for you. Let them fall. Let them go. Trust Me.
Me: Once I start doing that, what will I have left?
God: You will have me. I am always with you. I will never leave you or forsake you.
Me: I'm afraid to change.
God: I keep telling you: YOU'RE NOT CHANGING! YOU'RE BECOMING!
Me: Becoming who?
God: Becoming who I created you to be! A person of love, charity, hope, courage, joy, mercy, grace and compassion. I made you for so much more than those shallow pieces you decided to adorn yourself with and that you cling to with so much fear. Let those things fall off you. I love you! Don't change! Become! Don't change! Become! Become who I want you to be, who I created you to be. I'm going to keep telling you this over and over until you remember.
Me: There goes another piece.
God: Yes. Let it go.
Me: So... I'm not broken?
God: No, but you're breaking the darkness, like the dawn. It's a new day. Become!! Become who you really are!!" Become who I created you to be!!!

Thank You for hearing my cry, Lord. Amen.

*Please feel free to share.

Good morning loved ones... Happy Friday!

This illustration says so much to me... If I didn't know the Lord, it would be terrifying but because I know Him, it gives me peace! Here's why:

John 10:11-16
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

God bless your day friends! 🙏