My special birthday

I realize that not all who read this will understand the depth of what I’m saying, nor will all agree with me, and that’s okay. It is important to me, and is the life under-girding my own life.

Today, February 28th, is a special day for me, an anniversary of sorts. Even more it is a special birthday.

On this day – thirty years ago – I began life as a new creation. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17

I was brought up knowing about God, praying, believing in Him, experiencing His touch in my life, going to church and doing all those things, but I believe that it wasn’t until I was in a place of deep spiritual searching that I truly became a follower of Christ. Before then He was wooing me. When I understood my personal need of forgiveness and His saving grace, and when I reached out and asked Jesus to come into my life as my own Lord and Saviour, that is when my life really began. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1:9

It hasn’t been easy. Everything didn’t magically become sweet and problem free. People still hurt me. I still struggled with anger. Some things went from bad to worse. Some circumstances had to change, had to be let go. The many years of pain took many more years to heal, but they did heal. I am a better person now than I was then.

I had to relearn much since religion had trained me into false beliefs. It deeply troubles me when I hear it still preached and believed that God lays pain and suffering and death on us to teach us things. What?! What then of Jesus’ sacrifice? Was that not enough? Does His death become meaningless for those times? How foolish! “Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God, and he who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God; for God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent His only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the expiation for our sins.” – 1 John 4:7-10

Suffering and pain happen in this sin-ridden world, and we will experience them until we leave here. To continually blame God for the things we don’t like and that are hard to accept is a dangerous thing to do. That is not faith. That is sin.

Now, if there is anyone left still reading this … “Cast all your anxieties on Him, for He cares about you.” – 1 Peter 5:7

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings! 🙂

Book Review: The Shelter of God’s Promises – by Sheila Walsh

 Book: The Shelter of God’s Promises
Author: Sheila Walsh
Genre: Christian life/religion
Pages: 224, paperback
Price: $15.99 USD
Released: February 1, 2011
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
My rating: An excellent book of encouragement and comfort for those who need to know or be reminded about where God’s  promises fit in their lives.
 

I received this book from Book Sneeze in exchange for a review.

The Shelter of God’s Promises is both for personal use and for group study. I read it alone and really enjoyed it.

This is a book written by a woman with an open heart taught by God. Sheila Walsh speaks out of experience, and from a voice of love, teaching and inspiring the reader.

Her ten chapter topics are:
Promises, Promises/I Need Something to Hold On To;
Provision/I Don’t Have Enough;
Peace/I’m Afraid and Feel Alone;
Confidence/I Can’t See God’s Plan in This Pain;
Love/I Don’t Believe That Anyone Could Really Love Me;
Grace/I Have Failed;
Hope/I’m Broken;
Strength/I Feel Things Are Crashing Around Me;
More/I Know There’s Something Better;
Home/I Have a Future.

Each topic is skillfully and tenderly addressed as she shares in a one on one manner, sometimes in humour – sometimes from pain and vulnerability – what God has revealed to her.

For someone who is seeking some answers, this may be the book to read. For someone seeking comfort in a hard place, for someone needing further insight – at the back of the book is a study guide with questions to consider after each chapter. It’s divided into four brief sections: Discover; Believe; Live; Memorize (with a scripture verse to memorize that week.) Taken seriously, the questions will help to motivate a deeper walk with Christ.

Even if the reader chooses to not use this book as a study it will still be an inspirational read of comfort and encouragement.

You can find The Shelter of God’s Promises listed on my BUY THE BOOK! page.

Have you read this book yet?

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings!  🙂