In the last few weeks I have been able to watch God move, not only in my own life, but in the lives of the women at church and in the community! I am extremely blessed to be apart of the women's ministry team at the church my family and I attend . It has challenged and strengthened me in ways I never thought possible, in ways I was desperate for and in many ways I didn't even realize I needed!
I have recently participated in a women's retreat put on by my church. Yearly about 75 women from my church get away to a retreat centre from a Friday to Sunday for a weekend of learning and growing. We always hope and pray that God will show up, but this year He far surpassed our expectations! This past retreat was titled, 'Redefying Beauty, Seeing Yourself Through God's Eyes'. What a huge and much needed topic for so many women?!
During one session out speaker challenged us to take sometime with God and listen to what he was saying to us individually. As I was sitting, waiting expectantly, I started writing. My hand didn't stop moving until I ran out of lines to write on. I know that non of what I wrote was from my own doing. It spoke directly to my hear and where I was at in that exact moment. When I was done reading what was written on the paper before me I knew that it was a message I was going to be sharing. I truly believe it is not just for me...
Daughter,
I don't find parts of you beautiful, I find all of you beautiful. I know you feel that's cliché, but that doesn't prevent it from being true. I made you, I have given you a dream. I want you to be brave, trust and succeed.
You are my daughter, my joy! You make me proud and I want everyone to know you are my child. I am completely and totally that cliché parent, accept it!
You will face trials and tribulations, but I am your Father and will walk EVERY road with you. I was there and am here always.
You are lost and confused because of human flaws, but the truth will always remain in me.
Run, run to me. Do not be afraid for the Lord your God is with you until the end of the age!
Your Father
These words spoke deeply to me and I pray they reach many more hearts that need to know that no matter where they are in life they have a Father who not only wants to be there for them but needs to be there for them. He is a proud, devoted, and at times an over bearing cliché Father filled with acceptance, and never ending love for you. I don't know who else needs to hear these words, but I trust they will reach the exact people they were intended for.
I am at a place in my life where I feel I am leaving some dark, and hopeless times behind. I would not be here had it not been for a ton of hard work and learning to accept that God actually wants more FOR me (not FROM me)! Life can take many turns and can pull you in many different directions, your may be in a great spot or a dark broken spot. It may feel like you have ran away too many times or that there are too many big things you have done wrong. Like the letter says God was there and is still here for you, and with you! Pray with you hands open, expectant and holding onto nothing, I guarantee he will meet you no matter what!
This is a song that has meant a lot to me as I continue to grasp how loved I truly am!
https://soundcloud.com/jennyandjameskids/cherished
God Bless
~Shauna~
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