Yes to God Tuesday!

It's blog-Bible study Tuesday!! I love this day and I love the study we are doing! Like Lelia, this chapter spoke volumes to me. My life is very similar to hers in that I have had to draw a line in the sand and step away from my ugly past. This has been a four year battle for me but I feel like I have finally let go and I am finally letting God have control. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING, is too big for God's grace and forgiveness and we must live in that blessing!

As Lysa stated in this Chapter "it's much safer to stay focused on the road ahead and use the rear view mirror when absolutely necessary". We can never fully walk away from the scars of our past but we do not have to focus on them. Our scars can be beautifully used by our Lord to accomplish good for His kingdom and that is the road we must focus on..the path He has ordained us to NOW travel. "We can't go ahead with God to new and exciting places if we're spending too much time looking back". Though looking back may bring feelings of remorse, it should serve as a pleasant reminder of where God has taken you in your relationship with Him. And then we choose to live in that relationship!

Lysa also stated "you may or may not have to change physical locations, but you will have to change your mind-set and your spiritual perspectives". I can speak from experience from being in the pit of darkness from my own choices that it would have been so much easier to run, move away from my sin but God had different plans. His plans were indeed to change my mind-set, to re-set my spiritual priorities. You see, I knew about God. I have known about Him and His character since I was a small child. I grew up in a Christan home, went to a private christian school but it wasn't until my journey from "the pit" that I truly came to know Christ. My passion is to live, breath, and drink Christ and I wish to inspire that in others also. I am, after 45 years of living, just learning the true meaning of dependence on God, on having an intimate relationship with Him, not just serving my faith and my religion.

One of the questions at the end of this chapter identified that we are made anew in Christ, given a new life, a new name as evidenced by these verses:

The nations will see your righteousness,

and all kings your glory;

you will be called by a new name

that the mouth of the LORD will bestow.
You will be a crown of splendor in the LORD's hand,

a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

~Isaiah 62:2-3

I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have,

so that no one will take your crown.

Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God.

Never again will he leave it.

I will write on him the name of my God

and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem,

which is coming down out of heaven from my God;

and I will also write on him my new name.

~Rev. 3:11-12

We were then asked to research the meaning of our name. I have known the meaning of my name but again researched for a different Bible verse than the one that is always associated with it. I guess inwardly I have disliked that I have not measured up to my name but, hopefully, that will change as I walk this journey of faith as the new Pamela God ordained me to be.

Pamela (Greek) "Sweet as honey"

Pleasant words are a honeycomb,

sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

~Proverbs 16:24

If, like in the Old Testament, God was to re-name me, I would imagine it would be "Grace" because that word has been so evident from Him in my life. What does your name mean? Has He re-named you?

As I attempt to use this blog to minister to others, I pray that the words He lays on my heart will be sweet and healing to the souls of those who stop here. I pray the passion in my heart will be evident and contagious. I pray to inspire all my blog visitors and friends in their faith journey and in their love relationship with Jesus. Lord, forgive me for all that wasted time I spent looking back instead of looking for you. I just want to live, drink and breath you Lord!

Blessings~Mrs. JoeB