But GOD said!

I cried out to the Lord to do something with my life, and to make it count for something. He is faithful and has done just that! He will use you too, If you ask Him.
For some people, life is really really tough because Satan knows if he can get you when you are young, and get you feeling worthless, he can destroy your purpose, if we let him.

God is gracious because no hurt with Him is ever wanted, and nothing painful ever goes unused. Even our mistakes are used. Romans 8:28, and we know ALL THINGS work together for good to those that Love Him and are called according to His purposes.
The same awful things that made me hate life and suicidal, is now a blessing to theirs. Ecclesiastes tell us that "He makes everything beautiful in His time."

I wanted to share some things that the Lord showed me because it was helpful to me.. Hopefully it will encourage you. I don't know about you. but these are things Satan has told me again and again from the time I was a child, but I want you to see what God says about us.

Satan told me everyday that I was a mistake and had no purpose here, BUT GOD SAID Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart for my holy purpose.
He also says Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

When I had children, he told me my children would amount to anything either... but God said..

"Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.""Proverbs 16:3 He also said "and all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children. Isaiah 54:13
When I have heard that I am illegitimate, bastard, unwanted etc...Bt God said God said I am the daughter of a High King, Galatians 3:26-27 (KJV) says, "For you are all children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. I thank the Lord that he is our Heavenly Father and "Psalm 27:10 Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will take me up. Also "God setteth the solitary (lonely) in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains:Psalm 68:6 When I hear that I am worthless...

Proverbs 31.10 AMP, "A capable, intelligent and virtuous woman, who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far Above Rubies or pearls." Luke 12:7 "Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.
You will always be this way, you are such a screw up.. but God said ' Philippians 1:6 ...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus also Jude 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.
When I hear how I have failed again God says Proverbs says For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, 1 Peter 4:8 Love covers a multitude of sins.
When I hear that I have messed up too much this time.. But God said
Lamentation 3:2222 Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.

I love Elizabeth Elliott's quote about when you make a fail, mistake or sin " just do the next right thing." instead of letting it taking you further into sin or into a pit of failure and depression, shake it off, confess it, repent, and move on!

I made many mistakes, but I think of Jesus when He tells the disciples (who were rebuking Mary for pouring expensive oil all over His feet) LUKE 7:36-47. To whom much is forgiven, he loveth much; and to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. And the Lord has forgiven me ALOT! from premarital sex, ruining my testimony to those I was witnessing to, to murdering my baby through abortion as a teen, the Lord uses all things for His Glory! I love how He can pick up the pieces form the mess that we've made and the hole we have dug and make it a masterpiece of His grace and glory!

Once we stop trying to hold on to control of our lives, or our plans and agendas he can do a great work. Ask the Lord to give you His vision for your children. Ask Him to show Him how you can "train them up in the way the should go." Which is the way the Lord has made them to go, their own natural bent. Ask Him to open your eyes to what His will is for your family! He will do it, He is faithful.

Go somewhere quiet and write down what goals you have for them, be it character or whatever.. Write down a mission statement of what you stand for as a family. Write how you plan to meet that statement and the goals. Then start asking the Lord to show you what your hidden sins are, and to Lead you! He will! He LOVES you and HE LOVES your children and He wants you to live life abundantly!
Love to you, In CHRIST, our GLORIOUS REDEEMING Savior! Alida w4

Isaiah 65:24

Isaiah 65:24

It shall come to pass that BEFORE they call, I WILL answer, and while they are still speaking, I will hear. isn't this so good.what a reminder that before we even ask of the Lord, He is answering.....this encouraged me greatly.the creator of the universe who spoke this world into existence is waiting to hear from me....Jesus already knows our prayer but there is life and healing in the obedience of speaking it to Him i hope it encourages you too.

~~~~~~
This story was written by a doctor who worked in South Africa...
One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but
in spite of all we could do, she died leaving us with a tiny premature baby
and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the
baby alive, as we had no incubator (we had no electricity to run an
incubator).
We also had no special feeding facilities. Although we lived on the
equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts. One student
midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton wool that
the baby would be wrapped in.
Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came
back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst
(rubber perishes easily in tropical climates). "And it is our last hot water
bottle!" she exclaimed. As in the West, it is no good crying over spilled
milk so in Central Africa it might be considered no good crying over burst
water bottles. They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores
down forest pathways.
"All right," I said, "put the baby as near the fire as you safely can,
and sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts.
Your job is to keep the baby warm."
The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with
any of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the
youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them
about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle, and that the baby could so easily
die if it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because
her mother had died.
During prayer time, one ten-year old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual
blunt conciseness of our African children. "Please, God" she prayed, "send
us a water bottle. It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be
dead, so please send it this afternoon."
While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added, "And
while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so
she'll know You really love her?"
As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly
say,"Amen". I just did not believe that God could do this. Oh, yes, I
know that He can do everything, the Bible says so. But there are limits,
aren't there? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would
be by sending me a parcel from homeland. I had been in Africa for almost
four years at that time, and I had never, ever received a parcel from home.
Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water
bottle? I lived on the equator! Halfway through the afternoon, while I was
teaching in the nurses' training school, a message was sent that there was
a car at my front door.
By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there, on the veranda,
was a large twenty-two pound parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes. I could
not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage children.
Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded
the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly. Excitement was mounting.
Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard
box. From the top, I lifted out brightly colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes
sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the knitted bandages for the
leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored. Then came a box of
mixed raisins and sultanas - that would make a batch of buns for the
weekend. Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the.....could it really be?
I grasped it and pulled it out - yes, a brand-new, rubber hot water bottle. I
cried. I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He
could. Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward,
crying out, "If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly too!"
Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small,
beautifully dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted!
Looking up at me, she asked: "Can I g over with you and give this dolly
to that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?"
That parcel had been on the way for five whole months. Packed up by my
former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's
prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. And one of
the girls had put in a dolly for an African child - five months before, in
answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it "that afternoon."
"Before they call, I will answer" (Isaiah 65:24)