where's my older woman God?

Much to think on and be challenged by here.

loneliness

When someone can express with such eloquence and beauty what you have been experiencing and learning, it seems more prudent to link to their post, than attempt to write it yourself.

god's plan

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:28-39

I've heard people using the first part of verse 28 out of context - being a Christian does not equate to an easy life full of good things according to this world. Good, according to God's purpose, is to be made more like Jesus. Jesus did not have an easy life full of good things when he was on earth. Life will have trials, pain, suffering and temptation. Understanding and truly knowing God's love me helps me to see his sovereignty and will when things are hard or not going according to my plan. I was called according to His purpose: foreknown, predestined, called, justified and glorified. And nothing can separate me from the love of God. He loves me and knows me - and what is good for me: to be like Jesus.

I've noticed this year, which has been incredibly difficult for me at work and healthwise, has also been a year where I've seen the most growth and maturity as a Christian than I can ever recall. I can see the way God is working in me to depend on Him, to draw strength from Him and to vividly see the abundance of blessings He gives me. I'm not in constant awareness of this, such as earlier this afternoon, I felt despondent and depressed about life, but I remembered these verses which I studied recently with someone.

God loves us so much He only wants good for us which is to conformed to the likeness of Jesus.
We should rejoice in our suffering!

And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Romans 5:2b-4

Epiphany #2

I have nothing to prove. See here.

Epiphany #1

Busyness is NOT next to godliness. See here.

keep reading

I read this post which has encouraged me to keep plugging on in reading. I admit, as much as I love to read, often I put off reading non-fiction books because I feel there's no point as I won't remember nearly all of it. But if I keep reading, something's got to stick. Much better to read than to not at all. What it would be like if I applied the above thinking to listening to sermons or reading the bible? It gave me hope that even ministers forget what they have read. We can't all have photographic memories, each has their own gift. So these holidays I'm starting with 'A Call to Spiritual Reformation' by Carson. I've had it for the longest time but have been to scared to start reading it, as I felt it would be a waste of time because I will forget it. Not thinking like that anymore, bring on the books!

Consuming Kids: The Commercialization of Childhood (Trailer)