Stress is real, but God's perfect peace - our Prince of Peace - is greater, bringing us safety and stability.
"You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat."
 (Isaiah 25:4)
boldly approach the throne ~~~~~~ somehow I have a dificult time doing so, as if totally unacceptable
Does God plant courage in us in any hour of desperation?  Dont we need to ask for it?
Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations.3  Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.4  But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.5  If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him.6  Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting). For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind

There IS a sense of stability in trusting God.....  how does one get there...the ability to trust when all I seem to do is trust culpably in blindness?
Aug 16
"He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' (Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." ~~~ cant even grasp this part  (2 Corinthians 12:9)
God's grace truly is sufficient for the struggle. Paul knew his life was in God's hands, and the special manifestation of His power, beyond human understanding, would allow him to press on.
That's God's promise to us also. His grace is all-sufficient for us in life's challenges, battles and tragedies.
As a little child is comforted by placing his hand in Mommy's, so are we when the Lord wraps His loving hand around us.
Not only are you safe in His hands, but also right next to the nail scars, your name is engraved.
I am not sure I could have gotten through this day without Bebo Norman's Great Light of the World or this visualization of putting my hand into the hand of my Shepherd.
Sometimes at night
 I am afraid
 I cover my eyes,
 Cover my shame
 So here in the dark
 Broken a part
 Come with your light
 And fill up my heart
Oh great light of the world
 Fill up my soul
 I’m half a man here
 So come make me whole
 Oh great light of the world
 Come to impart
 The light of your grace
 To fill up my heart
The wind of this world
 Can push me around
 Folding me up
 Backing me down
 But here in the dark
 I’m not alone
 So come with your strength
 And carry me home.........
I wrote the poem Love on FB and mum's pick and Cheryl wrote:  Her 1st Birthday in Heaven!!! How awesome is that?? I know you miss her terribly ElLois..but, one day.. you will see her again and she will say...what took you so long??? Then there will be no more night, no more pain, no more tears, never crying again..Praises to the Great I Am..we will live in the Light of the Risen Lamb!!!!
 ‎"Healing is sweet, but scars will remain. Forgiveness is Divine, It Restores Everything" 
"faith knows that God always performs what He promises."  to draw nigh.....do I really want him in my brokenness and ugliness without being able to forgive myself ?
"you have a tender and too trusting heart"    Cheryl