Merging Writing and Art to Coach Women Who Feel Stuck in Relationships, Identity, or Direction
It was an honor and blessing to speak at the Ladies Ice Cream Social at Calvary Chapel, a place where Truth, love and grace are exemplified. What a blessing to share the powerful way God led me out of the darkness and into a joy-filled life fulfilling the purpose He has for me. Trauma changes the way we interact with the world, but God can heal that!
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The Vision
What is your vision? Where does it come from? The Greatest Visionary, our Father in Heaven, had an amazing, out of the box, enormously creative vision. “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Later, after He added all we need to sustain life and saw that it was good, God created man from the dust, literally the dirt we walk on every day. He created man in His own image to be in relationship with HIm and to be a mirror, a reflection of who He is and what He is like. Man was not created as a copy, but for the purpose of being in relationship, to reflect and to fill the earth with children, more mirrors. If you hold a diamond up to the light, you will see many beautiful reflections from it’s many facets. This is how we are created, with the thumbprint of God inside us. In essence, God imprinted upon your heart a vision to reflect Him. His purpose for man’s life is to bring that reflection to fullness and completeness through a relationship with Him.
What is it you can do to reflect Him without distortion? Before the fall of man, everything was as God created it, in order and perfection. “God saw all that He had made and it was good.” After the fall, the reflection became broken mirrors, shattered images, distorted. To become whole again, we seek the heart of God.
Where do you seek the heart of God? Are you looking to Jesus, the Son of God, and to the will of God for His life and the gift given to us through the sacrifice of His life? God had a big vision—bigger that we will ever know this side of heaven. His vision is for you to know Him and His heart of love for you, so that you may live out the days of your life on earth being conformed into a being that is reflective of His great love, kindness, compassion and generosity. God’s vision came to fruition in steps. What steps can you take today, the beginning of a New Year, to begin to follow the steps toward the vision God has set for your life?
Sit with God and quietly reflect, ask Him to teach you, to reveal to you the next step of His vision for you. Then trust Him with all your heart, believing He will show you the way. Press on to meet the goal of what before you, leaving behind all the past that gets in the way. Soon, you will find that by taking these steps each day with God leading you, with your eyes fixed on Jesus and your mind and heart set on knowing the heart of Him who created you, you will be living out the vision God placed upon your heart in the beginning, before you were ever born.
Scriptures reflecting these truths
Genesis 1:1; Genesis 1:27; Genesis 2:7; Genesis 3:7; Luke 12:6; Jeremiah 29:11; Psalm 139:12-14; Deuteronomy 6:4-6; Mark 12:29; John 1:18;
Personal application
God has personally and uniquely designed a vision for you. Maybe you are a gardener who provides flowers or food for the enjoyment or nutrition of others. Perhaps you are an artist, a writer, teacher or an architect using your talents through creating something beautiful from nothing, crafting a story or book from a compilation of words that encourage and inspire others, work with children modeling the love of Christ and teaching preparation for adulthood, or create designs and strategies to bring structure to another’s life. Perhaps you are a mother with small children, spending your time caring for your family and modeling the love of Christ in the training ground for your children.
What ever it is, big or small from your perspective—God’s perception of you and your purpose brings Him great joy, glory and honor. He is not concerned with what you do as much as who you are. What is closest to God’s heart is for us to seek to know His heart above all else.
How will I begin this New Year? In 2012 what changes can I make in myself to become a better reflection?
I am a praying woman. I pray continuously throughout the day. I pray in my quiet space, when requests are made known, on behalf of people I may pass while driving or in the stores. I pray for forgiveness and for God to take care of my need and the needs of others. I praise him for the gifts he sends my way. Prayer requires discipline and a heart for God. Am I praying as a Child of God??
When I pray for provision financially am I being financially responsible? Am I paying my debts, giving to others? When I work am I giving 110%, being honest, a person of integrity and working as though I am working for the Lord?
Am I praying for kindness, love and gentle hearts from others and yet not giving that very thing to the people I come in contact with?
Do I ask for forgiveness and yet I do not forgive others? Do I have compassion for others or am I a gossip and condemner even though I have perhaps walked the same road in my lifetime?
Am I boastful? I did that, I have this? I, I, I when I am to be thankful and remember that all good things come from the Lord and that the Glory is his, not mine.
Am I complaining but have a problem being around those that complain?
I know that as a Child of God he hears my prayers. Prayer takes discipline. We need to stop and give the Lord our time, our hearts. We should praise him for all the wonderful, colorful ribbons he drops on us. He already knows our every thought but what a joy it is for our Lord when we come to him in prayer! Daily, not only when life is full of trials and turmoil but when we are at peace and joyful also.
I was complaining yesterday and yet I have a problem listening to those who complain – HELLO! I stress over bills forgetting the provision God has given me! He is watching all these struggles to trust.
Do I say, “I will pray for you” and not do it? If you tell someone you will pray for them, pray immediately. Don’t tell someone you will communicate with God on his or her behalf and not follow through.
I need to be with him in quiet when I pray. I need to empty out the world around me. Praise him, ask for forgiveness and forgive others. Pray for his will in my life, to be delivered from evil and to be thankful that Jesus died for me – that I am His child and that he loves me, protects me and covers me. What comfort to know that I can go to Him anytime and he will listen to me and hold my hand. He will walk with me, protect me and never leave me. Make time for God – the answers come from him.
© 2011 Debbie I. Downs
When I think about Jesus Christ coming to this earth, I am continuously reminded how special each one of us is to Him. Jesus came to earth and died on the cross for us, to give us freedom – LIFE. He did it for one reason, because He loves us! Thank you Jesus! You are unchanging in Love, Truth and Faithfulness for yesterday, today and tomorrow!
I stay in awe that Jesus chose us to die for. I mean, we are people who are running around usually seeking our own pleasure, while sometimes hurting others in the process. But even in our self-way of thinking, Jesus came and died for YOU and ME! That is beautiful love! A love so strong that He laid down His own life and willingly went to the cross. He did not run away or try to escape from the hand of those who would kill him. He willingly went to the cross knowing He would die.
After Jesus died, with the weight of the world upon his shoulders, He was resurrected and ascended into heaven to reign at the throne! He is the High Priest, the One and Only True God who loves us! All come to the Father through Him!
Thank you Jesus for your jealous love of us! The gift of life~only by Jesus Christ!
“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-8
The Story of Victoria Moon told by her husband, Steve
This is the amazing story of the Victoria Moon and how God has moved in her life. There have been thousands of people praying for her and as a result, her recovery has increasingly improved!
As a result of her unique story and recovery process, her husband Steve continues to get requests by the media to share her story. He has decided to share some of her latest physical therapy sessions and Steve and his pastor, Steve Crowley of Piedmont Church will be interviewed!
Take a few minutes and check it out. Follow the link above to watch the incredible story of Victoria’s recovery, on the news tonight! What an amazing way to share with others that God is who He says He is and can do what He says He can do!
Thank you Lord for this woman’s restoration of health and life!