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When You Think YOU are the Error...This was the Mess of Me

When You Think YOU are the Error...This was the Mess of Me
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Wow, it's been over 14 years....if I am being honest, that fact alone makes me both angry with myself yet so grateful to be here in this blessing of hope and healing, in the overcoming of fear, anxiety, insecurity and less-than-the-bless.

I’m so HUMBLED and OVER-WHELMED IN AWESTRUCK WONDER at the GRACE and PATIENCE of my Lord every time I fly, write a blog, and pray for opportunities God would allow me to be a part of His Kingdom plan. The very things I thought I would never do, I am. What I thought wasn't for me, was. I have never been so glad to be so wrong in all my life! 

Eventhough I lived a charmed life, I also lived a chained life...chained to fear. Literally working out my faith with fear and trembling, by works and not by faith, always striving for values through perfectionism, building walls of self-protection, working out my faith muscles with works and not belief or trust because somehow along the way I thought faith resulted in my ability to prove worthy and check all the boxes. 

I did not trust and without trust, there is no surrender.

In 2008, I found the end of me but only because God made me stop and see the ledge I was about to collapse over. This was that season that changed my life, walking me through a valley of many thorns and winding roads, dark pits and painful tests but all along the way, His tiny burning bushes, His parting rivers like seas, His manna from Heaven feeding my starving soul, His Holy Spirit that led by day and in the restlessness of night, a lamp unto my feet as a LightHouse on the shore, once I trusted Him enough to lead me.

God had previously waved some “warning flags” that He needed my attention but I dismissed them believing I could keep trying harder to get it right. I felt like He was calling me in to the Principal's office and that was a place I worked so hard NOT to be. In everything I did, I worked so hard to do it in excellence and with each obstacle or perceived failure, I tried harder believing I was the error. And so the crazy cycle continued.

While my faith was tested and found pure like Job, I found my heart was not as strong as Moses or as brave David. I “stuttered,” I lacked leadership skills, I lacked faith enough to think God could use me to split seas or speak to emporors. To stand amongst other great warriors and believe I was as capable to take down Goliath as they were. To the insecurity of touching His hem in fear of rejection. Wondering would I ever have 4 corner friends willing enough to carry me on a mat to Jesus. I never doubted His love. I doubted me.

I am a Child of the Perfect God, Our Healer & Redeemer, The Way Maker!! 

People celebrate recovery anniversaries from addictions and illnesses and I do too! Twice a year, in April and December, I celebrate the Day God sat me down and said Listen and the Day He helped me be free from fear once and for all! (Even though we all know that happened at the Cross many, many years ago when His blood poured out over us and He rose, defeating death once and for all!)

Learning to listen allowed me to see His heart and seeing His heart allowed me to surrender and let go of control, fear, perfection, and CELEBRATE this grace, oh, this AMAZING Grace Life. 

Because of that surrender, because of His grace and patience, because of His mercy…My chains are GONE! 

I’ve been SET FREE!! 

My God, my Savior has ransomed me!! 

I once was blind but now I SEE!!!

His grace is sufficient for me AND for YOU! 

Amen!!!

I’m not perfect and I don’t pretend to be. It took me decades to learn my value hung on the Cross with Jesus. His blood shed for me and for you exceeds any human estimation. When He conquered death, He corrected the error of debt, the mark of death, the lack of life or ability. He separates divides the truth from lies, the sheep from wolves and weeds from the flowers in the valley. He presents us with the Shield of Grace and a Belt of Truth, placing in our hand the Sword of the Spirit, strapped next to the breastplate of righteousness. Our feet follow His in peaceful assurance as we follow.

Armor Up Friend! You are protected for every battle. It's doesn't mean you will never make a mistake, be brought low or shot at with fiery darts of the enemy...it's nearly a guarantee. BUT GOD!!!! He forges the path with you and on your knees, armor on and eyes to see is how you and I live life in His perfection, provision and purpose. 

Glory to God in The Highest!! 

Friend, You are NOT the error! FEAR IS THE ERROR!!!! What do YOU need to let go of striving for and trust His Sufficient Grace for? Are YOU ready to let Him lead, defend, purpose? Are you ready to do the hard work of trusting to grow your posture inside of peace, cultivate your joy on the road that winds through thorny patches and walk with expectation of the abundance of His grace and love in Your Purpose? Know this, His heart is FOR YOU!!!! He is near and He loves you so much! 

His Word is a lamp unto your feet and He has set burning bushes, by day and by night, in unexpected places, lighting up your path along the way like swarms of fireflies on a summer night!! Don't miss them. The ground you are approaching is Holy Ground. 

“So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But 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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭12:7-10‬ ‭ESV‬


If today's encouragement hugged your HEART today, let me know in the comments or meet me over
 in my Facebook Sisterhood Community! Feel free to share this blog with a friend who needs a heart hug too!
This is how YOU get to hug my HEART back!

Heart Hugs and Blessings,
Michele
I am so glad (and honored) you are here! I have been blogging since 2009 as a way to journal out my thoughts as I pray God would use these story shares as practical heart encouragements for YOU TOO! We all need to recall and share those Living Stone moments.
Feel free to look around and make yourself at home! 

If you're looking for Journals & Books, check these out over on HeartsFromGod.com too!!

If you are looking for an Online Sister Community 
?Are you an Introvert Rising?!? If you are looking for a Community of HEART Centered, Jesus Lovin' Sisters ready to rise up over their insecurities and seek after the Heart of God?!?  Meet us here! 

I share encouragement over on the Facebooks on my personal profile as well as the Encouragement Page Livin’ Where Faith Is on too.

I have two free resources for you: 
1.) If you'd like some help sharing YOUR story or testimony, here's a link to grab the fill in the blank PDF I created to help you get started sharing YOUR heart with others! There's a video that goes with it over in the But God Sister Squad Community on Facebook.

2.) www.CreatingSpaceforGrace.com is PDF I share the things I have done (and do) the help guard my peace on the daily!!! I get asked about this all the time, this is my practical resource guide!

Heart Hugs and Blessings,

Michele"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named that according to the riches of His glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."
Ephesians 3:14-21 ESV


Pssst...by Law, I have to share there are affiliate links in here where I earn money from your purchase when you make a purchase! it's affiliate marketing and I love not having to sell stuff! And you know me, I am not gonna sell anything, but I will share everything! I love it! 

A Little About My Heart

 
Born and raised in the church, a Christ Follower, Kingdom Encourager, Wife, Mama, and an Overcomer! GLORY TO GOD!!

I lived most of my life fearful, anxious, and insecure.. I found myself always hiding but serving, striving for perfection in my less-thanness, as a way to earn my worth to self, God and others, sacrificing in the name of serving, hospitality and humility...putting others needs before my own from a place of hiding in my lack, and trying to earn value rather than serving in the space of grace, confident faith and overflowing love. 

Never attaining, only to lead a life of more insecurity, overwhelm, anxiety, and panic, screaming to break free from this bondage, to be that actual strong, courageous Christian Woman everyone else seemed to be, but me. 

BUT GOD.

In 2009, Where Faith Is was born as a blog, learning my voice behind the safety of a keyboard, building courage to speak my truth behind the screen...and here all these years later, Little by little, God is expanding my heart boundaries as He reveals more of His to me. I am so excited to share so freely! 

I especially love being an encourager to other encouragers in the faith who know they are called to encourage yet they themselves struggle with their value and ability. Isn't that how the enemy works? He tries to disqualify us in the same area we are called to shine! What an irony!  

I believe if more people let go of fear and insecurity, surrendered to grace and BELIEVED their value, their spark for life will return to a roaring fire that lights up wet wood! 

When women choose to walk courageous and strong in body, mind and spirit...they step out of the boat and walk on water as Peter did, part the waters like Moses and set more people FREE in His name through their Divine purpose to the Glory of GOD! We are each a Light House of Strength on the shorelines of Grace . 

Friend, you may not believe it, but you are meant for more than eat/sleep/work/repeat. You are also equipped with good works to serve and bless the Kingdom Body, and the world with His Love, through YOU! You've got to surrender your fear and let Him lead you.

You are more able than you think you are and most likely, the thing you feel is the weakest part of you is the strongest thing about you!

If you are an introvert too and want to be a part of our newly launching online community, we are here for you!! Let's Connect! It's an honor to encourage the Encouragers.

I am H.I.S. (Heart In Surrender & Service).

Hugs & Blessings, 
Michele

"So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." Philippians 2:1-4

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