The Journey - New Beginnings

We are burgeoning with new beginnings. Presently at the top of our list is a new grandchild. We are on baby watch. Jase should arrive any day.

Aside from a new baby, we've had lots of other new beginnings this year. 

A new perspective on life - Ezra's miracle. 

He went from this on March 22nd.

To this on June 2nd. 

The Lord has blessed us.

We are also in our new home and we moved my mom into a new place too. I've started another book and my first non-fiction (a memoir) will be birthed this summer. I'll tell you more about that in the weeks to come.

All of these new beginnings have set me to thinking about a huge new beginning that took place in my life nearly forty years ago. I was twenty-three and separated from my husband of four years. I was shipwrecked -  living on my own and grieving the death of my marriage. I had other deaths in my life that year - a dear friend died, my father died and I lost a baby. 

The Lord can resurrect shipwrecked lives and dead marriages. The devastation dropped me to my knees, which is where I needed to be. It's a place where we can meet God.

The Lord had been trying to get my attention all of my life, but I'd turned my face from Him. I wasn't even sure I believed in God. 

During the alone days after my marriage crumbled I cried a lot, every day, and I came to understand heartache. I still loved my husband, but he didn't love me. I thought I'd received what I deserved. Childhood wounds had convinced me I was worthless trash and being cast aside by the world and by my husband was all that could be expected for someone like me.

And then, an incredible thing happened. An old friend stopped by to see me. As teenagers, Kathie and I had gotten ourselves into all sorts of trouble, but now she was different. She'd found the Lord. That night she didn't say a lot about her new-found faith, but she did ask if we could watch the 700 Club (her new favorite television show). We watched and I pretended to be uninterested. 

Before Kathie left, she told me, "I just want to say one thing. Jesus loves you."

She didn't lay out a four-step plan or lecture me she just told me I was loved. That good news went straight to my heart. I pretended not to care but inside I rejoiced. Someone loved me! 

In the days to come, Kathie's words stayed with me and the Holy Spirit drew me to the Lord until one afternoon I turned on the the 700 Club. I'm not advocating television evangelism, but can't deny that God uses all kinds of ways to reach the lost. 

Pat Robertson shared the gospel that day, and I knew God was speaking to me. I needed a Savior. Right there in front of the television I dropped to my knees and prayed with Mr. Robertson. I believed Jesus went to the cross for me and that he loved me in a way that I couldn't even begin to comprehend. I became His. 

I was loved!

Filled with inexpressible joy I cried and cried as years of hurt were washed away in my tears. I don't know how long I kneeled there, but when I stood up I was a new person. Filled with the Holy Spirit and God's love.

It was a new beginning.

My life has never been the same. Like a new born foal I stood on wobbly legs, but I stood. My hunger for God's Word was insatiable and with each passing day I grew wiser and stronger. 

The journey that began all of those years ago continues. I've had mountain top experiences and I've wandered in dark valleys, but the Lord has never left me. He is good all the time. He restored my marriage, blessed Greg and I with three children and a passel of grandchildren. 

Life is filled with joys and sorrows, but there is also hope . . . always hope.

New beginnings can be scary, but mostly they are amazing. I thank the Lord for loving me just as I was and just as I am. And I praise Him for new beginnings. 

Grace and peace to you from God,

Bonnie


I'd love to hear about your new beginnings. Do you have a testimony you'd like to share? Send your story to me at bonnie.leon52@gmail.com and with your permission I'll post it here.

Quiet Moments With God -- Prayer

My last entry was a heart felt and passionate letter from a woman who fears for her country. Like her, I’m deeply concerned. And although it’s imperative that we stand up for what we believe, we must first pray—for one another, for our leaders, for our president.

Prayer is something of a puzzle to me. Certainly God can do exactly as He chooses when He chooses, and yet He tells us to pray. I know that speaking to God draws me closer to Him. Obviously prayer has a lot to do with our relationship. However, there are examples in the Bible where God didn’t move until His people prayed. I am convicted by 2nd Chronicles 7:14 where He says, “Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.” I believe this. God does not lie.

There is a word tucked inside this verse we dare not overlook. It is the word THEN. Then is an important word in scripture. It often follows the idea of, "if you—then I will". Simply wanting change isn’t enough to bring it about. God states that we must be humble, pray, seek Him and turn from our wicked ways—then He will forgive us and restore our land.

So much of God is a mystery to me. I don’t know exactly how He plans to work out His will in my life and in the lives of those I love, but I do know that His Word is true and I’d best heed what He has to say.

And so . . . I pray that I will be humble in all my ways. I pray I will seek God with a heart that longs for Him above all else. And I pray His goodness will prevail over my wickedness. And I pray that those who are called by His Name will pray for our country. God will not abandon us if we do not abandon Him.

Grace and peace to you from God.

Bonnie