Dancing in the Light

I John 1:7 "If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin."

Name:
Location: North Platte, Nebraska, United States

I am a christian wife, mother and grandmother. I am a licensed Social worker and a licensed Christian counselor. I am most proud of the relationships I have with God, my family and friends all over the world. I have been blessed beyond my dreams.

Thursday, May 03, 2007

Noticed

My daddy was a preacher and for the greater part of my childhood, I went to church, I sang hymns and I memorized scripture. I went to youth rallies, bible camps and bible bowls. I am very grateful for an upbringing that focused on God. However, when I became a young adult, a wife and mother, I realized I did not have a faith of my own and I began to question the faith of my parents. I rebelled against God, railed against His people and avoided His worship. My parents had moved out of state and so I knew they would not notice. I embraced sin, even sought it out, although I believe now, it would have found me anyway. While I was not out drinking and carousing and using drugs, I was a prime candidate for the corps of satan. I was headed down a path that would mean the destruction of my soul. I was miserable and lost and afraid and hopeless. And God noticed.
He sent someone to love my soul, someone to remind of the love and zeal that had once been a part of my character. He pricked my conscience and broke my spirit and I fell to my knees, seeking His forgiveness, searching for my faith, striving to regain my spiritual footing. And God noticed. He wrapped His arms around me, He used a Christian sister, full of compassion and evangelistic fervor, a woman without a judgemental bone in her body and together they drew me back into a committed and intimate relationship with Him, back into a relationship with His body, back into peace. Once again, I experienced that overwhelming sense of hope and the unrelenting sense of purpose that propelled me into service for Him.
Sometimes, I feel burned out and overwhelmed with ministering. Somedays I feel like I have been beating my head against the wall. Sometimes my heart is broken by the decisions of those I love. I feel satan pushing, pulling, attacking, aiming to harm and destroy my faith. Sometimes my own selfish wants and desires keep me from choosing the path God would have me choose. Then I get confused, blinded by the cares of the world and I begin to think it truly is about me. Sometimes I feel all alone. So I withdraw, try to hide in the crowd, believing if I am really quiet and don't make waves, I can escape unnoticed. But God notices.
His Spirit reminds me that I am not my own, that I am not alone, and that my Father has plans for me. His Word instructs me, shows me the path I should take, shows me that my God is a promise keeping God and teaches me to rely on Him, to focus on Him, to look to Him. His people encourage and uplift me. They tell me that they love me and pray for me, reminding me that I am not alone. His daily blessings remind me that He loves me and that I am nothing without Him. All that I am and all that I have are because of Him, and I re-learn that it is not about me---it is about God. (Thanks Chris)
When my Lord returns, I have faith that the King of Kings will recognize me as one of His own. I have the assurance that He will take me to live with Him eternally. I have the promise that there will then be no more hardship, no night, no tears.
This journey we are on is often difficult. Times are often hard and discouragement often runs rampant. But we have the God of Creation on our side. We have His promises and His helps and His guides. He is the Giver of strength, the Giver of courage, the Giver of hope. And He is never far from -----us all we have to do is take notice.

Peace
Neva

19 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Neva,
What a powerful post. I am grateful that God notices us and sends us what we need to help us. Thank you for reminding me.

Pat

7:49 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It is time for us all to sit up and take notice. Thanks for the nudge


Dan

8:23 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Neva,
To be honest, I am disappointed. Given your evangelistic bent and your social services heart, I really thought from the title, you were going to post about our responsibility to notice others, to perhaps prevent things like the VT massacre, to bring lost souls to Jesus, to notice church members on the fringe. Did you think about those things? This post seems to be about you. Not what we are really used to when we come here.
What's up?

Interested Bystander

9:36 AM  
Blogger Neva said...

Dear Interested Bystander,
sorry for the disappointment. Sometimes I write posts about my own experiences hoping readers might relate and find some hope or encouragement. I did not think about the other slant that you took. But I wish I had. Maybe YOU should start a blog and post it. :)
I do appreciate you coming by, sorry you were disappointed today. Maybe tomorrow will be better (wink, wink)
Peace
Neva

9:43 AM  
Blogger CL said...

Neva,

First time visitor. But I would say its a good post. It takes a lot for someone to open up their hearts and share the struggles and hurt and the things that you did. I say keep going, this is just as good as anything you could write. Remember, it's your blog, write what you'd like to, we're just along for the ride.
Shalom!

10:11 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I wasn't disappointed at all. I knew what you meant and I am encouraged by your insights and your journey. We all have those times. Keep up the good work.

Rachel

10:39 AM  
Blogger TREY MORGAN said...

Neva ... I feel where you're coming from. Satan loves to remind us of our past. He loves to tell us we're not worthy to do what we do.

Like Paul we press on, forgetting what is behind.

Thanks for you honesty.

11:08 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Neva,

I thought the post was great. I read you daily, but comment rarely. I had to comment today as I am very encouraged to read about return to the Lord after a period of rebelliousness. My eldest is going through the rebelliousness now and it is my ardent prayer that those years of planting the word of God and the love of God in her heart will one day turn her...and hopefully she will run into a dear sister like you ran into. (In fact, your own dear mother is often that woman for all of my children...and myself!)

1:27 PM  
Blogger The Preacher's Household: said...

I have noticed you and I usually catch you doing good. I appreciate how the past can motivate us and help us understand so that we can do the things that IB mentioned.
Kathy

1:45 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have known you for a long time. That rebellious time you write of was long long ago. I appreciate that you still remember the lessons you learned from that time. God bless you.

Kel

7:11 PM  
Blogger Neva said...

Chris, thanks for visiting, please feel free to come back again.Thanks for the kind words.

His Girl, I too have a child who is being rebellious. I am convinced that God loves him as much as I do. And so we wait and pray. I will say a prayer for your daughter. I am glad you came to visit and comment. Come back again.

Peace and prayers
Neva

8:05 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Isn't it amazing how that God can bring glory to himself by using broken people???

Thank you, Neva, for sharing your story. God has noticed numerous people who have needed him and worked things out so that he could be found. I, too, am one of those who wandered off, only to be drawn back by his love and greatness, seen through others who are living for him.

Thanks for all your encouraging words.

8:19 PM  
Blogger Bobby Cohoon said...

Good Job sis! I think we all rebelled in some way or another.

Bobby

8:27 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I for one am eternally grateful that God noticed me and that when things are rough he still notices me and sends just what I need. I like this post, Neva. I am right there with you.

Jeneane

8:39 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

A great post!! Being noticed by the master of all is a great thing.

Carlos

8:58 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I was noticed by God, too. And then He sent you to help bring me to Him. Praise God for noticing.

Shari

9:51 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What is man that God "notices" him?


Indeed. Praise the Lord for noticing us and loving us enough to redeem us. Bless you for this post sister.

Bethany

10:31 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

neva-
The apostle Paul always brought people to Christ by telling them how far God had gone in his life to bring him to Christ.

You did good.

11:10 PM  
Blogger Mommysmart said...

Neva,

I felt like I was reading my own story. What a beautiful way to explain our patient God. Again, I was moved by your words. Your posts are such blessings.

5:50 PM  

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