Okay, sorry. I couldn't resist that teaser title! I just wanted to share what a wonderful time I'm having.
I've been doing what is popularly called "inner healing" work, and it's been amazing, powerful and surprising.
And I really feel like I AM having a love affair... with God! In a most glorious and holy sense. I "met" Him in 1975. My life was forever changed... yet I still overate. Many things changed... but not my habit of using food inappropriately.
Over the years our relationship weathered all kinds of storms... the typical highs and lows of life. Yet He was always there for me. Nuthin special about ME... it was Him and His love. He's just that way. :-)
A couple of days ago I stumbled upon a book I read years ago called "The Sacred Romance", by Brent Curtis & John Eldredge. I dusted it off and glanced through it, and was swept back in time to when I first read it. Tears welled up as I remembered the feelings I had when I read it. What an experience! Changed forever the way I saw me, God, the yearning of our hearts, His love for me/us.
Part of the blurb on the back of the book says:
"The Sacred Romance invites us to see what God is doing behind the scenes of our lives to woo us to Himself. A glimpse of His wild beauty arouses our desire and puts us on a journey to capture or be captured by love..."
Please... if anyone is open to looking at things a bit differently than normal, this is the book for you. Not churchy or preachy. Simply beautiful! You can buy a used copy on Amazon for 1 penny plus shipping, and it'll be one of the most loving things you ever did for yourself!
Well... that's not what I had intended to write! LOL!
I meant to say that during this inner healing work, I've felt so wrapped up in Love, and so totally supported by God, and feeling like all shame and guilt over what I did to myself has been peeled away and healed. I feel free from it, totally. And in it's place is this cuddly soft cashmere wrap of Understanding, Encouragement and Love.
Yep, I'm having a wonderful time. I'm following the lessons in a book I recently finished reading. I'm so new to it, that I hesitate to write all about it yet. I'm no expert, that's a for sure! But if there is interest here, I suppose will.
(Joey about to exit her doggie door)
Jim and Joey are on vacation, camping out. Jim called and said it was chilly at night, and that Joey immediately crawled INSIDE the sleeping bag with him.
So it's all quiet here on the home front. I think that is why I was able to just quiet myself and see some of this breakthrough progess. :-)
(Joey was raised with 2 kitties who like to get up on things.
I think Joey must think she is a cat!)
My book quote for today: "The true story of every person in this world is not the story you see, the external story. The true story of each person is the journey of his or her heart." --Curtis & Eldredge, The Sacred Romance
My verse for today: "The Lord is God, and he has made his light shine upon us."
My quote for today: "Be like the bird who, pausing on her flight on limb too slight, feel it give way beneath her, yet sings, knowing she hath wings." --Victor Hugo
Enjoy the inner Journey,
Loretta
=^..^=
DAY 999
17 comments:
Loved this, Loretta. :)
I've been rehearsing my message for tomorrow and the big theme is--->being released from shame. :D
Yep. No coincidences here.
You may be interested in the verses God gave me for tomorrow.
When He let me know that I would be talking to women who carried regret and shame re: their parenting, I asked Him what I was supposed to say to them.
Immediately, Isaiah 40 came to mind. Here is the passage: "Comfort ye, O Comfort ye, My people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem. Proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed and her sin has been paid for."
How cool is that?
And, then, there I was led to Romans 8:32-39 which basically says that "Nothing, nothing, nothing can separate us from the love of God thru Christ Jesus, our Lord." and Romans 8:1&2--"There is therefore NOW no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus because the law of the Spirit who gives life has set us free from the law of sin and death."
Yes. God is good.
I'm so glad you shared this post with us.
Deb
Yes, thank you for sharing Loretta! And thank you for that kind comment on my blog. I was just thinking today that I hadn't heard from Loretta about my 'art' and started worrying. I really appreciate your opinion.
And the book Sacred Romance? I needed this reminder. I actually have a problem conceiving that God loves me, and my pastor recommended it to me quite a while ago, and I forgot. I am clicking over right now to order it!!
What an amazing post, Loretta. Thanks for sharing your experiences. I could almost feel the joy you are feeling. Shame is a hard burden to bear, and those of us who struggle with weight often have more than our share. What a release. I'm going to look into the book.
love this...the biggest hurdle...our own self condemnation. I am glad you are letting it go.
I have not read this book but just from your post, I will put it on my list...You explained this so beautifully. As you know, I am heavily involved in a project right now, and I am going through similar experiences that are creating that sense of being wrapped in love!
Beautifully inspiring words
Thanks for the interesting info. and the wonderful update! So glad to hear that you are doing well.
You always encourage me and this post combined with Deb's bible verses touches my heart anew.
Blessings.
Wow... I agree, no coinky dink!
I love those verses... and my experiences lately felt just like a loving DaddyGod speaking tenderly to me, with comfort and love.
Shame is a heavy yoke... I pray many are set free tomorrow by the message He's given you to share.
I wasn't just being polite, I really loved that design!
And I'm re-reading the book myself. I know you'll love it.
You are right... lots of joy, and peace and just... a feeling of relaxing. It's funny, when I started my post, I had no plan at all to mention that book. But it just popped up so strongly in my thinking... I know it'll bless you. :-)
It's been a long time coming... to stop regretting, feeling shame, the what ifs and if onlys.
I believe in taking responsibility, but for too long I've gotten that tangled up with shame and guilt.
No more. :-)
Thank you, Jules. And I just knew you'd understand.
Thanks YellowRoseJasmine. I've been thinking of that old hymn lately... "It Is Well With My Soul". Sort of feels like a good fit. :-)
I'm so glad to hear that... it almost felt a little self-indulgent as I wrote the post... but then I thought, so what? No drama here, just feeling nice. There are plenty of drama-of-the-day blogs to choose from, so I guess it's okay to just be a calm port in the storm once in a while. ;-)
I like in Blogdom to see people taking the space and time to recognize their spirituality.
My Life by Mary J Blige says it all for me.
Happy Mother's Day!
Ooh, I went to youtube and listened to that song. Now I know why you like it... lovely!!
This is wonderful to read, Loretta. I think it's important we learn to quit beating ourselves up and learn to love ourselves. It's a great love affair. :) Hope you're enjoying the quiet. Jay was gone, too, but is back now. We're going to the Renaissance Fair in Central Point on Saturday. I'm really excited. We're going to stop at the Vortex in Gold Hills, too.
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