Finding Me

For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

When Christ, who is our life, is revealed,

then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.…

Colossians 3:3-4

 After  the story of Esther's release it felt strange to add anything beyond the beautiful resolution to her situation and so, I let it sit. Now, just a bit over six months later, I think it is time for me to continue. Esther, she is doing so wonderfully.  She is growing and learning and has a reputation of being a little fashionista. I received a picture of her the other day and she had at least six bright plastic rings on her fingers and even more clips in her hair.  She is funny and joy filled.  Just to think where she was this time last year still stings my heart but at the same time drives me to my knees in thanksgiving to God for the miracle of her life.  

I am now becoming so much more aware that while God allowed me to participate in the finding of Esther,  she got to participate in the finding of  me.  Not that I was lost in the sense that most people might think, but I believe that there was treasure hidden inside me that I never knew existed.  

The journey that ended in Esther's release required a dependence upon God like I have never known before.  There were days that we knew unless He moved, we were helpless.  I was forced to operate in a minute by minute intimacy with Him, and this is where I learned the most about me.  I found strength and resolve, love and compassion, patience, which was a real surprise, and courage beyond the measures I thought capable.  As my life became completely dependent upon Christ through this process,  I found the me He always planned for me to be. the one that shines the brightest when we are unified in heart and mission.

There has always been a ME that God sees even when I can’t. The one that is made complete in Christ and can do all things when my heart is fully surrendered, and He is allowed to work in and through my life. It is this ME that He makes good plans for that will bring a future and a hope.  It is this ME that he calls and sends out with the Good News because He knows I am perfectly suited to every task He has planned.  The one who can do greater things than He even did.  The one who can run and not grow weary, walk and never faint. The one who can walk through the fire of adversity and fear no evil because I am fully convinced that he is with me.

I can't find this ME, in the daily practices of religion, or in anything I can accomplish on my own.  What I find there is the best I can be but it is not the ME He sees, the one He says He knew before I ever took a breath and the one he calls beautifully and wonderfully made.  His inspiration.

I would never have come to know that ME if I hadn’t made a decision to believe AND to follow Him into places I never thought I would go and I do things I never thought I could do. I honestly didn’t think I had it in me and truth was, without Him working through me, I didn’t. We were made to do great things which our heavenly Father prepared in advance for us to do, BUT this must be accomplished in partnership with Him. He completes us.

The Kingdom of God is a beautiful partnership!

He is planted in my heart and I am hidden in His.

I pray you follow Him into places you never thought you would go and do things you never thought you could. I pray you encounter things beyond your capacity and strength so you learn to live in His. I pray you will know the joy of finding yourself complete in Him.

As you learn to surrender your life to His plans and His purposes that are so much more grand than what you can possibly accomplish on your own, I pray you will begin to find the YOU that God always meant for you to be.

Love from home,
Julie