In “Other” Words…

by Lori

“Wherever you are spiritually whatever you have been through emotionally, you are already wrapped in the Lord’s embrace. Held close by nail-scarred hands.” ~ Liz Curtis Higgs

While growing up my family did not travel too much. I was fortunate to have family that lived close by. I grew up with all of my extended family around me. But I always had a desire to travel, to “see the world”. When I met manly man, he never lived anywhere more than 2 years because he was from a military family. So with him I saw adventure, excitement; I knew if I married this man I would see the world.

What was not communicated was I wanted to “travel” not move away from everyone. It was God’s plan that I move to the complete opposite side of the US from all my family. When I moved, my relationship with Christ was not that good, he was my SOS God at the time. I had messed things up in my life, manly man and I began our marriage on shaky ground, and now I was moving away from all I knew (everything that brought me comfort). I was also a new mother of a 4 month old baby.

It was at that time, when the Lord took everything I went to away from me, that I began to feel wrapped in the Lord’s embrace. It is true God is a jealous God, if there are people or things you go to first before going to him. Some how God will remove that obstacle so that you will go to Him first. I learned this the hard way. When I got to the point where everything was taken away and everyone, I realized God was all I really needed. He comforted me with a warm winter blanket, soothed my crying, and showed me the right way to go. He became my everything.

I thank God those nail-scarred hands never let me go.

Head on over to Sting My Heart, Iris is a wonderful host.

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  • Amydeanne
    a little behind this week, but what a great testimony! I can relate all too well to this post! Thanks for being so open!
  • Susanne
    Laurel that post absolutely moved me and convicted and motivated me. In your few paragraphs you spoke volumes.
  • Mommy Dearest
    Just lovely, and so true...
  • Linda
    I think that is a lesson that we all must learn. It is so easy to run to someone or something else. Something tangible and visible. We had a Bible Study once where one of the things the author said about times of trouble was: "Go to the throne, not the phone." As cute as it was, it was a real wakeup "call' for me. I tend to run to call my Mom or my friends whenever things go wrong. Now I try to take a minute and stop myself from doing that. I need to go to Him first. Thanks for a wonderful post.
  • MugwumpMom
    Wonderful. He truly is our end all and be all isn't He. So glad you learned that lesson and can tell it to others now.
  • Judi
    Amen! I needed to read this! :)
  • taya
    So true! We have to be willing to give things up in order to get them back! Bless you!
  • Imperfect Christian
    It took me losing everything before I realized that He had left me with what mattered the most. What I saw as a removal from my life was actually the offering of much more than I ever realized I had. He works in mysterious ways, but He does work! I'm only sad it took me so long to see that!
  • Christine
    Wonderful post. If God were not jealous, He wouldn't care about how or with whom we spend our time and our relationship would be superficial at best. Thanks for this reminder!
  • Darlene
    Laurel, I love the reminder that God is a jealous God. When I listen to The Heart of Worship, they have a powerful worship at the end that says, "You will not share your glory with another." That always moves me to make Him the only God in my life and to make sure that nothing else gets in the way.
  • Kelly
    Laurel, thank you for sharing. I, too, have gone through a "stripping away" process where I was taken away from many people and things that I used for direction, comfort, and fulfillment. ALthough not fun, I realized how faithful and all-sufficient He is. In Henri nouwen's book "Life of the Beloved", he talks about how God leads us to a place of brokenness for a purpose. Thanks again for sharing!
  • Especially Heather
    my SOS God

    Oh how I can relate! Up until my daughters diagnosis, he was my "SOS God" too. The amazing thing is that he never once left me, although I pushed away from him for so many years.

    Thank you for sharing your heart today, I really enjoyed reading your thoughts on todays CWO quote :)

    Heather
  • Ann V.
    "When he took everything away from me..."

    So true, LW... sometimes He strips us of the things of this earth, so we might finally turn to Him...the only place of true warmth and embrace.

    Beautiful...

    All is gift,
    Ann V.
  • Beckie
    Great post Laurel. God truly is amazing and always knows what we need when we need it.

    Blessings to you.
  • lori
    Amen! Praise God you turned to Him.
  • Becky
    You have such talent for expressing yourself with words, but in particular, I really connected with your referral to God as an "SOS God" (guilty of that myself) and God being a jealous God (guilty of that, as well). I will be back to visit.
  • MiPa
    It is so true that He is a jealous God and He will take us to the place where we not only need but will recognize His embrace.

    Wonderful post!
  • Loni
    Beautifully written, Laurel. When we were first married we too were on our "own" and had no one to run home to . . . and we know that was the beginning of the foundation of God building our home. Thank you for sharing.
  • Nicole
    What a powerful post! I loved your analogy!! This is my first time here. I came from Splatter Painted's and I am glad that I did. It seems that you are everything that she claimed you were. :)
  • Barb
    You do every time, Laurel Wreath. You post exactly what I need to read right when I need it most.

    You don't have to move far away to be disconnected from everyone. I'd say that's the process I had to struggle through. I was near my family but we weren't close.

    Losing a brother three years ago changed all that. And the fear of losing another one last week just reinforced it.

    Distance between us and our families is one thing. Distance between us and God is another thing entirely.

    It took me a while to realize where my warm blanket was and to cover myself with it again. In the process, I also found my family again.
  • eph2810
    I know the feeling, Laurel. I guess that why God transplanted me 6,000 miles from my home - where I felt comfortable. But to be honest -- I do enjoy my desert dwelling :)...

    Thank you for reminding me that God has reasons why He up-roots us. Because, no matter where we live on this planet - Heaven is our home...
  • Kelli
    I can only say- Yeah and Amen. So,- Yeah and A-a-a-a-a--a-amen. I'm felling your words all over me right now. Alllll over.

    Love you LW- you keep me focused.
  • Elisa
    Praise the Lord He pricked your heart and showed you that He is all you need. God has used my twins to bring me to the point you faced by moving across the US.

    He knows each of us, doesn't He! And he knows what it will take to get our attention. I pray we will be obedient to the lessons He is teaching us right here and now, and through one another.

    Blessings on you this night!
  • Heather
    Oh yes, He does take away everything that stand in the way of our love for Him. What an awesome Go, wiling to discipline us, despite our whining and complaining, just so we can get good and close to Him.
  • Nic
    Dearest - I love the analogy of the "warm Winter blanket". That thought, that imagry is just so comforting. You are wonderfully special, lady. Glad to know you through CWO and the IOW, but also outside of that venue.
  • Fiddledeedee (It Coulda' Been
    You have a way of putting it down that just floors me my spiritual friend.

    BTW, you know just how God wraps his arms around us like a warm blanket? You're gonna need it tonight sister! It's getting cold. Woo hoo.
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