Wow, how can I keep this to just ONE writing?
I can't, so I wrote a book about it (LEGACY: Crafting Your Child's Future With Words, just released by my publishing imprint, Covenant Treasures.)! But through the years, even when I didn't know much about God because I was "dunked and dropped" (read: not trained in the ways of the King) but knew I was saved (which happened at age 9 at Vacation Bible School--let's hear it for VBS!!!), I had faith, and that faith in a God Who loved me and was bigger than me and any situation (even though I had the wrong idea that He was a perfectionist and not pleased with my many failings), kept me sane and alive--literally. Through the various trials of my 30 years since age 9, God gave me a phrase that, especially in times of duress, would pop out of my mouth: "God has a plan!" and indeed, when I was so depressed over a decade ago that I asked God to take my life, instead of taking me home, He gave me Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you,' says the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope." HALLELUJAH!
He has led me to many verses that have strengthened my faith, especially Psalm 46:1 and Psalm 34:4. But not just those! And turning to the Word of God, leaning on it, gritting my teeth if necessary and knowing that, no matter how my mind and/or body is screaming otherwise, THE WORD WORKS. And that FAITH in the Word is the legacy I am striving to leave, impart to, plant deep within my 10-year-old, and many more (spiritual) children! HALLELUJAH!
Always, GOD HAS A PLAN! And having the faith to KNOW that, even when I hated the situation I was in, didn't understand it, or was trying to make it better somehow (even if I did the wrong thing), I had the FAITH that, loving DAddy God that He was, He would stay true to His unyielding character of goodness and RESCUE me--even though I did not deserve it.
And truly, as Psalm 118 something says, "He rescued me because He delighted in me."
I have faith in that. And, though I see through a glass darkly, I have faith that Jesus is risen and goes ahead of me, and has it all worked out. I have faith that GOD is good and true and, just because His ideas are often different than mine and I may not agree at first, I know He WILL bring me around to HIs way of thinking. It is, after all, HIS plans that prevail, not mine (praise God)! And I have faith in that.
May you enjoy the following. May it build your faith!
http://www.christian-writing-career.com/reflections061906.html
MORE for Him,
Tonja Taylor
CovenantTreasures@yahoo.com