No, I haven't been camping out in the woods for an extended period of time. As absolutely wonderful as that would be in my mind, the title of this post is not about a good ole camping trip. The idea of encampment came from the book You're Already Amazing by Holley Gerth. In her book, she talks about where God is leading us and the different stages of the journey in reference to the Israelite's journey from Egypt to the Promised Land.
You see, I had been in 'Egypt' for a while but in chains in Egypt with hope of something greater since about March of this year. I struggled, I was whipped to the bone, I was broken.
God lifted me and took me out of Egypt... into the desert for me to be with Him, to prepare me, to love on me, and to give me rest.
And there in the desert, in the camp where I spent 60 days in the center of His hands, He prepared me for the journey ahead. I learned many lessons in the time there, lessons I will be sharing for the remainder of my life... but before I begin going into those things, I figured I could share some excerpts from that time.
" Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, God 'has made everything beautiful in its time. He also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.' That verse speaks to what it's like to be in the mysterious middle -- of circumstances, of unmet expectations, of the journey from Egypt to Home. When we're in the 'middle' of life, we can take comfort in knowing we're right in the center of God's hands too.
If you feel 'encamped' in your life right now, it may be for any of the purposes we talked about above. Whatever the reason, use this time to rest and receive the truth your heart needs for the journey. You are loved. God has a purpose for you. He is working out his plans for your life.
And just when you least expect it, you'll be on your way so he can take you all the way to the Promised Land. "
From You're Already Amazing by Holley Gerth
August 10, 2018
Instructed to write a letter from God to ourselves in that very moment:
Darby,
I created you. Do you hear me? I am the same One ho paints the skies you look at in awe; I created you. You are more beloved to me than the mountains and the skies, than the painted fields in the spring. I love you more and created you with more art and thought than those.
You are my prized creation. Out of it all-- you are loved by Me more.
I did not create you to only witness those beautiful things around you, but to be the beautiful and passionate woman you are and to recognize it. You have to let me have control. Look how the skies have no control and the work I do there-- can you not trust me to do far more for you, my love? Can you stop abusing my creation, you, and begin to let me love and heal you with complete abandon of control?
I got this.
I have you, I always have. I love you.
- God
September 2, 2018
God is so good...
My God is powerful, gentle, and wonderfully strong.
He speaks with grand truth in quiet ways.
He shows His hand by the mouths of broken women seeking a Power greater than themselves.
He moves in my heart with the force of armies in the stillness of a song.
He breaks down my walls with kindness and completeness, showing me more of Himself and more of my need for Him.
He abounds in Grace and is jealous for my heart.
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