For When You Forget

Hi there! It is such a gift to share a few moments together in this space today. 'Fully Devoted' certainly resonates with my personal focus of seeking God's divine will with all my heart, soul and mind. I am all in! Walking this life with Jesus holds the truth for me and has transformed every aspect of who I am and what I believe.

As a writer who loves the life-changing combination of studying words and the Bible, I am honoured to be here with you and grateful for the heart behind Noelle's blog community. I pray that what follows meets you right where you are- with encouragement, truth, and a gentle reminder that you are seen and deeply loved. When life gets complicated, confusing, or painful, remembering God's words will bring you strength and healing. 

Let's look at this scripture together:

Isaiah 43:1 

But now thus says the Lord, He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine."

The Lord was reassuring the people of Israel, through the prophet Isaiah, that though they were going through a difficult time of exile, feeling out of place & not comfortable with what was happening around them, they were not forsaken. Yes, there, in this unwelcome season of hardship, they could be assured of God's love & presence with them. He reminds them of some important things they likely had forgotten, as we often do when things get tough. God's ancient word is always ready to provide a fresh reassurance, because the lessons of the past teach us to reflect & the proven power of God's presence compels us to trust again. As He spoke to the Jews then, God continues to confirm His presence with us now. What do you need a reminder of today, friend? 

He who created you

God got creative with the world right from the start, and He was especially passionate about mankind. Have you noticed the human body? Oh, the detail and complexity! The ingenuity and purpose behind how we think and function together with all of nature is a wondrous miracle. 

We can understand creativity. We create what we desire. We put time and effort into the many steps required. Whether it is baking a cake or building a home, we add different elements and consider how they will then fulfill a task. When we create, we spend time thinking about it and get a mental image of what is to come. Can you picture the blank canvas becoming vibrant? He created you!

He who formed you

God is not just a builder; He is a designer. God laid out the blueprints, wrote the recipe, and He set His deeply affectionate thoughts around us - the specifics of design come from a heart & mind with a bigger picture. A design is formed from a vision.The preparations were taken to form us into God's masterpiece, so we can also be confident that our days are not happenstance, nor our steps without purpose. A design holds a treasured plan. God is not surprised by your life. He formed you!

Fear not, for I have redeemed you

God knew that His creation would face a degree of uncertainty, mistakes would be made, and that grace would be needed. And then scripture tells us not to be afraid. Why did He create us to have the capacity to feel fear and then tell us to "fear not"? Perhaps it was so we would lean on Him & be dependent on His knowledge and power? Perhaps sin bent us out of the original design of living in security and peace? 

God is not worried. The creator takes back His broken possession and compensates for what has shifted. Being redeemed by Jesus means we can feel safe. Being redeemed is why we do not have to question life in an exiled world. Redemption took care of the separation. God knows the full value of His handiwork. He redeemed you!

I have called you by name 

Whatever the reason for our struggle with feeling fear in life, God does give us the solution to overcome it- the knowledge of being His child! our Heavenly Father knows our name, as He speaks our name with love, it tells us something about the relationship. Calling someone by name is the opposite of being distant. It's a closeness that brings familiarity and changes how we respond to each other. We can decide to listen for our name, allow Him in close & then respond to His love. He makes it personal, and to me, it feels very protective. God knows your name. He has called out to you!

You are mine

His. With a choice. You can choose to receive the truth of His attention, embrace Jesus' sacrifice & celebrate His eternal plans for you. You can choose to hang the life-size portrait of brilliance in full view. His focus is on you. He sees you. God loved you first. He loves you more!

When you forget. Repeat after me.

"I am created, formed, redeemed, and known.

I am yours, Lord & I won't be afraid. I love you too."

Suggested Scriptures to Explore:

• Isaiah 46:9-10

• 1 John 3:1-2

• Romans 8:29-30

• Psalms 81

Blessings, Vanessa

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A little about me...

I have been writing and rewriting a life of faith & health for over 50 years. Within this journey of living-well, I have discovered the value of turning pages & sharing words of hope wherever I can as a wife, mom, nurse, & friend. Often found with a pen in hand, I love a purpose-filled calender that presents an oppourtunity to change what has been written and bring wholeness. I believe there is always something new to learn from one another, my greatest joy lies in the healing blend of silent moments and meaningful converstaions.

I am bent to live a little too much on the serious side of life, perhaps I am working on this. 😊

For me, the adventure side of living-well will always invite travel, new food and the tender hands of those who call me nana.

"At the end of every chapter in this life, I keep reading because of the beauty I see in the dreams of my children." - Vanessa House.