~”I am who I am because of who God has made me to be.”~Dr. Charles F. Stanley, Living in the Shadows of Loneliness Sermon~

I listened intently to Dr. Stanley’s sermon today at First Baptist Church of Atlanta and have a couple of things I will share with you, dear reader, that I have learned since coming into a relationship with Jesus Christ….

1. No friend can bring the ultimate satisfaction in a relationship that Jesus Christ can. This was a lesson that I had to learn the hard way. After my best friends from college made the personal decision to reject me, I had to reevaluate my circle of friends. I even had to let certain friends go because of reasons that were threatening to my sense of peace, love, and satisfaction with my relationship with God. My relationship with God comes first. Friends second.
2. No family member can bring the ultimate satisfaction in a mother-daughter or father-daughter that Jesus Christ can. I love my family. I love them. Very much. And I honor both of my parents as the 10 commandments teaches. Since my relationship with God has grown over the years, I have learned to forgive both of my parents even through the pains that their divorce caused on me for many years. When you forgive a person, you have two choices:
   1. Let them go from your life.
   2. Set boundaries with them.
   3. Both

I chose to forgive them (not reject them) and set healthy boundaries with them that are good for my health and well being since that is the God-honoring thing to do.

3. No counselor, psychiatrist, or medication can permanently heal wounds. In other words, they just reopen back up. I have taken medication and seen counselors in the past in order to “cure,” my depression, but have come to terms after hearing Dr. Stanley’s sermon today that they do not heal you. They just lead you around and around in circles. I have learned that from experience. Only a true and pure relationship with Jesus Christ can heal you. I realized that Jesus is the Ultimate Healer and now, I am ready to receive all of His healing. May the healing begin. Starting now. Fully. In Jesus’ name.

I thank God for getting me through almost all of 2017. 2017 was a hard year. The hardest year in five years. I thank God for it though because it only made me a stronger woman of the King who delights in me. Who is using me to be salt and light at First Baptist Church of Atlanta. To my real friends. Friends from the past. And with my family. I thank God for it all. Thank you Jesus for the healing that is taking place right now. I receive it now, in Your precious name.

~”Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him, bless his name.”~Psalm 100:4~

~”One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire upon his temple.”~Psalm 27:4~

~”For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.”~Psalm 30:5~

May Christmas 2017 lead into a year full of rich and abundant blessings in 2018. May God bless you and keep you beloved. 🙂