Everything

Romans 8:28 says that all things work together for the good to those who love Yahweh and are called according to His purpose. I used to cling to this verse hoping that it were true because I was miserable, and I hoped that misery was at least somehow working some good somewhere.

It was.

Yahweh does not cause bad things to happen. He is good and so that would not be in His nature, and yet, He does redeem those bad things to the point of full redemption, if we let Him.

I am living in a time of profound gratitude for all that Yahweh has done in my life. It's rather amazing. I'll spare the gory details, but I've been through some pretty horrible things in my life. I know there's worse things out there, but I went through some things that I never wish to experience again.

I was clinically depressed for ten years. I weighed 387 pounds. I had no friends, no hope, no future. I didn't know what happiness even looked like. And even as Yahweh began to heal all of those things, I found that process of healing could be painful. I went through a season of time where I couldn't use my muscles properly. For a week and a half, I couldn't walk, and for a month I couldn't use my arms or fingers. I've been through panic attacks where I couldn't breathe. I lived in a dark apartment with no sunlight penetrating windows. I've seen people I love go through terrible things. I had the enemy tell me to try to give up and that I didn't matter. I hated my life and I hated myself.

And what I love about this is, Yahweh has redeemed it all! He healed me of depression, restored my physical body to me. He has given me an identity that cannot be assailed by doubt or fear. He has shown me that He loves me and He never meant for me to be unhappy. He has given me a love for Him and a love for myself. And then He has given me tangible blessings: a house to live in with many windows, the ability to open the door on my car after it was wrecked. I have an adorable dog who loves me. I have friends who are willing to help me with anything. I have confidants. I get to be a part of an ecclesia full of people who are willing to give up everything to receive Yahweh's Kingdom and move it forward in the Earth.

He has restored to me what the swarming locusts had eaten (Joel 2:25-27) and given me even more than I ever could have imagined.

Beyond that, He has made me into a person that I like. I am strong and courageous. I am faithful. I have Holy Spirit's power leading me and giving me the ability to do anything. I get to pour into the lives of the next generation. I can write poems and novels and blog posts. And I am still growing.

I am in tears at the marvels that Yahweh has done in my life and I'm even more amazed to know: there is more than even this!

And through all of it, everything, Yahweh was there, being my God, loving me, carrying me through the bad times and establishing me in the good times. He took care of me and is taking care of me. I was never alone, though I thought that was all I'd ever be. He will always be there for me, and He will always be the sovereign, redeeming, Lord and King of all.

This is my God, the One who can do such things, and I am so profoundly grateful...

For EVERYTHING.

Yahweh is Only Moved by His Word

Yahweh is only moved by His Word. Stop and consider that for a moment. Let Holy Spirit breathe life into that revelation, for it is huge and has many implications.

Yahweh is only moved by His Word.

I have been learning, recently, about the immutability of Yahweh's Word, of Yahweh Himself (Hebrews 6; Isaiah 40:7-8). I doubt I am done learning about this, because it is such a deep and important revelation about the nature of Yahweh Himself.

He is unchanging. Nothing in this world can change Him or cause Him to change His mind and His will toward us. That is so important to understand because He is not moved by our circumstances  or even our actions. Nothing moves Him but His Word. This is why He does not stop loving us when we sin or condemn us when we fail Him time and time again. Neither does He approve us when we are successful. That is not how we have His approval. That is not His Word.

His Word is salvation and life. He sent His Son, Yahshua, to fulfill His Word so that, by two immutable things in which it is impossible for Yahweh to lie, we might have strong consolation (Hebrews 6:18). His Word is approval and love, and it is based in Him, not in us.

He isn't changed by our actions, by our feelings, or by our circumstances. Nothing can change His love for us or His plans for us. This is not an excuse to sin, however. In fact, it is a warning against it. Because nothing moves Yahweh but His Word. Therefore, if you want Yahweh to move in your life, you'd better get in His Word. He cannot move in your life until you are in His Word, so while He is not angry at you or condemning you when you sin, sin does slow up His process of redemption because it stops Him from being able to work fully in you and in your life. (For clarity, the definition of sin is setting aside the Word of Yahweh.) Good news, though! The minute you stop sinning and resume operating in the Word of Yahweh, He can start working again!

So if you want Yahweh to move in your life, you'd better be in His Word. If you want Yahweh to move through your life, you'd better be His Word. Be so completely lined up with Him and His Word that you cannot separate yourself from it. Then, you have your identity, your very being, in Him.

And that's the best part! Yahweh's Word is based on, anchored in, Him. This hope is the anchor for our souls, which can often be buffeted by the storms of feelings and circumstances in this life. It is sure and steadfast in Him and He never changes. Therefore, if we anchor ourselves in Him, we shall also be unmoved by the storms of this life.

And as we are anchored in Him, He can flow--move--through us even as He promised (John 7:38).

HalleluYah!