REDEMPTION COMES ~ BY GUEST NAN JONES

Guest Blogger ~ Nan Jones, @NanJonesAuthor
With Marcie Bridges, @Marcie_Bridges

I’ve been sitting here for the past 10 minutes in my little corner of the house, head cupped within my hands, trying to decide how to introduce my guest this week. Not because I have no words to express it, but rather, I have so many we’d never get to the words God has planted on HER heart to share with you. My eyes are filling with tears as I think of how she has seen me through thick and thin (especially the last few months) and her generosity in praying with me and loving me. It is truly a gift to welcome back Nan Jones to Heart Thoughts this week.

WELCOME TO HEART THOUGHTS NAN!

“Oh,
give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Let the
redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy …
For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with
goodness.”

~ Psalm 107:1,2,9

Redemption Comes
by Nan Jones

I came to You in pieces,
Shattered. Broken. In despair.
I gazed upon Your lovely face
And found Redemption there.

Redemption from my broken heart,
Redemption from love lost.
The broken places slowly heal,
But I’ve found there is a cost.

A sacrificial cost it seems—
At least it is to me;
I must let go of dreams and plans,
And learn to simply be.

Be in the moment. Be still. At rest.
Don’t rush ahead in fear.
My days are in Your wondrous hands,
My path You’re making clear.

But the cost is there nevertheless,
The cost of daily dying.
Dying to self, my focus on You,
Doing it. Not merely trying.

What is this journey, this quest I’m on—
This longing I have in my heart?
A yearning so strong, it cannot be squelched,
To be sanctified, set apart.

Set apart for You, my Lord,
Transforming my will to Yours.
Your dreams. Your plans. Your purpose in me,
Letting go, my spirit soars.

Though I came to You in pieces,
Shattered. Broken. In despair.
I gazed upon Your lovely face,
And found Redemption there.

SELAH
©April 2016
All Rights Reserved.

The ending of my thirty-one year marriage almost destroyed me. I was consumed by grief, and swallowed up with depression. From the terrifying depths of the darkened abyss I extended my hand towards the light. The Lord was there—He had been there all along. Waiting. Watching. Protecting me from myself until I was ready to revive.

Have you ever felt this way? Have you suffered such emotional pain that you felt you couldn’t go on—that you could not survive? I have. Chances are you have too. Life is hard, but God is good. Life can be treacherous in its downward spirals, but God is constant. Sure. Faithful and True.

Know this, dear one: you are loved with an everlasting love. God is long-suffering with us as we climb out of the darkness only to slip and fall again. He weeps when we weep. He rejoices when He hears our laughter through the pain. And He is faithful to redeem our circumstances as we learn to rest in Him—to be still and remember that He is God.

From Our Hearts to Yours,

Nan and Marcie

TWEET, TWEET!

I gazed upon Your lovely face, And found Redemption there.

Guest @NanJonesAuthor shares her testimony of God’s redemption & grace in her life

He is faithful to redeem our circumstances as we learn to rest in Him

Nan
Jones is an author/speaker who uses the words of her heart to assist fellow
Christians in discovering the Presence of God in their darkest hour. She has
been published in several anthologies as well as the online inspirational sites
Christian Devotions, and Inspire a Fire where she is a monthly contributor. Nan
has also had the honor of being featured as a guest blogger on several sites. She
is thrilled to announce her debut book, The Perils of a Pastor’s Wife
released June 30, 2015 by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. When Nan
isn’t writing, she enjoys leading prayer retreats, bible studies or sharing
God’s love as keynote speaker for special events. She is becoming known by her
brand: “Even so, I walk in the Presence of the Lord” as she teaches
her audience to go beyond the veil to find God’s Presence. You may visit Nan at
her website: www.NanJones.com. Nan
has also created a facebook community page, Seeing Beyond The Veil,
to provide a place for folks to go and get away from the chaos for a few
moments and focus on Jesus through scripture, worship, testimony, and
inspirational quotes. For personal communication you may email Nan at nan@jubilantlight.com.

The Perils of a Pastor’s Wife is available on Amazon,
Barnes
and Noble, and LPC Bookstore

Karen 'Girl' Friday on April 18, 2016 at 4:26 pm

Amen. Beautiful words to help me see the Lord does bring beauty from ashes. Thanks for sharing!
- Nan on April 19, 2016 at 12:50 am
  
  Karen, thank you for your kind words. I'm learning the truth of this more and more every day. He is who He says He is and He does what He says He will do, amen?
Marcie Bridges on April 25, 2016 at 2:57 am

Thank you so much Nan for being a part of Heart Thoughts this week and sharing this beautiful testimony of God's goodness and faithfulness with us. I am in so much awe of how He has cared for you and worked in your life. Love you ~Marcie 🙂
- Nan on April 25, 2016 at 2:40 pm
  
  It was an honor for me Marcie. I'm in awe too as I think on His faithfulness 🙂