LETTERS FROM SUNNINESS

MOODS, FEELINGS, AND FELLOWSHIP

(Lauren shares with another sister how important one voice can be in lifting our depression and restoring one another. She also expresses how important support is when you are suffering. __Shoshana)

 I know how the moods and feelings sway us and toss us in the midst of the pain, but God keeps us steady and holds us up with one another's prayers and words, so that when one is weak, the other is strong. I am with you, I understand. Same for Moses---same for us! 

We have to hang on so hard to that trust by "choosing to believe His promises," as Ronda says.

Isn't that amazing that God does that--to take me, in this misery, and to USE my illness for GOOD--so that I can trust more? Right now I am so in love with God!

When I was healthy I used to hear that His grace is sufficient and He will carry you through anything. But it would scare me; I'd think, "Oh no...I don't want to go through something so hideous that He will have to carry me through it!" Do you know what I mean?

But now I know that that grace is COMFORT! It is peace---not just "you'll be able to BEAR, ENDURE the hideousness," but rather it is HIMSELF--and trust and peace and comfort. It feels good. God feels so good. I love His presence. What I am learning, though, is that it truly is for JUST today that you lean on Him for this moment---not looking ahead to how awful it will be in the future is different for me.

"My peace is not like the peace the world gives." I am not new to suffering. I have had some evil things happen to me--not health related. I have had a close walk with Jesus, but God keeps pouring more of Himself into me, while everyone here is teaching me, and I am FINALLY learning to TRUST!

I used to say to God, "Won't I EVER learn to trust You?" I am learning to, through all of you. My faith has grown soooo much from meeting with you every day---from meeting with suffering people who know that God gives His strength in weakness--for that day--that moment.

Rhonda "presents" God to me; she prepares a table before my "fear" enemies, (I mean that respectfully--not taking anything away from God. He gets the credit for everything.) by teaching me how to think---she does some "thinking" for me. It has brought TRUST into my faith.

I used to say, "God? Will I come to meet you face to face never having really trusted You (with worries)?" But NOW, it is altogether different...as I see that He is altogether lovely in His grace to me--and how else would I know that grace if I were not so horribly ill? I didn't know that there were great blessings to being down in this valley of sickness and pain---but Jesus hangs out here in the valley with us who are hurting.

My valleys in the past were filled with depression, fear and pain. Because God divinely led me to you--I live with trust, in this valley, that I didn't know before--trust that leads to peace. "My peace I leave with you." Now I am beginning to understand.

God saw me bleeding and beat up on the side of the road, and He brought my siblings to care for me--to share the faith that He has given you. He is the lifter of my head. And...I walk in newness of life.

I love you with a special love that He gives to His family.  Are you not all ministering people sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?  Sunniness

By Sunniness--Lauren Mary

GOD HAS GOOD

 PLANS

 FOR YOUR

FUTURE

 know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out--plans to take care of you,

not abandon you,

plans to give you

the future you hope for.  "When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen.

Jeremiah 29:11

(Message Bible)