Made in Gods image

Image from Christfollower.com

God designed each person in His image with these distinct parts of us that should be working together emotionally, spiritually, mentally and relationally. We are to be His image bearers and to reflect His image to a world needing to be reconciled with their Creator and Savior. Those who have trusted in Christ's finished work on the cross have become a new creation, as 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us. We are to look more and more like Him; this is the Spirit's work in us, transforming us to be like Jesus.

Being beautifully broken in this world is part of suffering and choosing to allow Him to heal those parts of us. Our suffering is one way He transforms us into His image. Grieving our losses and acknowledging the truth is part of allowing Jesus and others to comfort us. It's ok to not be ok as believers. When Jesus meet Mary and Martha FIRST- Jesus understood and saw their pain and the immediate reality of the loss of their brother. Jesus responded with tears and expressed grief. John 11:35. He meet them with authenticity, even though He was going to raise Lazarus- He did not minimize the sorrow of the moment. God understands and shares in human pain, loss and suuffering. He was the suffering servant.

Throughout scripture we see different ways Jesus responds to suffering. He encourages us "to weep with those who are weeping," Romans 12:15. Jesus emphasizes the importance of empathy and shared experience within the Body of Christ- which is His family and community that was created to care and love one another.

For years, I believed that spiritual maturity was to measured by my knowledge and intellectual understanding of the bible. Yes, we are to know the word and to use it to live out in wisdom in our lives. (Psalm 119 reflects this) Yet, I also had to sit with the new testament commandments and wrestle with those. (Matthew 22:36-39) The mark of a mature believer is our love. That's the most important reflection- because God is love- (1 John 4:7-21, John 3:16-17) am I mirror my Heavenly Father and His love for humanity? It's hard at times to see our own legalism coming out in our walks and attitudes towards others.

God desires to restore every part of us—emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually. To be with us through everything we go through in life.

It has been a gift to have others walk with me on my healing journey, and it brings me joy to now walk with others as they rebuild their lives with the Holy Spirit's help and guidance.

It's so important to be able to dream again and allow God to heal and transform your life. I promise the healing journey is a road that leads to knowing Jesus in a deeper way and helping others experience His comfort..... and most importantly to experience His love through others too!

Remember the truth about who God says you are!

1 John 3:1 & Romans 8:14-23 "You are HIS CHILD- GOD's SON or DAUGHTER"

Deut 7:6, 1 Peter 2:9 "You are HIS TREASURE!"

Eph 2:10 "You are HIS MASTERPIECE!"

Col 3:14 & Eph 5:25 "You are deeply loved unconditionally by a

Perfect Loving Heavenly Father!"

Psalm 139 "You were created fearfully & wonderfully

made in His image!"

That's what He says about you in His word.