Mia = Mine

Been awhile since I did one of these “Powell Paraphrases”.

But I was WEEPING this morning during my devo’s, as I read through Isaiah 43-44. (ESV) These are chapters I’ve read a hundred times, many verses I have memorized!

But for some reason I read it differently this morning. And so I am sharing what I gleaned with you.

P.S. If anyone has a new alliteration-name that I can give these renderings, instead of “Powell Paraphrase” since, you know... I’m not a Powell anymore. I’d appreciate it. Open to suggestions.

Isaiah 43-44 (ESV)
9 verses Powell Paraphrased

Thus says the Lord. You are precious in His eyes. You are loved. By the God who created & formed you. You are honored. By God who is with you when you face trials, fires, waters and rivers. You will not be burned or overwhelmed. Because He is with you. Forget what happened before, God is doing something new! He knows you were unfaithful before. He knows you walked away from Him. But He has forgiven you and remembers your sins no more! He has called you by name and you are HIS! He WILL make a way for you. He will bless you and pour out His Spirit on you. He is the Lord and there is no Savior beside Him. So do not be afraid.



43:1b “... I have called you by name, you are MIA” (Mia means “mine” in Spanish)

#GodsWordFTW

          

        

Powell-Paraphrase CONFESSION

CONFESSION: 

I went through a season last year (albeit brief-relatively speaking) of rebellion.  I hurt my family and some close friends with my actions; but most importantly I hurt Jesus and my relationship with Him. 

The last 6 months have been so healing for me and my family & My relationship with Jesus is totally restored too! God is so good, and I am highly favored, with His Grace and Mercy. 

But lately the enemy reminds me of my wrongs. he makes me think I’m not worthy of forgiveness or to be used by God. he makes me start to doubt my assurances and feel overwhelming guilt and shame. he tries to instill anxiety and isolation. 

I am publicly asking for forgiveness from those who were affected by my choices but most importantly I am CLAIMING my position with Jesus. 

The following verse and song are what I have been ruminating on all day!! I hope you look up the actual verse and listen carefully to the song... & let Gods word be transformative. I know it has transformed me. 

Powell Paraphrase #10 

For I am certain, that nothing I have done, nor anything I will do, not a word I have spoken, a wound I have caused, a stupid choice I have made, nor rebellious action, nor mistake or error I have committed, could ever take away the Love that Jesus has for me, or the purpose He had when He died for my sins, His love for me is immeasurable. 

#GodsWordFTW 

#StrongLove 

#Jesus 

https://youtu.be/BzLusjo7-00

Romans 8:38-39

I used to live this way...

I used to live this way: 

I had low self-worth/loathing, I came from a Trauma background & didn’t think much of myself, felt I was worthless, stupid, you name it. I hated my life and believed nothing could change. I used to put myself down a lot! I lived with depression & anxiety and anger. 

Until I accepted the truth about how Jesus sees me!! 

Zephaniah 3:17 became my life verse!! 

Jesus is my # 1 fan. 

I meditated on: 

Psalms- That I’m fearfully and wonderfully made. That everything God makes is GOOD. 

Jeremiah: That God has a plan and a purpose for me! 

Zephaniah: That He rejoices over me, and takes DELIGHT in me! 

Romans: Nothing could ever take away Christs love 

I began to believe that No matter what I do, or how I fail him, His view of me doesn’t change.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I also had someone speak into my life and remind me; that if the God of the universe thought I was worthy enough to die for, how *dare* I place myself ABOVE God and declare myself something that He doesn’t. 

For me to claim an identity that Jesus did not give me, is akin to idolatry & sinful pride, for that reason alone, I forced myself to learn my *true* identity. 

I am loved. 

I am beautiful. 

I have a purpose. 

I have a future. 

I am strong. 

I am worthy. 

I am Highly Favored 

I am forgiven 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Read and pray over the following verses: 

Zephaniah 3:17 
Psalm 145 
Psalm 139 
Psalm 121 
Jeremiah 29:11-13 
Proverbs 31
Romans 8:38-39

#GodsWordFTW #Jesus #Truth #HighlyFavored

DIAMONDS

2 Corinthians 4:8-10New International Version (NIV)

8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

So I have been going through a season of "JOB" where it seems like everything is going wrong, I have lost & lost & lost. People, (Death, divorce, Moving) homes, possessions, vehicles, jobs, money... I have been sick and afflicted and even got what would amount to BOILS -super painful 3rd degree type blisters that started on my left arm, and cover d my entire body from neck to toes! I had no medical insurance and it was excruciating for 2 MONTHS . Things have broken... pipes burst at my home, my cars have been breaking, you name it. Every day... it seems like there is a new struggle. Utilities shut off. No food in the house. A new area of oppression and pain and turmoil. I have had more emotional meltdowns and been more weary in the last couple of months than I have in a very long time. I am about to be homeless, me and my kids, AGAIN. (4th move in 4 years).

I have cried out to the Lord. "Why does this bad stuff keep happening to me?" 

And then I remember "The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord." 

I have cried out to the Lord. "I have not done anything to deserve this. It's too hard, it's too painful and it is nothing I asked for or consequences of my own choices." And then I remember "Are we to accept good from the Lord and not bad?" 

So I rather impatiently wait and wait and wait for a light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. For the cloud to lift and for blessing to pour down.

 Today, as I was praying... I felt this tremendous pressure. I felt the weight of all that is going wrong and all that has gone wrong and all that I am afraid of and all the uncertainty and the fatigue... and I just felt like I was being crushed. I cried out to the Lord to remove this burden and to remove the pressure.

 It was then that I heard the Lord say "You are pressed but you will not be crushed." Very clearly I had this image of a large black piece of Charcoal/Coal jagged and powdery. It was about the size of a basketball. I watched it slowly begin to shrink. It was tightening up as though it was being squeezed. Bits of it began to fall and flake away. It just kept getting smaller under this tremendous invisible pressure. And as the last black flakes fell away what was left was a white, opaque jagged rock about the size of a baseball, nothing special to look at, but then I saw hands... Gods hands, held it gently and began to smooth away the edges and polish it. What it became when He was finished was this incredible diamond. It sparkled as He lifted it up out in front of him and then gently above his head  he carefully placed it into one of the tongs of his large gold crown. He said "you're the jewel in my crown. you are being pressed, but you will not break, you will not be crushed, you will be made strong and beautiful. If not in this life, in the next. You are the jewel in my crown. Keep your eyes fixed on me. Remain faithful and I will fulfill my promise to you.”
Luke 1:25 Blessed is she who believed Gods promises to her.” Joel 2:25a “I will restore to you the years the locusts have eaten.” 

Powell Paraphrases 9 verses #4

In you o' Lord will I put my trust. You are faithful. You lift up all who are bowed down and you hear their cries and save them. You make our enemy's flee and cut off all who do not remain in you. You will answer your promise to me and you will do what you say. For you are good in all your works. And I am your masterpiece. You rejoice over me with singing and nothing can take away your love for me.

Mercy in the Morning

Meditating on this today:

I made an error yesterday, did something *minor* but still something am not proud of...

I thought to myself, "So thankful the Lords Mercy is new every morning."‪#‎Epiphany‬ 
But WAIT--His Mercy is new every MOMENT. I don't have to wait until the morning to be made NEW. ‪#‎MindBlown‬
I can reach out to my loving Father and confess and submit to him right in that moment. ‪#‎Repent‬

*Poof* It's gone. <snap>. ‪#‎Justifed‬. Just-if-I'd never sinned. Because, His love NEVER Ceases and His faithfulness is great! ‪#‎GodsWordFTW‬

Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV)

22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;[a]
his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

Refined as Gold...

I've been reflecting the last few days about the last 2 years of my life. I began this journey saying that whatever happened, I wanted to respond in a Christ honoring way. I wanted my children to see my witness and testimony of how I pressed into the Lord.

 I wanted to love and to be merciful and gracious to those who were hurting me & during circumstances that were beyond my control. I have NOT been perfect at this. Many times I have made mistakes, but overall... I think I have done well. 

I could not imagine when I wrote this post 2 years ago, how much "refining" the Lord would do. To say that is is painful is an understatement, words can't describe the sheer devastation that comes with the kind of loss I've had in the last 2 years. But ... BUT... I would not change a single thing!! I love who I am now... 

And God is not done with me. I still cannot wait to see who I am when He is!!!. I have endured so much loss -but pruning, stripping- has to be done in order for growth to occur. And I am the healthiest and happiest I've ever been in my life. ‪#‎GettingStrongerEveryday‬ ‪#‎GodsWordFTW‬‪#‎Jesus‬

IF YOU ARE HURTING and need Prayer or encouragement, Please feel free to message or text me. I'd love to share some of the  Scriptures that have helped me along the way, and/or pray with you. 253-221-2701

REFINE:

So painful, but oh so worth it, when Jesus refines us. I cannot wait until I see me...as a finished product, I hope that my reflection is that of Christ Himself!

re·fine [ri-fahyn]

verb, re·fined, re·fin·ing.
verb (used with object)
1.
to bring to a fine or a pure state; free from impurities: to refine metal, sugar, or petroleum.
2.
to purify from what is coarse, vulgar, or debasing; make elegant or cultured.
3.
to bring to a finer state or form by purifying.
4.
to make more fine, subtle, or precise: to refine one's writing style.
verb (used without object)
5.
to become pure.
6.
to become more fine, elegant, or polished.