By Pamela Chapman
Have your expectations not come forth? Have you been
disappointed in your dreams? Have you heard of or seen family, friends, and
associates lose their homes, their jobs and their money?
Often time you have big ideas and dreams of possibilities for
your life that, seemingly, never come to fruition. At least, not in the
timeframe you’ve expected or believed. Have you possibly thought something was
wrong with you or wrong with the God you believe? Have you ever lost faith?
I know during the Christmas season everything is
supposed to be merry and bright. But, this is also the season of severe
depression, suicide, and abuse. I never, ever write about anything I haven’t
experienced. I may not have studied human behavior or psychology on a Doctorate
level; but, I can tell you this, dear one, this woman has experienced life on a
master’s level. I don’t write from an elevated place never having suffered,
never having been wounded, never having been depressed, anxious or fear filled.
I write from my reality.
We are living in turbulent times. We are living in times
where everything that can be shaken is being
shaken: our homes, our careers, nature, and even our scared religious beliefs
and systems. What do I mean by being shaken? Everything seems to be going
through a resistance, stamina or pressure test. In other words, pressure is
being applied to every area of our lives and sometimes even our very being feels
as if it’s going to pop. Is there anyone out there who can give an “Amen?”
Earthquakes of 8.9 in Japan and tsunamis to follow; Hurricane
Irene 2011; deadly tornados in Alabama, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Georgia, as
well as quakes on the East Coast felt in Washington D.C., Virginia and
Maryland.
Inflation is headed toward hyper inflation. There are government,
and church scandals. Justice is a joke and financial institutions have become
fraudulent and corrupt. Too many are still without meaningful, satisfying
employment. The ability to live happy, fulfilled lives; forget about abundant
lives, seems to be a fantasy or something someone touts to sell a book or
seminar. Long-term relationships and friendships are coming to closure. Struggle,
compromise and chaos have replaced ease of living, transparency, and accord.
There are lots of theories as to why, how come and what will
culminate. I say time will tell. But, if I may share one word of thought with
you today that one word would be HOPE. Again, I am not a woman who speaks from
other’s experiences. I have experienced pain on magnitude levels—not glorifying
my trials by any means. I believe my experiences have made me strong and
powerful; but, even more importantly, I can stand in the face of any adversity,
I can grab hands with a sister or a brother for that matter and say, “Hold on.
You can make it. You will make it. I will help you make
it.”
Now, if you read the post before, you’d understand there were
times when I, myself, wanted to give up, pull the covers over my head and sleep
right on out of this life. I have to also tell you it was the times when I had
made huge demands of myself and the Universe, God. What I mean by this is when
I had declared, “I AM standing on the promises.” Once I had made my personal, statements and
spoken them aloud for days, and once I demanded change—positive change in my
life, for my life, my own personal tornado seemed to take me up and throw me up
against a tree several miles away. I
just believe in keeping it real. But I wouldn’t give up. I kept believing and
kept hoping. I kept seeing the possibilities.
Way deep down in the solace of my sprit when there were no
words to speak, and my own sanity seemed questionable, and the conscious mind
said, “give up,” there was always hope. Hope that somehow, somewhere God All
Mighty would send me someone from somewhere to speak into my Spirit and help me
remember. Hope I would rise up from my own personal bed of affliction and not
just hobble but run. Hope the day would bring the promises of “Yea” and “Amen.”
Hope that I would find the answers within to accomplish what He has declared
about me and for me before the foundation of this earth was laid. Hope that
mankind would somehow see what
abundance, prosperity, and wealth lies around him making it needless to fight,
compete, envy, and harm one another.
Hope has no limited time. Hope comes in all shapes and
forms, colors and sizes. It shows up in a message on television, the radio or a
billboard. Hope transmits in a phone call from a friend you haven’t spoken to
in months. Hope believes, “In spite
of what I see and hear, I AM routed and grounded. I AM focused. I AM capable
and the evidence shall appear.”
Hope says, “I AM not forgotten.” Hope shouts, “Justice for
all and justice will win.” Hope says, “Truth shall reign,” and Hope declares,
“I don’t know how, and I don’t know when but I know!”
We live in a time when you need to know what is true for
your own personal life. No one can lead you down their reality or their path
and make it work for you. Your DNA is your
DNA. What life has for you is what
life has for you. Your reality and your truth is yours.
In
spite of all the shaking, in the midst of all the negativity, in the realm of
the impossible—keep hope at your center. It stems from your soul, shoots
through the atmosphere and reaches into the galaxies only to radiate back into
you. It is unlimited. It is perpetual. When you lose all hope, you become
nothing more than a vapor, without purpose, passion, or ability. Hope deferred
makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12.
If you are drowning in a sea of hopelessness, remember this
every day you open your eyes it’s a new day or opportunity, grace and mercy.
Every day is a new beginning. In fact, I believe every moment is a new
beginning. You don’t have to wait for 2012 or for someone to declare a special
time in your life. You declare this day, this moment, this right now
opportunity as your new beginning. Now!
Right here is an outreached hand waiting to grasp yours—ready
to assist in pulling you into your incredible, marvelous, and glorious life.
Here is a heart ready to beat with your heart if you are ready to welcome its
truthful beat. Here is a word to encourage, motivate, inspire and help you find
the magnificent God within if you are ready to embrace your marvelous change.
Love you.
Pamela
AMEN!!!!!!
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