Today it is 2 days before Christmas and I just felt the
need and desire to sit down and spend some time with the Lord in prayer and
thank Him for friendship. I have to say
that over the past few years that word has become even more important to me,
and in many ways the list has changed…. Just like seasons in life, God brings
certain ones into my path and YOU have been one of them in this year, some of
you have been at my side for years and some have just entered. Today I thank
God for you, for you have touched my life and been sent into it from God,
however long our journey may be together.
I want to say thank you to those that have been praying
for me since the year of 2009, the year in which my life changed dramatically
forever. It was a path the Lord sent me
on, and for a long time I was devastated….I didn’t understand why, I suffered
and was crushed, I was alone… I don’t say that to make you feel bad, or make
you feel guilty for not being there for me, b/c it is what I needed to go
through, God knew what I had to endure to change the heart of Lisa, this was
ALL a part of His plan. When I got sick
in 2009 I was told that I MUST do something or I would die. The problem was, no one knew what! I didn’t see God’s plan, I didn’t understand
why I had to suffer so much, I didn’t understand why I was alone and why no one
knew how to “fix” me. What was I to
do? What about my babies? Sometimes we enter seasons of struggle and
trials and it is hard to see the hand of God in it….If we can just get through
to the other side. And thanks be to God,
He helped me through to the end, without Him and His love, faithfulness and
grace, I wouldn’t be here today. I could
have and should have died many times in the past few years, and yet God was there,
holding my hand, giving me hope and a peace that I have NEVER felt before. I
have learned to embrace that season, to treasure it as a gift from God, yes, I
tell many that it was the best and worst thing that has ever happened in my
life. God “fixed” me in more ways than I
could have ever imagined, I found and began a relationship with God, and my
life will never be the same again.
Some of you may not even realize that I am writing my own
book, “Finding your missing Peace”….Ya, it may never be finished, but like this
letter I am writing to you, I haven’t even told some of YOU my very own friends
my testimony….Not to make you think that I have it all together now b/c trust
me I don’t, but to show you that YOU too can find that missing peace, its not to
show you how much I suffered but to show and reveal God’s faithfulness and
grace that HE gave and showed to me. It
is about what HE has done in and through me, nothing of this could have
happened on my own. This life isn’t
about me, or us, its about God and I was pushing Him away…I wasn’t where He
wanted me to be. He allowed it to happen
to change me, to show me the peace I was searching for in all the wrong
places!! It can’t be found in Steve, a new house, the “stuff” of this world but
only in Christ!!! This year I have read
the bible the most I have ever done in my whole life and its awesome b/c I
finally understand!!!, I am co-leading a bible study, I am active in my church
and have made so many wonderful friends, and no, I am not saying this again to
say “look at me and what I do” but to show you look at what Christ has
done!!! I would have never imagined my
life looking like it does today just five years ago, but its way better!!!
I was broken, crushed and in pieces….yes I called myself
a Christian but my relationship with Christ was dead, and therefore I was as
good as dead. Now I am alive in Him and
it is such a Joy and peace!!! I hope you
have it too! If you don’t, PLEASE, don’t
ever hesitate to call. I will be there
for you, I AM here for you and will help
you, pray for you, encourage you…Because that is what friends are for, Lets
allow our walls to come down, to admit when we are weak when we are in need, I
want to be a better friend and I want you to hold me accountable if I myself am
struggling. I am not perfect, I have a
TON to learn, I am just beginning to understand the bible and I have plenty of
faults and failures but I also have a new hope in Christ that I can do all
things through Him!!! I am just in need
of Jesus today as I was 2 years ago laying in Detroit left for dead…. I am now
prepared for the next trial that WILL come, suffering WILL come again, and I
will cling to the truths of God from His word to help me through whatever path
the Lord leads me on next.
Thank you for your friendship. Thank you for being my friend and for helping
me on this journey of life. I know I am
not the greatest friend, and I am sure that I have disappointed, failed you ALL
in some way and I am sorry. I will fail again and I am far from perfect….It has
been wonderful to get to know you better, and I pray the Lord blesses you
greatly this Christmas as we prepare for His birth. Please know that I think and pray for you
often as I reflect on God’s blessings of friendship in my life.
Merry Christmas!!!
Lisa
