I'm a 33 year old, married, mother of 5. Here's what you need to know about us. We are homeless. My husband is an alcoholic. I have 1 step daughter and 4 children with my husband. Our first child came when I was 17 and had only known my husband for those 9 months of pregnancy. Only 1 our children was planned. We've endured the loss of two miscarriages. Our marriage has suffered affairs. There has been mental and physical abuse. There have been addictions. There have been attempted suicides. That is where we have been but that is not were we are, or are going. I'm about to tell the world about a mysterious, infinite God who rescued us. We are a living testimony of true miracles. And as I write this book you will experience the deliverance out of this homeless situation with us, so that all who read this might see and believe in the power of a relentless God.
Tonight I write to you from this tiny little 9x9 room. This little room holds all of our things. This little room is where God has changed my heart. This little room represents barriers being shattered, hearts being healed, battles being won, but it also represents, painful nights, hopeless feelings, intense anger, but also perseverance, intimate moments, strength and courage. So many things this little room represents. It was within these walls I was taught the deepest of lessons. This place is sacred.
Maybe you're in a dark place or you've been there. I believe the dark places become our sacred places. When God sends us into these dark, lonely, barren places, the unfathomable can happen!! He sends us into complete blindness of anything ahead of us, and as the darkness lingers He is working with diligent hands that are fast and strong, chipping away at our hearts and surroundings. He does this so that when He flicks the light switch back on everything around us will be breathtakingly beautiful! His glory is most revealed in these moments.
If we were able to see what He was doing in the darkest corners of our lives, the power would lose its effectiveness. If we were able to watch a caterpillar transform into a butterfly, as if the cocoon were transparent, and every day we could see a little more of the beauty, we would loose the awe factor when it's finally completed. But to see an ugly little caterpillar enter its cocoon and then to see it emerge into this extraordinarily different and amazingly beautiful creature is stunning.
When God sent Joseph into dark prison walls and oppressing slavery, He was working to change Joseph's heart and the people around him. From that darkness, beauty emerged when Joseph became ruler of Egypt saving everyone from starving to death. He was able to completely forgive his brothers for the sin against him and save his whole family. From slave and wrongly imprisoned to ruler of everything is how our God works.
Though we deserve none of the grace God freely gives us, we can rejoice knowing that He won't take us into blindness without creating beauty and Glory for Himself through it.
That wraps up all I'm going to say about where my story begins. Stay turned for Part 2 coming soon!
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