"Wait patiently for the Lord. Be strong and courageous.
Yes, Wait patiently for the Lord."
Psalm 27:14

The Lord revealed to me that thought this verse talks about waiting, the waiting it describes is not passive. Bravery and courage symbolize action(s). So if you are in a season of waiting, don't become apathetic or passive, but wait with readiness for what the Lord has next.

"...If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently,
for it will surely take place.
It will not be delayed."
Habakkuk 2:3

Oh, the goodness of the God I serve...

Oh the joy that overtakes me as I sit and write this! Wow... God is continuing to reveal more of Himself and His love for me every day! The last few weeks have been an incredible taste of the glory yet to come! I know made some poor choices when I first returned from DTS, but God has showed me how important this journey has been. And not to excuse the fact that I willing put myself in spiritually destructive situations, but even in my failures and adultery against God, He STILL longs to be in intimacy with me, and use me for greater purposes!
His Word has become even more alive to be in the last few weeks, and I am so blessed to be in communion with Him. It's also amazing how He has placed the right people in my life in this season to help sustain, encourage, and walk with me! It's been different people at different times, but each day is such a blessing, and I know He has me in mind!
As I read through some of the Psalms yesterday as a part of my devotions, I was so encourage by His promises. And by the encouragement He brought as I shared it with a friend, and how she had read the same Psalm, and was encouraged in much of the same way!
The Psalm starts with praise and thanksgiving, and then gives the account of Joseph and how he was sold into slavery, etc. Then in verse 19 it says this:

"Until the time came to fulfill his dreams,
the Lord tested Joseph's character." (NLT)

I was so encouraged by this, as I have seen the ways that the Lord has been testing my character, and I believe is preparing me for the time of fulfillment of my dreams! His promises are continually on my mind, and I rejoice in the peace that He brings me. It has been confirmed time and again, that the last 5 months have been a season of refinement and preparation in my life, and I am beginning to see the end of the "battle" and beginning to walk into the glorious light of the "valley" that is awaiting me. On one occasion, I was encouraged to stay strong in this season of testing, and not rush ahead of where God has me, because He is right there with me, guiding me in every step. After I finished reading the Word yesterday, I went back through my journal from DTS, and was again reminded of this. One of our speakers had given this warning through the story of the life of Moses,

"Don't run ahead of God!
Don't try to make God's calling on your life
happen according to your timing and
way - you will end up in the desert!
When it's God's time He will speak to you!"

Oh, how blessed I am to have a Father who loves me unconditionally, and who's heart for me is the absolute very best!!! I am filled with JOY! My heart sings...

I hope you are encouraged to continue to hold on to the promises God has spoken to you, and trust Him even in the battlefields of life. Oh, the joy that comes when you trust Him, and pursue Him even in the "dry patches" of life.

Thank you, Jesus. You are so good.

more changes

You might be thinking "oh, here goes Lindsey, changing her mind and plans again...what's new?" But I'm not. I just wanted you to be aware of the changes that are taking place in my family. It's been a long journey, and it's kind of a long story, but you can read all the detail on my Mum's blog.

Our family is moving away from Lynden!!!

God has been leading my parents on a faith journey that is exciting, challenging, and so beautiful! I am very excited for where God is taking them, and what He has for them in this next season. It's a blessing to see them both sparked with joy by this renewed sense of hope and direction!

check out my mum's blog for more details. :)

promises

So, I wrote this poem back in October, and as I was looking back through my blog, I was so encouraged by the promises that were brought to me through these God-inspired words. I hope you, too, are encouraged and know that these promises are for you too! I'm holding on to His promises...

"Before"
a poem by Lindsey Diacogiannis
17, October 2008

Before there was time,
I had called you mine,
I had called you by name,
And I died to take your shame,

Before your parents knew of you,
I knew your eyes would be blue,
Your hair would be curly and dark,
Your beauty a sign of my mark,

Before the foundations of the earth,
I had already destined your worth,
I had planted my gifts within you,
Even before you were tissue,

Before you were inside your mother,
I already called you daughter,
Your future was in the making,
You were destined to do great things,

Before there was time,
You were mine.

Set Apart

I was so blessed this week to receive in the mail a very encouraging book, that my friend is letting me borrow (Thanks, Vicky!!). "Set Apart Femininity" (by Leslie Ludy) has been such an encouragement, and has struck a deeper urge to press on in this world of sin, temptation, and selfishness. Through reading what I have so far, and the work that God has been doing in my heart over the last couple weeks, I have a renewed hope and motivation that I am loved beyond what I deserve, and am created for a purpose beyond what I could grasp. Here are some of the things that really struck me, and I want to pass them along...

"..The Bible makes it very clear that we were born into sin, not beauty. Yes, we were created in the image of God. But sin has warped and twisted all the goodness and loveliness we were originally designed to possess. As a result of sin's defilement, we no longer carry an essence of beauty from the moment of our creation - we carry an essence of sina dn selfishness. Our womanly souls are no longer beautiful. They are revolting, ugly, and deformed. That's why we need to be completely and wholly redeemed and remade by the power of Christ' blood.
Our sinful, self-loving nature urges us to buy into the idea that in and of ourselves we are important, noticed, and captivating. Yet the truth of the Gospel is not based on our intrinsic loveliness, but the fact that Christ loved us even while we were yet sinners, naked and covered in our own blood and shame. (Ezekial 16:6)
In the heart of very young woman lies the intrinsic desire to be found beautiful. But when we come to Jesus, we exchange our desire to be notied and appreciated for the desire that He and He alone would shine gloriously through our beings. Maybe no one will ever notice us. But that makes no difference as long as they notice Him shining through us. We can waste precious time and energy searching for something of worth and value in our own souls. Or we can join the ranks of historical set-apart women and declare, "less of me and more of Him!" That is when our souls will sparkle with the spectacular beauty of Jesus Christ." [pp. 46,48]

This has been such an encouraging piece of truth for me to chew on! I realize that without Christ I am nothing - I am not beautiful, I have no worth, I am a filthy rag. But because of His love and mercy, He choses to see me as blameless, pure, and worthy. He defines the beauty I posses. It's only in Him that I can approach His throne with confidence (Hebrews 4:16). I can do nothing on my own, but must humbly submit myself to His will, and give Hime everything - my desires, my emotions, my plans, my faults, my family, my dreams, my wishes, everything! Oh how gracious He is with us too! It's so good... oh man. I hope you are encouraged by this as well. It's my prayer that we can grow together to be all that Christ has designed us to be, bringing Him glory in every aspect of our lives.