Phoenix

Going through a divorce is like experiencing a death. Death of a spouse, death of a whole family. Your way of life is changed - not of your own choosing, and the intimacy you once treasured, that trust is shattered. In ways, you feel as if your spouse had died, things would have been easier. In death, usually, you know that your spouse loved you - and their leaving was not of their own choosing. In divorce, they are gone, - gone because they no longer wanted to be with you. It hurts... It crushes.... In situtations where there are children, the children do not understand why they have been discarded and abandoned. What have they done wrong? Why have they been left too? Now you must continue to function, even when you are numb. You must continue to play your role in the family - and pick up a few others you never dreamed you'd have to - things you're not really equipped to handle. You must continue to deal with the one that hurt you most, because you have to for the children. It is surreal. Your children now spend time away from you - the house is so very empty, that the very silence pounds your ears - so much so that you often flee to a more noisy venue.

So hopeless... So lost...

But....

There is hope.

The purpose of this blog is to encourage and inspire those journeying through this dark time.

All is not lost...
You are not alone...

During the time I felt the most alone, God filled me with His Presence and kept me close to His heart, in the palm of His hand.

He had other things in mind - promising that what was not restored, would be replaced - in Him.

I want to share how God has worked in my life, through my divorce, through my daily walk, leading me in His way, to the path I am on...

To a Christian man, following God's leading - bringing us together.

I will share the past, hoping to encourage others and maybe help others as well.

Most of all, I will give glory to the One that is worthy of praise.

Lord Jesus - Thank you.

Jeremiah 31 (NLT)

Hope for Restoration

¹"In that day," says the LORD, "I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be my people. ²I will care for the survivors as they travel through the wilderness. I will again come to give rest to the people of Israel."

³Long ago the LORD said to Israel: "I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself. ⁴I will rebuild you, my virgin Israel. You will again be happy and dance merrily with tambourines. ⁵Again you will plant your vineyards on the mountains of Samaria and eat from your own gardens there. ⁶The day will come when watchmen will shout from the hill country of Ephraim, `Come, let us go up to Jerusalem to worship the LORD our God.' "

⁷Now this is what the LORD says: "Sing with joy for Israel! Shout for the greatest of nations! Shout out with praise and joy: `Save your people, O LORD, the remnant of Israel!' ⁸For I will bring them from the north and from the distant corners of the earth. I will not forget the blind and lame, the expectant mothers and women about to give birth. A great company will return! ⁹Tears of joy will stream down their faces, and I will lead them home with great care. They will walk beside quiet streams and not stumble. For I am Israel's father, and Ephraim is my oldest child.

¹⁰"Listen to this message from the LORD, you nations of the world; proclaim it in distant coastlands: The LORD, who scattered his people, will gather them together and watch over them as a shepherd does his flock. ¹¹For the LORD has redeemed Israel from those too strong for them. ¹²They will come home and sing songs of joy on the heights of Jerusalem. They will be radiant because of the many gifts the LORD has given them--the good crops of wheat, wine, and oil, and the healthy flocks and herds. Their life will be like a watered garden, and all their sorrows will be gone. ¹³The young women will dance for joy, and the men--old and young--will join in the celebration. I will turn their mourning into joy. I will comfort them and exchange their sorrow for rejoicing. ¹⁴I will supply the priests with an abundance of offerings. I will satisfy my people with my bounty. I, the LORD, have spoken!"