Redux means to revisit, bring back, re-release. This last week of 2014, we—the bloggers here at Girlfriends Coffee Hour—are each ‘revisiting’ a blog we wrote earlier this year.  We would love to share with you just a bit about how very good God has been to us!  He has given us all so much grace and mercy, blessings and provision, protection and guidance!  He has led us and taught us through His Holy Spirit so many incredible things!  He has molded, and chastised, and encouraged us to be daughters with humble hearts who are dependent upon Him.  And He has helped us to be strong, committed, and faithful women who love Him and desire to bring Him much honor and glory and majesty.  We pray that our words would encourage you also…and draw You deeper into relationship with the One Who loves you so!  Here is my friend, Kim, and some of her words….

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I am so much enjoying going back and looking at the date of when I originally wrote this blog. I wrote this blog May of 2014 and only I knew the trial I was experiencing at that time. It was one of the most painful trials in my life and yet as I look back I learned, I grew, I was stretched and I was strengthened.

Now I believe it was preparation for an even bigger trial; one I would experience towards the end of 2014. Some things I learned: God is my Vindicator, at the end of the day God knows the truth of what was spoken about me and I knew the truth and that is where I rested… I rested in the truth of knowing exactly who I am in him … that when others come against you… praying for them and letting God vindicate the situation is what Jesus would have us do.

But I say, do not resist an evil person!
If someone slaps you on the right cheek,
offer the other cheek also.
Matthew 5:39 NLT

I knew—and God knew—the things said about me weren’t true; and there were and still are people out there who believed what was said. I was never given the opportunity to be asked if what was said was truth. So I let go and let God in it; knowing and believing God would vindicate me (and you know what He did!).

How I love You, Lord! You are my defender.
Psalm 18:1 NLT

Was it easy to not defend myself? No! I was practicing strength under control and complete trust in my God. When others come against you then the people who truly KNOW you will know the truth and that’s the important part.

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Heavenly Father, I thank You that when I am weak You are strong. I thank You that You are my Defender, my Vindicator and that You are faithful if only we trust in You. In Jesus’ name! Amen!

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Here I am before You, falling in love and seeking Your truth
Knowing that Your perfect grace has brought me to this place
Because of You I freely live, my life to You, oh God, I give
So I stand before You, God
I lift my voice cause You set me free

So I shout out Your name, from the rooftops I proclaim
That I am Yours, I am Yours

All the good You’ve done for me, I lift my hands for all to see
You’re the only one who brings me to my knees
To share this love across the earth, the beauty of Your holy worth
So I kneel before You, God
I lift my hands cause You set me free

All that I am, I place into Your loving hands
And I am Yours, I am Yours
Here I am, I stand, with arms wide open
To the One, the Son, the Everlasting God, the Everlasting God

Performed by Kim Walker and Jesus Culture

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What if, instead of focusing on our trials and circumstances, we put our focus on the One Who is faithful???  What if we focused on ALL that God has done in our lives??? What a difference that would make!!!

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way,
consider it an opportunity for great joy.
James 1:2 NLT

Trials are opportunities for growth and to experience God in a powerful way!!!

I love this powerful statement about circumstances by Graham Cooke (from The Way of the Warrior – live version):

“Everything you are passing through right now is a learning opportunity. We need to stop treating life’s difficulties as though they shouldn’t be happening to us. They are training. They are a really important part of who you are. God allows in His wisdom what He could easily prevent by His power. The darker the situation, and the more problematic the circumstances, and the more difficult the things we have to go through, the reward on those things is substantially greater.”

Instead, let us choose to enter His gates with thanksgiving and praise for all that He has done and continues to do….

Understand, therefore, that the LORD your God is indeed God.
He is the faithful God who keeps His covenant for a thousand generations
and lavishes His unfailing love on those who love Him and obey His commands.
Deuteronomy 7:9 NLT

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Heavenly Father, here I stand…arms wide open…heart wide open. All that I am, I place into Your loving hands. So I shout out Your name, from the rooftops I proclaim that I am Yours, I am Yours…in Jesus’ name!!  Amen!!