Opening the Door

"We have to maintain our soul open to the fact of God's creative purpose, and not muddle it with our own intentions. The purpose for which the missionary is created is that he may be God's servant, one in whom God is glorified. Beware lest you forget God's purpose for your life." Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest

For years, my children and a few friends have suggested that I should write. It was easy to pass it off to them, the writing that is, because my children are really intelligent, educated, and great writers. My daughter has a Masters in English and so I have assumed that "someday" she might "tell my story". After  celebrating my 40th birthday in Christ two days ago, and sharing on Facebook my testimony of coming to the Lord and the journey it has been, I reconsidered this "writing" and sharing of my story myself. This morning after church I opened a devotional to read the above quote. It hit me that possibly God wants me to glorify Him by writing this blog.

I am afraid in a way to do this.I'm always afraid. Life has often been very frightening to me. However, I also know that I am one of the most courageous people I know. Fear and courage are not mutually exclusive. I am fully aware of them both residing in my being.I always have been.I had to be to survive. I thank God that He created me in His image and likeness and with a distinct purpose. He knew my every step and breath before it came to be.His Word says they were ordained for me. Knowing that and facing that has been  both a blessing and a curse.

I call this blog "My Hiding Place" with a dual purpose. First, because I know more than ever before that Jesus my Savior is indeed my Hiding Place. He protects and surrounds me with His love, grace and faithfulness. Beyond that I want to invite Him into every corner of my existence. For most of my life this was not so. I actually would hide from Him when things got too painful, sad or confusing. I would then wait until I could pull it all together or ignore it or appear as if all was wonderful and tied up in a pretty pink bow before I would open myself up to Him again. That did not work nor was it ever supposed to be that way. After all, He says in His Word, "My ways are not your ways."