He takes hold of my right hand

"For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, 'Do not fear; I will help you." Isaiah 41:13 NIV

It's come to the end of 2017 and I've had a pretty rough and heavily teary couple of days just trying to adjust to the big life changes and reflecting on why some things I'd hoped for never came to pass and other things I'd probably least expected to have happened—happened. And there's been a whole lot of trauma this year and a painful realisation that maybe God's been giving me the answer to one of the prayers of my heart, but it wasn't the answer I was hoping for, which is why I've been blind to it these last five or so months. Either way, it's time enough for me to move on and move forward into the fresh mercy of a new year, and by God's grace, I can reach a place that's even more profound and glorious and wonderful and eye-opening than where I was before all the pain and trauma and dashed hopes. 

It comes back to trusting God, and continually declaring His goodness, and knowing that I am putting my trust in a God who is so much bigger than my struggles and my questions and my failures, hopes and dreams. I am putting my trust in a God who is faithful, which means He will do it. He's proven His faithfulness all throughout the Bible, but most clearly in the reality of the saving Cross. I'm not trusting in someone who's unreliable, I'm trusting in Someone who's every thought and action towards little me will be for my good and my best interests. And His plans always find their fulfilment. That is a huge comfort. 

Sometimes we wish we knew things about ourselves or about the future, but I've only just discovered that if we did, we'd have a weaker faith in God and put our faith in our own knowledge and ability. Indeed, the fact that we know less strengthens our faith in the God who knows all and intricately works all things together for the good of those who love Him and are the called according His purpose.

I've known God's healing in a deep way this year, and I've witnessed with my own eyes and ears His power working through prophetic gifts and miracles - big and small. This life on earth is anything but boring.

My Mum sent me some verses of encouragement yesterday and this one from Isaiah was the very last one. I hadn't heard it before so it really spoke to me. The more I dwell on it, I feel tears coming on. This relationship with God is beautiful and intimate and real and the greatest thing I'll ever know or experience in the Universe.

This is definitely a promise I will take into 2018 and beyond. 

one year ago, at Cradle Mountain...

God and sinners reconciled

Hark! The herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!"
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With angelic host proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"

Hark! The herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Listen, the heavenly hosts proclaim the birth of Jesus Christ and the ushering in of God's incredible plan to save humanity from their self-imposed and deserving destruction. God, who is love, extends this indescribable love to His chosen people, His undeserving beloved, by becoming flesh, becoming an embryo, a baby growing in the womb, by being born, living, healing, declaring, being brutally tortured and dying on a cross for all man's wickedness and rejection and sins against God. He lived to die that death for us, subsuming all the wrath and punishment and consuming all the sin and proving stronger than death by rising to life. This Jesus Christ, a babe in a manger in Bethlehem, reconciled a sinner such as me to the Almighty, Holy, perfect and unchanging Creator God. This is peace. This is truly peace. That man can now approach God. That God and man can be in relationship. That we can speak and listen and grow and love and learn and be together. Now I live with Him and He lives in me, indeed His home is in my body, because a sinner such as me is made clean by the blood of the Lord Jesus, and I live to declare: "Glory to the newborn King!", "Glory to God in the highest!" and "Glory to risen and ruling Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ!".

He has brought me unending joy no matter how I feel or what time of day it is. 
He has brought me healing and comfort and peace. 
He has brought me eternal life by opening the way for me to know my Heavenly Father just as I grow to know my earthly father. 
He has brought me every spiritual blessing and will continue to guide me as I journey on this earth.
He will bring me home at the end of it all.
At the marriage of the Lamb.

Hark! Join in with creation in praise of the humbled and exalted Lord Jesus Christ, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Amen and Merry Christmas.

"Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!""
Luke 2:8-14

For my 2016 Christmas post, reflecting on the 3rd verse: http://emilyseto.blogspot.com.au/2016/12/light-and-life-to-allhe-brings.html

For my 2015 Christmas post, reflecting on the 2nd verse: http://emilyseto.blogspot.com.au/2015/12/the-word-became-flesh-and-dwelt-among-us.html

sleepy bunnies

something a little cute and cuddly cos why not 🐇 
#sleepybunnies #fluffy#felttip #sketch

Inspired by @ninastajner's adorable designs. Always so fun to try out a different style and learn from incredible artists! #alwayslearning #creativity ✏✒🎨 

But best of all, been learning to rest more in the Lord Jesus and continually cast all my cares upon Him. He really cares - deeply, passionately, truly. ❤ 

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusts in Thee." Isaiah 26:3 ✨