"DON'T LOOK BACK"

In lieu of recent events in my personal life and then on this blog (see note now below the posts or follow that link) - this could not be a better idea, place or date, to BEGIN again than with this phrase in red and a plan that came from You Version that I recently did: for such a day as this - so, ON THIS DAY, August 1st ... more than 40 years ago - a lifetime (41+ yrs. of knowing this person) most would be celebrating, but I have not for such a very long time (nor has or does the other half), so it remains just a day etched in my mind, that I can't erase, can't change, can't take back or even undo; can't redeem because it's so irreconcilable, yet I remain and I will just NOT LOOK BACK any longer or be reminded, but I will continue to look ahead, declare and pray that God still has something good to come out of such a bad choice and decision; some of what has taken place over these many years was meant for some Godly reason, and only God (knows) ... and I won't LOOK BACK any longer, nor will I be dragged back by the enemy or listen to the lies, without seeing and knowing and believing GOD'S WORD

Romans 8:28

New International Version "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, {that's me} who have been called according to His purpose." New Living Translation "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them."

is meant for me
and
very clearly
it is meant for this blog
since thousands of blog posts have been drafted
none of which is the purpose of the You Version reading plan
yet I had just completed it when this blog was ready
to be shut down and served a notice
Well, today I serve a notice
to the enemy of my soul
YOU HAVE NO POWER OVER ME
and
WON'T SHUT ME DOWN
I BELIEVE
IN
GOD ALMIGHTY
I BELIEVE GOD and HIS WORD
WHO IS MORE

POWERFUL
than
any situation, storm, crisis, circumstance, problem
and
I will make it to the other side
won
by
Jesus Christ
my Victor, my Savior, my Lord
I ask for the strength
the continual protection and guidance
Godly wisdom and Spirit control
"to move the mountains"
as I wait as 
God moves
holds me, heals me
fills me with His Hope
with His
aMazing GRACE
that keeps me
going
Here is the description of the You Version plan written by Lisa Singh, although I did not see a book or website, as often is the case, I did read that she is a pastor ... (and in my opinion, she should write a book on this, because 5 days just wasn't enough)

"The past holds a river of memories for each of us, some good and bad. The sad thing is many of us continue to live in the past, which in turn prevents us from walking into the future that God has designed and prepared for us before time began. As you read through this plan, my prayer is that you will release the hold on your past and embrace the future God has for you. "

... I do believe this is the day that I must determine to walk into the future God has designed for me, without living in the past ...
... so many of us need this and affirm this and be released and freed from the hold the past (present or earthly future) has on us and embrace the future God has, which I have done and so grateful that God has been with me throughout all these years to see me through and beyond, yet I know He has great plans for me still, whether it's here on my blog, in my real life, in my community, back on the mission field, in a church, wherever ... He goes with me (and has) - I just need to listen, hear and obey; trusting Him completely even when I can't see, know or understand about this earthly journey ... He has a greater journey in mind, a plan for my future - a new start (which was day 1), another new beginning for me here on this blog and in my real life (even though I still wonder how, I trust Him)
"Holy Spirit, help me from today to live my life with a view of what is ahead; help me to stop looking back!"
I know He holds me and He holds the key to my heart and life! He is my purpose and that has not changed in 60+ years, God has not changed nor does HE! 
"Looking back is a heart condition" (day 2) {and I certainly don't want to be turned into a 'pillar of salt'} I so want my heart to be following His and no other (not a person or any other idol).
Holy Spirit, help me today to leave the past behind and lead me to an abundant life ahead!
"Looking back feeds the desire of the flesh - a false sense of security" (day 3) - a longing for supplies (day 4) ... this I especially find to be true and creates an insecurity in my present and future as well (as I look with my earthly eyes)

Holy Spirit, help me today to let go of the familiar and the false sense of security of the past. Please help me to trust You with this process.

"Looking back limits the future" (day 5) - and I am so done with this! Jesus Christ has given me an abundant life and that is how I choose to live even when I face obstacles, I will remind myself constantly of these truths ...

Holy Spirit, I thank You for the revelation I received during this time (also from the sermon I heard from Pastor Steve Furtick) and I truly want to make it into the future God has for me. I am sorry I wasted so much time on things that I cannot change, I am sorry for taking for granted what You so freely provide for me every day. I am sorry for robbing the people in my life presently because of the "look back mentality". Holy Spirit, help me to forget the pain associated with the past and as I visit my past from now on let it be for only moments of remembering how You brought me out of bondage. Thank You Abba for a new start!

I find this to be very appropriate for this date! No more looking back or faking fine! I'm His and He is mine! Nothing, could be more divine - and with this I am so inclined ... to look ahead "at the joys before me". In case you couldn't tell, this plan totally changed my outlook and is a source of healing for me at this time in God's Word and through so really great books!

Lord, help me remember this as I am being bombarded with lies and tactics from the pit! They are not from You nor the pawn the enemy is using ... I'm tired and done so I won't LOOK BACK but LOOK FORWARD to a glorious future that You have planned. Give me the strength I need to face and do what You alone tell me to do ... in Jesus' precious name 

I'm wondering:

how is God speaking to you

about not looking back

or maybe at

not seeing things the way you do

or yourself?

How is God moving mountains for you?

I pray He is and if not, let's go

to Him for one another

asking Him to

MOVE

"NO MORE FAKING FINE"

by
Esther Fleece
{pretend you see an image of the book cover here if it's gone}
Since I heard about "No More Faking Fine ... " being released January 2017, I wanted to have it and review it. I came across Esther Fleece, through another author, book and checked out her website. I instantly knew that this book on 'lamenting' was meant for me so I signed up to get the guide from Esther Fleece before I even had a copy of her book. After reading some of the top positive reviews and a couple of the low ones, the sample copy, and this lament guide, I was convinced that this was the book God would use to bring healing in my life in 2017. 
Esther Fleece does not disappoint with "No More Faking Fine..." - I found that this deep book is one of my 2017 favorites and still working through the many ways that God is using this to walk me through healing in my life, although I have not shared experience as severe as Esther Fleece's childhood and her life journey of getting "gut-level honest with God through the life-giving language of lament" ... I have been processing through this book since I received it months ago and delayed in writing my review until I truly had a sense of this book, like no other, from beginning to end - it shatters, inspires, encourages, guides and leads the reader on a pathway to true intimacy with God, giving us permission and "voice to the hurt, frustration, and disappointment' that maybe you, like I, have "kept inside and silenced far too long." I could have put together a review of high praise when I first began this long journey of healing through this book as I shared here and there that "No More Faking Fine ..." is a MUST READ.
When I read the title, "No More Faking Fine: Ending the Pretending", my reaction was not like other reviewers that chose the book because the title captured their interest, I was sure that I certainly do not 'fake fine', in fact, I was convinced I am the complete opposite, that I tell it like it is: good, bad and ugly. However, within the last year, I noticed that perhaps I was stuffing and have not been sharing much with anyone, except God, so I wasn't "faking fine", I wasn't fine and I recalled going through periods in my life where I had done this. I found that Scripture reveals a God, as I have seen in my life, who has met me right where I am time and time again and as Esther states "not where we pretend to be". Esther Fleece walks us through her life experiences, her life story with a "suck it up" mentality, where she stuffed and stuffed her emotions. I'm quite the opposite. Esther writes with such openness and vulnerability, most of us can easily relate, even without having the same experiences, most of us have had to deal with other people when facing difficulties, hurt, grief and struggles. Esther helps us learn how to lament and biblically shows us how it's OK to express ourselves honestly when it hurts. 
There are 3 parts to Esther's book: "Faking Fine", "A New Way to Pray" and "To Sing Again" with 11 chapters. Each chapter begins with a Scripture, is filled with scriptures, and ends with a wonderful prayer!{you know how much I love prayers in books}
This is a much needed book, as Esther exposes her personal pain in a powerful way to enlighten us in the need and manner to LAMENT, to walk through our own story of difficulties honestly, authentically and just as courageously as she has and learned to do so that we may heal. I know I need this book and will continue to go through it. I highly recommend "No More Faking: Ending the Pretending" with 224 pages of truth and redemption for you and others you know that need a friend like Esther, the real deal, who understands and seemingly links arms with you as the reader through a journey of healing and lament.

Disclosure: I received this book free from BookLook Bloggers in return for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTCommission’s  16 CFR, Part 255