My hands were weak and my heart was heavy. As I had joined with so many others praying for our nation, for our world, and for hearts to return HOME to the Lord, I so longed to write a post yesterday. After I listened to the song below, the longing grew even stronger.
But God called me to rest instead, after my full weekend. Hearing from family and friends, and even a short visit from long-time dear friends, had left me tired but so thankful for the connections that He allowed, even in the midst of such hard times.
And then my husband brought in the mail, later in the day, and there was a set of such beautiful vintage images from my dear friend Lisa Enqvist. She knew how much I loved to make art pages. But my hands have not cooperated this summer, until tonight. God knew the longing in my heart would find fullness after the gift she shared.
“Therefore say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will gather you from the nations and bring you back from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you back the land of Israel again.’”
Ezekiel 11:17 NIV
If God is calling His Jewish people back to their homeland in Israel, He will call His children back home to His heart. We can trust His promises, and we can cling to those Words that He has spoken over our prayers.
He sees every hurting heart, every wounded warrior. He hears every prayer whispered from a longing Mother over her wayward child. He never forgets one. He will bring His children home.
For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God,and they will be my people.”
2 Corinthians 6:16 NIV
Even in the midst of the chaos of this world now, even in the midst of such heartache and pain, God is moving over the hearts of so many. He will gather His children, and He will bring us home, to the heart of our Savior.
Will you join me in praying this week?
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the promises You have given us in Your Word. Would You help us to open our eyes and hearts to see the fulfillment of Your Word happening all around us? We are amazed when we pause in the midst of this world’s heartache and look at Your great love being poured out. And so we lift up our burdens for those who feel so far away from You. We ask You to forgive us for the ways that we ourselves have looked away from you and doubted Your love for us. Draw us all back into Your arms, into Your true home for us. Thank You for sending Your son, Jesus, who has made the way open for us to become part of Your own family, the family of God.
In the name of Jesus we pray,
Amen.
I stayed up late one night last week watching the recordings of this gathering on the streets of Chicago, where just a few weeks before such violence and burning had happened. I could not stop crying as I joined my prayers for more of these stirrings from God for unity in Jesus to happen around this world of ours:
I am linking this week with: #RememberMeMonday #TellHisStory
BettieGsRAseasons 
Amen
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Yes, Praise God that He does hear our prayers, and He is calling His children home to unity in Him. Blessings to you!
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Oh how we need to hang onto the hopeful thought of being at Home with God, as this world grows increasingly fearful, hate-filled and dark! We find a welcome homecoming by resting ourselves in Him now, trusting that good will eventually arise from what seems unbearably bad. And we continue to pray for world events, and for those who don’t yet know Him to come to faith, while we look forward to the joyful reunion with our Saviour in time to come. These words bring deep soul encouragement: “Even in the midst of the chaos of this world now, even in the midst of such heartache and pain, God is moving over the hearts of so many. He will gather His children, and He will bring us home, to the heart of our Savior.” Yes, He is, and that gives us such hope as we battle life’s great difficulties and challenges! May you rest well after your busy birthday celebrations, my friend, and recover a measure of ease and strength in your body and hands again. Much love, blessings blessings and hugs! xoxo 💜
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Dear Joy,
I am so thankful for your words that keep me looking up in hope while the battle here some days feels so difficult and challenging. It is so good to know that we can pray for each other as we pray for world events and for hearts to come to know Him. I have been so incredibly grateful that God has used this technology of digital airwaves to bring us together in Him! What a blessing to feel that sense of HOME with those we love here already. Thank you for being such a loving friend and for all of your prayers. I pray that you would feel that same refreshing strength as well. Much love, blessings and hugs to you! xoxo
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The call for home is strong indeed, Bettie. It is a sweet surrender when we find ourselves surrounded by home.
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Amen, dear Lisa. What a blessing He brings to us as we pray for others and find His home dwelling in our midst together! May you be blessed this week!
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That song really touched me. I have been writing for Gracefully truthful on Ezekiel 37, so this really brought tears to my eyes. thank you.
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Dear Mandy,
Wow, I love it when God confirms HIs Word that way! He is surely carrying His people back home, and it is such a miracle to see! May we continue to join our hearts with His and lift up our prayers for those ones who are still wandering. HE is bringing His children back home. Blessings and prayers for you also this week, dear friend.
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Such a beautiful post Bettie. I’m delighted to hear you have been able to enjoy one of your loves again.
Bless you sweet friend, ♥
Jennifer
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Dear Jennifer,
Thank you so much for all of your love and prayers sweet friend. Yes, it is such a gift when He brings the strength to do something that stirs our hearts so much! He knows just what we need, doesn’t He? Blessings, love, and hugs to you! xo
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That He does! ♥
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Amen!
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He is calling us. I pray we listen and follow Him. Have a blessed week dear friend.
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Thank you dear Melissa! I pray for that blessing to hear and obey for all of us. And I pray blessings of rest and joy for you this week, dear friend!
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I recently heard about Sean Feucht and it just brings tears to my eyes as I see the videos of how he is bringing worship to the streets. God bless him and his efforts. I am so thankful to know God is raising up an army of warriors who aren’t ashamed of their faith. God bless you and heal you, dear friend.
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Amen Dear Cheryl! May God continue to call people into His heart, and may we continue to lift up our prayers for this hurting world! I’m joining you in prayer these next few weeks also. May the Lord send His mercy and forgiveness to our land. Thank you so much for your dear prayers for me also. I am so grateful for your sweet friendship. Love and Bessings for you and your family.
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My prayer has been that God will use the events of the last several months to turn hearts to Himself. It’s been a dark time, but hopefully that means His light will shine all the brighter.
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Amen, Barbara. I join you in that prayer as well. May the light of Jesus shine, even in the darkest corners of despair and hurt. Blessings for you this week.
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It is hard to remember the hope we have in Christ as we watch our national fall apart, but this helped bring my eyes back to him, back to a future brighter than we can imagine. Thank you, Bettie.
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Dear Lisa,
I agree that this nation is filled with so much despair and hurt now! It’s so easy to become overwhelmed in that. I join you in praying that the Lord will keep our eyes and hope fixed on Him! Blessings to you and your family this week!
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To yours too. Hope you are hanging in there with all the chronic issues. Mine have been a challenge recently but I had a few good days. My birthday was the best, thankfully, because I prayed for that relief on that day!
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Oh, I am so glad that you were able to have some relief on your Birthday! Praise God for His grace! And thank you so much for all of your prayers too!
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There is so much beauty in our hurting world. Thank you for sharing your beautiful words and prayers. And I love how your friend brought you something that God knew would bring beauty to your mind and heart through art journaling. We don’t always take time to create when creating even journal pages is an expression of His love and how He sustains us.
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Dear Lynn,
Isn’t that so amazing how God weaves our lives together so that HIS beauty is seen even more? Truly, He does bring such beauty and truth through the creativity that He brings forth from our deep hearts. Thank you for the ways that your photography and words always bring such beauty for us to share also! Blessings to you!
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You continue to speak straight to my heart. Even in our heartache, our hard times, the pain, and the sorrow, God knows, He hears, and He never stops caring for us. Thank you for sharing so deeply week after week,
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Dear Mary,
Oh, I am so grateful that the Lord spoke to you here today. Truly He does reach into our hardest moments and calls us deeper into His heart of love. I am so thankful for you dear sister, and all of the encouragement that you share with me too. Blessings and love to you!
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