He IS with me always.
He is WITH me always.
He is with ME always.
He is with me ALWAYS.
It seems like an intermediate speech assignment - enunciating each word in a different spot. Yet as I repeat these words, each one with it's own emphasized spot, I come to grips with the reality of that sentiment.
HE IS WITH ME ALWAYS!
As an empty nester, I spend a good bit of my day alone. We recently moved to a new area (because of my husband's job), and left behind a few years' worth of good friends, ministry contacts, a neighborhood where we knew neighbors as friends and called them by first name, even texted them if something was amiss. When we moved there, it was an easy move, with God's finger-prints all over every aspect of it.
Not that THIS move was hard, or that things went wrong (they didn't!), but it was a difficult move to make. Although we are getting settled in our home, love our new neighborhood, and I am getting very involved with church ministry, it's just....well... ...different.
I find myself alone. A lot. Even with a small group, feeding college girls a few times a month, mentoring a few individually, helping out with a few ministries, and doing as God leads to advance the Kingdom with the gifts He's given me, I spend most of each day at home. Alone. With the dog.
Night time is the worst. A recent turn of events had my hubby out of the house for a few nights more than usual. My skittish dog didn't help, as she barked at every little house sound she heard. I don't know these sounds all by heart yet, so with each ferocious bark, my heart skipped a beat.
HE is with me always.
A few weeks ago I made the long drive from the "new area" to the "old area" - and although I had a friend to make the drive there with me, I was alone (again, with my trusty dog) for the 10 hour drive back home. I loved the quiet, and decided to not listen to the radio stations, or my handy iTunes, for the drive. Time for me to spend some time listening to Him. Praying, but mostly listening.
He IS with me always.
I LOVE taking pictures, and while I exercise caution when I go out shooting, it's not really fun for someone else to accompany me. Often it's boring for them, and it cramps my style. I don't mind being alone then, and actually enjoy the opportunity to see His beautiful creation through the lens of my camera, with the freedom to stop and reflect on His handiwork.
He is WITH me always.
A hurtful circumstance occurred, and it brought back years of painful memories of my childhood. The feeling of abandonment through my child's eyes left me shattered, however I know now who I didn't know then. My Redeemer. My Savior. My Heavenly Father.
He is with ME always.
Friends my age are afraid of dying, or of being left a widow. I don't fear those things. I may be financially poor, but I'll be rich in spirit. I'll live my life with the same attitude as today. I belong to Him. He owns each moment of each day!
He is with me ALWAYS.
How appropriate that I draw near to this verse, this reality of Scripture so often; it's a part of the Great Commission!
Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:16-20 (NIV)
I am learning through this season of alone time, that I'm never really alone. HE IS WITH ME ALWAYS. I am learning to use my time in wiser, more productive ways. I'm exercising again, not for my benefit, but for His glory. Although I miss my husband when he's at work, we celebrate the moments when we are together! I am challenging myself to get outside, connecting with old friends, looking for neighbors to meet, new friends to be found, new ministries to work with. I see the fingerprints of God all around me, equipping me to work with others, to fill my time up in ways that are beneficial to the kingdom...helping those that are making disciples in all nations...
I am so thankful that He is with me always!
(You don't have to be an empty nester to join me as I blog through A Month of Thankfulness! Just enter your email at the top of the screen!)
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~marina