New devotional in the works!! What do you think?

I'm hoping for some input.  This is the beginning of my next project.  But first, some background.

When I went through multiple losses, I went through PTSD.  People go through PTSD for a variety of reasons.   I have lasting effects from it.  For example, when I had my recent accident, I had trouble concentrating--focusing.  I still do from time to time.  It is hard to listen to people for any length of time.  Even today, I found myself "fuzzy" during a meeting.

When I was able to realize I needed help, I tried to find something that would give me focus.  I couldn't do it.  I'm not sure why--all I know is that there was nothing out there that was helpful.  Everything was too long, and everything was too cerebral.  Anything more than a line or two was overwhelming.  What I needed during those first days was a sort of mantra.  I found it in the words of Julian of Norwich.

As I've thought about this, I've decided that I want to write a devotional that would have helped me.  I prayed about it as I was prayerfully considering my platform, and this is what I came up with:

• It has to be in sections, not day by day.
• It has to go from very short thoughts to longer short ideas to normal.
• It should have a section for times when you wonder what you can do to help others.
• It should be short on reference and long on love, especially at the beginning.

With this in mind, I've decided on this format:

• The first section will consist of sentences with short instructions on how to use them.  I remember that it was hard to breathe.  That was the major thing.  I couldn't focus enough even to take a full breath (if that sounds weird, remember, this is me).  This section will help you breathe in the words and let them rest in your soul.
• The second section will be short paragraphs--still in the mindset of coming to your soul, but with a little more meat.
• The third section will be more like a traditional devotional.  There will be the verses, the short story, the summary idea, and verses for further reference.

• The final section will be similar to the third, but it will be focused specifically on how others have taken their pain and lessons learned to help those who are hurting.  The idea is based on my life verse:  2 Cor 3-4:   Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Here is a sample of the first section.  I'd like to know--if you were in the midst of heavy suffering, would this help you?

All will be well, and all will be well, and all will be very well

St Julian of Norwich

Breathe deeply, and say this quietly to yourself.  Stop.  Let yourself feel the truth of what you’ve said.  Stop.  Repeat, one phrase at a time. Understand that even if you don’t believe it, something inside you is being fed.  Accept that.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:13

Breathe deeply, and say the entire verse quietly to yourself.  Stop.  Let the truth sink in.  Repeat the entire verse again, breathing in on “I can do all things” and out on “through Christ who strengthens me.  Stop.  Breathe deeply and let the truth of the verse soothe your soul.  Understand that you will understand the truth of this, even though you may not believe it right now.  Accept that your subconscious can grasp what you can’t right now.

Never, never, ever give up!

Winston Churchill

Take a deep breath. Say this to yourself with strength.  Even if you feel stupid doing it, say this to yourself in a very strong voice.  If you feel your heart shrinking inside, it’s because it doesn’t believe (yet) that this is possible.  It is.  Remind yourself that you are in control of your body, your mind, your soul, and your spirit.  If you choose not to give up, then you will not.

I don’t normally put in a second paragraph, but I want to remind you that I’m speaking of essential things, here.  Don’t give up on living.  Don’t give up on being whole.  Don’t give up on walking forward.  Please don’t mistake essentials for non-essentials.  It might be necessary to give up on a non-essential in order not to give up on an essential.  Just remember—at this stage, you are working on trust and confidence and the ability to stand.

Never never EVER give up!

My story didn't start yesterday.  It didn't start last year.  It didn't even start ten years ago.  While my story, like all of yours, has been in a state of becoming since I was born, the part of my story that nearly killed me started in 1990 and first became traumatic in 1991.  That's over 23 years ago.  After my father died (not unexpected--he was 81), I felt the grief that anyone would feel at the death of a father.  I was the baby, so maybe it was harder for me; I'm really not sure.  However, in July, 1991, my world was shaken.  My baby, Tommy, died at 24 weeks gestation.  It was not a stillbirth; he lived for eleven days.  Miracles happened both during and after his birth; still, my precious son died.  I'm not going into that now--that's not the point of this post.  Thirteen months after Tommy died, I gave birth to a healthy baby boy named David.  Two months after David was born, I started a new job.  Four months after that, my husband unexpectedly died.  He had a cerebral aneurysm and lived for eleven days, just like my son.  I'm not going into any of that right now, either.  That's not the point of the post.  I struggled with grief, suicidal thoughts, horrible decisions, miserable choices, and then--I began to experience healing.  THAT is STILL not the point of this post.  But patience, friends.  I'm getting there.

As I began to experience healing, I was unable to do much more than receive for the first several years.  When I was able to reach outward, at first it was only through writing and singing.  But before too long, I began to want to serve others--to help others in the way that I myself had been helped.  I took 2 Corinthians 1:4 as my life verse: He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. However, the more I asked God to allow me a chance to help others, the less likely it seemed that he would do so.  I never understood why, but nothing ever seemed to work out.  Whenever I asked for a chance to help, the answer I got was "wait."  But I didn't want to wait!

Well, here it is, 23 years later, and I find myself preparing.  I know that the time is not yet at hand, but it is coming.  I am resting in the Lord, waiting on Him, and He is reminding me every day of something that He wants me to take into this new life.  One day I will remember a miracle, another day I will remember the sweetness of a healing, another memory will come of something that he showed me in his Word that brought an understanding that I hadn't yet received.  I see all these things coming together.

One thing, though, that I hadn't seen, was this.  I understand now why I had to wait all these years.  It took that much time for me to be ready.  Not healed, ready.  I couldn't have taken the steps that I'm about to take even 5 years ago.  It took people criticizing my Spanish to understand that people mean only good when they criticize.  It took people proofreading my stories (in Spanish) and projects for me to realize that you don't disintegrate when you receive criticism.  It took me having opportunities through the years to sing, to share my story, and to share my readings to understand that it moves people when I do so, and it can bring healing.  I didn't understand that 23 years ago.  I understand it now.

So I wait again, and hopefully for the last time.  I know that at the end of this waiting, I'll be free to help others receive the hope and healing that they can find through God.  It will be truly time.  And I will be so thankful that I waited.

So this is my point to you:  as Winston Churchill said, Never never EVER give up!  You might be in a holding pattern, too, and the days may see pointless and long.  Please do remember that God is walking your path with you.  He knows how long you need before you're ready to take wing and fly.  Please don't despair--he will give you the desire of your heart.  He WILL.  Just have faith.  

By the way, I'm discovering that you are leaving comments and somehow they're not appearing.  Please email me at meggiev7777@gmail.com until I figure out what's going on.  I so want to hear from you.

God bless you!

1 cor 13

13 If I speak in the tongues^[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.² If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains,but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,^[b]but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Nothing.  What a big word.  It seems like something at the time.  Some may listen, applaud, even honor you, but in the end…ashes. Nothing.  All because you did it without love.

⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

⁸ Love never fails.

Be careful.  You may think that you are full of Christian love, but is it patient and kind?  Is it envious?  Does it boast or show pride?  Here's a good one.  Does it dishonor others?  Is it trying to bring things around to your way of thinking?  Does it fall easily into anger? Is it busy keeping records?  Does it rejoice in the truth, even if that truth is inconvenient?  Does it protect? Trust? Hope? Persevere?

I'm sorry, but I am drawn to the line, it always protects.  What kind of love is being shown today in the name of Christianity?  Love that protects or self-righteousness that throws others under the bus and into the mouths of wolves?

8 (cont) But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 

We know so little when compared to what we will know.  We may see a good deal, but it is so little compared to what is to come.  Love.  We might prophesy, we might attain all wisdom, but it all will end.  Only love remains.

¹¹ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. ¹² For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

To see without limitations.  To understand without the barriers that are common to man today.  To be able to wipe our eyes, open them wide, and see God's truth displayed clearly, in plain view. I will one day know him as well as he knows me.  And he is love.  To know him better even now, seek earnestly for the ability to grow in love.

¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Ever believed beyond belief?  Ever hoped beyond hope?  Ever woke up one morning and thought--for that one precious second--that the lost loved one was back again?  It will one day happen.  And love will rule it all.  Come quickly Lord Jesus.