On a serious note.

Sometimes I forget what I actually post on here.  There have been a few times that I have written out a post and just never published it.  It sounds good in my head, but then when I read it out loud it just isn't what I thought.  

I say that to say, in this post I might refer to things I have already mentioned, so I'm sorry if I'm repeating myself.

Last night I was reading the book of Hosea.  I have read these specific verses before and they really stuck out to me.  I just couldn't figure out why I was so intrigued by them.... until last night.  I was moved by these verses, but just didn't have the words for it.

Hosea 2:14

"Therefore I am now going to allure her;

I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her."

I'm pretty positive it's God talking about Israel right here.  But I've mentioned before that I have felt like the past 4 years of my life have been a desert time for me.  Not in a "I've been miserable" kind of way, but just a time that I've really felt God took me to a place where I could really hear from him.  He removed some things in my life that were causing distractions. Forever I thought it was about physical location.  After I had moved several different times and nothing seemed to change, I realized it was a matter of the heart.  

This verse is exactly what God has done in my life.  There were some things he used to allure me to this place.  I guess He knew I was not going to willingly walk there on my own.  Once I realized it, there were many days I fought it.  I often wished I could turn around and go back. I don't know when, but there was a point I finally surrendered and just told the Lord I would do whatever He wanted me to do.  I didn't know what that was then, and I really don't know what it is now.  

I just know that I'm ready, whenever He chooses to reveal the next step for me.  

I really feel like this "desert" time in my life is beginning to slowly come to an end.  I feel so relieved and happy, but I also feel a little sad.  Looking back, it was hard.  But sooo worth it.  It has been such a precious time with me and the Lord.  A time I know I'll never get back.  I hope that I wasn't so focused on getting through it that I missed the beauty that was in it.  

In the last verse of Hosea 2 it says this:

"I will plant her for myself in the land;

I will show my love to the one I called 'Not my loved one.'

I will say to those called 'Not my people, You are my people'

and they will say, 'YOU are MY GOD."

That last line pretty much sums it up for me.  I have always been able to tell the Lord, "You are God."  And I meant it.  I have never doubted it.  But before the "desert" I don't think I could really say "You are my God."

That's really all I know to say about it.