In The Father's Lap by T.R. Lipscomb

In The Father’s Lap

“What shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” (Rom 8:31 & 32 NASB)

Doubt, pain, frustration, confusion, tears, a roller coaster of emotions; all have been my companion over the past few months. Reassurance, reminders, expressions of love, holding me close, peace where there is no peace; all have been The Father’s response to my questions.

Yesterday’s Daily Bread devotional was in Romans 8, my favorite NT chapter. When I checked my email and Facebook this morning I am again edified by the things I read. I am an emotional mess and He knows it. I need a daily reminder of His love for me and He is very much aware of it. I fight doubt as I recover from losing yet another house, fight fear as I face a mountain of debt and fight intense emotional pain as I face another Resurrection Day without my children. The loving Father that He is brings my attention back to Himself.

Over the past few days He has brought many reminders to me as I keep myself in a place where He feeds my spirit. He has good plans for my future (Jer. 29:11). He will restore the years the locusts have eaten (Joel 2:25). He has His Spirit interceding on my behalf with groaning too deep for words (Rom 8:26-27). He helps me to wait for Him, to keep His way (Ps 37:34).

How much longer must I wait for the promised restoration of what was taken from me? How much longer must I wait for the return of my prodigal children? How much longer must I wait for the promised Joy that comes in the Morning? I don’t know, but I do know the God of the Impossible. I do know that He loves me. I am even more reminded of this as we have just celebrated the Holiest weekend of the year where we remember our Savior’s death and resurrection. He is risen – so how could I continue to wallow in my pain and sorrow? He who spared not His son will also freely restore to me what I am waiting for, just as He restored Job when the fullness of time has come.

Dearest Children - epilogue part 3

A few days ago God used a TV show to greatly encourage me (thank you Tyler Perry!). The father was encouraging his adult son who was recovering from a serious gunshot wound. He told his son something like "when you are going through something so horrible that you are ready to give up, God will send you a responsibility that needs your attention to keep you going." This was a reminder of one of the lessons I had written about in my book. It also illustrates the next move in my saga.

As I was recovering from my forced move and getting settled into a new residence, The Father had me attending to my next responsibility - preparing for a trip to Orlando. A few weeks after moving, I was to attend the International Christian Retail Association's convention as my book was being released at that time. I had two book signings scheduled during the convention. They both went very, very well – all of my books for both signings were given out.

I was blown away by talking with Chuck Colson about my situation at his book signing; almost meeting Liz Curtis Higgs (I needed to leave her line to go to my second book signing); being able to look Joni Earickson Tada in the eyes at as I sat on my scooter while she signed my copy of her new book. As exciting as I found these, the biggest thrill was the prophecy given me just a few minutes before my first book signing. The Father was reminding me that in spite of my pain, this nightmare I was living would end well - for my good and His glory.

Dearest Children - epilogue, cont'd

If you are, or have been, forced to leave your home, let me offer you some encouragement. The first thing that comes to my mind for a situation like this is the call God gave to Abram and Sarai to leave their home in Ur.

It is thought that they were the only ones worshiping Yahweh at that time, so can you imagine what went through Sarai's head when Abram told her they were moving at His command? I understand her fear of the unknown as that was one of my major emotional battles as I left my home of 20 years, my home that was located in the town I had come to live in as a bride 30 years prior to this event.

Why did God allow my home to be stolen out from under me? What glory could he possibly receive by my daughter's attempt to put me on the street? To paraphrase the words of Joseph, my daughter may have meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.

As my MS continued to deteriorate, he knew I needed the much shorter, much easier, commute my move gave me. As I continued to struggle with loneliness, I needed the gift of a dear sister-in-the-Lord whose back door was only a few yards from my front door. As I fought with the frustration of "not serving him," God used me to show love and be a friend to my neighbor (and her family) on the other side of me. In time, he graciously showed me that he had not forgotten me. Yes, he would use even this event for my good and his glory. I needed to stop fretting and simply continue to rest in him. As he had taught me years ago, he is perfectly able to handle this situation without my help! ...to be continued

Book Trailer

In Dearest Children, T. R. Lipscomb shares very candidly her family's journey through life. Her story is a very real look at life, marriage and children from the eyes of one who did not live the fairytale story with a fairytale ending. It is a true story that is raw with the reality and emotion that unfortunately, is probably closer to the reality of life for most in this day and age.

After all of the details, twists and turns in this story, T. R. Lipscomb's life lesson is that if you put your trust in God and look to Him to provide peace, comfort and healing, He can heal your family relationships and help you get through any situation that you are facing in life! Get your copy of Dearest Children by Author T.R. Lipscomb at Advantage Books