Hi, my name is Linda Odén,
I have been married to Johan for almost 17 years and we have three children, Oliver 14, Felix 11 and Juli who is turning 8 this summer. We have a dog called Happy and we live in Mijas Costa, 10 minutes from Marbella in Spain. We spend our working hours restoring, encouraging and equipping families and marriages to live a life to the full. This month I turned 40 and I feel so blessed, loved and rich, I really enjoy living my life.
But it has not always been like this, so now when I can as a mature woman of 40 look back and see my first 40 years of my life journey, all my good and bad decisions made, my joys and sorrows upon my way, my dancing in sunshine and crying in the rain I can also see God who made it possible to change direction. I can truly see how He never left me alone in my mud puddle. Back then I was too occupied looking at the mess to be able to see or hear him, But Oh yes He was there for sure. Those times in stubbornness when I made a left turn instead of a right turn, He was there. I was too frustrated and too busy explaining and justifying my wrong choices to the world to see or hear Him, But Oh yes He was there. And every single time I under influence of Alcohol opened up my heart to wrong people, my hunger for love got myself hurt instead of looking straight in the eyes of Love. He was there indeed.
For many years I have tried to explain and give reasons for all my wrongs mistakes and bad choices. But when I know God was there all the time I have made a life changing decision. Might not be big to you, but it has given me a new life.
I have decided: I will not look back with regrets.
Of course I still know I behaved and have done really stupid things, But because God was there with me, trying to get my attention, nothing is hidden from Him. He the well of Life, knows it all! One great thing is I don’t have to keep track on every big or small mistake I’ve done, because He doesn’t. So with peace in body Soul and Spirit I have decided I will change perspective I will look ahead. I will be confident in my faith that if the Spirit of Truth needs me to know, and deal with, things in the past, HE will guide me. Until then I will focus on the future. Non of us can look at two directions at the same time. We have a choice to make! live life with a backward view or have our sight on the future.
There are two wonderful and life-giving Scriptures we as a couple, family and in our work come back to over and over again.
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
Isaiah 43:18-19
and
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11
The same God who restored my marriage, cleansed my heart and gave life to my Spirit spoke these words. My life on paper was pretty much out of hope and a good future. But God through His Love and Grace made a way in my wilderness and streams in my wasteland. He lead me to a place where I could finally hear Him saying “This is not a life for you, I know this because I have created another life and another future full of hope and good plans…look ahead”
….can you hear him too?
