Flourishing in the Difficult Places.

Have you ever felt totally drained?

Has a situation in your life squeezed every ounce of energy from your very soul?

(Your soul being your mind, will, and emotions.)

Yet circumstances make it necessary for you to keep going?

Naomi felt that way in the Book of Ruth.

Her husband, Elimelech, and their two sons Mahlon and Chilion died.

Naomi was left in Moab, a foreign country, with her two daughter inlaws.

When Naomi returned to her homeland, Bethlehem, with one of her daughter inlaws...Ruth, she was so bitter, she wanted people to call her Mara, the afflicted one.

It took Ruth's faithfulness in following Naomi, and believing in the God of her husband to turn things around.

Ruth stayed faithful in those difficult times.

She was obedient in the difficult places.

Even when Naomi felt she had come to the end of her fruitfulness....Ruth had come into the beginning of hers.

God turned their toil-scorched spirits into a well-watered garden of inspiration.

When you feel you've reached the end....Praise God for making things grow in barren places...even if you don't see the progress yet. Stay vigilant in prayer, asking Him to fill your spirit so you may glorify Him with excellent work.....whatever that may be.

THE LORD WILL GUIDE YOU ALWAYS; HE WILL SATISFY YOUR NEEDS IN A SUN-SCORCHED LAND...YOU WILL BE LIKE A WELL-WATERED GARDEN. ISAIAH 58:11 NIV.

Life has it's difficult places.

It is during those times that our only choice is to turn to God - and He does a marvelous work in us. In those difficult places, God wondrously makes us flourish.

THOSE WHO ARE PLANTED IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD SHALL FLOURISH IN THE COURTS OF OUR GOD. PSALM 92:13 NKJV.
If you feel you are in a difficult place, you needn't go through channels to reach our Lord....dial direct!!!  He's always available. 
Love,
Debbie
xoxoxoxo

A Work in Progress.

Do you ever wonder what God is doing in your life?

You may not know, and that's okay.

The real question is this: Do you have confidence that God knows where He is leading you?

The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever.

Psalm 138:8 NIV

We see other's, and they seem to know exactly what they are doing with their lives.

They are going "somewhere".

They are accomplished at something.

They have a purpose.

I'm 61 years old, and don't feel like I've accomplished anything, or made a "mark" for humanity.

I DO hope I've accomplished something for the "kingdom of God".

Your hope should not be based on your understanding of God's purpose for you. Rather, your faith should be firmly grounded in God, who is bringing it about in you.

Because even if that purpose seems very distant, you still trust Him to successfully bring you to the destination.

Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6.

Christ is the model for humility.

When we are doing things in service to the Lord...we are to Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Philippians 2:3.

You might already be doing a mighty work for the Lord.

But are humble in spirit, and draw no attention to yourself.

You have no idea the impact you are having on people's lives for the "kingdom"!

For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

And the King shall answer and say unto them, verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Matthew 26:35-36, 40.

It is His able hand that works out His plans-not ours. Trust Him to do exactly what is needed to bring them to fulfillment. We don't have to accomplish something seen by man to be successful in God's eyes. MANY, O LORD MY GOD, ARE THE WONDERS YOU HAVE DONE. THE THINGS YOU PLANNED FOR US NO ONE CAN RECOUNT TO YOU; ...THEY WOULD BE TOO MANY TO DECLARE. PSALM 40:5NIV.

God had a plan for you before you were even born.

BEFORE I FORMED THEE IN THE BELLY I KNEW THEE; AND BEFORE THOU CAMEST FORTH OUT OF THE WOMB I SANCTIFIED THEE. JEREMIAH.1:5.

God sanctified (set you apart) for His use...before you were even knit together in the womb.

Don't worry where you fit in.

Stop comparing yourself to others.

Focus on your relationship with the One that created you for HIS glory.

Trust that He is a faithful and able leader.

Thank Him that your future is a work in progress, and leave it in HIS hands.

You were created for a purpose.

To love and be loved.

Tell someone Jesus loves them today.....xo

Forgiveness....not a feeling...a decision.

Many years ago I had a dream/vision.

I had died in my sleep, and was standing before the Lord.

He was looking over the many things I had done in my life for the Kingdom....checking things off as He read the list.

Then He stopped, and said.....There was this one area that I had failed in.

Forgiveness.

I tried to justify my feelings of unforgiveness toward my abusive mother, and the other people in my life that had wronged me over the years.

I defended the hurt and anger I felt for beatings, and for the misery I experienced.

God told me that He would deal with those other people when their time came to stand in front of Him.....but right now He was dealing with me.

Why was I risking eternity with unforgiveness?

I awoke from the dream...or warning in a daze.

The knowledge that Jesus died for everyone kept ringing in my brain.

His mercy and compassion wasn't just for me!!!

It was for everyone.

I needed to change.

Instead of praying that the people that caused pain in my life would change, I started to pray that my heart would change.

What is the true meaning of repentance? A change of heart.

I didn't grasp that until years later.

My prayer became.... for people to come into other's lives to minister the Word of God to them.

To show them the love of Christ.

I wasn't the "one" that was going to be able to do that.

To the people that had hurt me, I looked like a hypocrite. They knew my past. Who was I to tell them about Jesus?! They called me a Bible Thumper, and a Jesus Freak.

Even Jesus was rejected by His family....Luke 4:24

I am by no means a prophet, I am using this verse as an example only.

I had come to the realization that forgiveness was a decision.....not a feeling.

When I made the decision to forgive, I knew that things might still come up that would still cause hurt feelings, and some animosity.

I had to keep going back to that decision I had made to forgive.

That didn't mean I had to go back to the same relationships...enabling the abuse to go on.

I can still "walk in love" from a distance.

Praying for change in my heart to continue. Praying for laborers, for the people that need that personal relationship with Jesus.

Praying that none should perish.

We all sin and fall short of the Glory....but 1John 1:9 says....If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Forgiveness is a difficult thing. If you remember that it's not a feeling, it's a decision.....it helps to let things go, and give it to God. There are so many other things in your life that are waiting for your attention, rather than dwelling on someone that probably isn't even thinking about how you are feeling right at this moment in time. Make that decision to give it to the One that can take care of it for you. Release it. Experience the freedom from that burden. Then start the journey of filling your heart with prayer for a change of heart....your heart.
You took away my clothes of sadness, and clothed me in happiness. Psalm 30:11.
In His Love.
Debbie
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo