Recently, I was reading a devotional on “flourishing,” which got me thinking how God has people flourishing in roles for a season.
It seems he often makes room for new vision in our hearts as old seasons come to an end. And as with many endings, there is often painful growth in the transition of letting go. Like seeds, some things must die in order for the new to come to fruition. And those things aren’t always clear… timing, places and people come into the sovereign mix orchestrated by God. Throughout the ages, God has continuously called people to flourish in the new seasons of life — always for his glory. When I meet with someone or lead our Starting Point Q&A I tell people, “there’s a place for you in God’s Kingdom!” (and I always follow it with, “and whether it’s here or elsewhere, it is my sincere hope to help you find it!”). It’s exciting to walk alongside others as they seek God’s will for their lives. It’s also a bit nebulous, mysterious and not for those unwilling to step into the adventure of following Jesus. Flourishing according to God’s purposes is not for the faint of heart - rather it is for the caring of heart - the one after God’s own heart! What is God asking of you in this season? Let me know if you want to chat about it! Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 43:19, ESV) For appointments: [email protected]
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“Day by day, day by day,
Oh, dear Lord three things I pray, To see Thee more clearly, Love Thee more dearly, Follow Thee more nearly, Day by day.” Do you ever have lyrics from songs of the past sing their tunes in your memories? The song above from the 1970’s musical, “Godspell,” comes to mind often. It’s a simple song that puts words to the desires of my heart. I love to sing it and pray it. It reminds me that we can flourish in our faith by keeping God clear, dear, and near. “Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.” Isaiah 55:6-7 When everything around us goes awry, our walk with Him can remain strong and steady. The Maker of the world is also the Shaker of the world, but not for our harm. When we are clear, dear, and near to the Father, our faith will flourish…even in a messy world. It’s helpful to ask ourselves these three questions on a daily basis: What am I facing today that I need to see God in more clearly? What do I need to add, or let go of, to love Him more dearly? What holy habits do I need to start, to follow Him more nearly? In answering these questions, I believe our faith will grow and we will flourish- day by day! “The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing, To declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.” Psalm 92:12-15 Seeking His heart, Charlotte I’d love to hear your stories of flourishing! [email protected] Day by Day Music by Stephen Schwartz Lyrics by Saint Richard of Chichester (13th century) No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us.
1-John 4:12 God calls us to serve. But maybe because you fear being rejected, even by a stranger, the homeless person on the street never receives the hope you could share. God doesn’t want fear limiting our influence in these ways. He wants us free so we can love and serve others freely. He wants us to experience what He created and called us to do. And He certainly doesn’t want the enemy using fear to steal our purpose from us. By resisting fear and trusting God, we can live life to the fullest and have the privilege of showing God’s love to everyone we meet. If we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? ~Blessings, Jackie Wehr
This month we begin the season of Spring and the freedom writers have decided to write on what it means to flourish. What does it mean to flourish? “But blessed is the man who trust in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. “ – Jeremiah 17:7-8 A Story… I walk the stairs in my home as my mother-in-law does laps around the downstairs living area. To keep moving in her older years, my mother-in-law walks for 10-12 minutes after each meal. After dinner we walk together. I see her strength and courage as she faces the changes that come with age. An Invitation to Empathy… We recently saw a movie titled The Father, about an 81-year-old man, Anthony suffering from dementia. We were put in the shoes of someone suffering from the disorder. Here is a clip of the closing scene below. How do we “flourish” when we feel like we’re losing our leaves? How do we “flourish” when others seem to be losing theirs…? “But blessed is the man who trust in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. “ Can we trust in the one who waters and sends drought? Can we trust in the one who showers blessings but also allows adversity? Can we believe that He is working all things for our good? Maybe we are here to be both Anthony and his compassionate nurse. Maybe in this life, we need and are needed. Maybe this is what it means to flourish – to recognize our need to trust and to love and to be loved. I walk the stairs as my mother does her laps and I marvel at her… *If you are feeling like Anthony (Antonia 😊) please don’t hesitate to contact me. [email protected] Sincerely & With Love, Christina
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