BLOSSOM

Storms rolled through our state last night.  In our area we had wind and rain.  In other places the weather was more severe.   Tornados were produced out of some of the clouds.  When I awoke this morning it was still raining, cloudy and gloomy.  As I drove around town I took note of how many trees and flowers were blooming.  Tulip trees, redbuds and daffodils were starting to show their colors.  Even though the weather had brought potential danger the blooms were still intact. 

Life can bring storms into our lives.  Some may be a simple rainstorm while others may be like a tornado.  When we have to confront the storms of life remember that with Him we can bloom through anything.  The Lord is that in which we hold onto when the wind tries to blow us away. 

The Lord gives us a protective covering to shelter us from the storms we encounter.   Put on the armor of God and clothe yourself with Him.  When we do this He becomes our shelter from the storm. 

The Lord will help you to bloom no matter what storm you are facing.  He wants you to produce fruit that coincides with His will for you.  With Him you can withstand any storm.  Spread the beauty of your blossoming colors for Jesus and bloom.

GEARS

I ran in the rain to my car, opened the door, hopped in and hit the ignition.  At the same time my phone rang.  As I was talking on my phone I tried to back up.  My car wouldn’t go anywhere.  What was the problem?  I got off the phone to realize I wasn’t moving because I didn’t have my car in reverse. 

Have you ever not been able to go anywhere?  You are in one spot and can’t seem to move?  Your wheels are spinning but you can’t grab onto what you need to do?

You may feel as if you are stuck in reverse not moving, but you are always able to go somewhere.  All you have to do is use God’s power.  He is your built in power system that will guide you when you feel you can’t move.  He will steer you whether you are going forward or moving in reverse.  All you have to do is go to Him.  He is always there.  God never sleeps, takes a nap or goes on a vacation.  He is the ultimate source of traction and direction. 

When we are weak, stuck in a gear and can’t move, we find courage and strength through Him alone.  In 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NIV) the Lord didn’t remove Paul from the problems in life He demonstrated how He could use Paul.  We have to rely on God and His effectiveness. He will get us moving.  He will push us into forward or reverse when we think we can’t go anywhere. 

Go to Him and start moving, moving in His direction aligned with His will.  He can and will make things possible when you feel that you are stuck.  Your built in power system is ready to go.  Shift those gears and get going, you have a lot to do!

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NIV But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

SETTLED

Unsettled?  Have you ever been unsettled?  My little dog was this way last night.  She was up and down and very whiny.  I would put her outside and she would look at me.  I would put her on the bed and she would whimper.  Finally after several hours of this she curled up on a blanket and went to sleep. 

We can be unsettled for various reasons.  You may feel anxious, uneasy or disturbed.  When unsettled you may be doubtful and uncertain.  You may feel you have no purpose.  All of this leads to stressful days and sleepless nights.  So how do we become settled?

We first become settled by having a settled faith.  What is that?  It is a faith that is steadfast.  You hold on to everything God says in His word.  You know His word is true and that you must follow it.  You go to Him every time you feel uneasy with prayer.  You pray for Him to lead you and guide you with His will being the main focus for the days ahead.  You don’t let the outside world bring reason of doubt to the ideas that He has given you.  You don’t let others make cloudy what He has made clear. 

Paul had every reason to be unsettled, however he chose to be settled.  In Philippians 4:12 Paul knew how to be content in every situation.  Whether he had plenty or whether he was in need he was settled.  His secret was drawing on Christ’s power for strength.  Paul knew how to rely on God’s promises and power to be settled.  He knew to go to God and ask for His help when unsettled.  He knew to ask God to supply him with what he needed. 

Find joy through the Lord.  Be content in whatever situation or circumstance you are dealing with.  Be settled when the world pushes you to be unsettled.  Go to Him and He will settle you. 

FIND HOPE

I was in the attic looking for a book when I ran across a notebook I had over 6 years ago.  On the cover was an angel and a scripture.  The scripture was Romans 12:12 be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Everyone needs hope especially when things aren’t going very well.  When we have hope we have an optimistic attitude of mind based on an expectation of positive outcomes.  So how do we have the joyful attitude of the mind while waiting on a much-needed ray of hope?

Paul wrote the book of Romans as he traveled through Rome on his way to Spain.  He wrote this book as an organized statement of his faith.  Paul explains to the Romans what it means and how to live in complete submission to Christ.

So how do we find hope?  We find hope through Jesus Christ, through complete submission to HIm.  We go to the scripture to read what type of life he wants us to have.  He wants us to be joyful in hope.  It is only when we rely completely on Him that we can be joyful in hope.  Hope can be a difficult situation, but being a steadfast Christian is the secret ingredient to having a life full of optimistic expectations of positive outcomes. 

Don’t preoccupy your mind with what the world gives you.  Let your mind be filled with the Lord’s joy for your life.  When you let Him take over you, you have no other option but to be joyful in hope. 

OBSTRUCTION

The young girls bell choir played the opening hymn at church yesterday.  You could look in the congregation and see all the parents proudly watching their daughters.  As I looked across the isle one mother was filming.  While she was filming her mother entered the church late, walked up to the pew and preceded to walk right in front of the camera.  You could tell by the look on the mothers face that she was upset.  Her mother had walked right in the way of the view and the camera had an obstruction in the way. 

Have you ever had anyone or anything that got in the way?  You were unable to get a clear shot of what you wanted?  Your view was blocked by something that didn’t need to be there?

Nothing can get in the way of Gods plan.  He has a purpose for your life.  There isn’t anyone or anything that will walk in the way of what He has in mind for you.  There may be something that gets in the path of your vision, but it will move out of the way in due time.  It may move quickly or it may take awhile, but no matter what the obstacle it will move and you will be able to see again.  The outcome of your life is clear to Him and His focus is on you. 

If God is in it He will make it work.  He doesn’t let anything get in the way of His plan.  He removes all obstructions that are in the way.

Beginning today get rid of the obstruction that is in your way.  You may need bifocals to magnify the wonderful path God has for you.  You may have a difficult time seeing it, but it will be clear to you one day.