The leader of a business took a group of his people out to the woods for a retreat. He explained to them a costly mistake he had made. He told them how that failure made him wiser. Then, in a turn of wisdom, he insisted each person put a rock on the table, and tell about one of their own personal failures. One by one they did, strengthening their bond, letting go of some necessary baggage. But one fella was holding out. The leader looked him in the eye and said… “If you have not experienced failure…you cannot be part of this group. Failure is what you do. It is not what you are.” Today…you may want desperately to have that great new year everyone is talking about..but you are feeling the weight of your failures, as a negative instead of a positive. Your list is long and your feelings loud. Maybe you even think God sees you this way. He doesn’t want anything to do with a failure like you. But that’s so not true! I believe God wants to say something to you: If you have not experienced failure… you cannot be part of the group. Live in the company of the forgiven. Put your rock to good use…let it become a support system…a holding up place for ALL of us to gather and grow and bless the wisdom, that came on the wings of a thing we call failure. Even if you are overwhelmed today, by all that you think has stamped failure on your life, put it on the altar. Vow to live in the blessing. God is going to do wonderful things with you, if you’ll just let Him. Grow so close, you don’t miss a single one reserved for you. Be Blessed. ~Ann Stewart Porter
What does it mean to bloom where you’re planted? If you’re planted, it means you have roots. You have standing power. A plant or tree with good roots maintains in balance during the storms and winds of life. A good root system feeds the plant to grow and thrive. You flourish. Flourish means to grow in a healthy and vigorous way. You blossom. A rose in full bloom is a sight to behold! What does this mean in the church? God plants you in a church for your spiritual edification. He doesn’t randomly appoint people to a church. The church body is a unique group of people, each with their own gifts, talents, and personalities joined by divine design to impart into each other wisdom, encouragement, support, gifts, to mature a person in their walk with the Lord. It’s not by chance! Its by His personal plan! And as you freely receive freely you give! You have a unique set of gifts and talents to give unto the body yourself. You have something that somebody needs in their life that only you can impart! Everybody brings something to the table. If you don’t feel you’re blooming, check your heart. You could be clogged up where His blessings can’t flow. If you don’t feel fed, ask the Lord to open your spiritual ears. If you don’t feel you have something to offer, ask the Lord to open your spiritual eyes and your mind. You’re here by divine design… and we need you! Ask your leadership how you can serve with your unique set of talents and gifts. A church alive is not only worth the drive, it thrives!
Every once in a while, an ewe will give birth to a lamb and reject it. There are many reasons she may do this. If the lamb is returned to the ewe, the mother may even kick the poor animal away. Once an ewe rejects one of her lambs, she will never change her mind. These little lambs will hang their heads so low that it looks like something is wrong with its neck. Their spirit is broken. These lambs are called “bummer lambs.” Unless the shepherd intervenes, that lamb will die, rejected and alone. So, do you know what the shepherd does? He takes that rejected little one into his home, hand feeds it and keeps it warm by the fire. He will wrap it up with blankets and hold it to his chest so the bummer can hear his heartbeat. Once the lamb is strong enough, the shepherd will place it back in the field with the rest of the flock. But that sheep never forgets how the shepherd cared for him when his mother rejected him. When the shepherd calls for the flock, guess who runs to him first? That’s right, the bummer sheep! He knows his voice intimately. It is not that the bummer lamb is loved more, it just knows intimately the one who loves it. Its not that it is loved more, it just believe it because it has experienced that love one on one. So many of us are bummer lambs, rejected and broken. But He is the Good Shepherd. He care for our every need and holds us close to His heart so we can hear His heartbeat. We may be broken but we are deeply loved by the Shepherd. Don’t ever doubt that!
A couple of weeks ago, I had a dream. In the dream I was looking down at what looked like a room with a person (me) inside it. It had no doors, no windows, and no ceiling. I began to move around, viewing the “room” from different angles, and realized it was not a room, but a box. I heard a voice say, You need to tear down these walls. They are your defenses. It’s time to step outside your safe place.” I meditated on this for a while. It’s no coincidence that our Pastor gave a Word during a service around this time from the Lord where He said, “If I can get you to step outside your own mind, I can do something with you.” My friend, our very thought patterns can be a defense, a safe place for you. Life President Reagan told Gorbachev, its time to tear down these walls! The enemy of our souls will use our very thoughts against us to steal, kill, and destroy your destiny in the Lord and your inheritance of an abundant life. As you begin to transform and renew your mind, you will begin to recognize thought patterns that hold you back, keep you spinning in place, and preventing forward movement in your spiritual growth. Your guide, Holy Spirit, will begin to show you events from your past, in conjunction with your present circumstances, that keep you repeating destructive patterns in your life. If you keep spinning around a mountain at the same altitude, you will never reach the peak! How do you begin to recognize your thoughts are destructive? Journal them. Write them down. Follow this filter from God’s Word:
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9 NJKV
They need to be TRUE, NOBLE, JUST, PURE, LOVELY, GOOD REPORT, HAVE VIRTUE, PRAISEWORTHY. In other words, encouraging, edifying, uplifting and positive and loving. If they don’t line up with that, cast them out of your mind because they are from the accuser of the brethren, the enemy of our soul.
Spend time in God’s Word. Meditate on key scriptures according to your present circumstances. If you need to improve your health, write down scriptures to do with health and healing. If you are suffering a loss, look up scriptures for peace and comfort and strength. Our Bible is God’s roadmap for getting through this life until we reach our eternal home with Him.
Worship! You can praise and worship at home with the radio, videos on YouTube, CD’s, music channels on satellite TV or computer, or in your car while driving. We’re aren’t limited to Sunday and Wednesday! Worship should be part of our everyday life anyway!
Praise Him! Praise Him for what He has done in the past, what He is doing now, and in advance for what He will do in the future! He is worthy of ALL our praise! A good place to start- waking up in the morning!
Go to church. This is so important! We gain our strength from the Body. Being with a body of believers is an encouragement in itself. There is always strength in numbers. There is a time to recharge your spiritual batteries, and being in assembly with other believers is that re-charging time. It encourages and edifies you spirit, soul, and body. I have said many times I need church like the air I breathe! I can’t do without it!
Believe. Call what is not (at the present) as though it were. Speak what you need, confess it, and believe it, and apply it like you already have it. I can hear you saying…how can apply something you don’t presently have? If you are expecting rain, you carry an umbrella when you go out, right? If you are going on vacation during the summer, you prepare for it by booking your reservation, checking out the local attractions, save your money for expenses, plan your route for driving, etc. In short, PREPARE FOR RAIN!
Watch your life change! It won’t be automatic. Nothing worth having ever is. It’s hard work, but it will build your spiritual muscles and increase your faith and trust in Him. You will ultimately have whatever you desire!
Pray. Prayer is not a ceremonial religious ritual. It’s conversation with your Father. Speak to Him your thoughts, concerns, needs, feelings. Spend some quiet time and listen. He will speak to you in His still, small voice and tell you things, show you events from your past and present that will guide you through your day into your tomorrow.
