I will never forget the time I was walking with Lois and she pointed out how beautiful a flower was. It wasn't the flower in this picture, but this is my favorite flower. I stopped to look at the flower Lois pointed out and said, "I never notice things around me". This was years ago and ever since that moment, I look around me. I see the beauty that God created and there is purpose behind everything.
Last night at THE WELL, this is a class for Women that co-lead with Darlene "Speedy". I taught on the blessings of Obedience. I suddenly realized, if I had not gone through all the hard stuff, trusted God, had others who prayed with me and for me, I certainly would not be who I am today. It began inside of me and my choices matter as well. Times that I felt alone, disappointed in myself and the wonder of it all. Why me, when God, how come and the questions just rolled. Yet, I didn't need to know the why, I needed to trust God through it all. My level of faith grew as I began to study and search God out for myself. I believe the prayers of others were very important in my life.
Let me show scripture with you now from the Bible:
Deuteronomy 28:1-14 (NIV)Blessings for Obedience
28 If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. 2 All these blessings will come on youand accompany you if you obey the Lord your God:
3 You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.
4 The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.
5 Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed.
6 You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.
7 The Lord will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven.
8 The Lord will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The Lord your God will bless you in the land he is giving you.
9 The Lord will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the Lord your God and walk in obedience to him. 10 Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they will fear you. 11 The Lord will grant you abundant prosperity—in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground—in the land he swore to your ancestors to give you.
12 The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none.13 The Lord will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the Lord your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom.
14 Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to the right or to the left,following other gods and serving them.
LOOK AROUND NOW ~
See that this is the year of the Lord's favor upon your life as well. In Chapter Isaiah 61 it speaks of greater things. I believe this year can be the best year ever. Our choices matter, our mindset matters, our communication with others matter and you matter more than you might think. Greater is he who is in me, than he would in the world. The Bible speaks of hope, love and greater things. Each of us have a different talent and each of us is called by God. Created to do what we are suppose to do in this life time. Living the best we can and preparing to leave a legacy of faith, hope and a Jesus live style.
You might be going through a hard day and my prayers are with you. I really care and so does God. If you feel defeated, put on some Christian music and pop positive thoughts into your head. It's not always easy, but so necessary. My prayers continue for you, your family and friends.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and planting hope today. Stir up some faith and see the positive.
~ Sparkie
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