Changing and Loving it!

This tree, which once stood grand and proper, shaded and protected those who admired it. Year after year, seasons come and go, storms beat away at it’s body and drought withered it’s roots. Through the seasons, storms and droughts it stood firm until the day it shaded no more. But yet it still stands, stump of beautiful artwork from God. To be admired for it’s resilience.

A change in the beautiful creation of God took place, what once stood firm, shading and protecting, changed and is still beautiful.

The same is, will be and can still be for you and me.

2 Corinthians 3:18

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Much change has taken place within this soul of mine. I’ve sought, I’ve learned and I’ve loved deeply even more.

I’ve suffered much and I’ve miss understood the meaning of love. There’s been times when I was done. Or at least I thought I was. I’ve seen that God was not done with me.

Over the years I have read many books, other than the bible, that would make huge changes in my mind and soul. They each came into my focus at certain times, times that God had laid out for me, times that only He knew I was ready for. The first book came to me, I’m not even sure through who, called “Are you there God, it’s me Margaret”, as a child this was my first remembrance of the seed being place in my mind of a God who is always there for me. That seed lingered for many many years before it started taking root. But it was all in God’s timing as he worked on me. Then in 1991, during a very soul searching time in my life, my relationship with Christ started blooming, the seed began to sprout. That sprout grew slowly but continued and change began, I began allowing Him to use me. Trials, storms, pain, drought, hit and hit hard many times. And around 2006, “Boundaries- When to say Yes and when to say No” came to me. Change started happening quick and the seed started blooming. Now for a little fertilizing to strengthen the roots with “Celebration of Disciplines”. This was a time of deep dependence on Christ, on his faithfulness, on his grace, on his forgiveness, on his strength, on his resilience and on his love for me. This was a game changer for me. I knew that he was calling me to MORE. And I was ready to say Yes. I have read many books since then, “1000 Gifts” by Ann Voskamp, “The Longing in me” by Sheila Walsh, “Uninvited” by Lysa TerKeurst just to name a few. But I recently read the book “Braving the Wilderness” and currently reading to “If you wan to walk on water, then you must get out of the boat” by John Orteberg, see the information below on Resilient People. See links below to some of these. This book pointed out to me just how much I have changed and how much I still have to learn.

Resilient People:

Refuse to be the Victim
Refuse to betray their values
Have a deep dependence on God

3 Qualities of Resilient People:

Exercise control rather than passive acceptance. With God we are never helpless.
Remain Committed to their values – when tempted to compromise. Loyalty to values is powerful even if it leads to suffering.
Find meaning and purpose in their storm. Storms have a way of teaching like nothing else can.

John Orteberg says, “You’re heart is revealed and your character forged when life doesn’t turn out the way you planned”.

I’m excited about the growing, changing that He is placing in front of me. I pray that you will change with me. I pray growth and a deeper dependence on God for your life. I pray that you too will be resilient.

Thank you Lord for your Son and thank you for loving me before I even knew You. Amen!