Bloom Where You’re Planted!
Amos 4:13
For lo, he who forms the mountains, and creates the wind, and declares to man what is his thought; who makes the morning darkness, and treads on the heights of the earth --
the Lord, the God of hosts, is his name!
Psalm 149:1-4
1. Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of the faithful! 2. Let Israel be glad in his Maker, let the sons of Zion rejoice in their King! 3. Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with timbrel and lyre! 4. For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with victory.
The same God who forms the mountains stoops to be near mankind! He takes pleasure in us as his most beloved creation -- the best of all He made -- he saved mankind for last after all. Sometimes I forget that God isn’t just some unreachable, unapproachable entity--like the wizard in the Wizard of Oz. He not only comes to us throughout our daily lives, he longs for us.
Longs for us.
He wants an intimate relationship with each of us and with all of mankind. I have found lately that I am more aware of his presence in my life. I catch my breath when I realize his presence --active and vibrant and so apparent. He yearns for my acknowledgement and thanks for that presence. One of the ways I respond in gratitude is through my writings. When I am most full of God’s love and open myself up to His power in my life, I find I am the most creative and prolific. When I allow Him to work through me, to use me as his vessel in this world, my writings minister more fully and personally to others in my life.
When I use my other gifts, I am allowing Him a pathway into the world of man as well. I am a talented Administrator! I can say that, because I know the source of those talents and abilities -- I am only obedient in recognizing and deploying them! I am also a natural caretaker -- that helps with the “administrative stuff” too. I was talking with a friend the other day and she commented that she is both a comforter and an administrator -- with a tendency toward leading and directing. I, on the other hand, have a tendency toward caretaking and comforting who will lead if necessary!
Both are vital! Both are necessary! Both of us respond out of our deepest place of giftedness. We both admitted that it is way too easy for me to loose focus on the “big picture” to sit with one person and for her to focus on the goal, and possibly miss an opportunity to minister personally. That’s another reason it is important to have others in your life who will hold you accountable and who will help you realize these truths about yourself without blaming or shaming you.
Bloom where you are planted! Thank God that You are a seed of His love. He sends sunshine as well as rain to nurture you and help you grow. Plants grow up! Even “root plants” must shoot growth above the ground! Every living thing on earth yearns for God in heaven just as much as he yearns for us. Isn’t God amazsing?
My prayer today is that you bloom where you are planted. And that you grow UP toward the one who gives you everything you need to thrive in this life.
Mary
