Bloom Where You're Planted

I love this picture. I actually found it awhile back, and it gave me the idea to write a post like this. To me, it shows that even in the driest places, life can still bloom. Sometimes we can be in a dry place in our lives, just like this picture, and it seems like nothing is happening. Have you ever been in a place like that? I know I have. Often we can find ourselves getting impatient while waiting for changes to come, and we wonder how God can use us where we are now. Some people find themselves wanting to change jobs, homes, etc. when they find themselves in the dry times of life, but often God wants us to stay just where we are.

As I'm writing this (it's not at 5 a.m. like it says!), I can hear my son crying because he doesn't want to take a bath, and my daughter is also crying because my husband put her down on the floor. I am in a season of my life that can be filled with chaos. Sometimes it's good chaos, if that makes sense, but other times I feel as though I'm not doing anything that makes any sort of difference in the world. My husband is very busy with church activities and work, and the more he's involved in - the more I need to stay home with the kids. I have really started to find my "niche" in our church, and now it has become increasingly difficult for both of us to be involved in activities at the same time. God reminded me that my main ministry right now is raising my children! I need to bloom where I'm planted, as they say, and use what God has given me right here at home.

Do you feel like you're in a place where God can't use you? He knows exactly where you're at, and he has gifted you to minister to others right where you are. Maybe all of it is behind the scenes, and no one else will ever know - but God has gifted you to bloom where you are right now!

"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms" (1 Pet. 4:10).

The verse above does not say "Each one should use whatever gift he has received (when he finally gets out of the place he's in now and into a better job, when he feels more equipped to share his faith, etc...." God wants us to use our gifts now! If you don't know how you can use the gifts that God has given you now, I encourage you to ask God about it. He will definitely tell you, because it's His will that you use your gifts to minister in some capacity. The way you use your gifts now may be different than how you use them 10 years from now. One thing is for sure, though, is that God has made a way for you to use them now. This is not something you need to wait for. He has given us all spiritual gifts for now - not when we think we're in a better situation to use them.

"From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work (Ephesians 4:16)".

Jesus, I thank you for the knowledge that you have called me NOW. You have not called me only in the future when my life is not so chaotic. You have called me now. Please keep reminding me of this and show me new ways that I can minister to others right where I am today. You have not called me to get a new job, spouse, house, etc. when everything seems cold and dry. You have called me to bloom where I am planted, and I thank you for giving me that revelation. You are my Rock, as always.

A Time For Everything

In the New Testament, the word Kairos means, “the appointed time in the purpose of God.”   

My husband and I went to Kairos the last week of January, and it was a life-changing event!  It was quite an interesting trip to pull off, because it was in Texas...and we live in Pennsylvania!  Thanks to some wonderful friends and family, we were able to go and have our children well-cared for while we were gone.

It's really interesting how God orchestrated this whole trip in the first place!  I had someone leave a comment on my blog a few months back, and she told me that I might be interested in listening to one of her church's messages.  I wasn't sure, at first, because I knew nothing about her church and I wanted to be careful of what I listened to.  I looked up the church's website, though, and I noticed that it was a church in Texas with many people I have heard of (from worship CD's, TV shows and marriage conferences).  I was so excited to listen to this particular message, and within the next few weeks I listened to several of them!  They have a Freedom Ministry that I was immediately drawn to, and I shortly learned about Kairos through that ministry.

Kairos was definitely an appointed time of God for us!  God touched our hearts in so many ways that I'm not even sure how to explain it all right now!  God showed me just how much shame I have been carrying around, and how much I still needed to forgive a couple of people in my life.  Over 2 days, we covered several topics that opened my eyes to so much of what has been going on in my life.

Some of the topics were:

Rejection
Father Wounds
Mother Wounds
Soul ties
Inner vows and Judgments
Inner Healing

This ministry is so powerful, and I recommend this for anyone who is seeking freedom and healing in their lives.  I guess we're all seeing freedom in some way!  Freedom is found when you begin to discover who God made you to be.  I realize that not everyone can go to Texas for Kairos, but if you're ever able...it would change your life!  As I know that most of you may not be able to do that, I also wanted to pass along the link to their Freedom Classes where they have online sermon audio's on several different topics, including the one's I listed above.  These classes have changed my life (and my husband's), and I'm still amazed at how God has used them in my life already. 

I almost forgot to mention that my husband and I met with my blogger friend, Alex, while we were in Texas!  We started reading each other's blogs after she left me that comment, and I then told her we were coming down for Kairos.  We had dinner with she and her husband when we were down there, and we had such a great time!  For those of you who have blogs, how often do you get to meet an online blogger friend?  Definitely not very often.

It was great to meet you in person, Alex, and thank you for leaving me that comment and starting us on this freedom journey!  Alex's blog is quite a testimony to the freedom that she is experiencing in her life as she continues to learn who God created her to be.  Check it out sometime!   Journey to Beauty 

Picture credit:  amcorenterprises.com