XOXOXOXO
AMY
I FOUND ANOTHER LOVELY BOOK, HARD BOUND, FOR .35 CENTS AT THE THRIFT
STORE. LUCKY FOR ME, THEY ALWAYS PUT THE CHRISTIAN BOOKS ON SALE.
THIS BOOK IS TITLED 'GOD'S ABUNDANCE-----365 DAYS TO A SIMPLER LIFE.
WOW! COULD WE NOT ALL USE A SIMPLER LIFE. I KNOW I DO.
BEFORE I EVEN FOUND THIS BOOK, I WROTE DOWN ON A PIECE OF PAPER
EVERYONE THAT HURT ME, ALL THE THINGS THAT HAD HELD ME BACK
BECAUSE OF BEING ANGRY AND HURT...FOR AS FAR BACK AS I CAN
REMEMBER AND THEN I ASK GOD TO FORGIVE ME FOR HARBORING THIS
HURT AND ANGER. THEN I TOOK THE PAPER AND FOLDED IT AS SMALL AS I COULD
AND BURIED IT IN THE FLOWER BED......."NEVER TO BE REMEMBERED AGAIN."
THEN I FOUND THIS AMAZING BOOK.
GOD'S TIMING
~ROSALIE J. G. MILLS
GOD'S WILL, DONE GOD'S WAY, BY GOD'S APPOINTED
PERSON(S), IN GOD'S TIMING, WILL GET GOD'S RESULTS.
~RON SMEDLEY
"IS IT TIME YET?" THE BUDS ANXIOUSLY ASKED THE MASTER AS HE WALKED
THROUGH HIS GARDEN, GREETING EACH ONE IN TURN. THEY'D BEEN TOLD
OF THE GENTLE BREEZE WHICH, AFTER THEY BLOOMED, WOULD DELICATELY
BRUSH BY, CARRYING THEIR FRAGRANCE TO EXPECTANT NOSES EARNESTLY
ANTICIPATING THE FIRST SIGNS OF SPRING. "NOT QUITE," CAUTIONED THE
MASTER, THEIR CREATOR.
"I WANT TO BLOOM!" COMPLAINED ONE IMPATIENT BUD. "IT'S TIME."
"NOT QUITE YET," CAUTIONED THE MASTER, "JUST A LITTLE LONGER."
"BUT I WANT TO BLOOM NOW!" RETORTED THE BUD, PUSHING OUT OF HER POD.
"I HAD GREAT PLANS FOR YOU," SIGHED THE MASTER.
SUDDENLY A BLAST OF FRIGID AIR CAUGHT THE NEW FLOWER BY SURPRISE.
SHE TRIED TO RETURN TO HER POD, BUT WAS LEFT AT THE MERCY OF THE
MERCILESS WIND.
"MASTER, HELP ME!" CRIED THE LITTLE FLOWER, SHIVERING IN THE COLD.
"I CAN'T," HE REPLIED SADLY. "YOU BLOOMED TOO EARLY, AND NOW MUST
ENDURE THE COLD UNPROTECTED."
THE LITTLE FLOWER SHIVERED AS HER PETALS FELL, VICTIMS OF THE LAST
FROST. "IF ONLY YOU HAD WAITED," WEPT THE MASTER. "IF ONLY YOU
HAD LISTENED."
SOON THE MASTER'S VOICE CALLED, "COME TO ME MY FLOWERS. IT'S TIME TO
BLOSSOM." A FEARFUL BUD PEEPED OUT CAUTIOUSLY. HE HEARD THE
MASTER, BUT HIS EYES FELL ON THE FALLEN PETALS OF THE IMPATIENT
FLOWER AND HE PULLED BACK INTO HIS POD. I'LL WAIT HERE UNTIL I'M SURE
THE FROST IS OVER, HE THOUGHT.
NOW DEEPLY SURROUNDED BY HIS FEAR, HE COULDN'T HEAR THE MASTER'S
FINAL CALL, "THE WINTER IS OVER, COME TO ME AND BLOSSOM, MY
FLOWERS.
AS HE SAID THIS, ONE PATIENTLY WAITING FLOWER HEARD A MELODY SO
SWEET THE BIRDS HUSHED THEIR SINGING. STRETCHING OUT OF HER POD,
HER RADIANT BLOSSOMS FLOODED THE AIR WITH FRAGRANCE AND THE
AFTERNOON BREEZE CARESSED HER PETALS WITH LIFE-GIVING WARMTH AS
SHE BASKED IN THE MASTER'S PRESENCE.
"I'M HERE, LITTLE FLOWER, TO ADD YOU TO THE BOUQUET AT THE FATHER'S
TABLE." THE NEW FLOWER QUAKED WITH DELIGHT AS THE MASTER GENTLY
CUT HER LOOSE FROM THE BUSH. "WE'RE MISSING TWO FLOWERS," HE SAID.
"ONE BLOOMED TOO QUICKLY AND FROZE IN WINTER'S FINAL BLAST, AND
THE OTHER WILTED, AFRAID TO COME OUT OF HIS BUD. BUT YOU HAVE
BLOSSOMED EXACTLY ON TIME, AND TO PERFECTION. THE FATHER
WILL BE VERY PLEASED."
HE LOOKED SADLY AT THE FROZEN PETALS AND THE WILTED BUD; BOTH HAD
FALLEN TO THE GROUND. AS HE STOOPED TO RETRIEVE THEM, HE SAID,
"STILL, I CAN USE THESE TO FERTILIZE THE GROUND FOR NEXT YEAR'S BLOSSOMS."
AND HE WALKED INTO THE FATHER'S HOUSE, CARRYING THE BEAUTIFULLY
BLOOMING FLOWER.
HOW OFTEN DO WE IMPATIENTLY PUSH AHEAD, NOT WAITING FOR THE LORD'S
PERFECT TIMING, OR WE PROCRASTINATE, AFRAID OF FAILING? INSTEAD
LET US BLOOM RIGHT ON TIME. IF THERE'S AN AREA OF YOUR LIFE IN WHICH
GOD SEEMS TO BE WORKING TOO SLOW, CAN YOU BELIEVE HE KNOWS THE BEST
WAY? THEN YOU'LL EXPERIENCE THE ABUNDANT LIFE, ELIMINATING DISTRUST
AND HURRY.
BUT I TRUST IN YOU, O LORD;
I SAY, "YOU ARE MY GOD."
MY TIMES ARE IN YOUR HANDS....
~PSALM 31:14-15
PLANT YOUR FAVORITE FLOWER SEEDS AND MEDITATE ON SOME AREA
OF YOUR LIFE WHERE YOU'RE NOT WAITING PEACEFULLY FOR THE
FATHER'S "GO-AHEAD."
THERE ARE SO MANY FRIENDS IN NEED OF PRAYER:
GYPSY LULU, NOELLE, JANNA, ELISABETH & ROY, TERRY'S MOTHER, STRENGTH
FOR TERRY, LADY KATHERINE, SHARON AND BARBARA, ANASTASIA, BEKAH,
JEFF & ROBBI, GINA, PAT, SHAUNA, JACKIE, TERESA, ARCHEE, JOHNNY, JOHN,
MICHELLE, CLYTIE, LYNN, BETTY'S SON, PASTOR MARNEY'S DAD, KRISTIE, CAROLE,
NITA, JAMIE, BEVERLY, SWEET ANN, TED'S JOB, HOLLY, WILL, CASS, GLORIA, JESSIE,
LEILA AND KORBI, ME AND MY DH, OUR DOG SAMMY, ALL THOSE WHO NEED A JOB,
ALL THOSE WHOSE HOMES ARE IN FORECLOSURE, HAITI,
WE LIFT EVERYONE OF YOU INTO GOD'S THRONE ROOM OF MERCY AND GRACE,
INCLUDING OUR PRECIOUS MILITARY.
AS ALWAYS GRACIE ANNE AND I THANK YOU
FOR SPENDING A PART OF YOUR DAY WITH US.
YOU ARE SO VERY IMPORTANT TO US AND WE HOPE
YOU FOUND SOME ENCOURAGEMENT TODAY AND FELT
THE LOVE OF THE LORD.
SIMPLY DEBBIE
13 comments:
Debbie what a beautiful book you are reading and I thank you for sharing a part of it with us. I loved the story of the 3 flowers and I so love how you include so many in your prayers. I believe God hears them and will always answer prayers in his way, not necessary ours......:-) Hugs
What a beautiful story of the blossoms, Debbie! I hope many will happen upon it and take away the lesson and the help it gives.
So many on your prayers list -- I hope visitors will realize that right now, YOU need to be on theirs, for bodily healing and healing of grief.
Thank you Debbie.....I needed those words of encouragement today.....thanks for your prayers and I agree with what Holly/Penniwig said.
Hugs,
Lynn
Thanks to you and Gracie Anne. Dear Debbie, you are daily on my prayer list. Take good care of yourself! With hugs across the miles, Buttercup
Hi Debbie: There is a book called "The Shack" I believe would help you heal. I am almost finish reading it. If you have not read it and would like to read mine. Please email me, I would love to share it with you. Lots of love, Martha marthasfavorites@aol.com
Hi Debbie~
Such a beautiful post!
So glad you stopped by to say hi~ I will continue to pray for you as your heart heals. Such a beautiful girl... in every way!
Thank you for your sweet note!
I'm following you now... so I'll stay inspired and blessed with your friendship~
Wishing you all that is wonderful!
Michelle
That was indeed an inspiring and revealing post. You are so working in God's plan right now as you heal and share your ways of doing so. God bless you and your family, dear Debbie.
QMM
Hey sweetie, this Ozark chick is with Martha and strongly suggest you read "The Shack." I will kept you on my heart and in my prayers.
God bless your family have have a blessed day!!!
Thank you for sharing and also for visiting me. Your name will be entered twice! Good Luck and many Blessings, M.
Hi Deb
*hugs*
I hope that you are feeling better and that you are having a better day. Thank you for sharing the book with us. Wonderful thoughts and inspirations and stories to remember and to remind us of our thoughts and our journey.
think of all good things and for all that we need to be grateful for
Judi
Debbie, I am so sorry it has taken me so long to reply after you left such a sweet comment on my blog last week. I want to thank you and I've just become a follower and look forward to getting to know you too.
That was a beautiful poem to share.
Best wishes
Christine
Debbie ~ Oh, what a meaningful story of the three flower buds - so much truth in it - when I err it is usually on the side of procrastination...Brings to mind the words from an old song, "oh, what needless pain we bear"...
Cynthia K. (Beauty and Blessings)
What a wonderful, wonderful story Debbie. I've been both the impatient flower and the fearful one, but God has kept me from freezing or withering. I'm in a place of contentment now, eagerly awaiting what comes next but enjoying the here and now as well. Life is beautiful when you place yourself in his hands.
I almost forgot to mention I came by because of your cute comment to Holly. It reminded me when my two year old sister ran from the house without a diaper and actually did sit on a little cactus with tiny, fine, prickles. It delayed our trip to Disneyland for several hours while she was taken care of. My poor sister!
Hugs,
Dawn
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