(August 3rd, 2019 a.m.)
He knows everything about me. There is nothing hidden from His sight. I can tell Him anything and everything, because He already knows it. There is no fear where mercy is. I can go to Him, there is nothing He will turn His ears away from because He already knows it all. Just bloom where you are planted.
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."
This is one of those verses that just about every Christian knows. Even some unbelievers know this verse by heart. But many times it is taken out of context. Yes, it applies to my life today, but so does the rest of this chapter, as well as the rest of the 66 books given to me. I think we forget that we are saved by faith, through grace, but that faith and grace is wasted without works.
I know, I am repeating myself. But I write this blog for my sake, as well as yours. I have to constantly remind myself to stay focused, to persevere, to not lose hope and to keep doing the work. He is working out a future and hope for me. He has prepared good and not evil for me. He leads me not into temptation, but delivers me from evil.
I am overtaken by a well, no a flood of joy pouring into my heart. You see, my past birthdays (with the exception of one or two) have been pretty miserable. Last year, on my 45th birthday, I cried upon my bed, praying and asking God why was it so selfish of me to ask for one day a year to be about me? I haven't received a birthday gift in over four years. I get the usual Facebook posts, text messages and phone calls. But in almost 30 years, no one has ever planned anything for me, asked me to do anything or pretty much thought about me at all on my birthday. To be honest, I dread my birthday every year. I have always found myself disappointed, and many times, crying because it was a miserable day of wasted time and dashed hopes. Not a birthday fan. (I am just feeling sorry for myself. It's just a day that every single person has. I ain't about me!)
This year, I actually had and am still having a very happy and joy filled birthday. But it is only because of my Father in heaven, and the promises He keeps to me when I seek Him with my whole heart. Delight yourself in Him and He will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4) Thursday morning (the morning of my birthday), during one of my devotion/prayer times, I felt a prompt to write down my birthday "wishes". So I did. By the end of Friday, two of the "wishes" on my list had been fulfilled. But it wasn't over. As I was writing these words Saturday morning, I got a text. Another "wish" had been fulfilled, with a bonus! He does above and beyond all that we could ever ask or think. (Ephesians 3:20) But, I still have to do my part.
"These are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders of the exiles, and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon."
God uses Jeremiah to write to His people in exile. Right now, that is where I feel like I am at- in exile. I have a wanderlust, an adventurous soul and not being able to hop in my car and explore is killing me. But God has promised and I will obey His word, and bloom where I am planted. When I do, He does above and beyond all that I could every ask or think!
“Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare."
God speaks to His people and tells them that He has put them in this exile. It is by His will, His plan, His foreknowledge, and for their good. I may not like it, but I am exactly where I need to be. After He encourages them with His words, He gives them instructions on how to live while they are in this season of exile. He tells them to bloom where they are planted. Live life, build a life that benefits you, your family and your community. Be lights to the people around you- wherever you are. Be the bright patch of light shining on the fields, ripe for the harvest. Bloom where you are planted.
"For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that they dream, for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you in my name; I did not send them, declares the Lord."
Don't let anyone tell you different. Walk in faith. Trust His Word to you. No one knows you like He does. If it goes against what He has spoken to you, shown you and confirmed to you, then don't listen to it. Wipe the dust off your feet and walk away.
“For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you."
Jeremiah 29:10-12
Jeremiah 29:10-12
He has a purpose and a reason for this exile. He has set a time for it to begin and a time for it to end. There is nothing you can do about it. You cannot change His plans for you, or the path He has destined you to walk. He is the Potter; I am but clay.
He clearly is God and has proven Himself as the God of the Bible over and over again. Only He knew what I wrote down Thursday morning. I never shared it with anyone until now. He is God. He is the Universe. He is the Higher Being. He is the Unknown God who created me and you. There is no other. How can there be?
His plans for this exile I am in, is for my good, my benefit; not to harm me, punish me or condemn me. God is not evil, therefore He can do no evil. He cannot abide where evil lives. There is no hate or disappointment coming from Him. All this is happening for my good, my joy, my peace, my happiness; to bring me to the desire of my heart. And once I realize this and accept this truth, then I will call upon Him and He will answer me. He will guide me, keep me, protect me, and help me bloom where I am planted. He is working all things out on my behalf. I have to believe.
"Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile."
But I have to do the work. I have to walk what I believe. I must bloom where I am planted. I must use this time in exile to grow; build, and be a light to those around me. As I seek Him, as I trust His timing and His plans for this exile; He is encouraging me with answered prayers and blessings along the way.
Bloom where you are planted, daughter. He put you here for a time, a season, to be planted, watered and given increase to grow. Be a light. Live, build, dream and seek Him. When you do, all these "things" will be added unto you.
May His grace give you increase to bloom where you are planted. May we all grow into a field of beauty, reflected by the light of His grace. Be blessed. Amen.
(August 4th, 2019 a.m.)
I wrote down 5 wishes. 5 birthday wishes and Every. Single. One. came true. I sit here, on my back porch, on a beautiful North Carolina evening; in complete awe. God has blown my mind this past weekend. He never ceases to amaze me.
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| My "Barbie" Cake and Birthday Present |
Like I mentioned earlier, in the previous day, I was led- meaning I felt an urging, a prompting in my stomach/spirit (it was kind of like a gut punch)- to write these 5 birthday wishes down. I was content with not getting the last one, but God wasn't. He does like to go above and beyond for His children!
You are probably wondering what I wrote down, what my 5 "wishes" were? Well, I will tell you a few of them, but trust me when I say I prayed 5 and He gave 5! The first one was a haircut. I know, it sounds silly, but my hair was in desperate need and I just don't have that kind of extra money right now in my budget. So, I wrote it down, and I got a haircut for my birthday- for free! Another one of my wishes was for family and friends to stop by, hang out or just offer to spend some time with me, because of my birthday.
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| Eno River Adventure |
But, the one I told the Lord I would be content if it wasn't possible; He made possible. Saturday, late morning my neighbor/friend said she was going walking, so we went together. I told the Lord right before leaving that if my last request was not doable, I would be content with the conversation and walk with my friend.
Sunday, today, my last and final wish to go hike Eno River came true. It was the perfect ending to a perfect birthday weekend. The fish were biting, the weather was perfect, and the river scenery was beautiful. I got to spend time with family and friends, got a Barbie Cake, a haircut and to cap it all off, a beautiful day at the Eno River. I, my friends, am truly blessed! My Father delights to give us His very best. Trust and Obey, there really is, no other way. Amen.
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