Friday, July 18, 2008

Thoughts on Blooming

The other day I decided to redo my blog banner. I really had no idea what I was doing and it took me forever. Still didn't turn out quite the way I wanted it. Anyway, during the process I kept re-typing "Thoughts on living life wherever God plants you...." You know what? I really started feeling like a hypocrite.
My blog is titled "Bloom Right Here". Am I truly doing that? Am I even trying? Oh, maybe somedays. But I sure spend a lot of time being frustrated with where I am at. I've still been questioning why God planted me here. See the beautiful bud in the above picture? The tree (some sort of Magnolia?) has quite a few of these. Unfortunately, most of them turn brown and ugly before they fully bloom. It is disappointing. I keep watching for them to bloom. I want to enjoy their full beauty. I guess that is what God is doing with me. Waiting and watching for me to bloom. He will be disappointed if I remain bitter and let my attitude become ugly. He wants to see me thrive, not languish. He wants to see my beauty. Who am I to deny Him that?
A dear friend emailed me the other day with something she had just read from a Beth Moore Bible study. Wow! This is what Beth says: "Let's face it. Most of us have a love-hate relationship with the places we've gotten our mail, but God intended to use every stop to equip us as servants. You have been assigned to your town or your city and, and equally, it has been assigned to you. You may feel like an exile within its city limits, but just as God spoke through the prophet, Jeremiah (Jer. 29:4-7), He wants to prosper you there. His method may not be through what your city can do to edify and serve you. It may be what you can do to build up your city - one neighbor, one teacher, one trash collector at a time. Remember, you don't have to be on the school board or in city government for God to use you. He ministers to cities just as readily by ministering to neighbors. The point is, to understand that we've been called by God's purposes to the places we live." Wow, again!
Do I understand why God planted me and my family here? No. I may never fully know. I do know that I need to look beyond myself. I need to stop wondering when people are going to reach out to me and start looking for people to reach out to. I need to "bloom right here" so that God and others can enjoy the gift that is from Him.


{This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: "Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper." Jeremiah 29:4-7}

6 comments:

Crosby said...

Wow, I don't know what to say... but I think you are one of the wisest women around. Very encouraging! When are you going to put all of your thoughts in a book?

Patrick

Anonymous said...

Preach on, sister! You've got my
attention! (Beautiful photos...
esp. the lamp with baskets. Where
is that? And, I think the purple
blossom is what we call purple magnolia.)

Anonymous said...

Vanessa, I'm with Patrick, you should write a book. I've been praying for you. Liz said at church this morning that she had been praying too.Just want you to know you have been a blessing and support to me.Love you lots. Mom

Paul and Cathy said...

Hi, found your blog just today and enjoyed reading many of your posts! After 25 years as a military wife and moves all over the world I wanted to share with you that I was always excited when we got "orders" as I knew they were not from the Air Force, but from God! I know my children, I have three also, were not always thrilled...oh, I will be honest here...they hated moving and no matter how much we talked or whatever we did, they were sure their lives were "ruined" because of the moves....now they are all in their 30s and beginning to understand the truth of it all...You decide to be content and happy and no matter where you live, or what your circumstances that is the bottom line. Of course, with faith in God we have a great assurance and confindence in Him and His love for us.
Now, living in Arkansas you must have heard of War Eagle??? Just wait until October...you will be thrilled as that is the Mega crafts festival of the entire whole wide earth!!! I travel from North Carolina to go with my sister who lives in Kansas City. Make plans now....you won't be sorry. Nice chatting, Cathy

Beth Leintz said...

Good thoughts- don't be too hard on yourself, it's not always easy to "bloom where you are planted" but its always worth trying again and remember, some days will be better than others, its not a straight uphill climb.

Anonymous said...

I'm so proud of you. Your heart is always in the right place.(even if it takes just a little time) But you know what I think, you are a very encouraging friend, very wise, sweet, and loving. Keep praying and we are praying for your family too. Love you, miss you Sheri