The Flower

"To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."  Isaiah 61:3
 One day we were given a flower.  The flower, although beautiful, was tattered and torn by the elements of wind, rain, hail and tornadoes.  Somehow, the flower survived.  It survived enough to be transplanted into different soil.  When the flower found out it would be moving to another pot, it was excited but very nervous.  The flower dreamed about living in soil that did not make it so difficult to survive.  While the flower knew that no soil would be perfect, it had hope there was better soil somewhere out there.  It waited.  Sometimes the flower would feel angry and just want to give up.  The flower knew there were other flowers that even had gardeners who watched over them daily...making sure all of its needs were provided for and its beauty enjoyed.  The flower would ponder the time it once too had a gardener.  However, it only lasted three short years. In fact, the flower had no memories of its gardener.  The only thing it knew about its previous gardener is what other flowers told it.  For many years the flower dreamed of what its gardener was like.  The flower still dreams about it.  
One day, the flower was told that there was a gardener who wanted another flower.  The flower wanted to believe it but it had been told that before.  Yet, there remained a seed of hope that maybe this gardener would be different.  Maybe this gardener would take time to look beyond the wilted leaves and broken petals and see the treasure.  The flower dared to believe.  The flower arrived at its new soil only one short week ago.  In one week the flower has already begun to blossom.  The flower is soaking in the water, the sun and nurture in its new soil.  In one short month, this flower will also be a gardener.  This flower, now a gardener, will be given the responsibility of tending its own little flower.  The flower is now thanking the Master Gardener that another gardener came for it just in time.

"You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.  The Lord is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His deeds." Psalm 145:16,17

I was reminded today of a time when the Lord began to deal with me on my tendency to grasp for things that were not truly sustaining or satisfying to my soul.(Soul realm being my mind, my emotions and my will) Remembering what it felt like for a few moments, it was so empty, so cold and lifeless. Sometimes those things even appeared to be good. Initially, the thing (Or person) I was grasping for would bring a sense of fulfillment. (Sounds like a drug, huh?) But as the story goes for so many, the sense of satisfaction never lasted. I shudder at the thought of ever going back to that place. The place of looking for love, searching for acceptance, longing for rest and peace...... expecting to find it outside of an abiding relationship with Christ. I have come to realize it is so common. Very few (although there are some) grow up in a home where the pursuit of the knowledge of who God is and the understanding of their true identity as His son or daughter takes precedence beyond all other pursuits. A home where both parents and children are relentlessly pursuing that truth at the cost of being labeled "radical." Radical is now being known as those who would cause hurt, impose beliefs and behaviors on others against their wills and have an agenda for world domination. Seeing radical as those who would love and serve to such an extreme degree that even laying one's life down for someone else tends to get overlooked in our culture. Yet, there are those who are living this very life. I want to be one of those. Now that I have gotten past, to some degree, that my life really isn't about what I can attain, what makes me feel good, what I feel I need, I think there is hope that I can look more like Jesus and less like me. I am not talking about self-hatred or a morbid sense of personal neglect. I am talking about being more consumed with His will than mine. The beauty I find in this way of living (Which in a practical sense looks like asking Him what's on His heart and agenda for me as I wake up each morning.) is the deep joy and satisfaction I experience in serving Him. Even when there is pain involved. For instance, the pain I feel in my heart for a child or baby who is being abused or neglected is overwhelming at times. It would be easier to busy myself with "stuff" that would drown out the reality that in myself I can do very little to help these precious ones. However, when I posture my heart in prayer and cry out to the only One who can touch a heart I can't, unexplainable joy eventually begins to surface. In that place I step into the understanding that my prayers move His heart and His hands to do what only He can do. I realize that intercession is a serious thing and out of it comes a prepared soil and open doors to make what He sends me out to do effective and eternal. There is so much that can be unpacked here but I will save it for another day. Today I am going to focus on being thankful that He rescued me and continues to do so. He rescued me from not only the penalty of sin but from living a selfish, self-absorbed life. While I am still learning what that looks like, I am hopeful He will be faithful to complete the work He has started in me.  He’s good like that. 

If you’re still coming up short in finding a resting place of true joy and satisfaction, I know where that place is.  It’s not always easy in getting there but its simple compared to trying to fill up water in a broken cistern.  If you need some encouragement I would love to pray for you.  kandacerather@momsatpeace.com

Randomness and Belief

"But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I BELIEVED, THEREFORE I SPOKE," we also believe, therefore we also speak," 2 Corinthians 4:13

My thoughts seem to be a little scattered today.  I want to write, I want to share, and I want to testify.  The challenge is in choosing what to write about.  Not for lack of focus but rather in choosing what to focus on.  I have many things pressing on my heart today.  Maybe in naming them, one will begin to take center stage. 

My daughter Bethany called me this morning just to talk.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.  She was sharing her discouragement over the lack of sleep she is getting because her baby is still waking up frequently in the night.  We discussed many possibilities and a few solutions.  The conclusion was, Emerie was most likely waking up to feel the security of her mama near her.  Many will and have told her, “Just let Emerie cry it out,” but her mother’s heart says, “No.”  Mine did too.  All my children eventually slept through the night.  In the meantime, I learned how to depend on God for extra strength and energy to get me through those months. Bethany will get through this.  She is making her own decisions based on what she believes is best for Emerie, not necessarily her.  I believe she’s an excellent mom.

Have you heard the angel story?  Within an hour after the tornado, a police officer found a 4 year old boy in a field by Home Depot.  The boy did not remember his parents name but when asked how he got to the field, he responded, “The angles flew me here.”  He was taken from his home in the tornado which was approximately 5 miles from that field.  I’ve heard several other angel stories from tornado survivors.  I believe! 

I know this couple.  They have the sweetest children.  One girl and one boy.  For years they struggled in their marriage.  They got to a point where they did not want to stay married.  However, they decided to go to church before they went through with the divorce.  What they learned was, there was a way to make it work.  They learned that if they surrendered their life to God by accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, they would be empowered with His Spirit to believe and do things they could not do without His Spirit.  They believed it and now have the strength to lay aside selfishness and choose to serve one another in love.  Their kids were spared from all the loss and pain that occurs in divorce.  I believe this will make a difference in their lives forever.

Lastly, living in Joplin is not as convenient as it used to be.  The tornado has broken in all realms of life.  Personally, my life was leaning towards comfortable before May 22^nd, 2011.  My responsibilities were mostly enjoyable and convenient.   However, in driving home from a prayer service a few nights ago, the Holy Spirit invaded my thoughts with, “Are you willing to be inconvenienced for the sake of others?”  My first thought went to all the “things” I have been doing for others.  My temptation was to say, “Are you kidding?” Instead, I knew it was time to listen.  The inconvenience He spoke of was beyond my good works.  In fact, it had nothing to do with my good works but rather my heart.  He did not show me in that moment what this inconvenience is going to look like but, the good news is, I trust Him.  I believe.  I believe if He asks me a question, He will help me with the answer. (That He already knows)  The cross was not convenient for Jesus.  It was anything but.  Yet, He did it because of love.  He loved us even more than His own physical life.  He was able to conclude before He went to the cross, “Not my will be done, but Yours.”  So, with His example set before me, I come to the same conclusion.  That by HIS GRACE, I can yes to His will, even when it feels inconvenient.