Change Happens !!!

It has been a while since I have blogged.. There has been so much going on around me.. Some good, some bad.. some the jury is still out ....

While Fall is my favorite season,I do love to see the spring flowers and Trees bloom.. It has been wonderful to see all the different colors and now most things are so green.. I am not just talking about the Pollen either .. Which I heard someone say "Pollen is Satan's dandruff." Haha

Looking at the trees that once just a few months back were bare and looked dead, now they are full of green leaves, that give shade and show that they are alive...
Which made me think about how I have gone through the season like a tree.. I have been full of life, I have been changed to many different colors and watched as my leaves have fallen off and then strip bared with nothing.. Only to begin to see a tiny bloom .. I would love to be able to say it was nothing... But most of the time it was of my doing.. my choices.. but God has a way to show us Himself during those times of Changes..Did i tell ya.. I do not like change ? maybe only if I am the one doing the changes.. but for the most part, do not like it at all..

But during this time of Change God has showed me.. that he has been with in every season of my life.. Joshua 1:1-9...I will not leave you or forsake you..Be strong and courageous.Do not be frightened, do not be dismayed for the Lord , your God is with you wherever you go.".....
I know this.. there has been times mostly in the stripped bare time.. i felt like where is God, what is he doing? How long? is this it? Then He sprouts a seed of growth in me.. that begins a work that only He can do and Growth happens!!! Phil. saids he who begins a work in me will continue it till the Day of Jesus Christ..
So through theses times of Changes he has shown me, that he is my foundation on which I can stand. That he can be trusted.. That His word is true and It can fertilize my growth if i would let it.. Also, He has shown me, that I can not do this life alone..We need each other... I am grateful to Him for those He has brought into my life.. some do not even know how much I desperately needed them and their words of encouragement.. but God did!!!

One of the last things I am learning about Change came from a visit to Boone NC.. I went in the winter time, they had many ice storms and looking at the trees.. it looked really bad.. like a fire or tornado had come through and killed all the trees but then I went back during the spring and those same trees were flourishing with beautiful green leaves.... I was amazed at how it worked.. God has His own pruning service.. and WOW, it worked!! he also through changes prunes me.. So that I... Joshua 1:8 'For then you will make your way prosperous and then you will have good success" ...
So I can be like a tree planted by the rivers , bringing forth good fruit in due season.... the poem below is something I read and thought I'd share it with you..

Why Tension ?

We don’t lead from the safety of the fringe.
We take up residence in the fray.

Where change is happening
Where change is necessary.
WHY Tension?

There we find ourselves in a unique tug-of-war
between what was, what is, and what could be.

We are faced with the reality
that we are the catalyst in the moment.

A tension ensues between ambitions and fears.

We are tempted to bail on our goals
but discover that under pressure
our vision becomes remarkably crystallized.

A hundred voices attempt to sway us.
And we find we must lean into God with a faith
deeper than we have ever known.

Change happens in the very place where many leaders
flinch, fear, and fail.

The tension we resist is actually by design.
It tests us, it tries us,
It conforms us to His image.

The tension is necessary.
The tension makes us strong.
The tension is good.

Washed any feet lately ?

For years now I have read the book "The Final week of Jesus" Max Lucado..writes about how On Thursday, the Lord's supper and How Jesus knew the time was drawing near and He met his disciples and washed their feet.....The Lord Himself who was going to die was washing feet.... I have been to many going away parties and never have I seen the ones moving away being the most active one at the party, Usually others are serving them and loving on them but at the last supper we see Jesus serving them and loving on them.. He could have taken His seat and relaxed but He fulfilled the role as a servant by washing feet,And He fulfilled His role as a Savior by forgiving sins..He was in charge...He still is!!!...

It is the Lord's table you sit at.It is the Lord's supper you eat.Just as Jesus prayed for His disciples, Jesus begs God for us....John 17:20...He meets you at the table.. when the bread is broken, Christ was broken, when the wine is poured, he was poured out for us..... I pray you have met Him at the table and accepted Him into your life.. if not He is waiting , there is a seat for YOU.. .....for those of us who Know Him. and we are sitting around the table. I pray we will get up and serve others even the ones who betray us as Judas did Jesus..( Ouch)..washed any feet lately?
I pray we all are celebrating this life we have ,because He Chose YOU!!! For He rather go to hell for you than go to heaven without you!!!

IF ONLY.......

This weekend I was able to get away with some girlfriends for a
SWAG weekend ( Southern Women Aging Gracefully)... It was a great time of fun and fellowship.. The scenery was awesome!! I love the Mountains.... As I was able to see the sun rise over the Mountain tops .. I told God "IF only" I had this porch that looked over the mountains.. I would be closer to Him. be able to spend time with HIM... I said the same thing when I was at the beach looking over the Ocean or at my friends house sitting on her dock looking over the river .. or ????? I realized that I say "If only" a lot.. If only,I didn't have to be at work so early, if only my kids would sleep in.. If only this or if only that!!!!

My friend brought a devotion this weekend that drilled this home to me Once again( I am a slow learner, thank God,He is patient with me)... She talked about our Sanctuary and where and what is it.. God reminded me that it is where He and I are at in fellowship with each other.. if that is true then it is everywhere.. in the car going to work.. in the bathroom as I get ready.. as I clean... I do understand we need time away.. even Jesus took time away to spend with the Father.. but If I kept looking at it, as a certain place or it had to be a certain time or a certain ritual.. OH how I would miss what He had for me during the day.. I would miss HIM !!!..

There are a lot of buildings called churches that He is not at.. If it had to be a certain look or way.. then those who are in the jungles or those in the prisons would not be able to have a sanctuary???? Paul had he most awesome fellowship and ministry for God in Prison.... Some of us are walking around free outside but inside we are in bondage.. to lies, to rules.. to tradition, to fear to ???.. Saying to ourselves and maybe others.. If only I could... or If Only I had....

Psalms 95: 1-7 Oh come let us sing to the Lord! Give a joyous shout in honor of the Rock of our salvation. Come before Him with thanksgiving hearts Let us sing Him psalms of praise. For the Lord is a great God. the great King of all gods. He controls the formation of the depths of the earth and the mightiest mountains all are His. He made the sea and formed the land, they too are His.
Come,kneel before the Lord our Maker for He is our Shepherd. Oh that you would hear Him calling you today and come to HIM!!!