Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Broken Ground

The other day I was dreaming of all the fresh vegetables that will soon flood my kitchen from the garden.  I could not help but be excited for fried green tomatoes, tomato sandwiches, eggplant parmesan and fresh corn.  I was ready for it
NOW!

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An early picking from last years garden

Then I stopped to think about all of the work that would have to be done first.
I felt God nudge my heart…
I felt Him say,
before there can be growth
remember
the ground has to be broken
I could not stop thinking about that.  For those who do not know, before the first seed can be planted in a garden the soil has to be tilled, broken up, multiple times.  The soil MUST be turned, broken, and stripped of the weeds (useless, wasters of fertile soil).  Isn’t that true for us too.
Before we can grow anything but weeds in our lives we need to turn our hearts toward God, then He breaks up the soil of our lives making it soft and ready to receive the seeds of His word and removes all the time wasting weeds.


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Our backyard garden

This has been so true in my life.  I know I have seen the most growth after seasons of brokenness.  Currently, I am in a season of great growth but I can still feel the pain of my ground being broken up, the pain from not understanding all that God had planned, the pain of change, the pain of dying to selfish pride, the pain of doing what was not comfortable or easy, and the pain of digging in deep and finally dealing with those hard and hurtful things.  But, you know what?  God did have a plan.
 
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Jeremiah 29:11
 
And it was worth the pain!
Dear Friend,
I pray that if you are in a season of broken ground that you embrace it.


Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.  Psalm 46:10

Do not run from this time, do not try to give it a quick fix.  Settle in, ask God to show you any other areas that you need to submit to Him.  Spend more time praying and reading God’s word.  He has great growth planned for you, let Him do His work.  Soon enough, you will be in a place where you can not explain the excitement you have because of what you are watching God do through you.  You will be in awe of and humbled by the fact that you are being used for His work.
Be encouraged, Sweet Friend, seasons change and your growth and harvest are coming…
but first the soil has to be broken and made ready for the father to pour into.

What season are you in?

Charity

Remember to purchase your tickets for The Pearl Event ~ Nashville
Can’t wait to meet you there!



Tuesday, April 2, 2013

The Pearl Event ~ Speakers


Good Morning,
I am beyond excited to share with you the other ladies who will be speaking at

The Pearl Event
The Pearl Event Flyer
Each of these ladies has a heart to serve God and His people.
I hope you will take a few minutes and visit their blogs and get to know them better.
It is going to be an amazing day and
I would love it if you would join us.
Tickets are available  here.


I would love and appreciate your prayers.  This is 
W A Y 
out of my comfort zone.
I am not afraid to stand in front of people but I do not want to disappoint anyone.
That is where the fear sneaks in…
am I good enough….
will people understand what I am saying…
will people like me…
will I be a disappointment…
I know this is the enemy’s way of distracting me and I continue to give these fears to God but I want to be real and share them with you.  I want you to know that this call, like most God has for us, is not a piece of cake.  I am having to die to myself and my selfish desires and trust and stretch my faith to new places.  The crazy thing is with all the fear and trembling also comes excitement.  I am excited to be chosen by God for this moment and even more excited to be able to watch him at work.

In addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Ephesians 6:16

Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Hebrews 12:2

Have you been called to stretch your faith recently?
I would love to here your story! 

Charity