FLOURISHING NOT FLOUNDERING!

God's Word says the righteous flourish like a palm tree....and continue to bear fruit in old age. (Psalm 92:12-14) 

Flourishing has not been front and center in my vocabulary recently. So convicting when the Psalm speaks of the righteous as full of sap and green and I have little.

 

I am anything but full of sap and green......Apathetic. Blah.Fatigued. HoHum. Lethargic. Useless.

 

Think ENNU!! 

I need to "snap-out-of-it."

My" response has been to "try" and get moving.

But God, in His word says," He gives power to the faint and strength to the weary!" (Isaiah 48:29)

And so.....I wait trying not to feel guilty.  

At least I'm in my prayer chair."

Lord, allow my heart to be still and trust you more this Wednesday!

GUESS WHO IS 92?

HAPPY "92" BIRTHDAY, JEAN! Psalm 92 vrses for your 92nd birthday!

 

Psalm 92:12-14 (my paraphrase) says the "righteous flourish and grow, firmly planted in the house of the Lord, flourishing in God's courts and "bearing fruit in old age; ever full of sap and green."
Those verses are a depiction of Jean Hoppe's life as I have known her. Just a week ago, she was cutting and pasting for the VBS hallways at church and attends a couple of summer refreshments, one of which was "My One Word," where her chosen word was pray.

Verse 15 goes one to speak of the very essence of Jean's soul to me. As she continues to declare that the Lord is her rock and He is upright, with no unrighteousness within Him.

What a testimony her life is to all whose paths she crosses. As one who has chosen to "number her days" and celebrate each of life's moments, God has given her a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:12) She chose "pray" for her word. For the rest of us the joy deep in her soul and the resulting smile, makes us all smile as well!

"FLOURISH!"

9/23/13 Yesterday's sermon given by a young (40-ish) preacher from Houston, TX, who grew up in our church, inspired me to "flourish" during this season of life----not to languish as I age. 

Notes: 

• Flourishing is all about God. 
• Abundant life receives its vitality from union with Him. 
• We can't do life on our own. 
• Strength and energy from the Lord are there for the "long haul." (My words, not his) 
• Flourishing benefits and blesses others. 

So-o-o-o this Monday's theme for meditation is "flourish." Along with Psalm 1:3 and Psalm 92:12-14, Jeremiah 17:7-8 shows us what flourishing looks like---bearing fruit would benefit and bless others. 

"Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
    whose confidence is in him.
They will be like a tree planted by the water
    that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
    its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
    and never fails to bear fruit.”

For my Ukrainian girls---

7 Благословенний той муж, що покладається на Господа, що Господь то надія його!

8 І він буде, як дерево те, над водою посаджене, що над потоком пускає коріння своє, і не боїться, як прийде спекота, і його листя зелене, і в році посухи не буде журитись, і не перестане приносити плоду!

Let's flourish together.