Flourish and Redemption

FLOURISH

Flourish as a verb - to flourish. The definition is to grow or develop in a healthy or vigorous way, especially as the result of a particularly favorable environment. 

That is absolutely the most beautiful thing I have ever read.

The image I get is of a person whom, given the opportunity to be in a favorable environment for growth, does just that - grows deeply and develops in a healthy way - which means they Flourish! 

I believe Jesus wants us to Flourish in every space He places us and brings us to on our journeys. But if we are being honest here, not every place on your journey is going to be the right temperament or temperature to be categorized as healthy. In order to flourish during those times, you must be keenly aware of your gifts - the very ones God gave you. When in the valley, be reminded of the gifts and the mountain top peaks you have experienced with the lover of your soul, and those days in the valleys can be met with life change and good fruit to bear.

God's Word. It's active and alive - sharper than any two edged sword - and it can cut through darkness and pain like a hot knife on butter...it can also wound deeply when taken out of context and used harshly. The Scriptures must be your measuring tool against all other words and flourishing in a dark space can happen when you study and proclaim His Word. 

Prayer. Communication with God is vital to staying connected to the vine and allow fruit to be produced in you. Dialogue about your day - He knows, He cares. Start with simple thoughts and praise to Him. Stay in constant communication with Him and He won't seem distant and far off - He sticks closer than a brother, because you have the Holy Spirit living IN you! Speak the lavish name of Jesus and know He is listening.

Focus. In order to flourish in something, we must be focused in the right direction. When I had the chicks, although I am focused on them and listening to their words and desires of their hearts, my main focus was not providing a service to them, my focus was providing Jesus. I wanted to fix their problems at times, or help them solve problems together, but ultimately my job was to serve them Jesus.  Not as an appetizer either...it needs to be full on eight course meal with all the trimmings! :) I am not trying to be insensitive by referring to Jesus as food...because let's be honest, he is soo soo sooooooo much more than that! If I am not offering them Jesus as an answer or anything biblical for that matter, then I might as well be serving him up with a side of chips and salsa, because at that point it doesn't much matter.  The focus is Jesus. Our eyes are on Him and He is getting all the glory for the circumstances, the gifts, the mess, and mundane.

Lean In. Ahhh...the dreaded words that often get lumped in with "tension." If you are in a space where the temperature and temperament are not good for flourishing, you will need to lean in to that tension. Jesus is still in that space, even if you are the only one seeking Him. When you lean in, your trust is in Him, not in you, and that leaning in allows your heart to relinquish all consequences of the obedience that He has called you to.  Leaning in is hard, not gonna mince those words, but it's also the only way to feel that Jesus is there and that on the other side of it comes freedom in flourishing in a healthy space.

REDEMPTION

Everyone has a chance for redemption when Jesus is involved. He can cleanse even the most vile of people or circumstances. When all has been stripped from you and you feel you have nothing left, that is often when God's redemptive story shines brightest.

This week I found myself smack in the middle of part of His redemption for my life. I had signed up to mentor women younger than me through a program called Flourish at our church. I was not hesitant at all--God has been preparing me for this moment for years! My heart for a mentor/mentee relationship was strong because I was mentored and poured into in my 20's and I still keep in touch with the wonderful woman whom I affectionately call my spiritual mom. I also have spent the last few years pouring into my sweet chicks...I deeply love them and miss them like crazy, but I trust God's plan is perfect for all of us, even when it feels terrible at times.
I had a questionnaire to fill out and then a short interview to go through...I had some nerves that day, but my interviewer was just the sweetest. I felt confident that God was already aligning hearts and guiding the leaders as they match women up.
As the meeting date approached I felt giddy, excited about the future of sharing Jesus over food and gatherings and coffee. Before I opened my folder I prayed:

Lord, you give and you take away. My heart has learned to trust you in that, even when it's hard and I am sad. Thank you for the past gifts and thank you for the present ones. May our hearts collide like only you have designed. 

As I peeked in my folder and saw the goodness that awaits - tons of information, a book, and material to peruse...I saw their names....I read their bios, and all the questions they answered. I began counting- 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
FIVE?
FIVE, LORD?
It was my tears that started first...I could barely speak.
Thank you Lord! Thank you for the five you are entrusting me with.

And just like that.

God brought redemption. Everything that was snatched, stolen, lost...in one fail swoop He redeemed it all. The girl in front of me was my connect group leader. She knew. She knew about my chicks, she knew all we had come through. She smiled and we hugged and we said thanks and amen together.

Flourish and Redemption.
May Jesus be ever close to you regardless of where you are in the redemption story...but know this - your heart can flourish because of a Savior who loves you dear one - regardless of circumstance. Find Him in all things.

With love,

Karen

Thanksgiving

Shelley Giglio has the coolest friends! Monday night at the GROVE she shared more of them with us! Ann Voskamp was in the house and her words were a gift to my soul.  I have read parts of One Thousand Gifts and the other three ladies I was with had never heard of it. Basically it was a dare from a friend for her to find a thousand things to be thankful for...but it ended up turning in to something so much more. A life filled with God's good grace pouring out each and every day...a life reflecting the Son and His glory...and searching for Jesus imprints every where you turn.

She challenged us to Give Thanks...

In the everyday

That's easy...My husband for sure. He is absolutely top notch.
My two boys - why yes. They are two of the best gifts ever.

In the good stuff

My office - oh yes.
My besties - for sure.
My chicks, why of course!
All the good things....

But then she asked us to Give Thanks for the not so good.
Wait.
What?
I heard what she said, but Lord, surely she didn't mean that?

And Jesus, like He does in my life, nudges that deep part of me. That part I want hidden...even from Him. It brings the tears and the darkness to the front and shines a big ole spotlight on it.
I felt God asking me if I am going to give Him thanks for the bad.

It was so very clear to me that I have given thanks to Him for so much this year...but it was about thanking Him for even the stuff that was horrible and painful and hurtful that He allowed us to walk through.
I knew He was and still is working all things together for the good of those who love Him.
I knew He provided an open door in a way like only He could. 
The timeline wasn't news to Him, and we knew He could work it out, even as tight and constrained as we were feeling.
My tears were flowing...and I couldn't write it down.

I kept saying....But, the pain...

But, the hurt...

But, the lost friendships...

And even into the next night as I went to bed, my tears were still flowing.
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As I awoke Tuesday, my thoughts were of immediate gratitude for the day. I spent the morning in a blissful state of thanksgiving....and it didn't take long for that nudging to appear again. God is relentless in His pursuit of us! And praise the Lord for that! 
We don't deserve it, and He doesn't need us....but He desires for us to be an active participant for HIs plans and purposes...and He doesn't want us staying in a pit.
Story after story in the scriptures you will find people who chose to give thanks in the midst of turmoil and tragedy. Their faith was placed in a God who sustains their soul, a loving Father and a Good Shepherd, a just God that gives and takes away, but also a God who is about restoration, a forgiving God who loved them enough to send HIs only Son to pay the penalty of sin, so that we could have LIFE. 

Jesus wants that for me. He also wants that for you.

Just being real here:
Thanking Him for the pain means more than acknowledging what He allowed through His hands. It's the trust factor that was missing, and this night tied it all together for me. For several weeks we would sing a song in worship that said these words:

We trust you.We trust you.Your ways are higher than our own.

Every.Single.Time. I would well up with tears and not be able to speak those words. It was like this inner battle each time and it left me gripped with fear that the day would ever come where those words would be true. In my mind I knew those words were truth! Of course we trust you Lord! Of course your ways are higher! But speaking them in worship and being unhindered or free was a difficult space I was navigating. 

Ahh...but the Thanksgiving piece (or peace) was the missing component. Putting it all together, wrapping it up in a nice little bow, and allowing me the freedom in the searching - well, it was just another reminder of how much He loves me. 

I sat down this week to give Thanks...in the everyday, in the good, and even in the bad and hurtful times - and with that came tears of joy and a deeper trust in the One who lavishly loves me.

Giving thanks,

Karen