Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Bubbles of Blessings—A Prayer for You

Photo by Jason DeRusha

Bubbles of blessings bursting with promise
Tiny bubbles, huge bubbles, all-encompassing bubbles
Bubbles joining with other bubbles, piling up
Mountains of blessings upon blessings.

Blessings of encouragement, prosperity, wisdom, love
Clouds of God-sized blessings wafting over and around,
Popping and sprinkling and ever so gently caressing,
Blinking and sparkling in the Son-light.

Rainbows of bubbles reflecting God’s blessings—
His love, his faithfulness, his power.
Showering droplets of mercy, healing, and comfort,
Plopping God-sized dollops of love, joy, and peace.

May you dance in bubbles of His blessings
Gently breathed just for you.





©2013 Pamela D. Williams

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Bloom Where You Are Planted

Photo by Tim Deegan

“Bloom where you are planted,” wrote the Bishop of Geneva, Saint Francis de Sales. Various Bible verses carry a similar message.
  • “Everyone should live the life that the Lord gave him and to which God called him,” (1 Corinthians 7:17 ISV)
  • “And who knows but that you have come to your position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14 NIV)
  • “I will always show you where to go. I'll give you a full life in the emptiest of places . . .” (Isaiah 58:11 The Message)

Instead of looking around at what God HAS brought into our lives, many of us lament lost opportunities, too few material things, less than ideal relationships, and too little influence. We wish we lived somewhere else, were with someone else, or were blessed with more time and “stuff”.

Blooming where we are planted requires looking within and around. 1 Peter 4:10 instructs us to serve one another with whatever gift each of us has received, like good stewards of God’s manifold grace.

Henry Blackaby, in his book Experiencing God, offers seven precepts that I have found helpful to keep in mind when I am seeking how to bloom where God has planted me:
  • God is always at work around us.
  • God pursues a continuing love relationship with each person that is real and personal.
  • God invites each one to become involved with Him in His work.
  • God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church (the fellowship of believers) to reveal Himself, His purposes, and His ways.
  • God’s invitation to work with Him requires faith and action.
  • Joining God in what He is doing will bring about major adjustments in our lives.
  • We get to know God better as we obey Him, allowing Him to accomplish His work through us.

I pray you will look around, see what God is doing, and take the necessary steps to join Him. I would love to hear how you have “experienced God” by blooming where you have been planted.

©2013 Pamela D. Williams

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Perfect Moments in Time

photo by John Keogh
"Time is a companion that goes with us on a journey.
It reminds us to cherish each moment, because it will never come again."
Captain Jean-Luc Picard—Star Trek: Generations

How many of us think of time as a fellow sojourner who thoughtfully nudges us to make the most of life? We are more likely to view time as a harsh taskmaster to be outwitted. We rush from one thought to another, one place to another, and one activity to another, without really savoring each flavor-filled moment and imprinting its pricelessness on our memories. The following conversation from the movie, Star Trek: Insurrection gave me pause:

Anij: Have you ever experienced a perfect moment in time?

Captain Picard: A perfect moment?

Anij: When time seemed to stop, and you could almost live, in that moment.

Captain Picard: Seeing my home planet from space, for the first time.

Anij: Yes. Exactly. Nothing more complicated than perception. We’ve discovered that a single moment in time can be a universe in itself, full of powerful forces. Most people aren’t aware enough of the now to even notice.

This conversation made me wonder, when was the last time I paused to fully consider the 60 seconds of time I was currently experiencing?

Being honest, I rarely stop to become fully aware of what is really going on right around me. God could just as well have been admonishing me when he said to Job, “Pause a moment and listen; consider the wonderful things God does. (Job 37:14)

We miss many blessings when we fail to hit the “Pause” button in life. Thankfully, writing helps me to absorb and value moments in time. Here are a few of the perfect, savory moments God has used to teach me life lessons:

Snowflakes softly meander earthward to transform bare branches and trampled, faded grasses into a winter wonderland, frosty flake by frosty flake. Together we CAN make a difference.

Gently kissing Baxter on the soft, sweet spot atop his head, I breathe in his warm, clean, cat-scent, redolent with cozy comfort. A kiss, a hug, a whispered word are all it takes to show love.

A cacophony of bird songs welcomes the dawn. As the sky brightens avian voices grow quiet. A hush falls as fire streaks across the sky. Am I awed into silence by the presence of God?
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What moments in time have you captured? What has God taught you through them? Feel free to share in the comments section. I would love to hear from you.

©2013 Pamela D. Williams

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Preventing Spiritual Robbery

photo by Lou Bueno

“Will all your worries
add a single moment to your life?”
Matthew 6:27

Many of us worry out of concern for ourselves or those we love. We don’t want to lose them physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually. But does our worry bring about better relationships, stronger commitment to Jesus, or longer lives? No! In fact, worry is a spiritual heart problem that robs us of life!

Worry can raise our blood pressure, upset our stomachs, and produces enough tension to trigger migraine headaches. Worry can transform us into proverbial nags or distract us to the point of neglecting our responsibilities. Worry wastes precious time, steals peace of mind, obstructs joy, and hinders faith.

But how do we give it up? In my last post we learned the antidote for worry is prayer and thanks. But like physical heart problems, worry sometimes requires further treatment. In Matthew 6:25-34 Jesus gives us several doses of good medicine:

“Look at the birds of the air.” (6:26)
“See the flowers of the field?” (6:28)
“Seek first [God’s] kingdom and his righteousness.” (6:33)

Taking the time to watch the birds, to notice the flowers, and to consciously put God first fills our minds with assurances of God’s love. When we channel our thoughts on these blessings, we don’t have time for worry! It can no longer rob us of life!

©2013 Pamela D. Williams