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The “D” Word: it’s not what you’re thinking

May20

Disappointment…discouragement.  It’s the gap between expectation and reality.  How many times do we find ourselves left in this place.

Disappointment when things don’t go as planned.  The weather disappoints us. The traffic on the way into work disappoints us.  Our kids and parents disappoint us.  We are at times the mode of disappointment in the lives of others.

Disappointment never disappoints me with the strike it takes to the hope in my soul.  One thing is for certain and that is disappointment likes to deliver that venomous bite of discouragement whenever it can. It is determined and it’s point is to disable, defeat and deflate.   Even if we’re not truly disabled, defeated or deflated Disappointment likes to make us THINK that way.  It knows if we let those feelings and thoughts take root we will begin to BEHAVE that way.

There is a antidote for Disappointment another “D” word.

Deliverer.  The Word of God discusses disappointment from the first Book.  When Adam and Eve  experienced disappointment in the Garden when they chose to believe a lie instead of holding on to the truth.  They disappointed God and each other.  Adam blamed Eve, Eve blamed the devil. Disappointment leads to blame.  We blame each other, ourselves and God when things don’t go our way.

God was their deliverer out of the Garden and into Grace.  That is where he leads us too.  Rather our disappointment is a result of unmet expectations, poor choices that we have made or the impact of choices others have made; God is our Deliverer out of the disappointment and into Grace.

He shows us grace for when we disappoint Him.  If anyone knows how it feels to be disappointed it would be Him.  Yet He shows us grace.  And He expects us to show others grace too when they disappoint us.  And He expects us to have a little grace with ourselves when we disappoint ourselves.

Disappointment is one of those expectations that we can pretty much figure on dealing with during our life time,  if not during every day of it.  However, we have a Deliverer who will seek us out, ask us by name where we are, deal with our disappointment and give us a way out.

When disappointment dresses itself in the form of discouragement we can say as David did in the Psalms  “Why so downcast O My Soul, put your Hope in God and Bless the Lord O my Soul.”

Seasons of the Soul

Mar17

I’m sitting here listening to the hum of Dan’s computer.  It’s late.  I am relaxed.  My eyes are heavy with anticipated sleep.  It has been a good day.  The sky decided to show  it’s blue canopy. It shared it with a few passing clouds the big white fluffy kind and together they cheered on the sun to shine its brightest.  The sky and the clouds along with the slowly melting snow all seem to know how long the winter has been.  The temperature and wind still held on though. They are reluctant to let winter go.  But they will it’s quite certain that they too will be swayed to join in the chorus of the long awaited Spring. Outside my window I saw little green leafs popping up from the ground and on the ends of the branches of the trees fuzzy little buds have made their appearance.  

Without the winter, i am afraid I would not appreciate these little signs of Spring.  Without the snow and cold and short days i wouldn’t notice it when the sun stayed in the sky two extra minutes before slipping into the darkness.  I wouldn’t celebrate the high of “40” degrees by wearing a sweatshirt instead of my winter coat.  I wouldn’t praise the warm temperature of double digits if I hadn’t felt the bitter cold negative temperatures that hurt my chest when I breathed deep and made my jeans cold just opening the door.  

Thankful for the seasons that can so symbolize the seasons of life.  What season do I thrive in? What season do I desire to live in? What season represents my heart right now?  What season do I long for?  What season do I tire of?  Where are the signs that indicate change is on its way?  Are their glimpses of new life coming out of my words and actions? Are the signs of cold and bitter feelings towards other fading away surrendering to the warmth of the Son light in my own heart?  Is there a new warmth that radiates out of places that were once cold and dark?  Does the light of His love shine longer each day?  

No season lasts forever.  All seasons have their own unique purpose.  Spring represents new life, new start, new hope, resurrection. Grace, peace, and the freedom to move forward.  Summer reminds us of growth, maturity, leafs that provide shade are symbols of encouragement. We like leafs of a tree should provide shade to those suffering from the heat of the day.  The longer days, the hotter sun, represent extra time, extra passion to share His word, His love, to those who have lost their way or have not yet found It.  Fall reminds us that nothing lasts forever.  We have to let go. We have to move on. Harvest time.  We reap what we sow.  The birds and the animals prepare for the hard days ahead and so should we.  We know that the days will grow cold.  The nights grow long.  The winter will show up again.  Winter that provides rest for the soul of nature.  Winter that brings with the promise of Spring and newness of life.  Winter that fulfills its obligation to prepare us for the comfort and blessing of spring.  

So what season are you in?  God is in it with you.  He is the constant in all the changes we go through.  The season of our soul is where God works out our salvation.  Embrace each one, long for each one and be thankful for we are never alone.  

Kathryn White

03/17/2014

 

 

 

Bloom Where You are Planted?!!! Really, Lord?

Feb14

Okay, Lord.  You have my attention again.  I thought I had a pretty good plan.  I thought I had the right idea, the green light to move ahead, the thumbs up to proceed. Imagine the surprise I felt when the door slammed shut right in my face.  No knob to turn, no key to try just a locked door staring me in the face.  My first response was that of pure emotion.  Pure let’s fix this.  Pure I don’t like slamming doors and I want to find another way to what’s on the other side of that door.  

Wise advice….think it through.  Don’t make any rash decisions.  Just think about it.  

The debate in my head is louder than the slamming door.  Do I accept the closed door as God’s way of saying “nope…not right now, Kathy.This isn’t what I want for you.” Or do I pray for boldness and despite what seems to be a “closed door” look for and fight for a new opening.  Do I choose passivity or assertiveness?  Which one is it?  

And then the thought….maybe you should just “bloom where you are planted.”  I first hear the phrase a few days ago.  I was listening to someone speaking he said, and when things don’t go your way…accept it as part of God’s big picture in your life and bloom where you are planted.  

Really….just bloom…is that really what this is all about.  Blooming doesn’t happen overnight Lord.  It means putting down roots, it means nurturing the plant, it means giving time to a situation I am not satisfied in.  I don’t want to bloom.  I want to take my roots and plant them somewhere else.  I want to bloom in some other soil.  I want to blossom in a different pot of dirt.  But there is no other pot and there is no other soil.  

And so I sigh.  A big sigh. A soul sigh.  A tired of this sigh.  And yet I know that right now the thing that I must do is put off restlessness, put off discontent, put off striving and desiring the other side of the fence.  Instead He is asking me to be content.  Be happy with the soil He has provided.  Be pleased with the pot He has tenderly  planted me in.  Be open to the nurturing and pruning He administers to me and to quietly bloom.  

What will I be when I bloom?  What will the fruit look like?  What will the outcome be?  

He answers me before I ask the question:  Galatians 5:22 – 23  (NIV) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

What will I look like when I bloom?  Hopefully a lot less like me and a lot more like Jesus.  

6 who, though he was God, did not demand and cling to his rights as God, 7 but laid aside his mighty power and glory, taking the disguise of a slave and becoming like men. And he humbled himself even further, going so far as actually to die a criminal’s death on a cross. (Phil. 2:6-8 Living Bible) 

Which leaves me with the final challenge to (Phil. 2 : 14 – 16 NIV) “ Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.”   

Thank you Lord, that at the end of the day, or the end of the disappointment, or the end of the failed attempt, or when the door slams or doesn’t open You remain faithfully in control of the door.  I will choose again to trust You and by your grace choose to be thankful for the soil and the pot you’ve provided and by your grace bloom where You have planted me.  

 

 

 

Declaration

Feb7

God’s blessings for me are incredible.

His faithfulness will not fail me.

His mercies are new every morning.

He has started a good work in me and will complete it.

Every day His grace is sufficient. 

I am full of power, strength and determination.

I will overcome challenges, difficulties and obstacles by 

Trusting in Him.

Hard times will result in growth. 

It’s never too late to fulfill a dream.

Gratitude and praise will replace 

Worry, doubt and discontentment.

I will choose to look for 

the good and not for the bad.

I will remain hopeful and positive

And pass it on to those around me.

I will be known for my kinds words and actions. 

Kathryn E White

07/10/2013

Gratitude and praise will replace worry, doubt and disappointment

Jan30

Gratitude and praise will replace worry, doubt and discontentment: 

Today I am thankful, Lord, for your faithfulness. I am thankful that your mercies are new every morning. I am thankful that by setting my mind on You, I can overcome feelings of discontentment, anxiety, worry and doubt. 

Even though I fail I can still hold my head up because I am your child and you make all things new. You have a plan for me to prosper me and not to harm me to give me a hope and a future. 

I thank you that you will direct my steps because I trust in you and acknowledge you in my plans. 

 I thank you that through the renewing of my mind I can be changed. I believe that all things will work out for good because I love you and have been called according to your purpose.  

I will praise you for you are the Creator, Maker of heaven and earth and you will provide for all of my needs.  Nothing is impossible for you. Despite my limitations You are not limited. 

You are a good father and better than an earthly father. You love to give good gifts.  

I am thankful that when you look at me you don’t see the flaws or the mistakes but you see me as perfect since I stand on the promises of Christ and His sacrifice on my behalf. You are faithful to see me as forgiven. 

Some days it’s hard to overcome that restless, boring, blah feeling. I am thankful that today it was those feelings that brought me to you.  

I choose to be thankful. I wait expectantly for you.  

Amen