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He restores my soul


Welcome to a re-posting from my blog, reflecting... It's a new season...!

“God you are my God, early will I seek you, my soul thirst for you, my heart longs for you in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water” Psalm 63:1

source: free images
The above verse has been on my mind for days, even weeks. It is true that the more we read our Bible, the more God puts scripture verses into our hearts and minds and they are there when we need them. Recently, I spent a week at home recovering from a nasty cold. It rained almost all of that week! After three days in bed, the state of being unwell was dragging me down and it felt like I was in a wilderness. But then, when we think we are at the end of our selves, that's when God is at his best!

We have a silver birch tree that grows in the front of our house. On this particular day, it got my attention. In its autumn season, the tree had only a few leaves left on it as the wind had blown most of the leaves off. The tree shelters and provide us with privacy from the passers by. I thought, ‘our privacy is gone... the poor tree was being exposed to the harshness of the winter months. The frost and the wind will have their way.' Then I realized that the scene of the tree was like a mirror reflecting back to me how I was feeling on the inside. The tree in winter is bare of leaves and shows it's shape. It's very much like us as we spend ourselves in our service to others. Work, ministry, family commitments can drain our strength. But these are the things we love doing. So, how do we get back up? How do we get back to being fruitful trees...?

There are seasons in life into which we do not walk willingly into. They arrive without our permission. Unlike nature that has its timetable of seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter, life seasons have no guarantees that they will end within a certain time. These can be times of refinement leaving us grateful for the change. After all, is it not in the valley that God restores us? Is He not the Good Shepherd who leads us beside the still waters where all our needs are met? Who restores our souls? God wants us to understand the seasons we're in.

Praise God for His promises! He knows our beginning to the end. God is in control of every season of our lives and He has the perfect plan!

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” Jeremiah 29:11.

If you are reading this, will you join me in prayer:


"Dear Lord,
Help us to understand the seasons of our lives.
Thank you that when we are down to nothing, 
You restore us, In Jesus Name, AMEN!"






Comments

  1. SPEAK TO THE DARKNESSMay 31, 2011 at 2:45 PM

    Comment by Rosetta (via email (1/7/11)
    Hi Lome,
    thanks for the encouragement, I love your writing and how you encourage us through the word of God. And the vivid imagery of our surroundings is so effective in terms of seeing and understanding your message. Thank you and God bless you Lome, you are an inspiration to us all

    love always

    Rosetta

    ReplyDelete
  2. SPEAK TO THE DARKNESSJune 1, 2011 at 2:35 AM

    Hi Rosetta
    Appreciate your comments. I'm blessed to hear that the blog can be a source of encouragement and inspiration to you and others who visit.
    to God be the glory!
    Blessings,
    Lome

    ReplyDelete
  3. SPEAK TO THE DARKNESSJune 1, 2011 at 2:38 AM

    Comment by Linda Palmer (via email 1/6/11)

    Very good word. . .thanks for sharing it!
    Love you sis! Linda

    ReplyDelete
  4. SPEAK TO THE DARKNESSJune 1, 2011 at 2:40 AM

    Thanks Linda,
    It's always a pleasure to hear your positive feedback/s. Thank you for your prayers and encouragement! Blessings, Salome

    ReplyDelete
  5. Teresa Ohmann, AuthorJuly 4, 2011 at 9:11 AM

    Salome, I was deeply refreshed by your blog. I thank you for your obedience to God and your truth in word. I would love to read another blog. Please post again.

    ReplyDelete
  6. SPEAK TO THE DARKNESSJuly 5, 2011 at 12:42 AM

    Hi Teresa, thank you for the encouraging comments. I needed just that kind of push to get my next blogpost going. Thanks for visiting, please visit again. God bless.

    ReplyDelete

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