I’ll Never Find You

Lord, you have come into my life and loved me with such a perfect abundant love that is unknown to man. You have loved me consistently throughout my entire life. Amazingly enough you chose to love me simply at the thought of creating me. You already knew all the stuff I would demonstrate before your very eyes but you STILL created me and love me without holding back. You loved me so much that you refused to see me in my lowly state, so you began a works in me and invested your ways, thoughts, and desires in my heart. I have come to the realization that I will never find you. You put me on a different type of food now I can’t find it in my local markets and not even online. No, not even a small ounce of it can be found in the soil of the Earth. This perfect love you have given me has made it very hard for me to be loved by others in the natural, but I know there are others like me that if they would only let your supernatural shadow them, they too can be a source of your love as a vessel to the world who is hurting. Lord, I have realized that you have a reserved space in my heart, body, mind, soul, and spirit that ONLY you can feel, no other man, person, or material things fits in that space specifically reserved for you, so why do we continue to try, especially as Daughters of the Most High? Thank you that you never get tired of loving me and you’ve never once abandon me. Your love never runs out or needs to be replenished. Thank you that you never hurt me or have bad intensions towards me and this is why I have come to realize that in my search for a false sense of perfection and/or love, I will never find you!

What Type of Soil Are You?

Today’s Scripture Reference: Luke 8: 4-18

 

In the world of gardening, there are essential factors that must occur regardless of the type of seed planted. The principles of planting do not change. Every seed planted needs proper temperature, water, and oxygen for them to grow with the intensions to yield a harvest. The location of good soil and proper lighting will also determine how well or not the seed grows.

 

In comparison, we all are God’s soil. We may vary in the location of where we are in our lives; how much watering God’s so faithfully provides for us, and how much exposure we get to the “Son”. These are all crucial as God plants His seeds in our lives. Luke 8: 4-18 is a beautiful picture of God scattering His seeds, which is His Word across our lives regardless of who we are and where we’ve been. As we gently walk through this parable, I don’t want us to take for gratitude that this is a privilege of itself to understand and be taught such great Truths. (Luke 8:9-10)

 

Nonetheless, the Bible tells us there are four types of soils, but notice there is only one type of Seed. We have a caring Father whose ultimate desire is that none of His children will perish and for each of us to get as much warm and loving exposure to His Son, Jesus Christ. It is clear that we all receive the same seed, but our soils (lives) determine if the seeds take root. God’s purpose is that EVERY seed take root, grow, and yield a harvest even if it is only 30, 60, or 100. Not only will we benefit from our own harvest and His planting, but others will reap from our lives and be blessed when they step into our garden.

 

Many would ask, “Why would a farmer allow precious seed to land on the footpath, on rock, or among thorns? Indeed, His seeds are precious and they cost an innocent’s Man His life, but the beautiful thing to know about this Loving God of ours is His seed NEVER runs out. Some of us may even begin to experience and come to the realization that we do not have enough soil to contain all the seeds His provides. We must disregard the idea or image of God being an irresponsible farmer simply scattering His seeds at random. Instead, attempt to understand that His acceptable method of seeding in the lives of His many children is by hand-tossing seeds as He walks through our lives. His goal is to get as much seed as possible to take root in good soil, but waste is inevitable as some falls or is blown into less productive areas. If some of the seed produce no crop, it is not the fault of the FAITHFUL former or of the seed. The yield most defiantly depends on us and the condition of our lives when the seeds are scattered. Now, this does not mean our lives have to be perfect.

More importantly, as believers we have ALL been called to be ad-ministers of God’s Word, so we should be responsible to spread the seed (God’s Message), but not take it person and NEVER give up when some of our efforts fail. Keep planting and remember not every seed fall on good soil. Keep your eyes fixed on the planting process and not on the outcome and the return on the seeds.

 

“Footpath” people are like many of the religious leaders or similarly to non-believers who refuse to believe God’s message. Isn’t it interesting how “religious” people actually have a lot in common with non-believers? “Rocky” soil people are like the crowds who followed Jesus, believe His message, but never get around to doing anything about it. “Thorn Patch” people are overcome by worries and lure of materialism and therefore leave no room in their lives for God. “Good” soil people in contrast to all the other groups, follow Jesus no matter what the cost may be.

 

In conclusion, we ought to identify with the type of soil we are, and in which we plant on in other people’s lives. Be encouraged and nonetheless have enough seed on you at all times, so you can continuously plant and minister wherever you go. For some of us, we may have to get rid of some of the seeds the enemy has planted in our lives, so God’s seeds can reach the soil. Now, I ask again, what type of soil are you?

 

Your Sister In Christ,

 

Sister Christina Bladen

Dealing with Betrayal

As we journey across this topic of betrayal, I can hear the chorus play in my mind, of the popular 50's band called the O'Jays and their Top Hit song titled "Back Stabbers". We are all familiar with these profound and truth-telling lyrics..."What they do?" They smile in your face, all the time they want to take your place. The back stabbers (back stabbers)." It is a simple reminder that we all will experience some form of betrayal in our life by someone we know. Most times, it is during a vulnerable time in our lives when they lurk behind the shadows and wait to pounce on us when we’re in our weakest and most needed periods. Some way or another we have to experience the feeling of being betrayed. It is when your left feeling hurt, angry, frustrated, and you constantly shake your head in disbelief of, "how could he/she or even they do this to me?" It's during that time when you feel alone; sit in perplexity, and feel completely victimized.

 

How do you deal with it? How long will it take for this deadly stab wound to fully heal? Today, I attempt to bring some clarity and solutions to the topic. Firstly, most betrayers come in the form of different people in our lives and with different motives. However, the most popular reason(s) for it is envy, jealousy, and/or greed. Envy starts out as an emotion of wanting what someone else posse. This does not always have to do with materialistic possessions, but someone may want your happiness, joy, spouse, success, talents, blessing, peace, even child-bearing ability. Jealousy is unique and tricky because both persons have the same things, but one becomes jealous because the other person's may be a little better. For example, you and your friend both having fully operational vehicles, but you have a Mercedes and she has a Kia. None of the persons are lacking a car and the car is fulfilling the same purpose in your lives, but the jealousy sets in because of the status of the cars. The problem is not the emotion, because emotions are meant to quickly subside. However, the relentless manifestation following the emotion is when the problem occurs. Now the envious or jealous person has become fixated on it and eventually builds up a desire. Greed is having what you have and simply wanting more and overriding being content with being completely unsatisfied. So understand there are different levels of betrayal and different motives for the betrayer. Not to mention, being betrayed by someone you confide in who is not happy with their life and just is filled with poisonous character flaw(s) and you somehow get hurt by their hurt and misery.

 

Now, as we have dealt and brought some clarity to the more practical side of betrayal let’s look at betrayal from the biblical standpoint. First, I want us to read Psalms 34:18 which reminds us that "The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” As believers we are still in this world, therefore still having to deal with the same experiences in life as an unbeliever. In some cases, believers get it even worst, for we have the enemy continuously throwing fiery arrows at us because of the calling the Lord has placed on our lives. But as children of the Living God, when pain arise in our lives we can come before a Loving understanding Father with all our tears and sorrow and in complete trust and He will comfort us and make us whole again. I personally thank God for the transparency and practicality His Word brings for every situation in our lives. The Bible reminds us that not only have we been betrayed, but the Lord Jesus Himself by Judas, Samson by Delilah, King David by his own son Absalom, and Haman betrayed God's people even. The Lord was gracious to include real life experiences we will endure in our life manual, which is the Bible.

 

  Now in terms of dealing with Betrayal, the first thing we have to realize and attempt to understand is we live in a world where people lack substance to their character. People are flawed and already conditioned to the ways of this world. Sometimes it is the Will of God for you to go through so His Glory reflects in the situation and you see God work on your behalf in yet a different way. Perhaps for you to draw strength and wisdom from the offense; to be able to experience this level of hurt, so you can be a ministering witness for someone else when they need you to build them up. Sometimes when we close our eyes to all the previous warning signs, He may allow it to spiral out of control, but still protecting you by showing you this person needs to be removed out your life. Either way everything that happens to us has a purpose and God will always turn what the devil intended for bad for your good. Just continue to be strong and trust God even if you don’t feel like you can, but wear wisdom around your neck as you become sensitive to the many people around you. More importantly, I pray that God heals you and the offender both emotionally, spiritually, physically, and even mentally has you go through your season of betrayal.

 

-Sister Christina Bladen