Good Morning Garden

BE PREPARED TO SUFFER FOR ME, in My Name. All suffering has meaning in My kingdom. Pain and problems are opportunities to demonstrate your trust in Me. Bearing your circumstances bravely–even thanking Me for them–is one of the highest forms of praise. This sacrifice of thanksgiving rings golden-toned bells of joy throughout heavenly realms. On earth also, your patient suffering sends out ripples of good tidings in ever-widening circles.

When suffering strikes, remember that I am sovereign and that I can bring good out of everything. Do not try to run from pain or hide from problems. Instead, accept adversity in My Name, offering it up to Me for My purposes. Thus, your suffering gains meaning and draws you closer to Me. Joy emerges from the ashes of adversity through your trust and thankfulness.

James 1:2-4    Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Psalm 107:21-22    Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men. Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy.

Michael & Alison Smitherman

The Singing NetSurfers

I will sing to my Lord as long as I live, I will sing

praise to my God while I have my being.

It is the natural instinct of every living thing to avoid suffering and trauma. There is nothing wrong with that and in fact, that instinct is critical to survival. The key to suffering and trauma, when it does enter our lives is how we view and handle suffering.

Wen we view it as a way to express true faith through praise and thanks to God, the blessing(s) hidden within the pain emerge. Then we can see the good that comes from our suffering and perseverance. These in turn propel us further along the path of spiritual maturity. Along that path, and at it’s end, are joy, peace and oneness with our creator. 

Giving thanks,

Z gardener

Trust me enough to let things happen without striving to predict or control them. Relax, and refresh yourself in the Light of My everlasting Love. My Love-Light never dims, yet you are often unaware of My radiant Presence. When you project yourself into the future, rehearsing what you will do or say, you are seeking to be self-sufficient: to be adequate without My help. This is a subtle sin–so common that it usually slips unnoticed.

The alternative is to live fully in the present, depending on Me each moment. Rather than fearing your inadequacy, rejoice in my abundant supply. Train your mind to seek My help continually, even when you feel confident to handle something by yourself. Don’t divide your life into things you can do by yourself and things that require My help. Instead, learn to rely on Me in every situation. This discipline will enable you to enjoy life more and to face each day confidently.

Psalm 37:3-6  Trust in the Lord and do good; Dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

This message came today from a devotional that inspired the Good Morning Garden. This writer could not think of a better message to share today.

 Living in the present is greatly facilitated by; counting our present blessings, fully experiencing all of our present reality, learning from the past without living in it or reliving it  and anticipating future blessings by creating present blessings in doing good.

 While the ask is heavy, the rewards are the most valuable thing a person could secure. The desires of our hearts, safe pastures, justice and righteousness. That’s a good deal.

 Trusting enough,

 Z gardener