Guest Post~ Preparing for His purpose

 

 

Written by: Joanne

At a very early age, I knew God was preparing me to be a mom. I would lovingly gaze upon all new babies (and still do) and dream of the day that I would be blessed to have my very own.

I prepared myself by cooking, baking and learning all of the things that I thought I needed to learn to be a successful keeper of the home. I would dream of the day that I would have my own home to keep. I would write down the names of the children that I would have, dreaming of what they might look like and how extraordinarily cute they would be. Preparing and waiting, waiting and preparing...I spent what seemed like an eternity waiting for the next step.
 

Many of you lovely young women, may be feeling a sense of unrest. I am sure that most of you have dreams of meeting that special someone, starting a life together and living happily ever after....but when?! Maybe your minutes tick by slowly, and you wonder when God is going to reveal your next step. It is the waiting that is difficult...but it is in the waiting that we are to prepare.

Young Queen Esther knew about waiting. Having just spent an entire year preparing herself to be presented to the King, she knew more about waiting and preparing than all of us combined! She had just endured 12 months of beauty treatments. Now to be completely honest, I sometimes think that I could so use twelve months of spa like treatments,   special food prepared for me, with six months of oil of myrrh followed by six months of special perfumes and ointments! 

After all of the waiting, finally Esther's time had come and she was lavishly dressed in royal robes and jewelry. Esther had prepared herself to meet her King. As history records it she not only met the King but she found great favor with him and he crowned her Queen. Around this time, I am sure Esther thought that her work was done. She had spent hours soaking in oil, eating healthy foods (no cheeseburgers for this gal!) and she had fulfilled her calling of being Queen. 

 

But God wasn't finished with her yet. There was a greater purpose for  all of that waiting. There is a higher purpose for the waiting. Ladies, we all know the history, we know how the story ends! 

The young Queen Esther bravely rescues the Jewish nation because of her acts of unselfish heroism. Through the times of waiting God prepared a path for Esther to fulfill His purposes. I want you to know that all of the waiting and preparing that I did throughout those years prepared me to fulfill the greater purposes that God has had for me. So many years ago I would never imagined the opportunities that God has blessed me with, and many times I have reflected back to those times of waiting and smile at how they have prepared me for a greater purpose, His purpose.

Precious women, give the waiting to God. Ask Him what He wants to prepare you for. Pray for guidance, and then wait. Use your time wisely, dig deep in the Word, gather together with other Christians.

Dream big dreams and be totally sold out for Him!
 

About Joanne:

 

Joanne is a wife to the love of her life and best friend, Jeff and together they have four children Kyle(18), Lauren(16), Conner(13) and Katherine(8). Joanne is actively involved in her church and community with a passion to serve Christ with her whole heart! Joanne home schools her children, loves to read and can always be found in a pair of heels with a tea in hand!

Testimony Tuesdays!

 

Written by: Donna 

 

Surprises from Father God! 

One day last year, 

I was spending time

in prayer and enjoying the 

peaceful Presence of Father God.

I began musing over the thought that

most of my Christian friends knew

God’s Will for their lives; and how they fit into the Body of Christ. 

In contrast, my life seemed to be an unfolding work in progress rather than a blueprint with details.  

I wasn’t really expecting an answer to my musing, but I got one, and a surprising one at that!  Father clearly pressed on my heart that I liked surprises, and that was why He kept me in the dark concerning what He was doing in my life. 

As I considered that thought, I had to admit I do love surprises!  But I had never thought about it before, and chuckled at the fact that God knew me better than I knew myself! 

 I loved the fact that He would be interested in such little details and that He would take that into consideration in the way 

He ordered my life!  

As interesting as it was,

 I remembered my list of things to do and got about the busy everyday rhythm of my life.  But as the weeks went by, I began to have one surprise after another show up on my figurative doorstep.

 It was as if Father God was proving His point! Life was becoming an adventure, and I lived in expectant anticipation every day, wondering what He would do next!  

This past year, God healed me Physically, Spiritually, and Emotionally, and with each of those healings I began to walk in new found freedom.  And, with that freedom, came gifts, a.k.a. surprises that would delight and fill me with joy!  

One gift was presented to me by Father while helping at our Wednesday Night Kids Group at my home church.  

We had been teaching the children to listen for God’s voice and this particular session had the kids painting pictures of what God had spoken to them. 

As I walked around the room admiring the pictures, and asking questions about what they had painted, I found myself wishing that I could also paint a picture!

  I had never painted artistically before, and never had a desire to try that type of creativity.  But, instead of fading away, that desire became stronger, and the next day I told my friend that I wanted to paint. She explained, that it just happened that it was her art lesson day, and she invited me to come along. 

 I could use her materials and she even helped me find a picture of a sunset that I could paint. At 3:00 o’clock we arrived at the art studio, and was put to work creating. With some guidance from the teacher, 

I began to paint, 

and was at once captivated! 

 I loved it, and felt as if 

it was something

 I was always meant to do!  

It has been almost a year now, and I am painting and creating daily, and, what a joy it has become to me!  

After a couple months of oil painting, 

I felt a strong desire to try drawing portraits. After my experience with painting, I learned not to just dismiss those promptings, so, 

I got some pencils and a 

sketching pad. 

After watching some

You Tube videos, I started drawing. 

It was amazing!  

Though far from a ‘Rembrandt,’ 

my renderings weren’t bad for someone just beginning.  

I felt that if I continued to work at it, 

it would steadily improve. 

I am amazed and in awe of what Father God has begun in my life in this area, what a wonderful, surprising gift! 

Recently I’ve begun working with acrylic paints and have done some nice pieces that are improving 

day by day!  

What is even more interesting is that I’ve been asking Father God to give me a picture to paint to go along with an encouraging word for someone.  

So far, I’ve gotten several words and pictures that have impacted those with whom I’ve shared. 

It is so much fun to 

create with God! 

About Donna: 

I’m a sixty-two year old 

Grandmother who is discovering gifts 

that I never knew I had 

residing in me! 

 I’ve learned that it doesn’t matter

 if you are 6 or 66. 

We have a Heavenly Father

who loves to give

good gifts to His children!  

Isn’t He amazing?

 

Thanks for reading about my testimony! 

Hope you enjoyed it :)

~Donna 

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