Morning Meeting with #theBossofMe 11.09.2020
By HisGrace๐๐ธ๐ฝโ๏ธ๐ฆ๐ฆ
Inspired By: Behold the Lilies- Daily Meditations for Christian Women (Verna Mast & Susan Schwartz)
๐: Revelation 14:4 These are they which were not defiled by women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersosever He goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being first fruits unto God and the Lamb.
๐: To be totally honest (tbth), when reading this Scripture my mind arrested on the word โvirginโ. I felt the beginnings of panic as I am far from virginal and have rescently experienced defiling (tho, not by a woman ๐๐ฝโโ๏ธ). I had trouble seeing myself here, until I researched further. If you are like me in that you make mistakes at times, this may help you move past the word โvirginโ as well. The footnote in my study bible states that this term โprobably refers to a symbolic description of believers who kept themselves from defiling relationships with the pagan world system.โ Knowing that itโs expected for humans to make mistakes (since Jesus is the only man underneath the heavens to manifest perfection), and knowing that God is all knowing and all seeing yet readily pardons me (because he loves me unconditionally), rewards me with a peace that no man can destroy.
๐: But, I digressโฆ some of mankind feel as though they have some earthly duty to perform before they are good enough to follow Jesus. The virgins in this verse follow God because He has redeemed them from the things of the earth, and He is now their Joy. He enables those who follow him to have proper priorities.
๐ฆ: God Gives me direction and strength to meet demands and perform my duties.
๐ฌ: I must follow where God leads me until he leads me into His eternal fold.
โจโจโจโจโจโจโจโจโจโจโจโจโจโจโจโจโจโจโจโจโจโจโจโจโจโจ Inspired By: Our Daily Bread/Doing Our Role (Dave Branon) ๐: 1 Peter 4:10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of Godโs grace.
๐ฆ: My ๐ค(aka my first born daughter) was involved in theatre (like her mom) during her adolescent years. Not just involved, but the magic of the theatre consumed her non-curricula hours. She worked without ceasing for the drama club holding office after office. She participated in the One-Act competition first as a crew member before taking her place onstage as an actor. But the Holy Grail for La Porte High School (the entire community of La Porte, Texas to tell the truth) is their yearly High School Musical. The only other school activity that can even come close to rivaling the annual musical budget would be (of courseโHello, Texas!) all things involving football. Yep the theatre and football stadium are kept in magnificent condition while the students must slosh through knee deep water to get to class after hard rain and fight rodents and pests to receive their lunches.
๐ฆ: My ๐ค appeared on that stage from freshman year on, each year with increasing stage time. There was also never a duty she did not sign up to take on in service of her chosen pursuit and comrades. Senior year arrives and the people in charge of this 82% European-American, 6% Other, and 6% Black-American community chose The Wiz as their 2015 production. After having the presidency of the drama club snatched away form her and other tenured seniors by a newcomer, she failed to win the coveted role of Dorothy (as did every other Black-American who auditioned). In fact, there were only two Black-Americans awarded major roles. But, my baby did as she always does and persevered: performing her duties and all of the many minor roles (which made her stage time rival that of Dorothyโs) flawlessly. One of her scenes is still the most talked about on the La Porte Theatre circuit, today,โ not to mention the many curtain calls my ๐ค bowed to at the end of each show, smiling beautifully while hiding the tears of bitter heartbreak and devastating betrayal from those โadultsโ that she trusted and worked so hard to serve. My ๐ค displayed a shining example of what my interactions in the body of Christ should look like. When others get the role I desire, may I choose to encourage them even as I passionately fulfill the roles God has placed into my care.
๐ฆ: No gift from God is unimportant.
๐ฌ: I must imagine my little slice of Heaven on Earth filled with encouragers using their God-given gifts to honor His Kingdom.
โจโจโจโจโจโจโจโจโจโจโจโจโจโจโจโจโจโจโจโจโจโจโจโจโจโจ Inspired By: Itโs a Good Morning Just Because You Love Me. (Diane Dahlen, Cari Dugan, Laura Krause, Shannon Lindsay, Cate Mezyk, Stephanie Sample)/Continual Praise
๐: Psalm 113:3 From the rising of the sun to its going down, the Lords name is to be praised.
๐: Praising God from the moment I awaken until my eyes close in slumber changes my personal outlook on life. Intentional continuous praise can only result in intentional, continuous joy.
๐ฆ: God can cultivate me to appreciate his goodness. I need only ask.
๐ฌ: I must choose to look at each moment as a moment in which to be thankful and worshipful, then I will find in each moment beauty, joy, and satisfaction.
My ๐ค is pictured above. Both my ๐ค & ๐ฌ are named in this article. https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/bayarea/news/article/La-Porte-High-School-presents-The-Wiz-6048596.php
๐ฌ: Feel free to share notes & references from your 11.09.2020 Prayer/Meditation/Spirituality in the comments below. ๐๐๐ธ๐ฝ๐ฆ๐ฆ
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