WORD for today!

Hey everyone!!!!! I thank God everyday for each of you and I pray that you all are feeling blessed beyond measure, have peace, and are feeling filled by God's presence has you are reading this!! I was praying about what to share with all of you I was led to share this illustration (condensed version) that God had showed me for a young girls ministry I was working with. Did you know that all of US are continuosly changing!! Whether it be physically, emotionally, spiritually. When we were young, our lives started out like that of a seedling. We began to come forth from the ground and as we grew, the things of this world, Satan, and people tried to damage us, harm us and in some cases kill us. As a result, we became hardened and developed thorns. As we got older these thorns got sharper, all because we wanted to protect ourselves from the world, but at the same time, we were growing and getting stronger. We began to sprout out leaves. With these leaves, we stretched them up to God and gave our lives to him!! We realized that God had a purpose for us, a plan for us. As we grew, we realized there was a bud forming on top, a plan, a purpose for our lives!!! We had gone through all of this and yet God had a purpose. He knew from the beginning the purpose for our lives, even through the pain and suffering. One day, as the bud began to open and we bagan to become aware of who we were, confident and complete in GOD, that bud opened wide and behold, there was a beauftful blossem on top. Everyone looked at it because it had turned into being the most beautiful flower!!! Everything that we have went through in our lives and maybe going through will in the end develop us into being the woman or man that God wants us to be!! When we have finished this journey, we will be that beautiful flower for everyone to see and no longer will people look at the thorns in our lives, but look at the beauty that was formed because of it. I wanted to share a few scriptues with you. Hebrews 10:36, "You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised." James 1:12. "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." James 5:10-11 "Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. " Keep persevering, pressing on, in what God has called you to do!! DO NOT GIVE UP, if anything give into GOD!! He will see you through!! He has a purpose and a plan for you and though you may not know it now, you will!! Trust him and he will take care of you!! You are all beautfiul!!!! I love you all!!! Hugs, Lucy

Lucy, I have missed you and your words for the day!! I'm so glad to see you posting again. Thank you for this one. My family is going through a lot right now and I know God has a plan for us. We will persevere through this! Shel