Morning
A new, fresh start.
If I get up early enough,
I get to see the sunrise.
The fresh dew.
I hear the birds tweeting as they fly from tree to tree.
The day begins fresh.
A new beginning.
It seems I'm being called to minister out of weakness instead of strength. Share on X
Now that our children are grown,
The mornings are quiet.
Usually, I can ease into my day quietly.
In good weather, I love to go outside
To look at my plants.
What is blooming?
Are any vegetables growing?
Are they getting ripe?
Occasionally, I pull a weed or two.
But at this time of year, I can’t do that.
There are only dead stems or weeds growing now.
GOD has placed me in this garden…I need to care for it.
It is a metaphor of my life.
I like to look at the garden where GOD has placed me.
With the people I influence or who influence me,
I watch and listen.
Of course, I talk too…sometimes too much.
But I like to encourage and care for my garden.
It often feels very random.
But in the end, GOD leads and guides.
I wish I was more in order.
Since this last move, I haven’t been.
I keep trying. But it doesn’t happen.
It seems I’m being called to minister out of weakness
instead of strength
It seems that more and more,
I am having to minister out of weakness.
I would like to be able to be more together.
But it doesn’t happen.
So each morning, I get up.
I give my day to Jesus.
It turns out looking rather weird.
But in the end, GOD seems to be glorified some days.
I guess it is worth it.
***I’m sure I went over 5 minutes. I set the timer and it didn’t go off. Whoops!
*****For those who know me, you know I’m not known to be a morning person. But since Ron’s stroke, I’m usually up considerably earlier than I used to be.
Martha, I loved what you said about ministering out of weakness. I think when we’re in that place of weakness, yet still called to minister, that’s when God has the greatest chance to shine. I feel like I’m ministering out of a place of weakness right now as well. The upside is God is faithful to enable us to do what He’s given us to do. I think I’d just give up, otherwise. 😉
Great post this weekend!
thanks jeanne. it seems that i’m learning to minister out of weakness in new ways. not always fun. but in the end, seeing GOD glorified and knowing it wasn’t b/c of our stunning gifts? that is exciting!
Gardening is indeed an apt metaphor for ministering . . . 🙂
it is, definitely barbara:)
Loved this and the style you have written it in. I love mornings!! Writing this now at 5:39 EST, lol. Blessings to you and prayers for your husband’s recovery.
thanks nannette:) he is doing pretty well. he is in the “fine tuning” stage of recovery now, not acute recovery. people looking at him now have no idea he ever had a stroke.
I’m sure we all minister better when we realize that God can minister much better through us than we can minister when we’re strong. It’s so opposite isn’t it? To be strong in our weakness…one lesson I could do a better job learning for sure!
yes christy, there is so much about the kingdom of GOD that upside down! the way up is down. in order to be strong, we must be weak. in order to be rich, we need to give b/c it is better to give than to receive… GOD can only work through us when we understand how His economy works…and live it out!
Martha,
To minister out of our weakness instead of our strength can be the moment when we experience God’s power the greatest as we rely on Him (2 Cor. 12:9-10) but I confess, it is also hard yet liberating…Great to meet you…lovely graphic and photo 🙂
yes, it was nice to meet you at your blog dolly:) there is no question that learning to live out the liberating joy of ministering out of my weakness without being sloppy or careless in the ways i minister, is a challenge. i was used to pushing myself to do things right no matter my energy level. it turned out i wasn’t accepting help that was offered to me. when i looked at it closer, i realized there was a lot of pride intertwined there as well. asking for help that has been offered, took humbling myself. i was shocked to notice that i didn’t want to have to ask for help. it was embarrassing to need it. i had to admit i wasn’t self-sufficient.
To say you feel you are called to minister out of weakness instead of strength is very thought provoking. I believe much good can come from either place. I believe God can support both positions.
paul talks about that idea frequently. the most classic quote of his is found in II corinthians 12:7-10. where he talked about his thorn in the flesh. what he learned from that was that the power of Christ is shown best in those areas of weakness. it is a great passage and not the only one with that concept. as i age and see physical and in some ways, mental weakness, i find this same concept encouraging in a new way. so interesting:)
Great post. Your post reminds me of how God calls us to steward all that God has given us. I’m in the #14 spot this week.
thanks tara. yes, i’ve already been to your place:)
So glad to read your thoughts! I guess there are good and bad sides to a quiet morning, may the good ones also come out first for you! Happy Friday!
thanks katha:) blessings to you too:)