Dearest Blooming Partners,
With the joy of Jesus, I welcome you to the month of October and the final quarter of the year. As you enter into the month of October, may you journey with God with a sincere and genuine heart. May the love of God be shed abroad in your heart, keeping you tender, rooted, and refreshed in Him. 🌸
The last time I wrote to you, I mentioned the discipleship class I was taking well, guess what? I’ve completed it! Eleven rich weeks of learning about grace, consecration, obedience, the fear of God, true worship, and the blessing of submission to God and the authorities He places in our lives, to mention a few.
Truly, one of the best gifts you can give yourself is the investment in spiritual and personal growth. I can boldly say I am not the same person I was before. Just yesterday, while working, I caught a glimpse of myself from a year ago and couldn’t help but break into Gratitude by Brandon Lake.
At CMC this year, the Lord has been reminding us about the danger of distractions. And often, the distractions are not necessarily sinful things, but the seemingly important ones work, family, responsibilities. That was me. I thought I couldn’t fall for it since I had heard the message so often, but I did. I was busy, pouring myself into my job and every task at hand, and yes, I was growing outwardly. Yet inwardly, I felt like Martha always serving but missing His nearness. It seemed like God was speaking, yet I couldn’t hear; He was close, yet felt far.
Then one day, it hit me: I was distracted. I smiled and said, “Lord, after hearing this message over and over, here I am, still distracted.” So what did I do? I returned to the Source. And the very first day back, He whispered, “I love you. I’m here. I never left.” Suddenly, the Scripture “I will never leave you nor forsake you” became alive to me. Even in our distractions, God never gives up on us. He keeps reaching. The real question is: will we respond?
Do you recognize when you’re distracted? Do you know when your heart feels far from Him? Can you be honest enough to admit, “Lord, I’m distracted”? One thing I cherish about walking with God is the freedom to be naked yet unashamed before Him—to be truthful without pretending.
So today, I’m calling out to all the Marthas: come, sit at the table. There’s a seat waiting for you.
“WAIT and listen, everyone who is thirsty! Come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Yes, come, buy [priceless, spiritual] wine and milk without money and without price [simply for the self-surrender that accepts the blessing]. [Rev. 21:6, 7; 22:17.] Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your earnings for what does not satisfy? Hearken diligently to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness [the profuseness of spiritual joy]. [Jer. 31:12-14.] Incline your ear [submit and consent to the divine will] and come to Me; hear, and your soul will revive; and I will make an everlasting covenant or league with you, even the sure mercy (kindness, goodwill, and compassion) promised to David. [II Sam. 7:8-16; Acts 13:34; Heb. 13:20.]”
â€â€Isaiah‬ â€55‬:â€1‬-â€3‬ â€AMPC‬‬
“Lord Yahweh, the Holy One of Israel, says: “Come back to me! By returning and resting in me you will be saved. In quietness and trust you will be made strong. But you refused.”
â€â€Isaiah‬ â€30‬:â€15‬ â€TPT‬‬
I pray this scripture over you “The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24–26
Am I fully back? Honestly, I can’t say for sure. But here’s my resolve: I will keep yielding as He leads sharing when He says share, staying silent when He says be silent. For after all, I am His storyteller.
Until next time, keep blooming.
With love,
The Lord’s Storyteller