The Road We Travel

 The Road We Travel

Most everyday we encounter roadways.  Not really given much thought to the importance of the intentional painted markings upon them to help guide us to our destination.  These are placed strategically...purposefully to direct us, to keep us protected allowing us to safely reach our designated place.  Not all roadways are well maintained and a comfort to travel on.  Others are disheveled...breaking apart with worn out, weathered markings upon them.  Some are just plan dry and barren dirt paths that stir up a whole mess causing difficulty in navigating ourselves.  While others are riddled with a slew of uneven, uncomfortable pebbles and rocks that occasional toss up a loose stone pinging our windshield causing alarm!

How true is this of our own personal walk in life?  I am reminded that we ourselves in our spiritual journey travel each of these types of roads in life.  It is vitally important for us to encounter each one in order to strengthen our faith and allow God to grow us in areas that we may tend to put on cruise control. 

 God lays before us a path that He desires for us to follow. "The very steps we take come from God; otherwise how would we know where we're going?"  Proverbs 20:24  The white line in this picture represents that path...solid, bright, even, and pleasant.  You may notice that this line is placed strategically where we have plenty of room to walk comfortably & safely between a wide open road and a slight slope leading off course.  Following this marked path for us is very important because we can encounter unpleasantries on either side of us.  God is faithful and merciful.  If we choose to go off course wandering in either direction...onto the open road or off the road completely, He is with us. "I will walk with you--I will be your God, and you will be my people..." Leviticus 26:12 (CEVU).  The flagged yellow lines in the middle act as a warning to grasp our attention...sometimes these lines are subtle only to appear periodically but repetitively, while other times they are solid, wide and bold.  We must heed to these warnings that God puts before us, "By your teachings, Lord, I am warned; by obeying them I am greatly rewarded." Psalm 19:11 (CEVU) 

The times that we choose to disregard the warnings set before us to protect us is when we take our focus off of God.  We see a path that appears to be more enticing.  We become concerned with the direction God's path is taking us and begin to focus on unrealistic things that lead us astray such as double mindedness (living for self & God); excessive reasoning to make us feel better that it's alright to go in the direction we have choose to follow; complicating simple issues (making a mountain out of a mole hill); having anger, jealousy, envy, doubt, discontentment and negativity.  All these things lead us astray and cause us to head in a direction that is hard, uncomfortable, unpleasant, painful, dark and scary.  But not all is lost even though we feel very much lost, perhaps frightened and in pain. The world wants us to use our feelings to make decisions in life...making choices in which direction to follow based upon wavering, inconsistent, unreliable feelings.   Problems in life are inevitable, but living overwhelmed and misguided is optional!  Choose wisely based on Truth...God's Truth.  When we walk in difficult places, God sends the strength and nourishment to equip us to face what comes our way, not all at once, but day by day until we are walking His path set before us confidently and assuredly.

 God gives us promises in His Word that we can cling to as He fulfills those promises in our lives through trials.  One promise that I cling to in such times is Romans 5:1-6 (MSG), "By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us--set us right with Him, make us fit for Him--we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus.  And that's not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that He has already thrown open His door to us: We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand--out in the wide open spaces of God's grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise.  There's more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next.  In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged.  Quite the contrary--we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit.  Christ arrives right on time to make this happen.  He didn't, and doesn't, wait for us to get ready..." 

WHEW!!

Another promise is found in Matthew 11:28 (NIV), "Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Simplistically all I need to do in my trying times is to go to Christ!  Should be easy enough...but I know that there is a battle going on for navigational control and it is MYSELF...my flesh. "For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live." Romans 8:13 (ESV)  This encourages me to choice wisely who I allow to lead in my navigations. 

Decide to not fix your focus on the terrible circumstances in life.  Shift your attention on God.  Plant your feet in God's Word.  Psalm 119:66 says,  "Lord God, teach me knowledge and good judgement, for I believe in Your commands."   In times you feel too weak to move forward with another step--then take a baby step in just standing---in Him--by His Strength; if you feel too weak to stand, then kneel and cry out to your Heavenly Father who will answer your cry!  Trust in Him to do for you, to love you right where you are, to embrace you comforting you in His tenderly loving arms. 

Trust is believing before seeing...FAITH!  God has called us to live by faith, not by sight.  Even though we don't always understand the road we are having to travel, we don't have to let the circumstances overwhelm us.  Choosing to trust God helps restore a sense of hope and stability in our lives allowing us to take one step at a time.  Choose to look to God--His Brilliance--to be a guiding light in the road we travel.  "Commit your way to the Lord [roll and repose each care of your load on Him]; trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) also in Him and He will bring it to pass."
 Psalm 37:5 (AMP) 

Whatever road we may find ourselves on, we can rest assured that we are never left alone and we need not travel the road solo. We have a good Shepard who wants to give us an abundant life.  According to Psalm 139 we can be sure of these truths...

God Knows ME...God Protects ME...God Made Me...and God Values Me.

You are a beautiful story in His story.  And your story is ongoing as you travel the many types of adventurous roads in life.  Let faith be your eyes as you take each new step toward Christ in your journey.

Take care and be blessed,

Christy Krezman
Rosette Ministry

 YOUR KEY

Who doesn't love the majestic look of vintage keys?  There's such detail in the face of the key.  Beautiful scrolling...intricate work that was so thoughtfully and purposefully handled with such care.  I'm sure it had to go through such molding and shaping, having had some heat exposed to it (probably at length so that it was malleable.)  It had to be gently yet firmly stretched and bent, turned and cradled to create its beauty.  The neck of the key is long and outstretched, smooth and solid until it reaches the simplicity yet very important aspect of the key...the locking and unlocking mechanism.  Nothing significant at first glance, but absolutely the center of importance to the key itself.  At a deeper glance, the prongs itself are like puzzle pieces that need to be placed precisely in its proper place in order for it to fulfill its purpose. 

Through life we have opportunities that present themselves - an open door - and opportunities 'that just don't work out' - a closed door.  Every door that we encounter gives us choices.  Open doors don't always mean that it is completely free for us to walk through its threshold...just as a closed door doesn't always mean that we are to turn right around in search of an opened door to walk through.  We need to ask ourselves when we're found  at the entrance of any doorway in our life; "Does my key fit in its door lock?"  If it does, what steps does God want me to take now?"  If it does not, "Am I using the wrong key or did I not place the key completely into the lock?" Again, what steps does God want me to take?
 
Friends, as many of you are aware, there are several steps into opening a door.  First, it's a must to have the correct key that is made for that specific lock, insert that key completely and thoroughly into the lock, turn the key, then grasp the door knob...twist, turn and push forward.  Ta Da!! There you have it...unlocked and opened door!

 The same is true for us when we find ourselves in doorways of opportunities.  Know this truth...God has the Power and the ability to open ANY door in your life for you to freely walk through.  He can and will do this but, there are times that we must take the several action steps ourselves...partnered with God...to open doors.  It is vital for us to remember to seek Him at every opportunity for guidance as we approach any "door-frame"...door being opened or not. 

Think of this...how many times have you walked through automatic opening doors, hand-held opened doors or even just push opened a partially opened door without giving any thought to its frame...leaving Point A to enter into Point B,  from one element to a different element?  Let's face it, it doesn't take a genius to pass through an opened door.  We do it physically hundreds of times without even thinking about it!  There's not much thought into walking through a already opened doorway! Or, approached a closed door and didn't even attempt to open it because of its closure? 

Now, let's think about this in our life's journey...our opportunities that are before us.  We approach an opened door  in life: Why is it opened?  Have we been praying specifically for this particular door to be opened?  If so, have I fully given God complete control of this or am I manipulating it a bit to go my way?  Has this door been opened for someone else and I happened to be along and so I'm going to enter as well?  Not all opened doors in our lives are meant to be passed through by us! 

On the flip-side, doors of opportunities that we come to are often times closed.  This doesn't always mean for us to see the closed door and then turn high-tailing it out of there. Or even sometimes we take all the action steps of faith in opening the door but then...No...Ta Da, not even happening!!  A closed door isn't always a LOCKED door.  There will be times that it is vital for us to put some 'elbow-grease' because it's a 'sticky' door, grasping the doorknob of humility turning it to open.  Not all the time when we do this will it open right away or even easily, but we are called to take action in our faith.  Trusting God and being obedient to what God has for us to do even if it doesn't quite make sense or if it's difficult for us.  I'm reminded of old doors that get stuck. I'd have to fidget with the key as I attempted to insert it into the lock...several times...jiggling it to turn, twisting the doorknob and then giving it a good bump with my shoulder in order for it to open!  Sometimes it would take two or three good bumps to get it out of it's comfortable place of rest to let me enter through it's opening...it wasn't a graceful entrance either - stumbling, disheveled and irritated, but glad in the long run that I accomplished the task of entrance!

Mark 12:29-30 (NLT), " The most important commandment is this...you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, [passionately], all your soul, [willfully], all your mind, [thoughtfully], and all your strength [practically--live like you love him]."  This scripture is a perfect example of what our actions should reflect.  We are all capable of passion...willfulness...thoughtfulness and practicality.   It's our choice whether or not we will use them and take action in our faith.   

In our times of hesitation or fear because we can't quite see and/or don't understand what God is doing and why He is doing it, let James 1:3-4 speak truth into our hearts...

"For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.  So let it grow for when our endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready in anything."

If we feel tempted, pressured or fearful to walk across an open door threshold or turn away too quickly from a closed door, it's important that we stop...wait a moment and then REFOCUS. Where are we focused?  Part of having our key is to know where to look...to God.  Keep our eyes focused on God, let our words that come form our mouths and the thoughts of our mind be completely centered on Him.  Looking to Him and  knowing that even in our weakness, His Strength is always, always....ENOUGH!

 We are not able to do anything on our own with our own strength...however, WITH God...'We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.' Philippians 4:13   I love the Amplified version of this verse...listen to what it says...

"I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency]. 

Our weakness is the key to unlock and open a divine door to experience God's Strength.

 2 Corinthians 12:9 (AMP) says, "...My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness."    

WOW!!  We don't have to be strong on our own...Christ does it for us with His absolutely perfect, unwavering Strength!

Our confidence...or the lack of it...will always find its grip in just how we use our key in life.
Our weakness will stay magnified and unused as long as we are focused on our weakness itself, instead of the strength of God being used in our weakness knowing and believing what our weakness unleashes as we keep our focus in God's Strength.   Opportunity of choice is presented here... What will we choose when we are at our personal doorways of opportunity - whether it be opened or closed before us? 

You hold the key in your hand and God is just waiting for you to use it.  Will you?

Be Blessed,

Christy Krezman
Rosette Ministry

Don't Be Labeled

Don't Be Labeled

Who are you?  Really, really you.  Have you stopped to think about what makes you...YOU?  Why are you the way you are?  What makes you act in the way that you do?  Are you concerned about what others think of you?  Are YOU one of the ones that put that pressure on someone to be concerned about what others think?  OUCH!  Tough questions, but things that we must ask ourselves in order to dig deeper into whom we are and whose we belong.

Image is huge in today's society.  We are trying to reproduce or imitate things that "society" says is 'hip' and 'cool.'  By living this way, labels are developed and slapped onto people that do not "fit" in the current image society has set or they're slapped on so that we can "fit" in.  There are so many labels that the world puts on you...too many to list.  Not all labels appear to be in negative form.  Some may set such unrealistic expectations for you that it is impossible to ever be that.  Others are very much ugly and hurtful.  Ones that exclude, isolate and set you apart from what is considered 'living the life!'  Are you striving to live up to those labels?   Maybe not so much on purpose, but perhaps it's just been said of you for so long that you begin believing it for yourself.  So you begin living according to the label or labels that have been slapped onto you.  Is it true of what's on the inside?  Positively...NO!  I have an analogy that I had the opportunity to share with a young lady just about 4 years ago about how we do not have to live according to what the world has labeled us with.  Here's what I shared with her...

I asked her what her favorite canned food was and she replied with, "Peaches."  OK.  How do you know how to buy a can of peaches?  She said, "By seeing the label."  Of course that's how we know that, but do we absolutely believe that to be true by just the label?  What if I took a can of peaches and took off it's true label slapping on a "not so appetizing" one...say dog food.  "Eeeewww, gross!" she said.  Of course it's gross but stick with me.  I take that can of mislabeled peaches and put them in their rightful place on the shelf at the grocery store.  How many people will judge that can by its label?  Probably... most likely... every person who goes to buy peaches.  That can will be pushed aside, reached over, scooted with dislike to the back of the shelf.  Is the contents of that can of peaches any different than any other can of peaches?  ABSOLUTELY NOT but no one knows this until the contents are revealed when it has been opened up.  Then and only then the truth of the can is discovered.  The trueness of the peaches are pleasing and enjoyed.  Why, peaches were you hiding behind a label that contained you to a point that you were not able to enjoy or be enjoyed?

We are very much like that can of peaches.  We get stripped of who we are through hurts and/or disappointments in our lives and we feel very vulnerable in a weak way.  The world, which always has its label maker handy, begins to slap different labels on us.  Labels that are not true of us.  They hide what is truly inside.  But if we allow God to take us, go through the process of label removing with Him then our trueness begins to be revealed.

God's Imprint

You have a creator who designed you just the way you are and YOU ARE ENOUGH!  Psalm 139:14 declares, "I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well."  You are a unique expression of God's love in this world.  Nowhere on Earth is there anyone with exactly the same bright eyes, loving arms that hold, hands that do, feet that go, life to live. You...are...uniquely...you!  Every physical quality...or flaw as we sometimes call it,  is absolutely designed to fit just you.  Inner qualities are also very much designed specifically just for you!  These are what make you special and different.  The way you laugh, the tenderness of your heart, the care and concern that show through your bright eyes as you listen to others, your smile alone...warms and welcomes others.

You do not need to be labeled to be like anyone else.  You do need to be YOU just as God imprinted Himself all over you to be just YOU!  Absolutely no one else can do that except for YOU!  You are an original, which is priceless...YOU are priceless!  Be the wonderful YOU that God has designed for you to be, being confident in yourself through Christ.  2 Corinthians 7:16 says, "I am glad I can have complete confidence in you."  And Jeremiah 17:7 says, "But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him."

We will be blessed by God when we allow Him to remove the labels from our lives so that His Perfect imprint on our lives will be exposed, seen and able to be lived out.  God's imprint is not removable.  It does not come off.  It is YOU.  He created your inmost being; He knitted you together in your mother's womb (Psalm 139:13.) He knew you before You were YOU!

You are wonderfully, uniquely, fantastically, wonderously...YOU!  Live it.  Only you can!

Take Care and Be Blessed,
Christy Krezman
Rosette Ministry 

Hope in God's Promises

Hope in God's Promises

God 's character is:

 Holy, Just, True, Gracious, Faithful, Pure, Righteous, Steadfast, Loyal, Honest, Loving, Good, Honorable, Merciful, Compassionate, Almighty.  

These are just some of the amazing and wonderful truths about God and most of us have heard all of the attributes listed, but have we really stopped to consider what these "words" truly mean?  I love to open up the old Webster Dictionary just to see the meanings behind words that we use so loosely on a daily basis.  What I found was amazing...especially when I knew I was looking up words that describe our God.

God is HOLY : exalted; worthy of complete devotion as one perfect in goodness and righteousness; divine=supremely good; of, relating to, or proceeding directly from God.

God is JUST : acting or being in conformity with what is morally upright or good; Righteous; genuine=actual, true.

God is TRUE : Steadfast; Loyal; Honest; Just.

God is GRACIOUS : godly; pleasing; acceptable.  Marked by kindness and courtesy.  Graceful.  Marked by tact.  Characterized by charm, good taste, generosity of spirit; Merciful; Compassionate.

God is FAITHFUL : full of faith; steadfast in affection or allegiance; Loyal; firm in adherence to promises; given with strong assurance.

God is PURE : spotless; free from what vitiates (corrupts, misdirects), weakens, or pollutes; containing nothing that does not properly belong.  Free from moral fault or guilt; ritually clean.

God is RIGHTEOUS : free from guilt or sin; morally right.

God is STEADFAST : firmly fixed in place; immovable. Not subject to change.  Firm in belief, determination, or adherence; Loyal.

God is LOYAL: unswerving in allegiance; faithful to a private person whom fidelity is due.  

God is HONEST : free from fraud or deception.  Legitimate, truthful; Genuine, real.  Humble; Reputable, respectable.  Good.  Worthy, creditable, praiseworthy, marked by integrity.

God is GOOD : of a favorable character or tendency; that can be relied on.  Honorable; deserving of respect.

God is HONORABLE : Deserving of honor.  A showing of usually merited respect; recognition.  An evidence or symbol of distinction;  Purity.  Integrity=(an unimpaired condition; soundness; the quality or state of being complete or undivided.)

God is MERCIFUL : full of mercy.  Compassion or forbearance (patience) shown especially to an offender.  A blessing that is an act of divine favor or compassion.

God is COMPASSIONATE : having or showing compassion=sympathetic consciousness (the quality or state of being aware of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it.)

God is ALMIGHTY: God =the supreme or ultimate reality; as the Being perfect in power, wisdom, and goodness who is worshipped as creator and ruler of the universe.  

Is not such a God to be trusted?  Why is it so difficult for us to joyfully trust and rely upon Him?  To trust Him in ALL things...not just the big things or the things that we know that we need His help with?

All of these things that God are, are also His Promises to us.  If we only would put our hope in Him as we fix our eyes upon Him.  There's so many reasons why we drift our focus from the Lord...perhaps it hurts, disappointments, impatience, guilt and shame or just the idea of thinking that we can handle it ourselves (we do with everything else anyway.)  So, we move ahead steadily...so it may seem.  We become almost mechanical in our living just to get through our day..."Get that done...check.  Drop kids off at school...check.   Work...check.  Clean...check.  Do this...check.  Do that...check.  Repeat, repeat, repeat...check, check, check!!

Where is our hope when we live like this?  When we put our hope in our spouse, children, family or in our awesome problem solving skills we are let down everytime when they don't meet our need. Let me tell you, these were not meant to be the true everlasting hope that God intended for us to strive for.  Proverbs 11:7 says, "Hope placed in mortals die with them; all the promise of their power comes to nothing."  It's not fair to our loved ones or even to ourselves when we put all our hope in them.  They're incapable to meet the need that Christ has set only for  Himself to meet.

What is hope?  According to good ol' Webster, it's the general feeling that some desire will be fulfilled; it's where we look to someone on which our expectations are centered.

Wow, it's where our expectations are centered!  Who is the center of your life?  Who is the One that will be Immovable, Trustworthy, Honorable, Compassionate, Good, Honest, Loyal, Steadfast, Righteous, Pure, Faithful, Gracious and Almighty in ALL of your times?

Hope is a promise=a declaration that one will do something specified; a reason to expect something.

Christ and Christ alone is the One who can truly keep ALL His promises.  We can trust and expect that in our lives today.  When we are struggling in some difficult trials, hard circumstances or we are just somewhere dark and have lost our way for a bit, God's Word is FULL of His promises which should encourage us to place our Hope in Him.

Psalm 119:50 says, "My comfort in my suffering is this:  Your promises preserves my life."

When life is sour and getting bad, Jesus just pours Himself over us preserving us for His Glory while we are being filled in abundance of all that He is.

Hebrews 10:36 says, "You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised."

Following Christ in our struggles and trials is hard.  It's not always an easy road to take.  It may even require us to face fear head on.  Grab hold of His extended Hand.  He will show us where to walk and how to walk.  There may be times that we are at a crawl because things are just too thick to take steps but that's alright because as long as we keep moving forward we are moving closer to Him through Him.  Little is much when God is in it!

Hebrews 10:23 says, "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful."

Take hold unswervingly to the hope we profess.  That means a steady, firm, unfaltering grip.  We securely and solidly fix ourselves in place of that hope and don't let go because of God's faithful promises.

Psalm 145:13 declares, "Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures through all generations.  The LORD is trustworthy in all He promises and faithful in all He does."

Christ's finished work upon the cross secured this True Hope for you and I.  It is absolute, constant, and immovable...all this is yours and mine.  Jesus is enough. Nothing else will do.  When we fix our eyes upon Christ with a blessed hope, no matter what circumstance is happening or what journey we are on, Jesus is enough...He will fill our hearts with JOY! Unspeakable joy.  Joy everlasting.  1 Thessalonians 2:20 tells us, "Indeed, you are our glory and joy."  Jesus is our joy!

All things in our life, big or small, is important to Christ.  He is always there for us.  Always ready and more than willing.  We need reminded often of just how Massive He truly is.  All those Truths of God's character is more than anyone or anything else could even possibly try to promise us and remain faithful in that promise.  The same God that sent His only Son to die upon an old rugged Cross, only to be raised to life on the third day is the same God that loves you so tenderly, genuinely and completely.  The same power that enabled Jesus to shed His blood for our sins is the same power that lives in us should we accept Christ as our Savior.

Problems, situations, circumstances don't change or lessen in this world, but as we trust God more the more confident in our faith in Him will be.  Trusting God for the ability to enjoy our days despite all else.

"When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy." Psalm 94:19

"Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy."  Psalm 126:5

"...yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior."  Habakkuk 3:18

Friends, God does not waste anything!!

There is one last Scripture that I would like to leave you with as an encouragement to your hearts, but know that this is a sweet promise from your Heavenly Father for you...

"We wait in hope for the LORD; He is our help and shield.  In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust His holy name.  May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you."  Psalm 33:20-22

Take Care and Be Blessed,

Christy Krezman
Rosette Ministry

When Famine Hits Our Souls

Famine: extreme scarcity of food; a shortage; hunger.

Famine causes calamity, catastrophe, disaster and tragedy.

This is very true of our physical being but it is also very true of our spiritual being.  It is vital in our walk with God to feed on His Word daily to receive the nutrients that He provides for us as we journey through life.  His Word is food for our Soul.  Scripture tells us that we do not live on bread alone but on God's Word (Luke 4:4) and it refers to it being our bread of life (John 6:4) as well as pure milk for those who are new believers (1 Peter 2:2).  We must hunger and thirst for righteousness, for then we shall be satisfied (Matthew 5:6).

Well, life happens and we all live it. We all have jobs to do, activities to be active in, hobbies to enjoy, families to love and care for, perhaps school to attend and the list can go on and on.  Things are good.  Things are fine.  Things are OK.  Then, things are not so good...not so fine...not so OK.  What seemed to have happened to get us here?  We were once in a place where things were lush and green, life was going well.  Prosperous and fruitful.  We were feeling satisfied and well taken care of.  Perhaps it was heartache, loss, disappointment, stress, disobedience, busyness or any other stuff that may have come our way distracting us from God and His life-line to our souls.  It's easy to get to this point really.  We don't feel it right away.  It's one skip of reading the Bible...one skip of quiet time with God...one skip of going to church because who's really going to miss us anyway?!...one skip of saying a prayer because God knows everything anyways...one skip of Bible Study because we didn't finish our lesson plus WE ARE TOO TIRED!...one skip...one skip...one skip and before we know it we've skipped our way right into barren land. We are smack center in the desert and we wonder, "How in the world did we get here, Lord?"

No matter how we find ourselves in deserted, barren land with a famine within our souls, God will meet us right where we are.  We do not have to go wondering around looking for Him. However, we are in this dry and barren land that now needs to be nourished in order to be productive.  I am no farmer by any means but I do know that no crop of any kind can or will grow in a ground that is hard, dry,  and unfertilized by nutrients.  God does not want us to starve spiritually so He does what every good parent does...He equips us with what we need to be healthy.  This is not always a pleasant or comfortable process, but it is very necessary for us to become strong again.

Like a farmer preparing a field for a crop, he must first turn over the ground.  Our dry and barren land that we stand upon must be broken turning it over multiple times.  This must be done by rows of razor sharp discs pulled by a tractor navigated by the farmer.  He is very precise in how he is driving the tractor and very careful on how those discs enter the ground breaking it up.  He is not angry, upset or disappointed in the land.  He is not taking pleasure to be causing this disruption but he cares very much for the land and knows that is very much needed for it to be productive.  He sees the potential in the land and works the land getting it to its potential.  He continues by nurturing it and tending to it consistently.  Pruning...weeding...plucking out dead plants...watering it until the land has finally become rich in soil, crops deeply rooted producing much fruit.

The same is true of us.  We are like the dry and barren land that is in much need of being broken and turned over by God's grace.  It's not always easy, comfortable and many times we absolutely do not even like it, but God loves us far too much to leave us spiritual starved.  While we are in the middle of being "disced" we have hope and the promise of Romans 8:28, "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose."  This is also a time where trust in His work comes in.  We need to put our trust in Him knowing that He is working in us for our good for His purpose in our lives.  Psalm 27:14 encourages us, "Trust in the LORD.  Have faith, do not despair.  Trust in the LORD."  Through our struggles, our hardships our faith is being  tested.  We can fix our eyes on Christ allowing Him to prepare us to become rich in soul, deeply planted and producing much fruit.  In order to get to that point we must go through the transforming part of "discing, ground breaking, pruning, weeding, and plucking".  Through all of this God's sweet grace is always upon us, watering and feeding us with such True nutrients. 1 Corinthians 15:10 says, "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect.  No, I worked harder than all of them - yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me." We are who we are because of Christ.  Praise Him!  We are better!

We've fixed our eyes on God putting our trust in Him with ALL of our BARRENNESS.  Our faith has grown.  Our soul is rich...we are deeply rooted in Him.  We are growing and producing fruit sharing it with others who need to feed from our life story and sharing what God has done for us.  Wow!  God is so good...all the time!  Psalm 145:9 exclaims, "God is good to one and all; everything He does is suffused with grace."

You are beautiful!

 

 

 Trust Him.  Believe in Him.  Fix your eyes on Him in your time on struggle.  He will see you through it, Beautiful!

Take care & Be blessed,

Christy Krezman
Rosette Ministry

OUR STORY

 Mark 16:15, "Go into all the world and preach the Good News [of salvation from the bondage and penalty of sin] to everyone, everywhere."

 

Every single one of us has a valuable story to tell...a story that will impact a life of one or lives of many.  We may be hesitant in sharing our story with others because we're shy and feel awkward or perhaps we feel as if it's just too trivial that it wouldn't have an effect on anyone.  How would it help someone else?  Perhaps we struggle with the heaviness of guilt and shame of our story that we shrink back and don't dare to even think about mentioning these past experiences with anyone.  Psalm 34:5 gives us something to be encouraged and bold about, "Those who look to Him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces."  

Isn't that encouraging to know that no past experience, no amount of guilt or shame can darken our faces if we only look to Him for help.  He will lift us up, pouring forgiveness and grace upon us as we seek Him with all our heart.  Then we will radiate with JOY!  Praise God!

Our life story can help others who are trapped where we once were.  We are not the only ones who ever experience hardships in life...discouragements...hurts...sorrow...regrets...guilt.  Friends, the enemy would love for you to believe that you are very much alone in your "horrendous" situation.  That no one would ever understand what you are going through.  But that is a bald face LIE!  

For those of us who are believers in Christ, we have a hope and an assurance in knowing that He will see us through each and every situation.  Though because of our flesh it is still very difficult to Trust and Obey.  That's where our Faith needs to come in and be strong.  Our faith becomes strengthened by others who have experienced what you are going through, who have been there and seen it through to the end victorously with Christ Jesus. 

Jesus said to 'Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere.'  What does that mean in sharing our story?  Yes, many go afar traveling on mission trips sharing the love of Jesus, however, distance doesn't mean that you're not already on a mission field.  We really don't have to go that far.  And as far as preaching, it's really only conversation with one another what the LORD has done for you through your circumstances...His Truth...His Promises...His Love.  

Christ will put people in our lives, intersecting our paths and forming webs of connections.  They can be people we see on a regular basis doing life or perhaps complete strangers that 'pop' into our lives.  However He is having our paths cross there is always an opportunity to share Jesus even if a word is never spoken.  

Slowing down in our rush of errands and tasks to look people in their eyes; genuinely greeting the cashier by their name as we check out of the supermarket; speaking with kindness and grace to those who are around us wherever we are; being courteous and waving at our neighbors instead of quickly driving into the garage and closing it immediately behind us; basically treating others as we would desire to be treated ourselves.  Thinking of them before ourselves and allowing Christ to flow through us to bless their lives.  We must love Jesus first and love Jesus most because we cannot do anything affective without Him.

As we consistently, purposefully live our lives this way on the "mission field" , then people will see something different within you.  Something that is of hope & encouragement to them.  They desire that for themselves wanting that unspeakable peace that is upon you. [Opportunity.]  God will guide and direct.  He will prepare hearts.  We need only to be obedient and share our life story.  No worries on what to say or how to say it, that's why God sent the Holy Spirit to intercede for us.  To fill us with all that He is. We'll lack nothing as long as we put our trust in Him and let Him lead us through. 

Psalm 37:23:24, "The steps of the godly are directed by the LORD, He delights in every detail of their lives.  Though they stumble, they will not fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand."

Whenever we are blessed to have an opportunity to share our life story with people and they hear our story then they are offered a chance.  A chance to identify and understand that they are not alone.  A chance to release all that they have been carrying to the Most High.  A chance to be loved on by the most loving and gracious King.  A chance to loosen their chains.  A chance to begin their own healing through Christ Jesus! 

Within each of us is our own personal journey that is waiting to be shared.  Are you willing to allow God to use it to help others?

Take care & be blessed, 

Christy Krezman

Rosette Ministry 

Comfort While Patiently Waiting

Isaiah 40:3-5, 6-8

"Make a highway for the LORD through the wilderness.  Make a straight, smooth road through the desert for our God. Fill the valleys and level the hills.  Straighten out the curves and smooth off the rough spots.  Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together."

"...people are like the grass that dies away.  Their beauty fades as quickly as the beauty of flowers in the field.  The grass withers, and the flowers fade beneath the breath of the LORD.  And so it is with people.  The grass withers, and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever."

God never gives up on us, no matter if we are struggling through the wilderness or wondering aimlessly in the desert.  No matter our situation or circumstance or things we've done. God NEVER gives up on us!  The punishments of these things will end.  God will restore us.  He meets us right where we are, just as we are.  He gives us the strength, courage and endurance to clear out the obstacles in our lives so that we  are able to reveal that highway in the wilderness and that road in the desert to follow.  We wonder aimlessly and get lost   only because we've taken our eyes off of Him who directs and leads us.  We start off great...so we think...skipping down that path like it's the yellow brick road.  We've got all our necessities on us...handbag stocked with all the proper girly stuff, refreshments for the trip, good looking walking shoes...everything that we think we need for our journey.  But we've decided to bring a little something extra, our PAST!  We're just tugging it or carrying a little something, something...but honestly, it's a load!  It's much too much for us to carry so we scrunch it up like in those infomercial vacuum sealed bags.  WOW!  Look it there!  We just condensed it making more space for more stuff!  PILE IT ON!

Well, eventually that load has become a mountain but we keep on our journey determined that we can handle it.  Each step that we take tugging at and pulling our load, things begin to seep out falling onto the path.  Sometimes we see it happening, but think that it's OK, it's only a little.  No one will really notice.  Everyone has a minor breakdown here and there.  But continuously it is happening whether we recognize it or not.  All the while we are polluting the path making it harder and harder to take a step.  We become exhausted because we have created an obstacle course.  We look back and remembered all the times that our "stuff" seeped out and spilled over, but what can we do about it now?  We keep trying to move forward the best we can.  We are still ever determined and white-knuckled as ever totting this load behind us. We notice that the path is gone...outta sight.  It's still there, it wasn't destroyed or removed, it's just completely and totally covered up with our life "stuff."  We have no direction to go. No compass to follow because we once had clearance to look upward toward God for direction on a clear to somewhat clear path.  Now that we have obstacles to climb and crawl over our focus has become toward them.  There may be times that we look upward in desperation crying out for help.  And God is faithful.  He gives us the help and then we lower our heads to focus on those obstacles yet again to push past.  We keep on keeping on through all this stuff getting bruised and battered and even more exhausted. 

Jesus is a true gentleman, ladies!  He is ever ready and willing to carry ANY and ALL of our luggage, our load...the cute, the ugly, the despicable, the horrendous...ALL of it!  It is absolutely NOT yours to carry.  It is vital for us to understand that we cannot undo a lifetime of damage, hurts, regrets, disappointments in just a few moments or to pack them away in a 'suitcase' trying to forget about them and then carry them around with us.  It is a challenge to wait patiently in general here on Earth and even more challenging to wait patiently on God who is at work within us.  EVERY part of healing requires time and patience.  It also requires that we wait on God.

"But those who wait on the LORD will find new strength .  They will fly high on wings like eagles.  They will run and not grow weary.  They will walk and not faint."  Isaiah 40:31

Waiting on the LORD has its rewards..."The LORD is wonderfully good to those who wait for Him and seek Him.  So it is good to wait patiently for salvation from the LORD."  Lamentations 3:25-26

God gives us the strength and the stamina to bear up under the strain so that we won't faint or collapse under it.  God will continue to lift us up like wind beneath the wings of eagles as we are learning to trust the LORD and wait on Him.  Developing patient faith in God means we will be able to endure.

Now that we've let go and let God we must take action.  It is our responsibility to act on and use what the LORD gives us to clear out those obstacles in our lives.  As we do this step by step, day by day, sometimes even minute by minute, more & more of the "forgotten" path is being revealed.  And God is so good, the obstacles that are just too large for us to remove He will remove Himself.  When we deal with our obstacles through Jesus Christ, then we are FREE!  Free to become all that God has for us.  Free to have a closer walk with Him and a more intimate relationship with Him.

Through this the glory of the LORD is being magnified in us and all are seeing it.  The once withered, tired, defeated and not so graceful person that was mashing about a bunch of 'stuff' as well as carrying a whole other load of that 'stuff putting on 'FACE' to have it all together is now...RESTORED!  Refreshed, filled with goodness from God and walking much lighter and so much brighter.  No longer having to have a low head watching every step, now our heads are held high basking in our Father's love and His grace that shines down upon us.

Hope & Joy are filling the valleys.  Strength & Perseverance is leveling the hills.  Faith & Trust is straightening out the curves and smoothing out the rough spots.

Thank You, Jesus!

Take care & be blessed,

Christy Krezman

Rosette Ministry