I Didn't Give Up

Back in March, I wrote:

I Will Not Let You Die!  

I’ve noticed it for quite some time that she had been falling off.Week after week, she was looking weaker and weaker.I didn’t know exactly what I should do for her, so as much as I wanted to help, I didn’t do anything for her at all. Besides watered her, I just watched.

Today was a little different as I was sitting here looking at my plant in her current state, I felt compel to move and do something to try and save her fragile life. Although just a plant, it symbolizes life at its best. And I feel that as long as there is life, there is always a chance. Always hope.

There are several ways we can look at this, but let me just flow with it for a minute. Sometimes we have good seasons and sometimes not so good seasons. We flourish, we grow, we bloom and we excel. Then there are times when we are down and out, sickly and frail, and more vulnerable to our environments. Sometimes we’re strong.And then other times we’re weak. Those are just some of the same stages a plant may go through.

As an observer, my heart began to ache at the declining health of the plant. I remembered when she was so full and pretty. She was growing and everyone that saw her complimented on her beauty. J ust seeing her made me smile. But now what? Now that she needs me the most, do I just turn my back on her and let her die. Do I just sit and watch her deteriorate?

Have you ever been in a situation where you saw someone in pain or in need and wanted to do something to help them? I believe this is where God was with us. We were sick. We were dying and He couldn’t and wouldn’t allow us to die. He sent a Savior- someone to save us from ALL sickness (physically, mentally, and/or emotionally). He sent someone to heal the broken-hearted and to lift the heavy burdened.

The more I thought about how God’s love for us demonstrates RESTORATION- The process of repairing or renovating a building, work of art, etc., so as to restore it to its original condition—which is wholeness, I decided to no longer sit and just watch her die. As a matter of fact, “I refuse to let her die,” is what I told myself.

I will do all that I can to restore her back to her original state.I will nurture it, pour into it, and I will even SPEAK life back into it. I refuse to let her die. I refuse to let you die! So, no matter what you may be dealing with today, no matter how bad you may be hurting today, don't give up, help is on the way! Know that God loves you and wants you whole. Know that there is absolutely nothing too hard for God. Respond to his love. Respond to his voice, and watch and see how you bloom.

Stay Hopeful,

Clarissa

Today, I write:  Look at my plant! 

There's nothing like seeing what you put so much work into flourish! I'm so glad I didn't give up on her! Had you seen her before, you would understand the joy I feel. Let me inspire and encourage you to not give up on that thing that looks DEAD or HOPELESS!  Your marriage, your career, your children, your life---whatever it is---I ask you---Can it live?  I hope you say YES!

Only The Strong Survives

I have been extremely busy within the last month and realized that it had been a minute since I’ve last posted.   I pray this word make up for the lost time.  Be blessed....

We recently just moved, and so I decided to set up my fish tank.  It has been, I know, every bit of three years since the tank has had fish in it, so we were all pretty excited about getting it back up and running.  There’s something so serene about a fish aquarium—watching the fish swim, the water—I love it all!  Anyhoo, after the tank was cleaned and set back up, and the fish were purchased; it was only a few days later, we noticed one of the fish looked weak—then he died.   After him, another fish expired.  All the fish died except for two.  To my surprise, even the algae eater died. 

After looking closely in the tank, we noticed that all the fish had white spots on them.  So I did what only any curious person would do—I went on Google.   What I found out was— the fish had been exposed to a disease called Ich. 

Apparently, Ich is some type of parasite that is common in tropical fish (unlike our previous fish—we had cichlids.  Oh how I miss them now!)  The disease is fatal and highly contagious and can easily spread from one fish to the next.  If not treated soon enough, the result is death.

Upon the advice of a friend and calling the local Petsmart store, we purchased the recommended medicine to help rid the tank of the issue that was killing off the fish.  Out of all the fish that were in the tank, the last two held on until help arrived. 

What appealed to me the most out of this situation was the two fish that lived.  Just like the other fish, they were also affected by the disease, but they lived.  One of them was literally on their last leg (well in this case, last fin) but he would not give up.  I was blessed by this one fish persistence and tenacity to live.  When it looked like he was out for the count, he would not lie down and die.  He would not give up.  In the end, only the strong survived.

As I was typing this blog, The Spirit reminded me of a dream I had a few weeks ago where God sent a message to tell His people to learn the gift of resilience.   I must show you this:

Resilience- (definition provided by dictionary.com)  1. the power or ability to return to the original form, position, etc., after being bent, compressed, or stretched; elasticity.

2.  ability to recover readily from illness, depression, adversity, or the like; buoyancy.

I see this in the world today.  Many are affected by their surroundings.  Some self-inflicted and some due to no control of their own, but nevertheless, they are affected, hurting, giving up without a fight, and worst case—dying. 

Please know that trials, tribulations, sufferings and yes, sin is rampant in the world, and we are just like the fish.  No one is exempt.  We are all in the world and will be affected by things throughout life.  Yes, some self-induced and some we won’t have any control over, but regardless the situation, God wants you to learn to stand.  To be rooted and grounded in Him.  To not fall at every crisis and every sin that so easily entangles us.  To be like a tree planted by the rivers of waters.  To not give up.  To learn to be resilient and stand against adversity.  Even when you see others falling/dying around you—be persistent and determined to live.  You might limp, crawl, or even have to be carried, but if you can just hold on, HELP IS SURELY ON THE WAY.  It takes great strength
(which has nothing to do with your muscles and everything to do with your faith and trust in the Lord) and courage to stand during tough times, but you have to give it your best shot because truly, only the strong shall survive.

Stay Hopeful,

Clarissa

I'm So Lost

On our most recent adventure, as we do so many times, we set “Sally” (the name I gave my VZ Navigator on my Verizon phone) to direct us to our desired destination. 

Being a man, my husband says, “I think I can go this way and it will be faster.” 

Me being me asks, “Why don’t you just go the way the thing is telling you to go?” 

He replies, “I got this.  Plus, that’s your phone, I don’t trust it.”

“OK,” I said in my “whatever attitude” tone. 

As we continued down the road my husband turned on, “Sally” keeps saying, “Make a U-Turn” but I’m sure you know we didn’t make any U-Turns.  After we had went so far, “Sally” finally says, “Make a left at the next road.”  Because we were out of town and didn’t know exactly where we were, my husband finally decides to listen to “Sally” only to end up back on the same road she was on trying to guide us to in the beginning.

I’m sure you might be saying that navigational systems are not always right or that they don’t always give the best directions, and I totally agree with you.  But the difference is, in this case, we were not from this place, never been to this place, and we were completely unfamiliar with the area.  Anyhoo, we had had such a great time that day, so there was no need to let this little issue ruin the day, so we looked at each other and laughed.  After the laughter subsided, I looked at him and said, “I got my new blog!”

Isn’t this just how we do God sometimes?   We ask Him for guidance a lot of times, and when he reveals to us the way or what we have to go through to get there, we try to override what He says and do it our own way.  I can see with my vivid imagination, every time we go down a wrong path, or make a wrong turn, or make a wrong decision, or make a wrong choice or date the wrong guy/girl, or say the wrong thing (you get my point, right), He is standing and waving His hands, blowing a whistle, saying, “HEEEEY, YOU’RE GOING THE WRONG WAY!”  Sometimes we can get so far off course that we still have to end up going back to Him to get us back on the right path.  But the good news is….just like Sally helped us get back on course, God is faithful to do the same. 

So today, if you are in need of direction in your life and not sure which way to go, maybe you have made some bad/wrong choices and need help getting back on track….It’s simple….ASK GOD!  And when you ask Him, trust what He says. 

Here’s what I learned from this little mishap.  Never ask God for help or guidance if we are not going to follow what He says.  I mean, what’s the purpose.  Either you trust Him or you don’t.  There’s no such thing as half trust (another blog for another day). 

Taken from the New Living Translation: Proverbs 3:5-6,  (5) Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.  (6) Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

Stay Hopeful,

Clarissa