Ripples Of Life Part 2

Never doubt God's mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you. Ephesians 3:20 The Passion Translation

Good Morning Girlfriends:

Remembering back as a child, my dad had showed me how to skip rocks across the lake so that he could show me how it would leave rings of ripples across the water and so that we could see how far the ripples would go. The trick to it all was to find the flattest, thinnest stones because they were usually the lightest ones to be able to skip along the top of the water many times.

Then we decided to find a few more little rocks to see what would happen on the surface of the water as we threw one rock after another. Each rock that was tossed across the water left its rings of ripples and as another rock was tossed its ripples connected into the other ripples, turning into a huge ripple effect of ring across the beautiful lake.

It was back in 2016, that I was thrown a stone of death. My husband had been battling diabetes for a time, he was put on a home dialysis machine that had extended his life for another year, as death had taken him as God called him home. Ten months later , I was let go from my position at work, not understanding the reason why this was happening even though an explanation had been given. I had been dealt a "raw kind of deal" as I was sent home to an empty home and now no job. One month later I was in a position, that I had to make the decision to close down the trucking company that my husband had set up to bring in an income. It had not been working out the way that he had hoped it would, so closing down of the business was in order and a quick one at that.

This was a ripple effect of events that took place in my life within an eleven month period of time, that could have left me in a very angry and bitter state. Even though I didn't understand why these events had to take place and especially of being one right after another, I had a choice right then and there how I was going to react to it all. Because I was so grounded in God's word and I had a close walk with God, I had a peace in my heart and I trusted in God that I believed everything was going to be okay. (Philippians 4:6)

At that time, I could have been angry at God for taking my husband, but I knew that he had been sick and I was quick to realize that he was not suffering anymore. I could have been angry and bitter at my boss for letting me go, even though there was an accusation against me that was not true, I wanted to leave on good terms with no regrets on my part, as not to say any wrong or hurtful words that maybe I could have said, but that was not in my vocabulary, it wasn't who I was as a person, I left in love. In closing down the business, again I could have become angry that this was happening to me as I had to file bankruptcy which caused me to lose my wonderful credit that I had built for myself over the years. Again, I held my head up high and walked through it with a smile on my face, knowing that God would take me through this storm or ripple in my life as well.

Girlfriends, we have a choice in life of how we are going to deal with every situation that comes our way. We can become angry, hateful, bitter, unforgiving , that all of these ripples can cause other ripples, that can affect other people in our lives as well, whoever we are connected with. Just as the more rocks that you throw in the water, that makes more ripples and they inner connect with each other, our words, our actions and our reactions can have the same ripple effect that can affect other people. It can cause other people to not want to be around us, if we were to become an angry, bitter, resentful person because of being dealt some bitter blows in life.

When we were talking the other day about Ruth and Naomi, Naomi had been dealt with some bitter blows when she lost her husband , and losing both of her sons to death. Naomi's name meant "pleasant." After she had lost her husband and two sons, she wanted to be called "Mara" which meant "bitter." Naomi had said when she had left her home land she was full and when she had returned to her home land, she was empty and alone (no husband or sons). Naomi had become bitter and she thought that God had turned His back on her. Deut. 31:6,8 tells us in both verses that God will never leave us or forsake us, which means He will never turn His back on us.

If you have had some "bitter blows" that has been tossed your way, the question today girlfriends is, how do you want those ripples to effect you and others that are connected to you? Will you walk away angry, full of hate, depressed, resentful OR walk away with your head held high knowing that you are loved no matter what, you are in the arms of the comforter, you can have the peace of God that surpasses all understanding, (Phil. 4:6) and knowing that He will take care of you and take you through your situation. Remember, God has already went before you in order to work everything out. (Deut. 31:6)

The question is, what ripple effect do you want to leave others for generations to come. The way we live, pray, act and speak can leave a lasting ripple, what kind of ripple you leave is up to you, Amen?

Let's Pray,

Father God, I praise Your holy name, and I thank You for another day. Lord, each one of us has went through some mighty trials in our lives, Lord I'm sure that at times we may not have handled them well and other times we may have. Lord, help us to put our complete trust in You when we face any ripples, Lord Your word says that You give beauty for ashes, so that is what I am standing on, You see the beginning to the end and that we are the head and not the tail. Lord, let our strength grow in You each and every day, as we grow in You and put our full trust in You, there is nothing that You will not take us through, again I give You praise in the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.

Be blessed dear ones and pass the blessings on.

Share each devotion with your friends and family, whoever you are connected with, Thank You.