Rosebuds of Meditation come out of a place of seeking transformation amid trying times.  I wrote them to find my own focus and encourage others as well.

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For Such a Time as This: by Joey

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For several months my spirit has been quieted and strengthened by the words in Isaiah 55: 8-9 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

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And maybe for the first time in many months I am so completely aware of how true this is, so much so that it has been like a trumpet sounding louder and louder within giving me strength and hope. (strength: fortitude, resilience, backbone, spirit, strength of character, toughness of spirit, courage steadfastness, strong-mindedness.

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Ephesians 4:15 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind.

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For me that vanity can be to think I am anything without the touch of the Holy Spirit starting my day, and then stopping throughout the day to be still and listen.

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

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Having had several Red Seas to navigate I have had to depend completely on the Father to part the waters daily. Reading further: 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

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Nothing has changed outside me but the inner peace and I have had restored and strengthened is inexpressible. I look forward to the days ahead with joy, knowing nothing is set in stone nor will it be perfect. And yet there is provision in and by his spirit that is more than enough, causing a resilience to stand up in me that can only be by the spirit.  

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In wrapping this up: I was led to meditate on what it is to be 'my witness in the earth'. Looking at inner meaning of Lots wife and allowing all past ups and downs to be stripped away I had to ask: What does salt represent spiritually? 

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To 'be salt' aka his light... means to deliberately seek to influence the people in one's life by showing them the unconditional love of Christ. Light is used to mean awareness, knowledge, and understanding The Bible contains numerous references to salt. In various contexts, it is used metaphorically to signify permanence, usefulness, value, and purification. In Leviticus, salt is to be presented with all of the grain offerings as a symbol of God's covenant faithfulness. 

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Which brought another question to mind...how...which can only be answered by His love for us.

 

1 Corinthians 13:4–8 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. (Love means: listening, covering an offense, being patient.)

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A pretty tall order when we try to do this in our own strength. And in the end it is a continual process not a place of arrival. Something I have to remind myself continually comes forth in: God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change the courage to change the things I can,and the wisdom to know the difference.

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Eph 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.  Amen and Amen!