Have You Gone Out Full Only to Return Empty?

Read the Book of Ruth

How many of us have gone out ready to win the world, full of hope, dreams, and ambitions only to return gleaning sheaves of empty hopes and promises? Raped and victimized by this thing call life. That education you invested so much time and money or that marriage of many years that ended up in heart-breaking divorce, the ministry your poured into, the people you faithfully served that turned out to be a disappointment, the business deal that never took off, or the business that went bankrupt? How about the dream of motherhood and life-long parenting, only for it to be shattered by miscarriages, the inability to conceive, or death?

Have you gone out full like Naomi, which means "pleasant, lovely, and delightful", only to come back Mara, "bitter and sad"? Naomi knew the joy of going out full and the devastation of coming back empty. She knew what it felt like to have dreams dissipate like smoke rings in thin air.  Does this sound anything like you? 

Jeremiah 29:11 speaks of God's designed plan for our lives.  He has a purpose for our lives, but it is only when we acknowledge Him will that plan be revealed.  Life is a grindstone, and whether it grinds you down or polishes you depends on what you are made of and your view of God.  Do you believe that God is in control of your most difficult circumstance?  Your circumstance may have surprised you, but it didn't catch God by surprise. 

If you've gone out like Naomi only to come back empty, then may I suggest that you give the broken pieces of your wounded life to the only one who can put it back together again.  God can heal a broken heart, but He has to have all the pieces. 

 

Narda Goodson

First Lady of Whitewright, Texas

Influence, Inspire, & Infiltrate! 

Official Website: Narda Goodson Ministries

Women's Network: Predestined by God

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Daily Pursuit

I would like to continue from last week’s thoughts on becoming the woman God wants me to be.

The pressure of everyday living can prove to be exhausting. If you are a woman, wife, or mother, you know the on-going demands that come with these responsibilities. The distractions that come as part of the package and the constant giving and pouring out to others but never enough time for “me” can all lead one to a place of weariness. At the end of the day, you are simply drained and the result is the thoughts of another day to try again.

Aspiring to become the Proverbs 31 woman is a daily pursuit of following God’s designed plan. But how can I fulfill my obligations with balance? How do I accomplish my daily goals with success while pursuing the plan of God for my personal growth? Where do I begin?

Everything has a beginning, so I have found that seeking God early in the morning, just before the break of day and before the house wakes up, is a good starting point. While I am still enough in His presence, the spontaneous flow of the Father’s thoughts begins to streamline into my heart showing and mapping out my success for the day.

It is like my spiritual tank is refueled and my corroded oil has been changed. My new wheels are spinning and ready to roll as my soul experiences a refreshing, restoring, and renewing. But missing these precious moments, I must admit, is like buttoning a shirt and realizing they were buttoned incorrectly, then undoing the whole thing and having to start all over . . . what a drag that can be.

It is when I prioritize and place God first that I find my days are a huge success and I am not emotionally, physically, and spiritually drained. God’s substance is enough to keep you. Allow Him to refuel you before the start of each new day, and as you are found in hot pursuit of God’s presence, may all your godly dreams and aspirations come true.

Tilt your hearts toward the Son!

Narda Goodson

First Lady of Whitewright, Texas

Influence, Inspire, & Infiltrate! 

Official Website: Narda Goodson Ministries

Women's Network: Predestined by God

Teen Network: DIVA Drops©-Damsels in Virtuous Attire™

Government:: First Ladies of the Round Table

Blog: http://nardagoodson.blogspot.com/

Facebook: @nardagoodson

Twitter: @nardagoodson

LinkedIn: @nardagoodson

Becoming the Woman God Wants Me to Be ~ Part 1

Becoming the woman God wants me to be is more than just wishful thinking. It is an endless pursuit with daily longings to be just like Him. But with all the opposition and distraction one can face on a daily basis, becoming this woman has proven to be a lot easier said than done.

It takes perseverance, determination, and a fixed mind regardless of the falls and bruises along the way. It takes a “getting up attitude” even if it is your hundredth time and starting all over. It is looking at a scoffing, ridiculing world in the eye and declaring, “I am not genetically disposed to”, naming whatever your struggle is, “because the Greater One that resides in me will not give up on me”. It is having faith to see and going beyond what your natural eyes can see. It is daily falling at the feet of Jesus and surrendering all to the One who holds the blueprints of life in His hands.

At the end, you will find that all your troubles, all your obstacles, all the trials and storms of life you faced were merely classroom tools the Father used to prepare, sharpen, and equip you for a greater cause. So when the storms of life surmount, remember that God is working everything out, the good, the bad, and the ugly, ultimately for your benefit.

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 31

Tilt your hearts toward the Son!

Narda Goodson

First Lady of Whitewright, Texas

Influence, Inspire, & Infiltrate! 

Official Website: Narda Goodson Ministries

Women's Network: Predestined by God

Teen Network: DIVA Drops©-Damsels in Virtuous Attire™

Government:: First Ladies of the Round Table

Blog: http://nardagoodson.blogspot.com/

Facebook: @nardagoodson

Twitter: @nardagoodson

LinkedIn: @nardagoodson