“Bloom Where You Are Planted” are words that a friend shared with me and that I believe every Christian should take to heart. There are different situations, some difficult and challenging, that we get into and our first thought is usually how do we get out of it, instead of, what does God want us to learn or accomplish for the kingdom while we are where we are. I am both encouraged and disheartened as I read certain scriptures because I can see that I should be so much more bold for the kingdom and yet I know that I am not as surrendered to suffering as I believe I should be. I want to be able to say that I am willing to do whatever it takes to further the kingdom, but I’m scared that I will not be able to because of my doubt and fear. I want the boldness to do what is described in *Acts 16:25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake so that the foundations of the prison were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. 27 And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. 28 But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” 29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”* As I read these words, I reflect on a job I had that felt like a prison to me, a big red fence all around, not able to talk to many people. It was difficult to endure but then I saw one reason why I was planted where I was for that season. There was one guy that was selling tools who was warned by my employer that I was a “Bible thumper”, in all truth they warned everybody, lol. Eventually after many conversations and time together, the tool guy surrendered to Christ and I had the honor and privilege of baptizing him, his wife, and two daughters. As I look at where I am today, I see God’s plan in which He has me to be the light in a dark world. It is not always easy being where I am and doing what I do, but on a regular basis I am able to share the love of my Lord and Savior with others that don’t know Him or brethren who just need to be encouraged to endure to the end. Beloved, I want to encourage you, “Bloom where you are planted”, time is short, Jesus is coming back soon, and other people are watching you to see if you are a genuine follower of the Lord Jesus or just a spiritual poser using Christianity as a fashion accessory. I am convicted by what Richard Wurmbrand said, “Not all of us are called to die a martyr’s death, but all of us are called to have the same spirit of self-sacrifice and love to the very end as these martyrs had.” My beloved, may God give His genuine followers the courage and strength to glorify Him in all that we do, wherever He has us, even to death if need be, in Jesus’ precious and powerful name, and all of God’s people say, Amen. Closing thought, I heard it said that, “Sometimes when you’re in a dark place you think you’ve been buried but actually you’ve been planted, struggle makes you grow”. In Christ Love, douglas. HE>i. pastord.blog

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