Here in this season Where things feel different A rest ushers in This ‘Spiritual Winter’ Wraps the veil Nearer to the core of existence Calling out for rejuvenation, Growth, a fresh revelation And a newfound wisdom A knowledge of understanding That things change One’s very essence is tried and tested God reaches out With graceful intention Bringing nourishment To the hungry heart And quenches The dry and thirsty soul As He prepares The willing spirit for A long winters rest His grace covers And a soul finds room to pause Faithfully waiting upon Him With eager anticipation To bring a bountiful Spring Harvest.
At water’s edge: We find time to think; it is the fountain of all reflection.
At water’s edge: We find time to read God’s Word; for it is the foundation of wisdom.
At water’s edge: We find time to play; it is the secret to staying youthful.
At water’s edge: We find time to be quiet; it is the opportunity to sit in God’s presence.
At water’s edge: We find time to be aware; It is a moment to appreciate His goodness.
At water’s edge: We find time to help others; it is a chance to be a good steward.
At water’s edge: We find time to love and be loved; it is God’s greatest offering.
At water’s edge: We find time for laughter; it is the sound of joy to the soul.
At water’s edge: We find time to be kind; It is life’s warmest gesture.
At water’s edge: We find time to dream; it is to seek to achieve our deepest desires.
At water’s edge: We find time to hope; It is the sovereignty of God to drive out fear.
At water’s edge: We find time to pray; it is the most immense power on earth.
At water’s edge: We find time for joy; it is the joy found in the Lord that gives strength.
At water’s edge : We find time for forgiveness; it is unfailing love & compassion; the mercy of God.
At water’s edge; We find time for Grace; it is the boundless favor of God; extended to others.
At water’s edge: We find time to live for God; It is through faith in Christ and the finished work at Calvary.
At water’s edge: We find salvation through Jesus Christ; He is the greatest gift; given to us by God.
… And someday, when we sit above on high; in the heavenly realm, saved and redeemed from sin and death, we will look back and ponder in remembrance of the things that we were taught as we sat faithfully still in the Father’s warm embrace; learning and growing in Him by the water’s edge. . . .
Inspired by Poem Titled – “Take Time” – Author Unknown ‘Water’s Edge’ — Written in my own words by Tina UnsellSeamon
In the Christian circle, jealousy is not something you talk about.
Not openly, anyway.
It is preferred to be kept silent, hidden and not expressed to those who might judge you for actually having feelings of jealousy towards another.
Especially, if you claim the title of a Christian.
However, you cannot hide how you feel, even if you tried.
There is that old saying, “Faith over Feelings.”
I agree with that statement, however you cannot run, hide and pretend that your feelings don’t exist.
All that will do is cause you more harm than good.
God knows you are going to have feelings.
Some good feelings and some bad.
There is nothing wrong with having feelings.
It is all part of being human.
What is wrong is when you don’t own up to them and take responsibility for them.
That is the first step.
The next step is to take those unwanted feelings before the Lord.
Be honest with Him.
You are not hiding anything from Him that He doesn’t already know so just confess and talk to Him about them.
Allow Him to heal you from those unwanted feelings and ask Him to show you how to become more confident in who you are in Him
Ask Him to show you ways in which you can drive out these envious thoughts.
You can do this in so many ways.
Some examples are:
• Stay in His Word.
• Pray continually to God.
• Talk to Him like you would your best friend, because He is.
• Never forget the Lord’s great love for you.
• Know that your true identity is in Christ Jesus.
• Put on worship music and praise Him for who He is.
• Lift up your voice and proclaim the great things that He has done and will do for you.
• Know you are uniquely and wonderfully made in God’s own image.
• Stay in a mindful state of gratitude; which will drive out envy.
• Look for ways to celebrate the blessings of others.
• Welcome the simple act of having a giving heart which will free you from thoughts of envy.
• Express how you are feeling with other believers.
• Listen to sound advice from other believers on how you might be able to overcome those feelings of jealousy towards someone else.
If you try to pretend that those feelings are not there, brush them off, condemn yourself for having them, then you are essentially denying your feelings and that can detrimental to your health and emotional well being.
Lets face it, we have all felt jealousy towards another individual at some point in our lives.
We have compared ourselves in so many ways it can be hard to keep track of them all.
If you say that you haven’t felt jealousy or envy toward another, then chances are that you are not being honest with yourself and you are certainly not being honest with God.
I know that as a Christian having feelings of jealousy towards another is not something we want to carry around within our hearts and spirits.
It is a heavy weight and a burden that we want removed, and removed swiftly.
I myself want my attitude to be one of encouragement when I see others; especially other Christians, accomplishing great things in God’s Kingdom work.
I want to stand proud and cheer them on with gladness and purity of heart.
But sometimes, the flesh takes precedence over our emotions and feelings and we just can’t seem to feel in the way we hoped we would.
That is when we need to take it before the Lord.
Even in our shame we can still lay it at His feet.
He will lift it and carry the weight of it for you.
Psalms 55:22 says –“Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”
This should be a tremendous encouragement to all true Believers.
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there!
1 Peter 5:6-7 says –“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
Go before the Lord in humility and seek His counsel.
He will not stir you wrongfully.
Trust Him and let him lift your burdens.
Jesus said we could cast all of our cares on him because he cares for us!
There is nothing we are going through that we cannot cast on the Lord.
God cares for what concerns you.
I understand how difficult it can be to avoid the trappings that the enemy so cleverly persuades upon the human heart.
James 4:7 reminds us to –“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Remember Satan was defeated at the cross. He has no authority over Christians.
1 Peter 5:8-9 is a beautiful reminder to –“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”
Every true believer has faced or will face the onslaught of the evil one so we must stay mentally self-controlled, awake and watchful at all times.
This battle is not yours, it is the Lords!
Remember in 2 Chronicles 20:15, which plainly states – “…Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”
Allow the Lord to fight for you.
If we try to fight the battle on our terms, we will lose; if we fight the battle on His terms, we will win.
Remember beloved, as long as we walk in this fleshly body, we will be tempted.
We will be tempted in mind, body, and in spirit.
Our feelings and emotions are not immune to the devices of Satan.
In fact, that is how he accomplishes the majority of His evil schemes.
Don’t allow shame and condemnation to filtrate into your soul and spirits.
Remember what God’s Holy Word tells us in Romans 8 –“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
But even against all of our greatest efforts, the enemy will faithfully and without any resistance, continually remind us of our past failures, mistakes, and misgivings.
This is done so that we will continue to feel shame, regret, and guilt.
Remember that it is only our sin that is condemned and Jesus has set us free.
Remain steadfast and allow His love, grace and mercy to pour over you each and every day.
This will prevent you from having envious thoughts that will only cloud your mind, heart and spirit.
Give thanks for the gift of the Holy Spirit within us to convict us of sin and turn us back to Christ Jesus.
Be not forgetful, Christ already fought the battle and won, and did so at the Cross.
By doing that, the Holy Spirit has guaranteed us victory through Christ.
Pray this Prayer
Dear Lord, We come before You, and ask that you purify our hearts and minds. Remove from our spirits those unwanted thoughts of envy and jealousy. We know that these feelings that so often accompany us along our journey are not pleasing to You. We want desperately to walk with sincerity, love and holiness. Help us, Lord, to uplift, encourage and edify other Christians as they diligently and faithfully go about Your Kingdom work. Strengthen and guard us against the evil one, Lord! Let Your peace and Your Word be our shield of faith that repels us against our unwarranted emotions and feelings of inadequacy. Remind us of who we are in You- beloved and cherished, forgiven and free. Bring your life and peace into each of our days and help us to walk righteously. Empower us to overcome a spirit of jealousy and the condemnation that often stricken us from accomplishing the plans that You have for us. May we forever grow in Your truth, grace, and love. We ask this in Jesus’ precious Name, Amen
In His Love, Tina ♡
* Some Expositor Notes were paraphrased and taken from -JSM Expositor’s Study Bible – KJV
About a year ago, on a blessed Sunday morning, I watched a sermon preached by Pastor J. Don George, on a message entitled, “I’ve Got A Reason To Preach.”
In listening to Pastor George message, he explained all the reasons why he preaches. I started to think about all the reasons why I write?
My mind started racing on all the reasons why I felt God has called me to write.
Was I writing because this was a gift given to me by God? Was I writing specifically for Him? Was I writing to glorify Him! Or was I writing for my own self-gratification, self-worth and desired accomplishments?
That sermon inspired me deeply. Here is my answer to the questions that I had asked myself.
The answer is simple. I write because I know God wants to use me as a vessel to spread His love to a lost and hurting world.
God didn’t give me the gift of writing so that I might be glorified, but rather that He might.
Oh yes, I silently wish in my heart that I could write as elegantly and gracefully as my favorite poet, “Helen Steiner Rice.”
I may not be gifted in the aspects that God gifted Helen, but nonetheless, God bestows certain individual gifts to each of His children.
And His purpose for those gifts given He only knows. My gifts are no different.
As I have explained previously on my Facebook ministry pages, as well as my web blog, I Write For Jesus!
I even wrote a piece of poetry in 2018 entitled, “FOR JESUS I WRITE.”
I write because God has uniquely gifted me to write.
God has given me the gift of words. I long to draw others closer to Him.
It is my deep desire to share that which invites us into truly knowing God’s heart.
God’s wisdom and His Word are transforming me as a person and as a writer.
Words are like whispers from God; softly spoken to my heart, so I must write.
Like all gifts from Him, I want to surrender writing for the benefit of God’s kingdom, a record for the next generation; as well, as for my own personal growth, testimony and journey.
A record of my walk with Christ and the journey He takes me on each and every day.
The lessons He teaches me through trials, heartache, and joys of life.
The challenges He sets before me through His Word and His leading.
To encourage and inspire as I am encouraged and Inspired.
To share what the Lord places in my heart and mind.
Much like you, because of Jesus, I have a story to tell…about God’s grace and provision in my life, so I write about what God has done.
There is power in my story.
“Let the redeemed of the Lord, tell their story!” ( Psalm 107:2)
It is my daily prayer that God will bless my words to become expressions of His goodness.
Today, and always, may He use me as His instrument to inspire and spread His love.
It is my hope for others to experience God’s Truth through, “Expressions of His Love.”
May you be challenged, convicted, and encouraged as He draws you into a closer relationship with Him.
These are just a few of my personal desires and the reasons why I write.
There is much more to my story, which is often revealed through my walk with Christ.
When sharing my writing and/or poetry here… it is always with a gentle and humble heart.
My intentions are pure.
Writing for me peacefully brings me to the place of grace. Where I can unashamedly express my heart…always with the hope that others will catch a glimpse of His.
All because of Jesus, I’ve got so many reasons to write.
You are always welcome to come along with me on my journey and I hope you find God speaks to you through what is written here and blesses you on your own walk of faith.
May you find rest in the unfathomable riches of His goodness and grace.
TINA UNSELL SEAMON 