Fat and Flourishing

Not really a title that appeals to women, but here we go!

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I found myself about this time last year, prepping for a Women's Conference I was speaking at. I asked the Lord to give me something for it and when He brought "Fat and Flourishing" to my mind, it was the last thing I expected! Not too many women are keen to the idea of being Fat and Flourishing, but my prayer today is that after this blog entry, you will see it a little different! In my defense, fat in this context means prosperous. So there is that. :) Shew, so glad I have that off my chest!

I was reading Psalm 92 when the Lord gave me that title for the message He wanted me to share! Specifically these verses in Psalm 92:12-15:

"The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a

cedar in Lebanon.Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; To shew that the Lord is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him."

I love the symbolism here and through nature is one way the Lord really speaks to me and helps my simple mind attempt to comprehend His vastness. The cedar tree mentioned here is what I really honed in on! The name literally means "to be firm". These cedar trees grow up to 150 feet tall and have a trunk circumfrance of 40 feet. That's not the part that amazes me, as I have seen some very tall trees in my life. The part that the Lord used to speak to me was the fact that for every 10 feet in height, their roots run 30 feet deep. So a 100 foot tree has roots that run 300 feet deep! WHOOP!!!!

Ok, let me not get ahead of myself, back to this cedar tree. King David used this particular tree in his palace. The cedar wood was used for purifying. It is durable, beautiful, graceful and fragrant! Actually, if you have cedarwood oil at your house, you should go smell it now. The smell is unforgettable. Another unique feature of these trees is that they resist decay. In the event though one tree is damaged due to a storm or disease, the neighboring trees will grow into the weaker one to "lift it up" and hold up its weak limbs. I'M ABOUT TO HAVE A FIT!!!! I am literally typing this as fast as I can!!!

4 Truths We Can Learn from the Cedar Trees of Lebanon

1- Deep Roots- their roots run so deep! Like I said, for every 10 feet you see of the tree, there are 30 feet of roots. Can the same be said of us? How deep do our roots run? Are we tossed too and fro by whatever storm of life comes our way or are we confident in Christ and able to stand in HIS strength when those storms of life come? Your outside will be a direct reflection of how deep those roots run sis! You can determine now to grow deeper in Christ by applying His Word to your heart and life. We daily must be growing deeper in HIM! When the storms of life come, which they will, we will be able to stand strong and allow HIM to stand in the gap for us!

2- Usefulness to Others- Cedar wood oil is not only a very interesting, fragrant smelling oil but it is used to heal the body. Its antiseptic properties can heal those minor scraps and cuts we get along life's way. It is also a great bug repellent.

• Can it be said of you that you are useful to others?

  • "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." -Galatians 6:10

• Are you an Aaron or Hur for your sisters or brothers in Christ or are you found in the midst of division? Are you faithfully fulfilling your calling to spur on each other or are you more like a splinter that hurts those you are around?

  •  "But Moses hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun."-Exodus 17:12

  • "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister." -Hebrews 6:10

• Do you have a fragrant smell that shows you are set apart from this world? When people see you, can they see Jesus?

  • "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." -Romans 12:2

• Are you resistant to decay like the cedar tree? You better check your armor sis! You may have dropped it along life's way and you are prone to attack!

  • Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

    -Ephesians 6:10-20

3- Unity- Just like the cedar trees that lift each other up when the limbs of a neighboring cedar are weak, can it be said of us that we are lifting up others? Are we caught in the middle of divisive actions or are we the ones actively seeking ways to encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ. Do you support the weak? I am talking about the single momma that needs the support on the homefront. Are we quick to help her with her load or are we standing back judging her load and saying things like "she made her bed, she can go lay in it"? I am talking about the widow who is lonely and so tired of doing everything in her household on her own. Do we offer a helping hand or we just write her off since her husband passed on? I am referring to the one who just lost a loved one and feels like they can't go on! Do we offer encouragement, a meal, a smile, a longer hug than normal or do we just say things like, "we all experience loss"? Are we one minded on the mission as a team for Christ or are we too busy looking at what the brother or sister down the road is doing and trying to be a "one-upper"? You know... the feeling like you have to be one step above those around you!

• Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

  -Psalm 133:1

• Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. -Philippians 2:2

• Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: -1 Peter 3:8

• Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. -Romans 16:17

4-Longevity & Vitality- Did you know that the cedar withstands all the seasons of the year? Can it be said of us that we withstand? How are you withstanding the season you are in? Do you think you're too _______ to be used by God? (fill in the blank with the lie satan keeps feeding you) Are you in this thing for the long haul or are you here until someone ruffles your feathers and you blame "church hurt" for the reason you dont have a PERSONAL relationship with the Father? I am not taking away from the pain you are experiencing in whatever season you are in. However, I believe the reason God the Father chose such an awful death for His Son, our Savior, is because He would endure far worse than you and I could ever experience. He would carry His own cross and we can't even carry our own burdens to Him. We wear them as a badge of honor that say..."I have the right to not be there Sunday, so-and-so hurt my feelings". Friends, this Christian life don't need playground problems when we are enlisted in a battlefield fight. Oh friend... I pray you endure! I pray that regardless of the season you keep these words in the forefront of your mind:

•  Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.- 2 Timothy 2:3

One day the great cedar will fall! You will pass away one day. At the end of your life, when you hang up your proverbial hat... will you be able to say you fought a good fight and kept the faith? Will you be rooted or rotten?

There are only 2 things that take a cedar out: Storms and Disease

-Will you let the storms of life take you out or will you withstand as a good soldier?

-The disease of sin can take you out or you can bow to the ONE that can help you overcome that sin and die to self daily in the fight! The choice is yours!

My prayer today is that you be found faithful! That you remain above reproach! That you stand firm! That you be ROOTED in Christ not ROTTEN with self!

I pray that you adopt the Lion Chasers Manifesto and that you RUN to the ROAR instead of away from it! STAND friend..... STAND!!!