In 2018, I published my fifth book,, Desert of Solitude: Refreshed by Grace. I had been working on it for four years but I couldn’t seem to finish it. During the time I was working on the book, my blogging decreased substantially. Initially, I slowed down to focus on the larger project. It was also an attempt to curb my sharing overall. I also thought I could redirect my writing to other topics. That didn’t happen. 👩🏾💻
Content creation began a year before I turned 40, with me video recording solo conversations for transcription. Those early vlogs were super raw. Since then, I been posting videos on #Instagram, my primary social media hub (find me @harvestlifer). Now I’m working on uploading those IG videos to #YouTube and sharing them as blog posts. The raw video content for Desert of Solitude is also on YouTube. If you want to get a head start on upcoming posts, my YouTube channels are…https://www.youtube.com/user/ldjonsey and https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTuSCZva_PG851blMc7t5bA
Until then, enjoy this video update about my last publication, Desert of Solitude: Refreshed by Grace.
For several years now, I’ve been creating video logs while traveling and for new projects. Unfortunately, I haven’t gotten around to editing and posting them. For my I AM WOMAN Portrait & Essay Project, I occasionally video the women’s introduction. The desire to get these short clips about womanhood posted has led me to figure out the basics of editing video on my mobile devices.
This video message is about the movement and transition of life and the importance of reflecting on where you come from but not getting stuck in the past.
Family Matters, Part 1
Pastor Gary Barteau
April 8, 2018
Book of Ruth: Naomi and Ruth
Ruth 1:5 Naomi loss her husband and two sons.
Your family still has a future.
Grieve
Look
Dream
Choose
Grief
It is an healthy thing to be able to grieve.
It is an inside process.
It makes a declaration
Becomes a deep outside expression of how valuable the person was to you.
Its never too late to go back and grieve something you didn’t grieve before.
When we don’t grieve it’s difficult to move forward.
Ruth 1: 19-21
So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them. And the women said, “Is this Naomi?” She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went away full, and the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the LORD has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?”
Look
Just because there is loss doesn’t mean all is loss.
Look for ehat isn’t loss.
For whats there. For God is bringing into the picture.
Naomi was gifted with two great daughters in law. She had a hometown to return to.
Ruth 2:11
Dream
Dream of what God has put in your heart that matters to you.
Those values and beliefs do not fo away. They remain.
They may manifest differently than you imagined.
Is iy grace? Acceptance? Family as a safe place?
Ruth 2:15-16
Boaz instructs workers to leave grain for Ruth yo glean/collect
As you look to whats loss and what is still present. Go build that family. You have a part in shaping what your family might be
Take steps.
Choose
We can choose to move forward.
Naomi’s grandchild is not the future she envision but she called herself blessed and Ruth better than seven sons.
We don’t get back what is loss from before but we are gifted with something beautiful and new. God remakes us and everything we need for life.
God my gift you with ife and joy that may be different that before but is a future for your family.
For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth:the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself… ~ 1 John 5:7-10
The blood of Jesus Christ always speaks as the first witness for Believers. You are your second witness. Speak as a witness to your life. Stay in agreement with the Word.
You’ve already been blessed, so very blessed. Walk in your blessings!
“I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.” ~ Genesis 22:16-18
Rejection moves you forward.
So many people are afraid of failure and rejection. I’m not. I don’t actively look for it, but I do actively learn from it. Sometimes pursuing what you want is the best way to find out it’s not what you need. I don’t say that because I didn’t get what I wanted but because my pursuits were rejected I had less distraction to my focus on the things of God. Through the failures and rejections I experienced I have been reminded to subject my will to the will of the Father. To ask Him to renew my heart, mind and spirit. I am reminded to seek only His will for my life and to further rebuke my flesh. Yes, when the disappointments come I chase harder after my Father.
So many people, yes, even Christians, are looking for an easy life. I hear so often, “When my life is in order… when I achieve this or that, then I’ll start living… then I’ll do this or that…” Hogwash! Today is the day to count on! You have everything you need to do what you need to get done (2Peter 1:3). Your life is now. This moment. Honor your Creator by choosing to live and work for Him today. When you obey His word and live according to His will, He will grant you all the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:5-6).
Don’t miss this! As God is your witness, what you speak and desire for your life will come to pass when you seek the Kingdom of God FIRST (Matthew 6:33). Your labor in His fields will reap a harvest you won’t be able to contain(Luke 6:38)! That’s a direct promise, not implied!
Believing that, knowing that, gives me the grace to handle earthly disappointments, failures and rejections. They are only part of my human experience – they test my faith and build my character. My Heavenly Father created a way for me to stand and bear them all even as I enjoy the day He has made for me (1 Corinthians 10:13).
