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W.O.W. Lifestyle (Women Of the WORD)
by Carmen Schroeder
O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. Because Your loving-kindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. - Psalm 63:3 (NKJV)
On December 4th of 2007, I wrote The Hasidic Christ Follower - a word richly impressed upon my heart about our LORD’s ever faithful covenant hesed or loving-kindness. What a beautiful time in His Presence I had that particular morning. Little did I know that that day would herald another opportunity for my family to draw closer into His hesed, being shielded by His Presence and learning that truly ‘blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted’. For that day He would call my beautiful Mother, Judy Diane Flores into His Magnificent Presence and Eternal Kingdom - forever to enjoy the glories of Heaven. It was completely unexpected and all I had to hang onto that day were the words He had given me...that unwavering Truth that still resounds in my spirit to this very day.
Today’s word is for those who are momentarily struggling to REALLY LIVE while their loved One is no longer allowed the opportunity to an earthly life...but moreso, these are enjoying a distinct privilege that will one day soon be ours! But for now, we who are at home in the body shall LIVE by the Providence of His Presence!
When I see families - especially grandmothers - enjoying one another’s presence, I continue to ponder the great mystery of the LORD’s ways in taking some and leaving others. As one friend pointed out, ‘The tremendous grief we feel is just the testimony of how much they were loved’. I don't pretend to have any answers to our musings and complex feelings, but I do know that each day HE gives us is not merely an undeserved gift, but rather, it is an undeserved gift with Divine Purposes - an OPPORTUNITY to be conformed to His character... yet through many hardships. HE has my Mom with Him...HE has MANY other dearly loved Ones with Him. And to us whose hearts still beat, HE says "LIVE! I have made this day for YOU to know and to have more of MY LOVE; and thus be the Conduit of MY heavenly hesed to all those near and far..."
"But enjoying His favor, which is life; and His loving-kindness, which is better than life - it matters but little whether we are rich or poor; whether the sun of prosperity shines - or the clouds of adversity lower; whether we are reveling in health - or stretched upon beds of languishing; whether we are toiling as slaves - or wearing crowns and diadems. After a few more rising and setting suns -- it will not matter a single straw--what our earthly lot may have been! The only matter of importance then-- will be whether we have been accepted of God." - - John MacDuff 1858
...and accepted (well-pleasing to HIM) we HAVE been made through our Messiah!
"Therefore, whether at home (with the Messiah) or away from home (in the body), we try our utmost to please Him;" - 2 Corinthians 5:9
Carmen enjoys encouraging other women with the life-changing Word of God through teaching, mentoring and song in conferences and workshops.
Carmen's testimony is one of victory as 1 John 5:4,5 (AMP) says: 'For whatever is born of God is victorious over the world; and this is the victory that conquers the world, even our faith. Who is it that is victorious over the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on that fact]?
Her message is that this Christ is the One Who generously gives heavenly wisdom for victorious living.
Email Carmen directly to discuss an article OR stop by and visit her new Women of the Word blog here!
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