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found, freed, flourishing

November 16, 2016 by admin 41 Comments

found-feed-flourish

This photo was taken in the hallway of a Liberty University dorm building. The girls decorate the outside of their doorways and the common theme currently is “founded, freed, flourishing.”

That will preach, yes?

I told Hannah I may have to use their theme in my blog post – thank you, Erika for the pretty artwork.

Since it is the season of gratitude and thanks-giving I cannot think of anything to be more grateful for than being found, freed, and flourishing in Christ.

Can you?

I was blind but now I see.

I was lost but now am found.

Jesus Christ found me a very long time ago – and then stupidly, I got lost again. I lost my way. I left The Way and began wandering on side roads and blazing some trails that only led to destruction. But in His grace and mercy He stopped me (almost) dead in my tracks and said, “This is The Way now walk in it.”

I began my journey back to being …

Found.

When the Son sets you free – you will be FREE indeed! 

What does that even mean? Free? There were no chains or shackles,

or, were there?

Guilt was the chain that held me. Grace was the key that freed me.

Freed.

hhh-guilt-grace

Flourishing means peace, or shalom, in every direction.

Peace, or shalom, is not just an absence of conflict, but a positive presence of the Lord’s blessing.

To know shalom is to know God’s favor. His face will shine with pleasure on you. His face will look in your direction. He is noticing you with approval.

To know shalom is to know God’s gracious presence in all areas of your life.

The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree,
He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
Those who are planted in the house of the Lord
Shall flourish in the courts of our God.
They shall still bear fruit in old age;
They shall be fresh and flourishing,
To declare that the Lord is upright;
He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him. Psalm 92.12-15

So, if flourishing means peace “in every direction” then the righteous will have peace like a palm tree (I’ve never seen one having a breakdown); they (the righteous) will have peace in God’s courts; they (the righteous) will be fruitful in old age and they will be renewed and peaceful.

Those girls at Liberty University?

Flourishing.

Are you?

Am I?

xo

Guilt was the chain that held me. Grace was the key that freed me.

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Footnotes: https://tifwe.org/the-biblical-definition-of-flourishing/

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Filed Under: Heart, Hope, Susan's Musin's Tagged With: Flourish, Flourishing, Found, Founded, free, freedom, hope, journey, life

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kristin Taylor says

    November 16, 2016 at 6:58 am

    Peace in every direction. I love that so much. Happy Wednesday, friend. xoxo

    Reply
    • admin says

      November 16, 2016 at 10:31 am

      Like a palm tree bending in the soft breeze. Holy Spirit, the wind of HS comes and brings PEACE.

      Reply
  2. Shelby says

    November 16, 2016 at 7:46 am

    Oh, Susan. You spoke to my heart and to my soul today. Guilt and fear are the chains that keep trying to bind me. And, yes, grace is what sets me free.

    I just love this whole post and for it to be here in the morning after I spent almost the entire night lying awake contemplating… Priceless. A divine appointment.

    Thank you

    Reply
    • admin says

      November 16, 2016 at 10:30 am

      Then receive it sister…When I wrote “Guilt was the chain that held me – Grace was the key that freed me” I said, Yes Lord. Thank You Holy Spirit. From HS to my fingers – HIS WORDS.

      Reply
  3. Joanne Viola says

    November 16, 2016 at 8:05 am

    Susan, wonderful words. “Flourishing means peace, or shalom, in every direction.” I began to think and pray about my one word for 2017. Flourishing may just be it.

    Reply
    • admin says

      November 16, 2016 at 10:28 am

      IN EVERY DIRECTION – do you not love that?

      Reply
  4. Michele Morin says

    November 16, 2016 at 8:05 am

    And what a fun thing it is to see you flourishing, Susan!
    What a great alliterative way to think of the Christian life. I wouldn’t be surprised to see one of those “f’s” showing up in someone’s 2017 Word because of reading your blog post.

    Reply
    • admin says

      November 16, 2016 at 10:28 am

      Michele? I’m thinking He is speaking Flourish to me!

      Reply
  5. Kathy says

    November 16, 2016 at 8:57 am

    This was definitely for me. Thank you for listening to Holy Spirit when you write. Love you!

    Kathy

    Reply
    • admin says

      November 16, 2016 at 10:27 am

      Nothing BUT HS – I thought the post was weak in substance. xoxo

      Reply
  6. Karen Sebastian says

    November 16, 2016 at 9:38 am

    This is such a powerful word combination. Ministered to me today as I am breaking free of the ‘stuff’ that is holding me back from my destiny. I am freed from the ties. I don’t need things to spark memories. Powerful indeed!
    Karen

    Reply
    • admin says

      November 16, 2016 at 10:27 am

      I felt this post was weak in words but reading the comments? It is exactly what Holy Spirit wanted said to His daughters!!! I love that God does that.

      Reply
  7. Lesley says

    November 16, 2016 at 12:02 pm

    Great post! I love the description of flourishing- peace in every direction sounds good!

    Reply
    • admin says

      November 16, 2016 at 12:04 pm

      I think we all need that, Lesley!

      Reply
  8. Sue Donaldson says

    November 16, 2016 at 12:03 pm

    In every direction! love it –
    and you are such a prolific author!! blessings abound (in every direction!!) happy thanksgiving, friend!

    Reply
    • admin says

      November 16, 2016 at 2:24 pm

      And, happy thanksgiving to YOU!

      Reply
  9. Beth says

    November 16, 2016 at 12:33 pm

    My quiet time this morning reflects the themes you’re talking about here, Susan. Our sins truly do keep us bound up, but there is such freedom and flourishing when we let the Lord lead and heal us. Thanks for this inspiring post!

    Reply
    • admin says

      November 16, 2016 at 2:24 pm

      Thank YOU, Beth, for always visiting with me over here!!!

      Reply
  10. Christina says

    November 16, 2016 at 5:23 pm

    Susan, I love your writing style, but mostly how you are in love with Jesus; it just overflows through your keyboard and onto the screen. Been noticing palm trees and the passage you shared. Ah, to flourish!

    Reply
    • admin says

      November 17, 2016 at 10:08 am

      Christina – palm trees are holy examples of FLOURISHING!!!

      Reply
  11. Jill says

    November 16, 2016 at 8:15 pm

    “Guilt was the chain that held me. Grace was the key that freed me.” Wise words Susan. Living in that abundant, flourishing, grace and peace is so freeing. Thanks for the reminder!

    Reply
    • admin says

      November 17, 2016 at 10:09 am

      Jill, thank you for the visit!

      Reply
  12. Tara says

    November 16, 2016 at 10:35 pm

    Peace be with you! 🙂

    Reply
    • admin says

      November 17, 2016 at 10:09 am

      IN ALL DIRECTIONS!!!

      Reply
  13. Helemarie says

    November 17, 2016 at 7:11 am

    Thank you honey, these past couple of days the evil one been hitting me with things of my past. I’ve been praying our Lord , Peace and Grace over me. The battle starts in our minds.

    Reply
    • admin says

      November 17, 2016 at 10:10 am

      The great battlefield of all time.

      Reply
  14. Nicki Schroeder says

    November 17, 2016 at 7:48 am

    Love this: “Guilt was the chain that held me. Grace was the key that freed me.”

    Reply
    • admin says

      November 17, 2016 at 10:10 am

      Pure Holy Spirit, Nicki….

      Reply
  15. Gayl Wright says

    November 17, 2016 at 6:33 pm

    “Flourish like a palm tree…” I’ve never seen one break down either. When I was growing up we had one in our front yard. One year we actually had a little snow and it looked really weird on a palm tree. LOL But it seemed nothing would kill that tree.
    Blessings to you, Susan! xo

    Reply
    • admin says

      November 18, 2016 at 6:19 am

      Palms are pretty tough. They were created to bend in the breeze. In the flourishing.

      Reply
  16. KellyRBaker says

    November 18, 2016 at 9:23 am

    I’ve never seen a palm tree have a break down, either! Ha! I love how you broke down these blessings for us! Glad to be your linkup neighbor today. 🙂

    Reply
    • admin says

      November 18, 2016 at 10:14 am

      Kelly! Don’t you love linkup friends?

      Reply
  17. Merry Geary says

    November 19, 2016 at 7:51 pm

    Palm trees being still or swaying in a strong breeze, watch them and reflect. Pray that we all flourish along with our country. A great word to remember.

    Reply
    • admin says

      November 20, 2016 at 5:58 am

      Who would have ever thought? God’s peace reflected by a palm tree!

      Reply
  18. bethany mcilrath says

    November 21, 2016 at 3:21 pm

    A palm tree having a break down. HA! What a great picture. Love this theme. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • admin says

      November 22, 2016 at 6:11 am

      And, we can FLOURISH like that!!!

      Reply
  19. Amanda says

    November 22, 2016 at 12:24 am

    Beautiful words and great wisdom like always.

    Reply
    • admin says

      November 22, 2016 at 6:11 am

      Oh my, what a kind and generous thing to say, wise woman of two sons!!! Aren’t they blessed!

      Reply
  20. Sandra Heska King says

    November 22, 2016 at 6:04 pm

    “Peace, or shalom, is not just an absence of conflict, but a positive presence of the Lord’s blessing.

    “To know shalom is to know God’s favor. His face will shine with pleasure on you. His face will look in your direction. He is noticing you with approval.”

    I love this.

    And, of course, this: “The righteous will flourish like a palm tree.” I was just reading that pruning a palm tree is very tricky…

    Reply
    • admin says

      November 23, 2016 at 5:50 am

      Very tricky…almost unnecessary, except for dead branches and overgrown “stalkers.” Now, that’ll preach?

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. My One Word 2017: SUFFICIENT says:
    January 1, 2017 at 4:55 am

    […] I thought it was Flourish. Flourishing means peace, or shalom, in every direction. I wrote about that word here. […]

    Reply

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