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Growing When Everything Looks Dead – Patty Mason
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I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning…. Psalm 130: 5-6

As summer fades and the autumn air kisses the leaves on the tress, turning them from bright green to hues of orange, red, and yellow, a time of winter barrenness is coming. Soon the leaves will drop to the ground like dancing ballerinas twirling in procession. I don’t like winter; everything looks dreary and dead. It’s as if the life of summer has been stolen away, stripped of its glory. As hard as it is to embrace, there are seasons in my life when I feel just like the barren winter season. And as I look at my life, it feels like everything is either dead or dying, and I am drying up. In those times, I feel used by God, even shut down in my ministry or calling.

Even though these barren seasons are difficult, it is a time when God can get us all to Himself. He can minister to our souls. The winter seasons may look desolate, but it doesn’t mean that nothing grows, or we will never again bear fruit. In times of outward barrenness, when the Holy Spirit leads us into seemingly fruitless times, God wants us to be still before Him.

Many grow inpatient in this time of waiting. Just like the barren trees must wait for the rebirth of spring, so must our souls wait upon the Lord. Waiting can be the hardest thing God asks us to do; yet, if we understand its purpose, waiting can be the win. When we wait, God calls us to rest and renew. He pats His chest saying, “Come with me to a quiet place—rest. He wants to fill us with His goodness and love. And when we submit to the Lord’s desires, we come out of this time ready to produce a harvest.

The winter trees may look lifeless, but a great deal is happening. And during your winter seasons, although everything appears dead, much is being produced. You are being empowered, prepared and equipped. If you wait upon the Lord, you will grow. Then, one day, the Lord will lead you out of this barren time and into a season of great harvest. In due time, you will emerge, fully prepared and bearing much fruit.

Patty Mason lives in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband and two of their three children. She is an author, speaker, Bible teacher, women’s ministry leader, and the founder of Liberty in Christ Ministries. She has been teaching, mentoring, and inspiring women of all ages through her writings and her talks. Patty is an active member of Women in Christian Media, and has reached audiences all over the world through Sisters on Assignment, Christian TV, Christian WebTV, and Sermon.net; and she is a weekly cohost on WLGT Blog Radio Live. Her award-winning book, Transformed by Desire: A Journey of Awakening to Life and Love (Forever Books), was released in June 2010. Other titles include: Know That I AM God, Bible study, and a devotional entitled, God’s Heart: Drawing Close to the Heart of God. To learn more, please visit www.LibertyinChrist.net. Read Patty’s devotions

Rain from Heaven – Patty Mason
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“Be glad, O people of Zion, rejoice in the LORD your God, for he has given you autumn rains in righteousness. He has sent you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before…” Joel 2:23

It rained literally for six days, at times quite hard. The grey skies, with their bleak facade, covered the earth with a blanket of drab folly. Everything looked dismal and gloomy. The trees, their branches heavy with water, drooped, as if tired of bearing the weight of the burden pouring down on them. Since new homes are going up on my street, the seedless ground turns quickly to mud, then flows like a mucky river through the street. Will it ever stop raining? The question plagued my mind as the endless stream of water dropped from a hazy covered canopy.

All too often, days of endless rain appear in my life as unseen circumstances and flood my world. I don’t always like the rain. As in the days of Noah and the flood, the abundance of water can make me feel like I’m drowning. Sometimes, as God commands the heavens to open over my life, I feel just like the trees, overcome by the heaviness of my circumstances. But, when I’m focused on God, resting in His presence, and standing on His Word, I am not washed away like the muddy river flowing down the street.

When the heavens open to pour out His rain, it can be a good thing if I let it. As the manna from heaven feeds my weary soul, my hampered life turns into a spiritual garden, a lush green meadow. God promises to send the rains, both autumn and spring rains will come. In every season of life there will be rain. The question is: How will we respond? We can either open wide our mouths to receive what the Lord is pouring over us, or we can take out an umbrella in a poor attempt to stay dry.

When the rain comes, let’s see it as a good thing. Let’s see it as a time of refreshing as His water pours from heaven to feed and nurture our souls.

Patty Mason is an author, speaker, and Bible teacher. Her award-wining book and Bible study, For the Love of the Bride, has touched and changed the lives of many. She is also the author of the Bible study, Know That I AM God: Experiencing the Presence of God in your Every Life; and the devotional, God’s Heart: Drawing Close to the Heart of God.
Patty is the founder of Liberty in Christ Ministries, offering hope and healing to women of all ages. She is also a member of Sisters on Assignment, reaching women in 170 countries around the world through Chrisitan.tv and Blog Radio.

One Minute Meditations for the culturally challenged and spiritually stuck. Daily devotions from the perspective of one man and one woman, delivered online and by email that inspire you to move beyond the “busy-ness” of life into an intimate relationship with God through an interactive friendship with the Father. Christian Devotions takes Christ from the heavens and places him in your heart.