Bloom Where You are Planted

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"I am writing to the exiles scattered to the four winds. Not one is missing, not one forgotten." (1 Peter 1:1, The Message).

From one point of view we see a national disaster -- hundreds of thousands of citizens uprooted from their homes by an occupying army, and driven like cattle into the highways and byways; scattered to the four winds, and now known only as exiles. That's a rather bleak picture.

But from another point of view we see something altogether glorious. The word for scattered in the Greek New Testament actually means "to be sown as seed." In other words, while they may be viewed by man as exiles from their country; they were seen by God as seeds planted in new fields of glory.

If we would learn to always see our shifting circumstances from God's point of view, we would not be caught up in the drift of a culture that stirs up strife and debate over things that inconvenience us. Rather, we would live as thankful people, praising God for His faithfulness in all things at all times -- and we would bloom where we are planted.

God knows who you are, where you are, and what His plans for you are. If you will but humbly acknowledge that He is in control, a shift will occur in your heart and in your outlook -- sunshine will break through the dark clouds and your life will sprout with new purpose and great effectiveness.
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