At work I share an office with one of my co-workers, Jenn. Jenn is one of the sweetest, most genuine, kind, compassionate, Jesus-loving women you’ll ever meet. I instantly clicked and fell in love with her. Because she has three little one’s vying for her undivided attention, I only get to see her every now and then, especially when we’re not in Bible study season.
The other day she was at the office de-cluttering her desk when she found a stack of papers piled up in her drawer about an event LPM had put on about eight years or so ago called “Tell Me How”. That specific event was for college aged girls ages 18 – 25.
Just about eight years ago, I was 19 and attended that event. It was my sophomore year of college and I remember that being a really pivotal time in my walk with the Lord and I was all ears. I wanted to soak up any and all wisdom I could from gain from these wise ladies because after all, I was a sophomore in college, and what in the world did I want to do with my life? I was desperate to know how to not royally mess it up, my life that is. Little did I know, and nor would I have ever dreamed, that almost a decade later I’d be serving alongside these sweet ladies. That was a really neat thought for me.
Sometimes life brings you to a full circle moment and that was one of them.
I told Jenn that I attended that conference and that to this day I still refer back to those notes. I think it was fun for both of us to walk down memory lane because we were both able to see fruit from that conference, almost ten years later.
The keynote speakers were our very own Siesta Mama, Beth, Priscilla Shirer and Christy Nockels, who not only led worship, but also taught a session. I clearly knew who Beth and Christy were at the time (we’re obviously on a first name basis), but it was my first introduction to Priscilla, whom from then on, I fell in love with. Her teaching was so powerful, she was hilarious and her passion was contagious.
The three of them each took a main session, there were breakouts to attend throughout the weekend and then at the very end, the three of them did a Q&A session with us. This was by far my favorite part of the weekend. It is amazing to me the rawness and vulnerability people express when asking a question anonymously. (They wrote in questions.) Questions ranged from Christy’s lipstick color (which was a MAC color and made my heart happy) to things I’d be too embarrassed to even mention on here.
I know I’m only 27 and have years ahead of me to mess up, but I didn’t want to be, and still don’t want to be, just a statistic.
One girl geared her question specifically to Christy asking her how she gets to do what she does? For those of you who don’t know, Christy Nockels is not only gifted, but an extremely anointed worship leader. She serves the Lord with such grace and humility. This girl in particular had felt called to be in ministry similar to Christy’s and wanted some guidance. I totally understand that.
Like always, Christy was so gracious and had such wise words to share along with words of encouragement.
I was glued to her as she shared her journey with us. Not that I felt called to that particular area of ministry, but we’re all called to something and I so badly wanted to know how to know what I was called to and how to pursue that calling.
She said one thing at the end that is forever etched on my heart.
“Bloom where you’re planted.”
Serve where you are. Do the mundane thing. It may be mundane to you, but it’s certainly not mundane to God. Even if it’s something you don’t enjoy at the moment, rest assured, you probably will not be doing it the rest of your life. Be faithful in the little things. Be faithful in general. Stay committed.
If you told me in high school that I’d be working in ministry one day, I would have laughed in your face. Not because I disliked church and not because I didn’t love Jesus. I loved each of those things, but my heart was always drawn to teaching. As in, decorate my own second grade classroom kind of teaching. I was the little girl that grew up playing school.
However, during my senior year of high school the Lord really started stirring up different passions in my heart personally. I wasn’t sure what it all meant or what would come of it, but instead of sitting on it, I sought counsel and leadership from some older and much wiser ladies about what was going on to hopefully makes some sense of all the Lord been birthing in me.
Hindsight is always 20/20 so what I know now is that the Lord was clearly shifting my desires. Aren’t you so thankful for His leadership? And the fact that He knows what’s best for us? And for people in your life who can speak truth and life into you? And for His Word that is a lamp unto our feet? I could go on and on.
That year I actually applied for an internship with a traveling girl’s ministry and I was turned down. I was heartbroken, but knew that if the Lord had truly placed these desires to work with girls in my heart, he’d be faithful and guide me to serve in other ways. Although he shut that door, I decided to press on instead of give up and bail out doubting everything I was feeling. But I also trusted that the Lord would change my desires if I wasn’t called to that specific area of service.
My freshman year of college I stayed home and attended a community college here. During that year, I helped lead a small group of freshman girls. It was a good taste of teenage drama, yet I loved them so much.
When I went off to college that next year, I immediately got involved in a Christian sorority, Sigma Phi Lambda and through the next three years served as chaplain, rush captain and little things here and there. Do you see how the Lord threw me into girl’s ministry long before I made it my actual career?
As graduation neared, the desire to work in ministry exploded. I don’t think I talked about it a lot because it kind of scared me. After all, I went to school to learn how to be a teacher, not how to lead or speak to teenage girls. Or work in a church. That was a totally different ballgame.
But God is faithful and his grace is perfect. He opened doors in ministry that I never pursued on my own. I really struggled at that time with deciding whether to pursue teaching full time or take on the ministry position at church as the Girl’s Ministry Director. But how could I not take this ministry position when my heart was really there? When I look back I see how he really prepared me for this exchange of career paths. It is a beautiful thing.
Had I tried on my own, I can honestly tell you that I wouldn’t be doing what I am doing today. The Lord planted a seed in me years ago with a heart for young women, and I simply watered it along the way, again, by His still small leading, His still small voice. I tried my hardest to do what I felt He called me to do for that season and honestly, that’s all I still know to do.
It’s one thing to be passionate about something and walk out that passion, it’s another thing to think you’ve arrived. What does that really mean anyway? We won’t arrive until we reach Heaven’s gates. That’s our goal after all, is it not?
I don’t know what’s next for me or for you. But I can say with confidence and with experience that God is faithful. If He’s been faithful in the past, we can be sure that He’ll most certainly be faithful in the present and future. However, we must humbly throw ourselves under his hand. Under His leadership.
Trust the desires he’s given you. But check to make sure they’re desires that exalt Christ and not yourself. I could be really off saying this, but I’m not sure he’ll grant us selfish desires that steal his glory. He won’t waste His glory on us. Selfish idols and desires are things that rarely get his blessing, if ever.
How many times does he say in the Psalms that He satisfies our desires with good things. These are the desires that are rooted in what pleases and exalts Him. (Psalm 103:5, Psalm 145:16)
Bloom where you’re planted. And no matter what, don’t ever quit serving, dear sister.
“Don’t bother your head with braggarts or wish you could succeed like the wicked. In no time they’ll shrivel like grass clippings and wilt like cut flowers in the sun. Get insurance with God and do a good deed, settle down and stick to your last. Keep company with God, get in on the best. Open up before God, keep nothing back; he’ll do whatever needs to be done: He’ll validate your life in the clear light of day and stamp you with approval at high noon. Quiet down before God, be prayerful before him. Don’t bother with those who climb the ladder, who elbow their way to the top.” Psalm 37:1-7 (The Message)
Lindsee – thank you for your words of encouragement. I’ve started to see more and more of God’s desires and plans for my life unfold over the last year. Sometimes it can get hard to keep on “keepin’ on!” But one thing is for sure – God blesses those who delight in the mundane. Your encouragement is a blessing to hear and one I rightly timed! I wish you (or I) were closer so that we could sit and have coffee over good God conversation. I feel we’d be wonderful friends! Keep me in your prayers as I start continue to be faithful where I am and yet pursue (step at a time) the plans God has for me.
You and everyone at LPM are in my prayers and I can’t wait for the day I can meet y’all face to face!
Thank you for sharing this. It is so wonderful to hear how God has lead someone down a particular path and how many things that happened in life was to prepare that person. I listened to a podcast by Christine Caine today and she said much the same thing. She never planned to do what she is doing, she simply followed the path God laid before her.
Keep up the good work. You seem like such a wonderful young woman.
Lawan
Phil 4:8
Many years ago at a ladies conference I received a small bookmark entitled Bloom where your Planted”. So true! I am just finishing “Stepping Up” in a dark season of my life and wanted to let Beth know that her study produced 5 years ago and which I bought 2 years ago has worked a miracle in my heart NOW! My husband and I will reconcile and begin a new life together under God tomorrow after 9 & 1/2 months separation. Each psalm has spoken into my heart personally as if God was sitting right here with me (and He was)! Oh the wonder of His Word to work in the heart of man! Although the work began long before I knew it, I saw the beginnings at Hillsong Colour in Sydney when Beth and Prycilla spoke. God is So Good!
Jenny-
I just wanted to leave a little note to let you know that I will be praying for your first day of reconciliation with your husband tomorrow. I’ve walked through this one, and have seen how the Lord shows up in mighty ways!
Jenn
Oh girl, we must know the same God. 😉 He has been walking me through blooming where I am planted for a while now, and in fact I’ve been writing about it also. I am used to being on the go and *doing* things for Christ. But in the season of my life, He has me staying planted. Literally, roots tied down, and learning that the best way for me to get things done around here, is to get on my knees and pray. Oh, such a hard thing for a doer to grasp! Thank you for this post. Such wise words from a baby girl! You are blessing many with your obedience to share in what God is doing with your life!
Jenn
What a beautiful flower you are 🙂 I really needed to read this today!
Lindsee,
Such an amazing testimony of God’s grace in your life! Thanks for reminding me that God’s timing is Perfect! I have felt God calling me to teach in some capacity for several years but I’m not sure how to pursue it other than prayer and the Word! My husband and I have recently relocated and have been led by The Lord to an amazing church. So I covet your prayers and any advise you may have!::))))
In His Grace,
Tessa
(Btw, the first time I saw Beth Moore was in 1994 at a Great Hills Retreat) She so inspired me!
Thank you. This is exactly what I needed today.
Great post. It was food for my soul.
Beth-
I am not sure how this will relate to your post or even if it will, but I am just compelled ot let you know the impact you have in my life. You bring my my word from God every Wednesday. Yes, it is while I am running on a treadmill.
In the past month or so I have learned to live with some bad news. My husband has been living with prostate cancer for the past year. I am only 32 years old and he is only 34 so he is very young to have this. About a month ago we learned that it has gotten increasingly worse. It has spread to his colon now. The doctors do not feel optomistic about it. Before he even told me about it I spent my normal times on Wednesdays talking to God and listening to the messages he has given you. I basically knew that the outlook was not good. His doctors are saying he may not live to the new year.
So, as opposed to listening to the doctors. I decided to claim a vitory over this for him. After all he will beat cancer one way or another. (Either here on earth or when our maker takes him home)
I must look like a crazy woman at the YMCA on Wednesday mornings. I usually turn your show on and every time you start talking about beating the enemy I am running as hard as I can. I imagine the enemy’s ugly little head under my feet. It makes me mad that he is trying to destroy my families future, kill my marriage and my mate, and steal our dreams. I am running oh his head and all the while saying in my head. Get thee under my feet, I have a more powerful God on my side, you cannot steal,kill, or destroy because I am a daughter of God. I have literally launched an all out spiritual warfare on the treadmill.
Before this, I had trouble even praying to God about the situation. It was just to hard for me to pray. Plus I know that if God has decided it is his time nothing I can say or do will change his mind or prolong the decision.
I guess you could say I have learned to bloom where I was planted. In the midst of the storm, at the YMCA, on a treadmill. I will fight for my husband
Amy, fighting for your husband right now through prayer. May the Lord bring complete healing to his body here on earth! We’re asking for a miracle Lord. We believe that you can do it. Be glorified and give Amy the strength and peace to fight this battle well with him. Much love to you, Amy. Thank you for sharing this here!
Lindsee,
I just loved this! I have often thought that if Paul could write about being content while living in a prison cell, I could certainly muster up some courage to live in my comfortable 21st century world. Better yet, to BLOOM WHERE I AM PLANTED. This was an excellent reminder.
I love you even more after reading this post Lindsee. Tears. Our oldest is 19 now and a sophomore in college and I believe is at a pivotal time in her life. (She is planning to go to Passion courtesy of LPM – glory!) My heart is so tender to you and LPM for ministering to this age group. Your story of heartbreak and God opening doors encourages my heart. The Lord has allowed us to walk through some heartbreaks too. I believe that we are going to see a tremendous outpouring of the Spirit on this younger generation. Bigger blooms are yet to come!
I love that the LORD has patterned and placed you for “such a time as this”. As you water and pour into this generation, like others have watered you, the opening of blooms for the Kingdom of God is going to be glorious! You are a beautiful bloom Lindsee.
Lora, I really hope we get to meet your girl at Passion. That would make my week! And thank you for your sweet encouragement. The Lord is so good. We love you!
Lindsee, Thanks for sharing this message, oh how I needed to hear this!! Thanks for your honesty.
Lindsee,
Thank you so much for sharing what Christy shared about blooming where we are planted. It is exactly the message that I need to hear every now and then when I’m in a bit of a funk and get that little voice in my head saying, “is this really where I’m supposed to be and what I’m supposed to be doing?” Your blog was a welcome sight for me today!
lindsee!!! i sent this to one of my sweet young chick friends who is spending a semester in uruguay & just got an email back from her. it was such an encouragement to her & helped her nail down a decision about her calling/major at school/ministry! thank you for sharing this! it was also exactly something i needed this week. God knew that. 🙂 love~
Lindsee, I love this post, and I certainly love you!!
I am delighted at the blessings the Lord has poured out over you=)
Pray that your weekend is filled with delights only the Lord can bring!! You are loved!
Since 4th grade my dear friend and I still say this to eachother 30 years later because we listened to a record all the time called I am Gods project and “bloom where you ‘re planted” was our favorite song- maybe u can find it 😉
Lindsee, thanks so much for sharing your story. I am a 37 year old stay at home mom of three, a 9 year old, a 2 year old, and a 4 month old. Often I feel like I should be doing more, serving more, but then I think, “God blessed me with these precious babies for only a season.” So, I love that you said to “bloom where you’re planted.” Even in the mundane things of changing diapers and wiping little faces. And one day, maybe soon or maybe not so soon, I will again be able to serve in different ways. We have recently moved to a new state and I’ve almost been pouting about the fact that I’m not serving on the worship team at our new church like I did at our old church. But again, there is a time and purpose for everything and I’m just trusting The Lord to lead me one day at a time.
I want to thank you for your words.I am 47 and have had a hard life.I’m schizophrenic but have a good job selling insurance.I want a civil service job real bad and think it’s from The Lord.However,I have a friend that thinks that I should just thank God for what I have and stay in insurance.My heart tells me different.You have taught me to stay calm and let God lead.I am a big advocate of following God-given callings.I want my life to be rich and full of meaning.Thank you for your input,it really makes me feel I have companionship in this journey of mine.I love you.Leona.
Thanks! I keep hearing those words. Bloom where you are planted. Appreciate this blog so much.
Love. Love. Love. Love. This.
The last line literally made my heart jump!!!!
I have been contemplating this very thing.
Love you ladies at LPM!!
Margaret
This was exactly what I needed today! Thank you for your kind words. It amazes me every time when the Lord gently whispers in my ear words of encouragement so thank you for letting God lead you because it changed my perspective today! A big hug from me to you!
Jacqueline
I remember that q and a session. I was able to download it from Itunes. i think it is still available. four years ago what Christy said about blooming where you’re planted helped me get through a rough season of waiting.
I remember that conference, and this word is definitely my “need a reminder” that Beth talked about in her latest video! I love that so many of us at that conference are all together now at BCF!:)
Some of us are late bloomers! God has a plan and a time for everything, I really enjoyed all your sharing and thoughts on this! And, sometimes there are different seasons to bloom in a different area, sometimes God has a new thing for us! If we are walking with God and fully trusting Him, we will get where we are supposed to go, the places He has prepared for us…
Lindsee,
Thank you for sharing a little bit of what God has been doing in your life. You are a doll. I believe this is the encouragement I needed to hear today….bloom where you are planted and never quit serving. I love it!
Denise
What a beautiful story! I enjoyed reading this. Thank you for your words of encouragement. May god continue to bless you, sweet girl.
Thank you for sharing this story, Lindsee. I just wrote on my blog today about how I’ve been in a season of establishing new roots and how I wish I could see fruit already – but it isn’t hasn’t been the season yet. However, this post feels like a word from God that just maybe if I dare to believe it, it might be time to start blooming.
Lindsee, I’m glad you posted this. I have a Thursday nights women’s class that I go to on a regular basis. Recently, my teacher taught us about blooming where we are planted. Same words. If the Lord takes time to repeat a concept to me personally twice from two different sources, then I know I should listen!
Thank you. Tomorrow giving testimony of my life with a few trusted friends. Desiring to show what JESUS has done for me and to live the secret of the LORD Psalm 25:14 and Rev 12:11…ready to overcome by the BLOOD OF THE LAMB and the Word of our testimony. May the LORD be glorified. JESUS PAID IT ALL!!!!
It may be in another comment but it reminded me of the book Bloom Before You are Planted by E. Duckworth. Check it out sometime. I found it in my church library. Not finished it yet.
Father we want to thank you that Your Word reminds us that the “nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are regarded as a speck of dust on the scales” (Isaiah 40:15)and we know that includes our nation. We also know from Your Word that You have spoken to us in Jesus in these last days (Hebrews 1)
and Jesus is Your Final Word. We pray for our President to know that even though he will be in the position of authority of a great nation and his words will be powerful…his words may be potent….but YOUR WORD is OMNIPOTENT….and that YOU will always have the Final Word. May He know this truth and be humbled by it as he faces a great responsibility that he will NOT be able to shoulder apart from You. John 15:5 May he know that apart from you he can do nothing of eternal value and yet if He will acknowledge You in all his ways and draw near to you in Truth….You will be with Him and direct his paths with Your eye upon him. May He have a deep awareness of Your Presence and his accountablity to You so that He will seek your wisdom as Solomon did and as we are told to do in James 1. John 16:24 gives us the courage to pray these things in Jesus’ Name and we can faith rest with fullness of Joy that You hear us Lord. Amen.
I just wanted to share what God spoke to me during my Bible study time last night. I am currently working through the Breaking Free Journey. I travel for my job and that makes having a church home very difficult, as well as small group, so I do these studies on my own just to “keep the faith” if you will.
I have been given the gift of voice and writing dramatizations (plays) and I even have written a small book (unpublished, due to lack of confidence). God will give me an idea or a vision for it and then it just grows to a full blown production. I have been very successful in my past home church with these productions becoming successful. Just in the church, but they were a huge blessing to all who were involved. This is where I find my greatest joy. Being used by God, feeling him work in me then also He shows me the end result.. I get to witness the “why” of the blessings. He is good to me that way.
Anyway, the reason for this entry is this: God has given each of us a gift. Sometimes those gifts change with the purpose He has intended, never-the-less, He has made each and every one of us beautifully and wonderfully. We are His creation. So, the words He spoke to me during my study (the part ‘Enjoying God’s presence’)
“Just like you would be hurt and offended if someone were to come in and edit or alter your dramatizations or your book, I am offended when you don’t believe that my creation is worthy or good enough.”
Obviously I struggle with confidence, yes I have read ‘So Long Insecurity’ and I am getting better every day.
Thank you for your service.
God Bless!
The title of your article caught my eye as it was the exact same words our senior pastor said to my husband and I (newlyweds of one year), as we were contemplating in frustration why God had not opened the doors for us to go to the mission field. You see, we had just graduated from a missionary training school, and were convinced that God had called us into the life of a missionary. We were ready to go!! It was our hearts desire and the passion to serve Him in missions was birthed in both of us at a young age. Why would He not choose to send us?!! We were most willing! As each prospective door closed, our frustration grew. When we met with our senior pastor to discuss it, he wisely said ” Perhaps God is asking you to bloom where you are planted, and right now it is the time for you to do so!”. I am so grateful and thankful for his wisdom as we choose to do just that…not always with a glad heart, but submitted and yielded ourselves to that season of life. PRaise God that we did…because 21 yrs later, He is now calling us to “GO”and we are answering the call!!! Never thought at age 46, HE would grant the desire and calling of our hearts! We are excited for what God has in store! We are heading to Kenya Africa to fulfill the great commission and reach the groups of people who have never heard the gospel! PTL for His faithfulness!!! To God be the Glory!!
I love this message, its really helping me to focus in prayer on truth, thank you sisters, and for the girl a-z call to faith, so glad for the mp3 chance to review and all. PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW…
Thank you so much for sharing this. I’m a little behind reading some of my blogs, but this was perfectly timed by God for me today…