Bloom Where God Plants You


Book Description

"If someone had told me that someday I would settle on the far side of the sea, eat bugs, poison myself, hold over a dozen scorpions in my hand, stand barefoot by a tarantula and allow a wall spider to spend the night above my pillow, I would have laughed. Those antics are for people who compete for prize money on television! No amount of money could entice me to do such things!" It wasn't money that took Wendland across the sea. It was her desire to follow God's call to serve alongside her missionary husband. Wendland's email correspondence with her family forms the backbone of Bloom Where God Plants You, a book that shares the ups and downs of life and ministry in Malawi, Africa. Her heartfelt and humorous insights are augmented by Scripture passages, hymn verses and prayers. Life for this mission mom in Malawi is a rollercoaster ride that you can now share without a passport, jet lag, or culture shock. Rebecca Wendland is the wife of WELS Missionary Robert Wendland, who was called to serve the Lutheran Church of Central Africa in Malawi, Africa in 2003. Before moving to Africa, Wendland earned a teaching degree from Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minnesota, and taught at Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School in Jackson, Wisconsin and Redemption Lutheran School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her teaching skills are used daily in raising their four children. She and her family currently live in Blantyre, Malawi, Africa.




Bloom Wherever God Plants You


Book Description

Dean Joshua Mastine Nisbett reflects on God’s involvement and purpose in his life. He reminisces over four decades of ordained ministry in two parishes. Several parallels are made between the author and Biblical characters. The call of Jeremiah while still in his mother’s womb. Hannah, dedicating her child to God’s service and Dean Nisbett’s parents baptizing him when he was nineteen days old. Amos, the dresser of sycamore trees called to be a prophet and Dean Nisbett’s call from the grafting of fruit trees to assist in the grafting of souls. The anointing of David, to be king of Israel and the election of Dean Nisbett as the second rector of St. David’s Episcopal Church. Abraham’s sacrificial testing of his son Isaac, and the near-death experience of Jevon, Dean Nisbett’s son. Joshua, who led the Israelites into the Promised Land, and Joshua who led St. David’s into their “Promised Land.” Haggai’s call for the rebuilding of the temple, and Dean Nisbett’s congregation building a house of worship. Jesus’ passion death and resurrection and Dean Nisbett’s challenges at the onset of his ministry. The author also identified with no room at the INN at Bethlehem, and the flight to Egypt by the Holy Family. Often times the lectionary readings resonates with a current experience of the author. Through prayer, meditation, radical trust in God, creative and mutual ministry, difficulties were turned into opportunities and a little church was transformed into a healthy one. Reflecting on a pilgrimage to Ghana, Dean Nisbett gives a graphic description of the African Slave Trade. He agonizes over the Anglican Church’s role in the business but is convinced God planted him in the said church to help change the narrative.




Dare to Bloom


Book Description

Either by choice or by circumstance, we all encounter times of starting over. Seasons of hardships, abundance, seeking, and struggle all have a purpose because growth demands change. Dare to Bloom urges us to be both vulnerable and resilient in new seasons of life as we boldly position ourselves for what God has for us next. Serial entrepreneur and author, Zim Flores (neè Ugochukwu), reveals the challenges she's faced and how even her failures have helped shape her sense of purpose. Her parents had big plans for her life. The daughter of Nigerian immigrants, Zim Flores was uprooted from her community as a young girl, marking the beginning of her quest for true identity. Though she experienced unprecedented worldly success as a teenager and young adult, Zim declares that even when we feel pressured by the world around us, our true identity is never at risk. In Dare to Bloom, Zim offers practical and hard-won truths about: How to reclaim your true identity How to surrender your desired outcomes to God How to move forward after broken friendships How to find comfort during your darkest hours How to navigate new beginnings with hope for whatever is next How to joyfully participate in your own story--even when you don't know what the future holds Dare to Bloom is a powerful gift for readers in times of transition or struggle who need a reminder that their true identity never changes. It empowers those who feel stuck in their current circumstances to follow God obediently into the unknown, finding joy in each new beginning. Inside you'll find: Breathtaking photography from Zim's travels Thoughtful questions for reflection at the end of each chapter Zimisms--wisdom-filled phrases from the author When everything changes around us, it can be easy to think that we're only as good as our last success. Though our identities are challenged day by day, Dare to Bloom encourages us to reclaim our identity in God, who is unchanging through it all.




Waiting


Book Description

Reasons why this book is a must for you; it shows you: How to accept Gods plan for your life- How to have peace How to treat your enemies- How to grow more in Christ- How to be content, What are you waiting for and more importantly---how are you waiting? Wow!....I am at lost for words. What a powerful message. It brought tears to my eyes as if you were writing about my life and so many others. Davida Taylor I sincerely think this is a great message that needs to be shared with everyone. It made me think about my own experiences of frustration and hurt. Fred H. Seberhagen




Bloom Where You're Planted


Book Description

This daily devotional is about looking for God in our everyday lives. God gives us lessons in life to grow a stronger faith, but we need to watch for the blessings along our path. From the struggles of farm life, to the splendors of vacations. From the heartache of losing a loved one, to the joys of grand-parenting. From every day cleaning, to the blessings of unexpected precious moments. God is present in all that we do, if we simply slow down and look for the abundant life He offers. These devotions teach us that every lesson in life is from God as He molds us, shapes us, and helps us grow. All He asks in return is that you Bloom Where You're Planted and serve Him.




Grow Where God Plants You


Book Description

Grow Where God Plants You tells the story of a man, born sixth out of eleven siblings in a family that lived in a remote mountain community in western North Carolina, who settled on education as his pathway to discovering the wider world. As Dale G. Hooper made his way through high school, college, and graduate school, he began to hear God calling him to become a missionary. Answering that call, he served with Cross Culture Missionaries in Kenya in eastern Africa, for nearly three decades. Now toward the end of his eighth decade, he has embraced a new challenge: writing a chronicle of his lifes journey for friends, family, and all who feel drawn to a globe-spanning story of a life-changing adventure. Hooper demonstrates his victory over the voices that his flooded thoughts with questionsIs my adventure of life good enough to write about? Who would want to read it?and doubtsYou cant write this book. Youll never finish it. With an eye for detail and a keen sense of history as story, Grow Where God Plants You shows how one man responded to the soil in which Gods hand planted him.




Abandonment to Divine Providence


Book Description

God is to be found in the simplest of our daily activities and especially through total surrender to whatever is His will for each of us. That is the message of this 18th-century inspirational classic by Jean-Pierre de Caussade. Its encouragement to live in the present moment, accepting everyday obstacles with humility and love, has guided generations of seekers to spiritual peace and holiness. In this timeless spiritual classic, de Caussade presents the simple, profound gospel message that Jesus lived and taught: My meat is to do the will of my Father in heaven. The author states, The will of God gives to all things a supernatural and divine value for the soul submitting to it. The duties it imposes and those it contains become holy and perfect because everything it touches shares its divine character.This special volume of the famous spiritual treatise also includes the many insightful letters of Father de Caussade on the practice of self-abandonment. These numerous letters provide a great additional source of wisdom and much practical guidance for how to grow in abandonment and to deepen our union with God in our daily lives.De Caussade shows that this practice of self-abandonment to God's will is the key to attaining true peace and virtue, and that it is readily available to all people - from beginners to those well advanced in the spiritual life. He also shows how to determine what God's will is for us. He reveals that it is not extraordinary feats that God expects for our growth in holiness, but rather heroic attention to every detail in our lives and humble acceptance of our daily lot in life as coming from His hand. The rich spiritual lessons in this book have stood the test of time, offering real and practical assistance to all people because its message is simple and clear, one that the reader will find to be a rare treasure of inspiration and direction to be referred to again and again.




Supposing Him to Be the Gardener


Book Description

This sermon grew out of John 20:15: “Supposing him to be the gardener.” Spurgeon used an extensive well-tended garden as a setting for this discourse, probably Dr. Bennet’s large garden in Mentone, which Spurgeon frequently visited. When Jesus Christ is the gardener of creation it leads to many inferences: it spurs people to their duties, it relieves people from responsibilities they should never assume, it delivers people from fears, it is a warning for the careless, it is a calming influence to those who complain and lastly it is an outlook full of hope. Spurgeon said he is “hoping that I may open many roads of meditation for your hearts . . . to indicate in which direction you may look for a vein of precious ore.” This sermon has been updated to modern language.




Forget Me Not


Book Description

Inspirational address to women highlights five things they should never forget about their divine relationship with God: forget not to be patient with yourself; forget not the difference between a good sacrifice and a foolish sacrifice; forget not to be happy now; forget not the "why" of the gospel; and forget not that the Lord loves you.




Because You Love Me


Book Description

Because You Love Me, a women's devotional book, is a journey of faith, love, and direction for women seeking to develop an intimate relationship with God. Women share a unique place in God's heart because we are redeemed and chosen with a real purpose in His plan. Discovering that purpose is sometimes difficult because of who we believe we are in God's order, but we must allow God to deliver us from our preconceived notions to find our real purpose. When we develop a relationship with God, we learn that we are complete with Him, daughters of the Highest, with spiritual gifts at our command.In these pages, you will find daily scripture, commentary, and prayers that give comfort, inspiration, and spiritual blessing to grow you into the woman that God intended you to be. There are fifty-two weeks of devotions included in this book--one devotional for every day to lead and guide you through your spiritual journey with God.