"Flourish" is my 2011 Word for the Year. By January 1st of each year the Lord graciously provides a word of focus for the year. I began asking Him for this 5 years ago and the words ENJOY, CONSIDER, REFRESH, EXPAND and now FLOURISH have become both a source of strength and encouragement.
The common definition for the verb flourish includes to thrive - to be at the peak of development - to prosper - to succeed and(my favorite) "to grow vigorously". Wow! What will this year bring? The word also brings a certain measure of excitement along with a healthy dose of fear. With preparation and maintenance in place, I set my sites beyond what is seen in order to thrive, succeed, prosper, be at the peak of development . . . FLOURISH!
Advertising giant David Ogilvy's challenge comes to play here when he said, "Don't bunt, aim out of the ballpark!"
To flourish requires an aiming-out-of-the-park type of focus which is beyond ourselves and out of our perceived reach.
"The only way of finding the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible." Arthur C. Clarke
The word flourish is often used in connection with soft-scape . . . trees, bushes, flowers and the like. As a plant turns it's leaves toward the sun to soak up the rays or to the heavens to receive the necessary rain, the result is lush foliage, gorgeous flowers and delicious fruit.
In the same way, we turn our hearts toward our loving Creator absorbing all of who He is which in turn fosters a lovely presence that exudes beauty from within and produces the fruit of the Spirit all around us... we FLOURISH!
"Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God." Psalm 92:13 KJV
Our Heavenly Father is focused on us with the targeted purpose of causing us to thrive! The Psalmist David, a man after God's own heart, records this prayer . . .
"May the LORD cause you to flourish, both you and your children." Psalm 115:14 NIV
And here is His promise for prosperity made to Abraham through an angel . . .
"I'll bless you—oh, how I'll bless you! And I'll make sure that your children flourish—like stars in the sky! like sand on the beaches!" Genesis 22:15 The Message
Yes, even our children will reach their peak of potential through His blessings of love poured out on us. So when all is said and done, to flourish is God's desire for us ... it is His intention and His will.
Today let us embrace the same resolve to flourish as my niece so eloquently expressed in these words, "When my life here is finished, I want to die empty, having used every ounce of potential God has given me and having fulfilled all of His purposes for me on this earth. May 2011 be known as the year I pour out just as quickly as God pours in!"
"So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well." Philippians 1:9 The Message
Blessings ... as you flourish - loving much and loving well on the courts of life!
YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED . . . click on "comments" at the top right of this entry or send them directly to sportmoms@comcast.net
©2011 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
The common definition for the verb flourish includes to thrive - to be at the peak of development - to prosper - to succeed and(my favorite) "to grow vigorously". Wow! What will this year bring? The word also brings a certain measure of excitement along with a healthy dose of fear. With preparation and maintenance in place, I set my sites beyond what is seen in order to thrive, succeed, prosper, be at the peak of development . . . FLOURISH!
Advertising giant David Ogilvy's challenge comes to play here when he said, "Don't bunt, aim out of the ballpark!"
To flourish requires an aiming-out-of-the-park type of focus which is beyond ourselves and out of our perceived reach.
"The only way of finding the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible." Arthur C. Clarke
The word flourish is often used in connection with soft-scape . . . trees, bushes, flowers and the like. As a plant turns it's leaves toward the sun to soak up the rays or to the heavens to receive the necessary rain, the result is lush foliage, gorgeous flowers and delicious fruit.
In the same way, we turn our hearts toward our loving Creator absorbing all of who He is which in turn fosters a lovely presence that exudes beauty from within and produces the fruit of the Spirit all around us... we FLOURISH!
"Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God." Psalm 92:13 KJV
Our Heavenly Father is focused on us with the targeted purpose of causing us to thrive! The Psalmist David, a man after God's own heart, records this prayer . . .
"May the LORD cause you to flourish, both you and your children." Psalm 115:14 NIV
And here is His promise for prosperity made to Abraham through an angel . . .
"I'll bless you—oh, how I'll bless you! And I'll make sure that your children flourish—like stars in the sky! like sand on the beaches!" Genesis 22:15 The Message
Yes, even our children will reach their peak of potential through His blessings of love poured out on us. So when all is said and done, to flourish is God's desire for us ... it is His intention and His will.
Today let us embrace the same resolve to flourish as my niece so eloquently expressed in these words, "When my life here is finished, I want to die empty, having used every ounce of potential God has given me and having fulfilled all of His purposes for me on this earth. May 2011 be known as the year I pour out just as quickly as God pours in!"
"So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well." Philippians 1:9 The Message
Blessings ... as you flourish - loving much and loving well on the courts of life!
YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED . . . click on "comments" at the top right of this entry or send them directly to sportmoms@comcast.net
©2011 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
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