Darla Dumler

Darla Dumler
Darla Dumler

Friday, March 30, 2012

My Flower Garden


The early spring weather called me to my flower garden. My first glance revealed the dead leaves from the fall and winter. Looking closer I saw sprouts of hope amid the decay. I knelt down and began to pull away the dead remains and discovered shoots of weeds, grass, and flowers stretching toward the sun. I wondered how I had let the weeds get so out of control. Was I too busy at the end of summer? Had I lost interest in the beauty?

I began to wonder what weeds in my heart and soul I have also let get out of control in this season of winter. With each pull of a weed I prayed for God to revel any weeds in my heart just waiting to grow. I asked Him to help me keep a closer watch in my garden and take care of the weeds at the start. I have spent way too many years ignoring them, only to find myself fighting them for years to get them out so I could see the SON once more.

With the help of Christ and the forgiveness of my sins, I can pull my weeds out root and all. Not only has God helped me with weed control, he has planted some new flowers. It will be exciting to see them reach for the SON, and I anticipate their glorious colors and shapes this coming year. 

My prayer for the garden of my life and yours as we make Christ the center is found in Isaiah 58:11, The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.”

 What is the condition of your heart garden?

Friday, March 9, 2012

Gifts from Heaven


“It’s all right,” he said. “Don’t be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks;” Genesis 43:23 NIV

I am your Father and I have given you treasures—gifts from heaven. I have personally designed and imparted them to you. On your journey through life, please discover them, learn about them, embrace them, and grow in them. Don’t allow the whispering of Satan to create fear of failure or of success. Come to me first through prayer and my word to gain wisdom, understanding, and confidence. You have a choice to trust in me and forge ahead on the path I’ve made for you or to let fear rob you of the potential and possibilities these gifts will enhance in your character, your life, and your destiny. I smile when I see you enjoying your gifts and especially when you share them with others as I have shared with you.

Today when you feel fear pressing you to hide or pull back from your gifts, stop for a minute, look heavenward, and say, “God, I will use my gifts to encourage one person today and to grow. My faith and gifts from you are greater than any fear in my head. Thank you for my gifts and the smile I will bring to your face.”

Friday, March 2, 2012

Life’s EKG




Have you ever seen the printout tape from an EKG? It shows the rhythm of your heart beat. It has highs and lows and times right in the middle. As I have looked at the events in my life and mapped out the highs and lows, I began to see the resemblance to an EKG. 

One of the interesting things I noticed while I mapped out my life appeared when I added where God showed up along the way; He was everywhere. I am alive today because of the hope Jesus planted deep in my soul when I was very young. Even though my early life’s circumstances and experiences often brought pain, in my core I still believed God was with me and things would somehow turn out for the good in the end. 

God was especially in the low parts of life when all was stripped away. I learned to trust and lean on Him. In the valleys I came heart to heart with God and I began to trust and believe He loved me for me and not for what I was or could be. He loves the imperfect human me and he has a plan for me. This is where I began to crave more time with God to get to know him more each day. I dove into His word, and that is where I want to remain. The growth of my personal relationship with God has brought revelation and confidence in knowing who I really am in Christ. 

I realized the course of my life’s journey created the “me” I am today - and I like me! In the past I rarely felt this way. I have embraced my past and I am thankful for the lessons and strength Christ gives me. I’ve come to understand that as long as I am on this earth, my life’s journey will continue to go up and down so I can learn and continue to grow. I pray my life’s lows will never be as bad as the ones I’ve experienced in the past, but I choose to release my control and will to allow God to work His will.  Only in that way I will turn out to be all He had planned for me to be. I won’t fight the rhythms of change and challenge; I will ask what I need to learn so I can grow. 

Being a child of God is about serving and sharing with others so they can see Christ in me and desire to connect with Christ personally. It isn’t about my comfort and happiness. Besides, no one can steal my joy or hurt and imprison my spirit. In Christ I am free indeed. I want to get to my home in heaven and run into the arms of Jesus.  I want Him to hug me and tell me how pleased He is that I embraced and learned from the rhythm of my life. This is my ultimate focus and goal.

What do you want at the end of your life’s read out?