Flourishing in Every Season: Rooted & Rising

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Well, hello, my valued listeners, and welcome back to another episode of Living in Your Power.
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I'm your host, Dr. Marlene Greenleaf, and as always, I am truly grateful that
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you have chosen to spend this time with me today.
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As we close out our June theme, Freedom to Flourish, Growing into What God Has Planned,
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We've spent this month reflecting on being planted with purpose Embracing pruning,
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Blooming where we are And trusting God when growth feels slow,
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And today,
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we bring it all together Today's episode, the fifth and final episode in our
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Tune series Is titled, Flourishing in Every Season,
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So let's dive in.
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When we hear the word flourish, I mean, many of us picture success.
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I mean, we picture abundance, we picture achievement, we picture a season where
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everything is finally working out.
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But what if flourishing is deeper than that?
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What if flourishing is not determined by circumstances?
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What if flourishing is not dependent upon having everything go according to plan?
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Because if we are honest, life doesn't work that way. No, sir.
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There will always be seasons of joy and seasons of challenge.
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Seasons of clarity and seasons of uncertainty.
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Seasons of growth and seasons of waiting.
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Yet, God never intended for our peace, our purpose, or our sense of fulfillment
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to be dependent on perfect conditions.
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True flourishing begins on the inside, long before it becomes visible to the outside.
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Now the scripture on Psalms 92, 12 verses 12 through 14 says,
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The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree.
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He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
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Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our gods.
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They shall still bring forth fruit in old age. They shall be fat and flourishing.
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I love the imagery of this passage. The palm trees bend, but they do not break.
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The cedar grows strong, but it does not bend.
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It stays strong and is deeply rooted. And those who remain planted,
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they continue to be a fruit.
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Now notice what the scripture does not say. It does not say that flourish only when life is easy.
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It does not say they flourish only when conditions are favorable.
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It says, in fact, that they flourish because they are planted.
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Their flourishing is connected to their foundation.
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And that is a powerful reminder for all of us.
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If I reflect on this month, I see a beautiful progression.
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First.
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We learn that we are planted with purpose. Then, we explore the reality of pruning,
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and making room for growth.
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We learn to bloom where we were instead of positioning our lives while waiting for a future season.
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And last week, we talked about trusting the process when growth feels slow.
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Now, every one of these lessons point us towards the same truth, yellow says.
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And that is that flourishing is not an event. It is a way of living.
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It is choosing to remain rooted, choosing to remain faithful,
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and choosing to trust God in every season.
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Not because everything is perfect, but because He is perfect.
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And when we remain connected to the source, growth continues even when we cannot see it.
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So let's return to that beautiful promise. It says, the righteous shall flourish like the palm tree.
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A tree does not wake up one morning and suddenly become strong, jealous, no.
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In fact, its strength develops over time, season by season, root by root, year by year.
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And the same is true for us.
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So, as we close this month I want you again to take a few moments To reflect on these,
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What has God been growing in me During this season? Where have I seen evidence
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of growth That I may have overlooked?
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And what does flourishing mean to me today?
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How can I remain rooted Regardless of the season I'm experiencing?
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And as always I'll repeat those prompts for you,
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for your reflection for this week I want you to ask these questions what has
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God been growing in me during this season,
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where have I seen evidence of growth that I may have overlooked,
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what does flourishing mean to me today And how can I remain rooted regardless
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of the season I'm experiencing?
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I want you to remember that flourishing is not about perfection. It's about connection.
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So in closing today, dear listeners, as we close out this June series,
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I want to leave you with this.
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You do not have to wait for perfect circumstances to flourish.
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You do not have to wait for every prayer to be answered.
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You do not have to wait until you feel completely ready.
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You can flourish right here right
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now because flourishing is not found in having everything figured out,
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it is found in remaining brooded in the one who sustains us.
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I want to thank you for joining me throughout this month's journey on Freedom
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to Flourish, Growing into what God has Planted.
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I hope these conversations have encouraged you to trust the process,
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embrace your season, and continue growing into all that God has planted within you.
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I know it certainly has for me These words that I say each and every week,
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They are encouragement for me also, not just for you So again,
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I hope these conversations have encouraged you To trust the process,
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Embrace your season And continue growing into all that God has planted within you,
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so continue to live boldly in your power today and if it gets tough just breathe,
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you still got the strength to rise so until next time when I see you when you
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hear me continue to live in your power,
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and remember,
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to continue growing into all that God has planted within you.