Last week, I wrote about being bold and I shared the story of one momma’s wish for her daughter. God showed up during that conversation and graced all three of us with a new understanding of boldness. To catch up from last week click here.
So if boldness took root in that daughter’s heart and God breathed life into the tiny seed that was planted that evening, what else can cause boldness to bloom?
Fast forward a week later and listen in on a new conversation between a mom and her son – a conversation that I was blessed to witness – a conversation that spoke of unconditional love, pride and joy spilled out by a mom who had seen the obstacles her son had already overcome in the short span of 9 years.
This mom dreamed for her son to be able to speak clearly, without hesitation and for his brain to connect to the muscles needed to make the sounds. This boy has apraxia of speech – a disorder in a child that causes the brain to misfire and not coordinate the muscle movements needed to say sounds, syllables and words. Learn more here from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
As I was encouraging the mom, who is a full-time student herself trying to make a better way for her family, she boldly declared that her son was an overcomer. Her words described the determination her son has always possessed and how it carries over into everything he faces. My simple words of “he’s a hard worker” fell short of the pride and love this mom felt for her son and all he has overcome to get to where he is in third grade. His determination shows a new kind of boldness which is mirrored by his ability to overcome the “big” things that come his way.
God brings us boldness through our struggles.
God blesses us with a determination to overcome the obstacles along the way!
Bold bloomed for this mom and son and determination was the factor that fostered its growth.
Bold blooms when we accept and allow God to be the center of our lives. Bold is nourished by God’s Word.
Bold will blossom when we add determination.
A focused drive toward following God and living our lives for Him is a result of boldness watered with determination.
As we look at determination and how to best use this in our own lives to increase our boldness for God, I am reminded of the story of Ruth. When her mother-in-law Naomi urged her to go back home after her husband had died, Ruth proclaimed that she would follow her wherever she would go. Ruth was not taking “no” for an answer and these beautiful words followed:
16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.”18 When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.
I pray we are all blessed with the determination to follow God with the boldness of Ruth. God will cultivate us and nourish us with His grace and love along the way.
As a result of these last two weeks, I have learned that God is pouring His words about boldness onto this page for me and He is clearly saying…
My child – these words are for you! I am asking you to be bold for me. Will you say “yes”? Please join me in praying for all, that when God calls us to action, we are able to say “yes” and follow Him in boldness! Will YOU say “YES”?
Linking up this year with Ann Voskamp’s 2014 Joy Dare. Find the link up at A Holy Experience. Counting blessings daily will bless you immeasurably! JoyDare #205-226
- Learning more about myself through a work evaluation, knowing I am never alone in my walk, ending day with a book study
- Do I dare dream Spring is here-tempting warmth today,love of a student-you are the best 3rd grade teacher,joy in friends
- Great conversations with parents tonight,affirmation God has me right where He wants me,spring headed back to winter
- Fun twitter party #incouragewriters , grade level team bonding, the weekend in my sights and waiting to begin
- Quick change in weather from winter to spring, time with my dad #priceless ,swirling clouds marked w/ reddish hues
- Sun-infused walk outside to get my blood pumping, time at church to hear God’s Word and impact on us, a salmon burger for dinner
- Blessed to be given another day,time well spent w/ my oldest son to catch up on life,knowing spring will arrive on Thurs
Please take a minute to visit these wonderful blogs I’m blessed to be linking with:
I love this blogosphere! It is such a great unifier. I started reading and realized that you, Miss Mary, have linked up over at P31 on our blog hops there, too. May God continue to make you BOLD for him. (And may He continue to give you glimpses of heaven in those conversations that you overhear.)
So glad you stopped by! I love that I see familiar faces as I’m participating in link ups, joining other communities and as part of the comment section on my favorite blogs. I’ll be looking for you and pray we both are BOLD for God in our lives. Blessings!
Wow! I love the new “bold” look you have here at your blog, Mary! It certainly set the tone for me as I read your post today! One of my favorite things to do is take something like “boldness” that is so elusive and intangible sometimes and break it down into simple ways to act on it. That’s exactly what you’ve done here, my friend, and it really gives me “handles” for being bolder. I also loved the inspiring story you were a witness to with the mom and her son. It reminded me not just of their boldness but their courage–something I need to pursue and let God build up in my own life. Thanks, sweet friend! I hope you are doing well on your grieving journey. I still have you on my prayer list!
One of the blessings as a teacher is to witness interactions such as described in my post. God orchestrates such occasions to teach us all. My journey through grief definitely ebbs and flows. Visiting my dad is always bittersweet. Thank you for you continued prayers. You are a blessing to me!
Thank you for sharing such encouragement to step out in faith and boldness. (Visiting from Better Blog FB)
Thank you Amy! I caught your post on how your life changed because of one teacher and the words spoken in that moment. Powerful! Blessings to you today!
Mary, it’s so lovely to “meet you” through Holly’s linkup today. I am actually doing an online Bible study in Ruth right now, so I will be sharing your post with my Bible study girls.
One of my favorite verses on the subject of boldness is Psalms 138:3 — “In the day when I cried out, You answered me, And made me bold with strength in my soul.”
So glad to meet you too! Ruth has always been an inspiration to me and her life is such an example of how we all should live. I referenced Psalm 138:3 in my first post about bold – “Be Bold” and the version I chose said to be bold and stouthearted. Something about that last word made me feel strength. Love that you stopped by!
Boldness watered by determination…what God can do with those is astounding! So good to read your post after reading Joanne’s on Ruth and Barb’s on seed-bearing. I think it’s a theme for Testimony Tuesday! Thanks for linking up, my friend.
It is definitely a great theme and I believe we might be getting inspiration from the anticipation of spring. Thank you for the weekly link up and encouragement.
Mary, Thank you for sharing these thoughts. Praying that as I stay nourished in His Word, God will plant boldness in me. I needed to read this today. So glad we were neighbors this morning at Soli Deo Gloria. Have a great Tues!
So glad our paths keep crossing. You with your series on Ruth and me exploring “Bold”. Praying the example of Ruth emboldens us to go wherever God leads us. Blessings!
Hi Mary. Thank you for these beautiful posts on boldness coming from God. Just 10 years ago I learned to be bold for God in front of my family. That was the toughest thing I ever had to do. They are still adjusting and trying to understand the change in me. They were used to me always pleasing them, although I’d be bold at school and other social situations as needed. But being bold and standing up for my new found faith was a shocker. Not many people understand that boldness can be good and honors God when it is, as you say, “A focused drive toward following God and living our lives for Him”. God bless you! Visiting from Better Bloggers 😉
Marisela – You blessed me with your kind words and for taking the time to stop by. I know a lot will be changing in my future but some of the boldness is just starting to unfold. Blessings!!!