There are many things in life that can cause fear. Some that will literally keep you from doing things and going places, etc. As a child my grandfather and I would load up on his horses and go for a ride. Truth is it was my favorite thing to do with “pappa”. He would give me that look as if to say, “are you ready for a ride?” He would saddle up the horses with such care and off we would go. His dog TOP was our guide. Somedays I wasn’t sure who was more excited about our ride.. me or him… Top was our protector. He would run ahead as if to watch for snakes and fox and was always ready to alert us of impending danger. Truth is one day we had an accident one that scared me so bad that I stopped riding. Just couldn’t do it. Couldn’t get over my fear. As life moved on and years went by I had sorta stuffed my horse riding days way back in my memories. Not sure when but at some point they began to surface. Truth is with several big birthdays I would say, “okay this is the year I’m going to get back on a horse”…. We booked this trail ride prior to leaving on our trip so I had some time to think about it. There was much anticipation prior to our arrival that day. I have to say by the time we arrived I had a knot in my stomach but there was also a new found excitement. We all loaded up and off we went into the woods for a 3 hour adventure. OMG it was amazing. The ride took us up the mountain, through the Aspens, through creek beds, around the Lake, and all the time the wind was blowing in our faces. The sun would peek through every now and then as a reminder that GOD is someone much bigger than ourselves controlling it all. The peace of getting back on was amazing. I share this to say to you. “is there something that you fear”. Is there something from your past that you are struggling with. Something you’d like a re-do with. Something that you need to face to overcome the backlash or the fear. God is always in control. He keeps all the doors and roads open for our recovery. He wants us to reclaim our ground to proclaim victory OVER all things that would keep us down or in fear. “We are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Romans 8:27 To conquer is to be victorious over an adversary. To be “more than a conqueror” means we not only achieve victory, but we are overwhelmingly victorious.To be more than conquerors means we face the trials of life with the certainty that we are not alone. Have a blessed day. I say to you, “get back in the saddle”…. Know that you can DO IT.. DO anything with GOD. Be an overcomer.

TO me there is nothing more beautiful than SUNFLOWERS. They just have a way of brightening up your day. These were given to me recently by a dear friend. I placed them in a spot where I would see them first thing every morning. They lasted longer than normal and truth is they just seemed to smile at me when I would enter the room each morning.

Sadly enough a few days ago they began to WILT. As I watched them change slowly but surely, some thoughts came to mind. I did a little research.

What does it really mean to WILT? WILT….. verb /wilt/ past tense: wilted; 1.(of a plant, leaf, or flower) become limp through heat, loss of water, or disease; droop.(of a person) lose one’s energy or vigor.

So lets convert WILT terms for a flower to HUMAN terms.

Limp through heat- Facing things that seem too MUCH.Loss of water- Removed ourselves from the word of God. The river of life.

DISEASE- what have you attached yourself to that is killing you?

Droop- Sad in spirit. Loss of Energy or vigor- Simply tired.

Have you been WILTED or do you feel as if you may WILT right now? Is something weighing heavy on your mind, body and spirit at this very moment? DO you feel as if your water ( your life line) has been removed? DO you find yourself hopeless, tired and wilted? Life will bring things that cause you to get tired ( wilted). ARE you thirsty for renewal, revival, recovery? If your WILTED right now just remember you don’t have to die there.

The Opposite of WILT is to Thrive, Flourish, to gain new LIFE. Replace that space of wilting with HOPE… Hope for a future. Hope for peace. If your feeling wilted this morning I hope you will take the time to read these verses below. They are a reminder that God holds the “revival dirt” in his hands for you. He can bring you to a place where you can THRIVE and FLOURISH.

Matthew 11: 28-29 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Jeremiah 31:25 “I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

Isaiah 40: 8 The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.

James 1:11a For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its flower falls and its beauty is lost.