Author J. Conard

Comfortably my calico Patches sat on the small step ladder in front of an opened bedroom window.  Perfectly elevated she scanned for movement outside the apartment. Once in a while tension sat in her haunches indicating something caught her interest. Snorts followed the beat of her thudding tail as if saying, “No nonsense!”

Silently sitting in front of my computer a blank document stared back at me. Words, thoughts and feelings began generating. Where God do I find the turn on valve so what’s inside can flow and become a message? For a moment I sat with my eyes fixed once again on my calico’s warrior mentality.

So, it began. The blanket document became clothed with a message of hope. My cat revealed her territorial instinct when something unwanted became too close to our domain. God is very protective of His children.

Trials, temptations and closed doors aren’t abandonment. Trials become a soldering tool that sems valiancy to kingdom warriors. Temptation escalates a resilience in us we’ve never encountered. A friend and I had a    discussion about drawing close to God, regaining ground. Desolate places become sacred ground, holy ground. Now I understand more than ever how important our spiritual deserts and valleys are. Ruble, deadness, and dearth are swallowed up the moment we invited Jesus on the journey. Stagnation flees the moment we speak, “God I’m weak but You are strong in me.” The overpowering stench from the drought will fade upon the arrival of, The Lily of the Valleys.”

Beloved it’s going to look as if nothing good is emerging. Speaking from experience I understand. Overwhelming circumstances targeting every ounce of hope, swollen eyes reveal a broken heart, numbness sets in dulling senses and desertion continually screams, “You are all alone! Nobody Cares!” Don’t entertain it, not even for a moment!

Jesus says, “I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters. As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons.”

We must declare, “I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love. His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me.” Song of Solomon 2: 1-6 KJV

Make these places Holy Ground, it’s your domain. One day you’ll be able to see evidence of God’s power when then you didn’t! No Nonsense!

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