Strength is for Service
Joseph interpreted other peoples dreams for years before his came to fruition. He didn't stop serving because his dreams appeared to be on hold or cancelled. He walked in his calling. He used his strength to serve others. Lionesses (we) are called to serve. The Lord gives us strength in order to serve those He has put in our sphere of influence.
I know this may look like I am going completely off topic but let’s look at Gomer, the wife of Hosea for a moment.
Gomer's name means "complete". It comes from the root word which means "to come to an end".
Her father's name was Diblaim and his name means "2 cakes".
By virtue of Gomer's name, I find that her intended destiny was much different than the one she actually lived out. Her name means complete. Her destiny, like all of ours, was to come to the end of herself and truly live for the One who loved her. This did not happen. We are told in the book of Hosea that she lived the life of a prostitute; even after her marriage to the prophet.
So, what happened to Gomer? How did she fall so far from the mark? Could it be that the good and worthy attributes in her were ignored because the person who raised her and nurtured her, Mr. 2 Cakes, was more into fluff and pleasure than substance and things that last? Gomer was raised, quit literally, by dessert!
{ Dessert is nice to look at and sweet to the taste. The pleasure it gives can be addictive (at least in the U.S where most desserts are cakes, pies, ice cream, pudding, etc). Bad dessert has no nutritional value (remember, Gomer was raised by Mr. 2 Cakes, not Mr. 2 Fruit Cakes). The original intent of dessert (and still is in other countries), was to complete the meal by helping in its digestion. Dessert was supposed to be something like fruit, which contains those important digestive enzymes. Dessert was helpful, but only after the main course was eaten}.
Figuratively speaking, Gomer never got the main course in her upbringing. She was denied the nutrients that she needed in order to grow up to be a healthy, holy adult.
So, what does this mean for us, as Lionesses? I take it as a warning and a plea to open our eyes to the children in our lives.
I wonder who it was that failed Gomer? What woman in her life was called to feed her the main course and make up for what was lacking in her diet? God made someone strong to help Gomer, and we are left to assume that they did not use their strength for service toward her.
Who is your Gomer? Who is the cub, that belongs to someone else, that you are called to take spiritual responsibility for? It's ok to feed and nurture some one else's young!
There is a young woman I know called Brittney H, and I look at her in amazement. Brittney is the alpha lioness who owns the territory we call K Street. That territory is full of little Gomers on the road to being adult Gomers. Little Gomers that are destined to completeness in Christ but have no one to lead them. What kind of atmosphere are these Gomers being raised in?
Rogue lions roam the land, taking what they want instead of protecting and securing the future of their young.
Lionesses aren't taught to feed and nurture their young.
They don't know how to greet and groom one another. It's every lioness for herself.
They don't know who they are, so lions who are made for community, live like Cheetah's who are made to be loners.
Everyone is not called to the Inner City. Is there another territory that you are called to rule? Have you submitted your heart to hear what the Lord is saying so that your Gomer doesn't grow up to be Gomer the prostitute? Hosea's Gomer had children that were named "Scattered, No Mercy & Not My People". Imagine if you could reach your Gomer before she became a woman of whoredoms and had children of whoredoms?!!
Gomer had a chance to be complete, but her upbringing ruined that chance. Her father, Diblaim, was truly "da blame" for her outcome. I don't want to be Diblaim for anyone failing to live up to their destiny in Christ. I want to answer each call, as they come, to use the strength He gives me to serve those in need. I want to help little cubs come to completion in Christ.