Tethered or Withered?

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 NLT


If you have been around me for any length of time, or have had occasion to read any of my previous posts, you may have noticed that God speaks to me in metaphors. It’s not an audible voice that I hear, rather a thought that comes that I cannot claim as my own.

Recently, I have traveled and experienced God in ways I am not sure I can adequately convey. Between the crisp mountain air and natural formations of Colorado Springs and the beauty of a state park in Indiana, God has spoken through the voice of the very natural wonders He created. Even so, the most recent metaphoric revelation occurred in my own back yard.

Sometime early in the summer, my sweet daughter took the seeds of a butternut squash and tossed them across the fence dividing the land behind us and our backyard. She had hoped it would produce fruit in the same manner we harvested a beautiful little pumpkin the previous year. At the beginning of September as hints of autumn began to appear, we discovered the seeds had taken root and a vine began to grow along the barbed wire fence.

Upon inspection of the vine, one could see the strong, but tiny tendrils that gave the vine stability and the thick stalk that curled around the fence. The beautiful yellow flowers began to peak from underneath the covering of the thick, large leaves and occasionally, we’d see the flowers fall off and give way to the swell of fruit underneath. 

Not all the flowers produced fruit and some of the fruit that did grow only lasted a few days. Then, much to our surprise, a squash began to grow. 

As I watched the surviving fruit transform, I observed that very few of the other flowers produced such a fruit. And soon, we had another.

My sweet daughter caught an amazing picture of the new growth. I was in awe of the beauty it possessed. So much can be said about the process of seed becoming fruit. Yet, it wasn’t until I got home from one of my trips that I really saw the lesson that the Lord was trying to teach me.

You see, when I had returned, our tiny little fruit didn’t look the same as when I had last seen it.

No longer was the vine strong and resilient. Now, it was twisted and limp. The fruit was no longer growing, but had actually seemed to have shrunk in size. Upon further inspection, I observed the true source of the problem – this length of the vine was no longer connected to the main vine – its source of life.

Curiosity drove me to inspect the vine further and to look at the larger fruit that still appeared to be attached. It was attached, but not in the way I expected. The stalk was attached, but it was barely hanging on. Most of the connection had been severed, but the fruit could still receive sustenance from the vine. Oh, how the lesson came alive!

Jesus told us in John 15 that He is the source of life. As with many verses of Scripture, we often recite just one portion of a passage, but when we evaluate the entire context of a concept, we can receive deeper revelation:

“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. (John 15:1-8, NLT, emphasis mine)

Echoes of that passage have rung in my mind and heart as I have traversed the last few weeks. Our small group is working through a Bible study on spiritual stamina.  Its purpose is to  encourage the very  disciplines that keep us connected to God.  The timing of this post s not coincidental as many of my recent conversations with God have been on this very topic. 

Jesus told the disciples that there is only one vine – Him. Apart from Him, we cannot grow. Apart from Him, we cannot produce fruit. Just as the farmer sowed seeds into the soil that is hard, rocky, or full of thorns, no good harvest will come forth. We oftentimes begin with high hopes and good intentions, but if we fail to stay connected to the source of our nourishment and strength, our fruit will wither and the branch will eventually be cut away.

Connectedness to God comes in many forms. It is not just reading His Word in your prayer closet or singing worship songs in the shower or car. It’s not only showing up for service on the weekends. All those things are extremely important, but what I believe the Lord was trying to teach us was that we must engage Him in conversation, invest in the life of our church and bond with other believers.

We, the vine branches, grow as we are connected to the One True Vine. The tendrils of our faith begin to grow as we allow ourselves to be immersed in God’s love and grace as well as draw from the truth of His Word. The fragrant flowers of our lives bloom and produce fruit as long as we stay engaged with His people and His church.

Granted, the trials we face cause us to want to withdraw. However, those are the times we must be tethered to the Vine, fiercely clinging to the source of all hope and strength that is only found in Jesus. We experience that strength and life when draw upon those with whom God has surrounded us. When we allow ourselves to become disconnected, our branch becomes weak and withered, and our will to reconnect fades with it.

Looking back at the pictures of the vine in my backyard, I’m drawn back to the fruit that held on with a broken stalk. The connection still existed, but at some point, the stalk broke and the fruit fell. What is left of the vine is slowly dying and soon, those bright flowers will no longer be a part of the scene as I look out my window.

Unlike the fruit, you and I can repair our connection to Christ. We can make the decision to reach up and out and find healing for our souls. We can choose to spend more time reading and praying.  We can decide to reconnect with those who are tethered to Him and draw strength and encouragement from them. We do not have to allow ourselves to be cut off and starved.

Deep within us exists the desire to remain in Him. We crave connectedness, not just to others but even more so to our Creator. He has built that into our DNA and it is not without reward. John 15:7 reminds us of the promise fulfilled for being tethered to Jesus: “But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!” The joy we have in staying connected to Jesus results in fruit for others and ourselves through answered prayer. The closer we get to Him, the more our prayers align with His Word and His will and the more fruitful our lives will become.

What do you need to do to reconnect to the Vine? Reach for Jesus and you will encounter a peace that passes all understanding and the strength to endure all seasons.

One Tear At A Time

Some days are harder than others.  Some are even harder still.  Lately, there are more of the latter.  Putting it all into words is difficult.  All I know is that these days are full of tears.  

There was a time when I couldn’t cry.  The pain in my heart was so deep, it practically surpassed the place where my tears lived.  I wanted to cry, but I think I felt numb.  Sometimes, I wish I was numb once again. Crying takes a lot of energy (and makes my eyes puff up!)

I know I’m not the only one to bring my tears before God.  I can’t imagine the ocean of tears that is brought before Him on a daily basis.  But, as I write, I am reminded that how we bring our tears before God can determine how we move through the pain that causes them.

In Luke, Chapter 7, verses 36 through 50, we read about the woman who came and washed Jesus’ feet with her tears and wiped them away with her hair.  She then anointed him with the precious perfume of her alabaster jar.  The Pharisees were appalled, as they knew her only to be a sinful woman.  But, Jesus looked at her tearful offering to be one of pure love and adoration.  And, he said to her, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”(v. 50, NLT)

There is so much to unpack in the entire passage.  However, I’m feeling led to concentrate on the last verse.  I will reiterate it to help us really grasp a hold of its truth: “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

First, let’s look at the woman’s offering.  She offered him not only her most prized, worldly possession, the perfume in the alabaster jar, but she offered him something even more precious – her tears.

The world often looks at weeping as a sign of weakness.  Even in our closest relationships, tears come when we are hurt, whether by word or deed.  Our tears come forth in times of physical pain, emotional trauma and even burn hot when we are angry.  Tears of joy seem to be rarer still, but if we consider this woman’s offering, we can see that her tears flowed from an incredible place deep within her soul.

Tears for the pain from the work that never seemed to end.  Tears for the wounded emotions resulting from her own choices and at the cruel words others had hurled at her.  Tears for the anger that raged within her as she listened to the world trying to define her.  Tears for the joy at meeting her Savior, and tears for the gratitude at hearing Him say, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

You and I shed tears for many of the same reasons.  Sometimes, we choose to let them fall, and at other times, we wish we could keep them hidden.  We must remember, however, that our tears are never hidden from God.  He actually values them!  

Psalm 56:8 says, “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle.  You have recorded each one in your book.” 

It’s an incredible thought, isn’t it?  Each tear we cry is precious to our Heavenly Father; so precious, in fact, that He collects and records every one.  

And, what does He do with them? He counts them as our faith offering and extends to us His peace in exchange.  

As hard as it is to fathom, when we cry out to God and we offer Him the substance of our tears, He shows us that we can come to Him with our burdens and exchange them for His peace.  Does He not tell us, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30, NLT)

Our tears represent our burdens, the things that weigh us down and keep us from moving forward.  Instead of offering my tears to Jesus, I have held on to them too tightly, bottling them up by the gallon.  It seems as if the more I cry, the more I hold on to the things my tears represent.  

But, that is not what I’m supposed to do with my tears. No matter what caused them to form, I am to run to the feet of Jesus and pour them out as an offering, exchanging the pain for the  peace and love of my Savior.  

I’m not saying this process is going be easy.  It takes faith to lay down your pain.  It takes faith to trust God for the exchange.  Even so, if I can give Him one tear at a time, that, my friend, will still be progress, for my sorrow will eventually become joy. 

“Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.”(Psalm 126:5-6, NLT) 

On the Edge of the Promised Land

I'm sure you've heard how hot and dry the desert can be. I often think of the swirling dust storms and the furtive movements of the creatures that call the sun-scorched land their home. I think of the dry, cold nights, where you can see sky for miles and miles. The mere thought makes my mouth feel parched.

Yet, these days, it is not my body that thirsts; it is my soul. You'd never know it to look at or even have a casual conversation with me. On the surface, I project my normal congeniality and most are none the wiser. Yet, deep inside, my heart pants like the deer for water - Living Water (Psalm 42).

When I think about being in the spiritual desert, or wilderness, so-to-speak, I think about the Israelites after they left Egypt. What could have been a three-day journey turned into forty years. An entire generation perished during that time. They grumbled, they complained, and they longed to go back to the land of their captivity. Yet God still provided everything they needed, and even more, He travlled with them! Cloud by day and fire by night, the Lord never left them (Exodus 13). And, still, they longed for something more.

I am faced with the same situation, thousands of years after Moses led the Israelites to the edge of the Promise Land. I have been grumbling, I have been complaining and I have been longing to return to something more familiar. Yet, I know the Lord is with me and He is providing everything I need. His presence has never left me.

Earlier this evening, I participated in a wonderful online group chat. Something that really resonated in my spirit was that the Hebrew word for "fulfillment" means "verified promise." Think about that with me for a minute - the fulfillment of God's promise is verification that He meant what He said! So much more than a casual commitment, it is the realization of all things that God speaks into existence. So much more than words, it is THE Word, made flesh. It is Jesus, Himself.

As I pondered this revelation, it occurred to me how weak my faith has been. Instead of pressing in to God and following His path to the fulfillment of His promises for my life, I have been asking God to "verify" His promises on my terms! How pompous! Who am I to demand anything from the very One who gave me all that I have to begin with?

I have come to realize that in the desert, we are distracted by the problems we face. We forget about the oasis that awaits us. We instead seek out the outcome we hope for and get angry and bitter when we discover it's all been a mirage. And then we quit, right before we get to the place where we can rest. We sit on the edge of the Promise Land and blame God for all that went wrong.

I don't want to sit on the edge of the promise. I want to carry on the purpose I have been called to and see it fulfilled. I want to be like Joshua and let my faith lead me and shows me a land flowing with milk and honey instead of the giants who block my view.

Perhaps this holiday season, the dry places of my soul can be watered and renewed. For too many years, I've gone back to my own version of Egypt, and I have allowed my soul to be taken captive by the comfort of the misery from which I have been set free.

This is not where God has called me to stay. The Egyptians of my past have already been defeated. I have walked through the Red Sea and traveled a long distance. Now, as I stand on the edge of where God wants to take me, do I want to allow the fear of the unknown and my own preconceived terms of the awaited promise to keep me from tasting all that is good before me?

No, instead, I will press into God, asking Him to wash me with the cleansing rain that soaks the dry ground and gives life to my weary bones. The desert is giving way to the rich soil of God's goodness. No matter how far I have traveled or how much further I have to go, God has already verified His promises to me. There are too many to count, but I assure you, that the greatest of them has been in the coming of His Son, just over 2000 years ago and the salvation that came with Him.

May the fulfillment of God's promise to the world in His Son, Jesus Christ, renew your own journey as you move into the New Year. Don't stand on the edge of your Promised Land, taken captive again by the things that cannot be changed or affected by the pain you hold in your heart.

Let the Light of the World shine brightly on your future and may the joy of the season be yours to keep all the year through.

"For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ." 2 Corinthians 4:6

Even the Black Cloud Holds Rain

I used to think that depression was just a form of emotional stress.  I then learned that it has to do with chemical imbalances and other physiological sources.  But, I have learned that there is another component to it as well – something deeper, more powerful and potentially deadly.  It’s a spirit sent to distract, tranquilize and ultimately kill.

While this may sound a bit melodramatic, let me just start by saying I’ve been dealing with depression since I was a child.  Like many, I was a victim of sexual abuse at a young age, which lead to many other complicated emotions and personality traits.  I did not know it was considered abuse at the time, as I was six and my abuser was still yet a child himself at nine.  Yet, the black cloud that followed me from that moment on brought heavy seasons of pain, guilt and depression on and off throughout my life.  

We used to treat depression in Christians as taboo, almost as if it was spiritually impossible to believe in God and yet still feel down and out.  In recent years, both believers and non-believers alike medicate their emotions with prescriptions, holistic alternatives, and unfortunately, other self-directed methods that drive a person further down the emotional black hole.

Regardless of what psychologists and psychiatrists say, we cannot solve a spiritual problem with man-made solutions.  Our healing comes from deep within us, but only when we have tapped into the supernatural love and grace that was placed in us by our Creator.

Let me get real and raw for a minute.  Depression, anxiety and mental illness is a spiritual stronghold in my family.  It’s roots run deep and we have been unsuccessful in ridding our land of this curse.  It has caused me to think terrible thoughts, thoughts that lend themselves to leaving this life.  As disturbing as those thoughts are, I know that is not what God has planned for me. Nonetheless, the depression runs deep and seems to control me when life has seemed to beat me down.  But, I’m beginning to realize that I have been looking at this all wrong. What I see as a persistent black cloud of pain, the Lord sees as a source of renewing rain.

I believe I have mentioned before that I have learned that our lives are our land.  You and I have been allotted our own pieces of real estate in the scope of God’s Kingdom.  My responsibility is to tend to my plot -  ripping up my own weeds, tilling the soil, and spreading the seed.  I’m not to interfered with another’s plot unless I am directed to do so by the Lord.  I certainly can’t remove any of their weeds, because even weeds serve a purpose.  But, what about that rain?  

We can say that the rain comes from the tears we shed during the trials we face.  Yet, I believe I am learning that isn’t always the case.  The rain comes once we have hit rock bottom, cry out to the Lord in true surrender and He releases the Living Water upon our soil to renew our souls.  

That black cloud you think that has been following you, bringing you pain and heartache, is really the fullness of God’s mercy, waiting to be released upon the dry land of your heart.  We cannot loose the blessings of Heaven on earth if we continue to hold fast to the sin that binds us.  Whether it be simple and seemingly harmless or over the top, sin is sin and it separates us from our Father in Heaven.   His heart is to bless us, to see us flourish and grow and draw others to Himself through us.   Yes, even in the desert, He is present and He longs to shower us with His mercy.  Our job is to surrender ourselves to His will.

Surrender is more than just a white flag.  It’s more than just giving up and caving in.  Surrender to God is allowing the end of ourselves to give way to a new beginning in Him.  Sometimes we have to get to that end, to feeling downcast, desperate, on the brink of giving up altogether.  David felt that way.  In Psalm 43:5, we read “Why am I so depressed? Why this turmoil within me? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him, my Savior and my God.” (HCSB).  

Yes, I will put my hope in God.   What others may mean for evil, God will use for good.  (Genesis 50:20, Romans 8:28).  In my weakest moments, when I am looking up for answers and I see that black cloud following me, I will sing praises to my Lord and King, and lift my hands to receive the glorious renewing rain that has been stored up just for me.

"Ask rain from the LORD at the time of the spring rain-- The LORD who makes the storm clouds; And He will give them showers of rain, vegetation in the field to each man."  Zechariah 10:1 (NASB)

When Doubt Gets the Best of You

I’ve heard it said that we are own worst enemy.  In Scripture, our worst enemy is really Satan, the fallen angel who took one-third of Heaven with him in rebellion against God.  So, in reality, it has been said that we are our own worst enemy’s accomplice (I believe I can attribute that to Beth Moore).

Sometimes, it’s hard to differentiate between how much is my own doing (i.e., consequences of my actions and choices), testing appointed by God or spiritual attack from the forces of evil.  Many times I don’t even want to know the “why” behind the “what” because I just want to see the way through.

The Word of God says that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13). Paul shares only two verses prior that this is the “secret” to living in all circumstances and situations.  After all, Christ has said,  “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9) because “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you” (Romans 8:11).  

So, why is it that we still feel so inadequate and ineffective?  Why do our feelings lie to us about what we can accomplish for the Lord?  Why does self-pity, depression, insecurity and immaturity seem to rule our hearts and minds right when we think we’ve begun to do something good?

I have written many an encouraging word for others.  I have spoken of trials being fertile ground for our growth, that we are royal heirs in the Kingdom of God, empowered by the Holy Spirit Who gives us everything we need to live life for our Lord and King.  Yet, as many truths flow forth from my fingertips to the screen into the hearts of God’s children, I fear I have not yet taken these things to heart and applied them to my own life.

Oh, I talk a good game.   Passionate in my quest for others to take hold of the truths that have been set before me.  Receptive of the Word for others, but so often, disregarding its application to my own heart.  None of this is done at the conscious level at first.  I get caught up in the moment, in the rush of seeing another heart encouraged, and another soul moved closer towards their reward in Heaven.  

But, as I look in the mirror, do I own the reality of what I preach?  Do I honestly live out the life I so desire others to embrace?

I have battled depression for over 25 years.  So many days I feel like that demon has been exorcised from my spirit and I have found victory in the Lord.  Then, there are those other days where I can’t look myself in the mirror, I can’t see the purpose of my existence in the universe and I feel like the biggest hypocrite in the world.  I rail against myself and God as if I wasn’t the born-again believer that I am.  

We get in the way of our own ministry when we fall victim to the fallen nature of our flesh.  Not only does our flesh lie to us about what we need to be successful but it will tell us that we are not worthy of the Cross.  How often do I tell others that Christ would die all over again for them if they were the only human being on the planet?  Yet, I still find myself feeling so inadequate and doubting the very gifts that God has sown into me.

And, as I sit here, the answer is so clear.  Even as our trials and testing are appointed by God, even as they are within the purview of God’s omniscience, there does remain an enemy of our souls.  His first known attack was on the very confidence we have in God.  In Genesis 3:1, Satan, in the form of the serpent, said to Eve “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” (emphasis mine).  All he had to do was plant a seed of doubt.  What is doubt?  According to Professor Google, doubt is “a feeling of uncertainty or lack of conviction.”  Uncertainty is all it takes to cause us to call into question all that we know to be true.  Unless. . . .

Unless we are prepared.  Unless we are grounded.  Unless we are rooted so deeply in the Word of God that when the enemy whispers lies in our ear we can quickly discern and disarm them.  We have not been left to our own devices when it comes to defending what is true about ourselves.  We have been given the Armor of God – the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the helmet of salvation, the shoes of the Gospel of peace, the shield of faith, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the very Word of God (Ephesians 6:13-17).

At the end of the day, we will be battle-weary.  But, the difference between walking wounded and being utterly defeated lies in our dedication to learning from our Commanding Officer.  Our Lord Jesus did not send us in to battle without first walking the front-line himself.  He is and always will be our ultimate example of how to endure to the end.  Even in the Garden of Gethsemane, twice Jesus asked His Father to take the “cup of suffering” from Him.  Yet, He yielded His will to that of the Father for our benefit - so that you and I could believe on Him and be reconciled to our Creator.

No matter what I go through, no matter how much I rail against God, nothing can change the fact that I am His child.  What does need to change is how I respond when the enemy enters my mind and disrupts my spirit.  

As I sit and reflect upon that statement, the choice I must make is clear.  Even greater still is the focus of my attention and whether or not I have truly surrendered ALL of myself so that I may be complete in Jesus.  

And, as I have written before, the word “surrender” means so much more than just a white flag in the middle of a fight.  If we write it like this, “sUrrENDer,” then we see the words within the word, “U END.”

Doubt may be a tactic of the enemy, but what I realize is that an act of my own will and consciousness must bring me to at the point where “I END” and God begins.  Only I can answer that question before the Lord.  And, each one of us must do the same.

“Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.”  Luke 9:23-24

Be Careful Where You Till (A Flourish Devotional)

As I walk my dogs each morning, I pass a rose bush. Earlier in the spring, the bush budded with coral blooms, a beautiful sight, indeed. However, a broadleaf weed began to grow at the base of the bush. As each week passed, the weed grew taller and my dislike for it grew with it. The weed is now taller than the rose bush by at least 2 feet and is almost as tall as I am.

To be quite honest, every time I pass it, I want to cut it down. Yet, I have a problem: the weed and the bush are growing in my neighbor's yard three houses down. Let me tell you, if they were in my yard, the weed wouldn't have survived a week.

One morning last week, I passed the odd combination of plants, and the Lord said to me, "It's not your weed to kill. Every plant, no matter how beautiful or distasteful, has its purpose in my Kingdom." I heard what He said, but I didn't want to receive it.

Curiosity drove me to the internet to find out just what this weed, a.k.a, plant, might be. I discovered that it is called "Common Mullein" and actually has a variety of medicinal purposes, among other things. As it happens, the taller it grows, the more beautiful it becomes, as small, yellow flowers begin to appear as it reaches its maximum height. In my mind, pretty flowers or not, it was still just an overgrown weed.

You can only imagine the mixed feelings that followed. "But, Lord," I said, "it's such an eyesore! Why do they let it grow like that? Won't it hurt the rosebush? I wish I could cut it down!" But, as He always does, the quiet whisper of the Holy Spirit came and changed my point of view.

You see, as we discovered earlier this week, "trials till the soil of our souls so that the seeds of faith fall on fertile ground and take root." However, your trials are not the same as mine and vice-versa. The journey to our growth is individual, not collective, although you and I may be receiving the same message. The important thing to remember is this: we cannot till land that does not belong to us.

Jesus likened our hearts to that of soil in Luke 8, the Parable of the Sower. We will pick it up in verse 11:

“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God’s word. The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved. The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation. The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity. And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest. (Luke 8:11-15, NLT)

Most of us can quickly determine the nature of the soil of our own hearts. We'd like to say we are all "good soil." But, the reality is, many of us are still tilling our land, moving through trial after trial, ripping up weeds, planting new seeds and praying for growth.

I'd ask you to consider this, however: how many times have you looked at the trials in someone else's life and seen the hard ground, rocks, thorns and weeds? Have you felt like me and wanted to take charge of their lives and either turn them around or save them altogether?

You and I have no right to remove the obstacles in somebody else's life just because it makes us uncomfortable.

We are exhorted by the Apostle Paul, ". . . you must continually work out your own salvation with fear and trembling: for God is the One Who works in you, both to determine and to work, for His good pleasure.(Philippians 2:12b-13, The One New Man Bible, emphasis mine). My spiritual mama and counselor puts it like this: "Each one of us is working out his own salvation and deliverance." 

Just as Jesus likens our lives to the farmer's field, you and I can look at the landscape of our lives and realize that we have enough of our own tilling to do. We lack the time and energy to till someone else's. While it is important to come along side each other and lend a helping hand, ultimately, we are each responsible for the fruit in our lives. Only by walking with Jesus can we weather the storms, endure the trials and yield the harvest He has commissioned us to cultivate.

My point is this, whatever thorn or weed I see in my sister's life that makes me squirm and feel the need to remove, the reality is that she needs to work that ground with God, and I need to see her do it. Both of us will see the glory of God manifested in her life and the promise of His faithfulness fulfilled. We overcome by the "blood of the Lamb and the Word of our testimony" (Revelation 12:11). Sometimes, we need to allow the ones we love to endure pain, heartache, disappointment, sorrow, loss and devastation so that we all may rejoice in knowing that God is sovereign regardless of how ugly things look.

The Lord says to Hosea in Chapter 10, verse 12, "I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.’" (NLT)

There are two ways to look at this verse, as we close. First we can identify "the hard ground of our hearts" to be the rocks, thorns and weeds that are left in our lives by a prior generation, placed by our own actions and choices, or allowed to exist because God has something to teach us. 

However, I'd like you to focus on a different part of the verse, "for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you."

The thought I'd like to leave you with is this:  The trials in our lives are appointed by God. There is no hair on your head that He does not know (Luke 12:7), nor is there a trial or challenge in your life that is unforeseen (Jeremiah 1:5, Ephesians 1:4). God chooses when to allow the trials in our lives because He is ready to do a work in us. There is no condemnation in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1), so do not misunderstand me. Your path, your journey, your purpose, is entirely ordained and orchestrated by your Father in Heaven, to include when and where He chooses to grow you. 

As I said before, you and I can choose how we will receive the trials in our lives. We can allow our ground to remain hardened, full of fear, bitterness, unforgiveness and the heavy stones of unrepented sin. We can allow the thorns and weeds to grow, as improper thinking, willful ignorance and inappropriate relationships choke out the good seed that has been sown into our lives. 

Or, we can embrace the love of the Father, as He uses trials, purposely and carefully crafted, to grow our character, secure our foundation and allow the seeds of faith to flourish.

The Price of Growth (Declare - A Flourish Weekly Devotional)

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For the last couple of months, I have felt a deep stirring in my soul. It's hard to put into words, but it is like the rising tide of the ocean, slowly and steadily increasing from within. I sense it more acutely with each message I hear at church, each powerful believer I encounter, and most of all, as I spend time with the Lord.

Yet, as the tide ebbs and flows, I begin to realize that there is so much more within my reach. So many times it feels like God is calling to me, yet the voice is distant. I feel His presence, the warmth of His Spirit, and in an instant, it gives way to the cold of the world around me.

Perhaps you have felt like this on occasion. Perhaps you feel this way now. You may be wondering why this feeling takes hold of you at all.

That beckoning, that yearning, that pulls us into faith in the unseen is called growth. As our dear Flourish friend, Helen Baker, wrote, "Flourishing has everything to do with where we are planted and with our response to God during the good and bad times." Helen spoke of several Biblical heroes who grew in their faith through pain and heartache.

Growth comes at a price: the enduring of trials.

James 1:2-5 tells us:

“Don’t run from tests and hardships, brothers and sisters. As difficult as they are, you will ultimately find joy in them; if you embrace them, your faith will blossom under pressure and teach you true patience as you endure. And true patience brought on by endurance will equip you to complete the long journey and cross the finish line—mature, complete, and wanting nothing. If you don’t have all the wisdom needed for this journey, then all you have to do is ask God for it; and God will grant all that you need. He gives lavishly and never scolds you for asking.” (The Voice)

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According to the One New Man Bible, "A trial is a heavenly test that forces a person to choose between God's will and his own nature or understanding of what is right. By standing in faith, we serve as witnesses to the world of His power working through us."

Most of us shy away from any kind of test, spiritual or otherwise. We fear failure or exhibiting sub-par performance. I might be the odd woman out here, but tests in school came easily for me because I liked to study. I was "that" student (a.k.a. "the nerd"). Tests were the easy part of school for me. However, not everyone around me felt the same. I'd venture to say that a fear of failure was due to lack of preparedness or misplaced focus.

Isn't our daily walk with Jesus the same? Life's ebbs and flows cannot be predicted, but you and I can be prepared for them. It's an open book test! Yet, so many of us feel like failures because we are not studying the material. It is the heart of Flourish to teach you the methods and practices of getting in the Word each day,  born out of a desire to see your life transformed. Our hope is to see you experience the joy of growing in the midst of the trials you face:

“You should greatly rejoice in what is waiting for you, even if now for a little while you have to suffer various trials. Suffering tests your faith which is more valuable than gold (remember that gold, although it is perishable, is tested by fire) so that if it is found genuine, you can receive praise, honor, and glory when Jesus the Anointed, our Liberating King, is revealed at last.” (1 Peter 1:6-7, The Voice)

As we grow more secure in our identity in Christ, a transformation takes place. We become unsettled and uncomfortable in situations where we once felt content or indifferent. Our entertainment choices change; how we speak, think and act changes, and our circle of friends changes as well. We are moved to action where we once stood as bystanders, and we begin to question our old patterns and habits.

Trials till the soil of our souls so that the seeds of faith fall on fertile ground and take root. The Spirit of God waters those seeds, giving them the nourishment they need to grow deep and strong. Robust roots give us the strength we need to endure the hard times.

God gave me Jeremiah 17:7-8 as my life verse, and I believe that it sums up what my heart wishes to convey:

“But blessed is the one who trusts in Me alone; the Eternal will be his confidence.

He is like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots beside the stream.

It does not fear the heat or even drought.

Its leaves stay green and its fruit is dependable, no matter what it faces.” (The Voice)

Helen shared Psalm 92:12-15, which precedes Jeremiah, but speaks of the same rooting in the Lord:

"The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the LORD is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him."(ESV)

Tests will come -- it's a given. But you and I have the opportunity to change our perspective about going through them. We can choose to grumble and fight against all that God is teaching us, or we can embrace the winds of change and choose to grow in the Light of the Son, receiving the sweet rain of mercy and grace from Heaven:

“And that’s not all. We also celebrate in seasons of suffering because we know that when we suffer we develop endurance, which shapes our characters. When our characters are refined, we learn what it means to hope and anticipate God’s goodness.” (Romans 5:3-4, The Voice)

In Him,