Releasing Pulse Word: Fruitfulness

He wants you to bear fruit

He’s partnering with you

In that

For that

But for any living thing to bear fruit

There is a growing

A stretching

A tilling

A pruning

A fertilizing

That must take place

It’s the law of nature

It’s the way he designed it

Growing pains

Feeling unearthed or chiseled out

Clipped back

And marinating in something unappealing

Is part of the journey

The process

And it takes time

And in our linear perspective

Time can seem to drag on

Put in eternal time

The time it takes

is only perfection

Because He is the gardener

Of your heart

Your spirit

Of your life

Running

Escaping from the process

Might feel safe

For a fleeting moment

But

It will stunt you

If we bear no fruit

Accepting it

As God’s will

As the way it should be

As your plight in life

Is your choking thistle

Weeds

Stealing your soil

Nutrients

Lying

Telling you a false tale

That it’s much easier this way

In this slothful slumber

Of easy street

And barren branches

For a barren life

He has more

For you

It’s been there

Forever

Waiting

For you

Fruitfulness is your destiny

Is the gift

For a more fuller

Richer

Sweeter

Fruit filled life

(see picture at https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/98938523047866297/)

Releasing the Pulse Words: Seasons

Holy Spirit has been bringing words to me lately...the same words, over and over. In songs, on paper, through people...randomly showing up again and again. He's trying to teach me through these words so I'm digging deep. I wanted to give them a name and a voice so they don't just sit and gather dust.  I call these words "Pulse Words" because they contain life and movement and in turn give me life in what they teach. So over the next little while I'll be releasing my "Pulse Words", what they're teaching me and what I believe they are saying.

SEASONS

Seasons.

Not just a marking on a calendar

A change of the weather

A holiday to mark the occasion

But a temperature change

In my world

In my heart

Whether I am bearing the fruit of Summer

or the desolate barrenness of Winter

Each season speaks to me

no matter what

It's a teacher

attempting to reveal

Is the student attentive?

Ready to learn?

Ready to grow?

The truth about seasons:

they change

they move

they differ

they are unique

sometimes with a similar vein

sometimes not

All beautiful in their own way

Some harder

Some more lovely

But just the same...

Seasons change

But the orchestrator

the conductor

does not.

The captain is in control

He is solid

stable

secure

steadfast

He is the anchor

inviting me to cling.

Seasons can rock my world

rock my boat

rock me into a wild whirring seasickness

if I focus on the unstable rolling

and each crashing wave.

I will be sucked down by the current

the weighty undertow has no mercy.

I have focused on the carnal world around me

wondered "why me?"

"Why now?"

But why not?

Are not these seasons to grow me

to build me

Are not these seasons to direct me

to teach me

I have come to see

and to truly believe

they are not to punish.

With eyes open to the unseen

to the Kingdom which rules more than this carnal world

The One who authors my days

my life

my purpose

He also authors these seasons

to refine my story

to bring colour

vibrancy

to life.

to MY life.

Am I grateful for the gifts of seasons?

or do I fight

fists clenched

rejecting the gift.

Because gifts can only be received with an open outstretched hand.

Wisdom even children know

Really.

But know this:

seasons come and go

change

morph.

We are never refined in slothful comfort.

Only in the bearing down of labour

do we bring forth new life.

I long for new life

in my life.

Newness

purpose

excitement for the here and now.

No matter the season

I focus on the author

He knows

He holds the key.

He's commanding the clouds and the sun.

Summer is coming!

(picture found at: https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/98938523047832425/)

Releasing a Parallel

I made a joke and she laughed...a deep, lovely belly laugh.  Her face was glowing and grinning from ear to ear.  I had never seen her quite so beautiful and quite so...well...joyfully expectant. Time was moving her into her final 20 days of pregnancy and the mounting excitement was almost tangible.

There is something about the beauty and mystery of pregnancy that holds such deep spiritual parallels.  There is growth in the secret place, aches, pains, sleepless nights a sense of mystery and miracle all to birth something that has been nurtured and patiently developed by the One who knows every cell, every moment and has a beautiful and perfect purpose to unfold. 

The pain of growth to birth the joy of life! Totally worth it whichever way you look at it!

(see picture at https://www.pinterest.com/pin/98938523044573870/)

Releasing Truth for My Heart

I watch my pen scroll the words across the page.  I didn't know the revelatory nature of what was about to be written.  That it would be an answer to a prayer that I had never spoken out loud but only in deep guttural utterances of the soul.  I didn't want to believe that I felt this way but stuffing it down into the abyss of the unlovely was not the way to fight this goliath.

My pen lifted from the page...I stopped and read the words slowly...sounding them out as if it were a new language...something I couldn't understand but hoped in the linguistics of each syllable something recognizable would jump off the page.  And it did...oh, yes, it did! The words spoke:  HE HAS NOT FORGOTTEN ABOUT ME.  Without missing a beat my brain replies "I KNOW!"  My heart pauses and begins to choke out the words "I.DIDN'T.KNOW"  I gasp as I realize these words were written for my heart to see and to know and to believe...revelation.

Prayers unanswered, it can feel like silence is setting in all around me.  I watch the miracles rise up for others...but where is my miracle?  It's too ugly to ask that question to a God that I KNOW is near and is good so I scold the thought and bury it deep inside never wanting to catch a glimpse of it again!  Threatening all that's within me to keep that ugly nonsense hidden away.  But this cancerous lie began to spoil the good that surrounded it and the stink would rise occasionally.  My offense would lay seemily dormant until a weak moment when my guard was down or my heart was open and the stench was too much for anyone to bear.  And bear it on my own, I could do no more.

"Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!" Isaiah 49:15

He knows the truth...He IS the TRUTH. And the truth is He carries the revelation you need...He has not, and will not ever forget about you!

(see picture at https://www.pinterest.com/pin/98938523044551401/)

Releasing Insight From You-of-the-Future

In the midst of the uncertainty, as you stand trying to make sense of what you don't understand, not being able to see beyond the difficulty of right now, close your eyes and picture this:

The you of the future.  In 1 year...5 years...maybe 10 years from now.  It may seem far, but it can pass by in the blink of an eye.  So this you-of-the-future is standing here with the you-of-right-now...looking at your circumstances with you.  after your prayers of today have been answered, your wounds of today have been healed, the knowledge you've gained with the years has brought insight and clarity and peace for the circumstances of today.  The you of today has morphed and grown.  Let her stand with you, right now and hear her speak words of encouragement to you.  What would she say?  "It's all going to work out"; "don't waste your time worrying"; "the future is more than you hoped for"; "you are not alone".  

Let her help you to rejoice in the miracles you can't see today but that she knows is just around the corner.  Rejoice in thankfulness today knowing your world will not stay forever as it is right now.

(for picture see: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/98938523044510666/)