Thursday, November 16, 2017

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
A raspberry in hand
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/)

Friday, November 10, 2017

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.



d'art photographie.

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/)