Little Tree: A Call to Growth

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Little tree, Little Tree,

Why don't you grow?

God's Word is the soil -

Dig deep so you'll know!

Little Tree, Little Tree,

Can't you see?

The quenching Spirit of the Lord,

Wants to fill you abundantly!

Little Tree, Little Tree,

Look to the sky.

Where the power of God's Son,

Shines to bring you alive!

Little Tree, Little Tree,

The time has come -

To grow and bear fruit,

For the glory of God's Kingdom!

Read: John 15: 1-8
Reflect: What is keeping you from bearing more fruit?  Do you have branches that need to be pruned or cut off altogether?  What element is lacking in your day to day walk with God that needs to be tapped into in order for you to take root and flourish?  What consequences will you face if you continue to not tap into that particular element of God?
Respond: Decide on one change you will make this week that will begin a desired growth in you, bringing glory to God. 

God is waiting...your heart is waiting! 

Be the change.

Lord, we want to grow and bear fruit for the glory of Your Kingdom.  Help us to recognize the elements of You that are missing in our everyday walks and reveal to us the change you would have us make this week.  In Jesus name, Amen.

"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." -2 Corinthians 3:18

Who U R

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Who am I?  And why am I here?

The answers to those questions I’m beginning to fear.
Am I a rose blossoming in the light?
Or am I only a left over fragrance fading in the night?
What am I?  Could you tell me?  Or do I want to know?
Am I just another flower that belongs in a row?
Among the gardens of flowers do I want to be found?
People staring beneath my blossoms
At the thorns and roots by which I’ve been bound?
Those roots – they are sucking in the water too fast!
Drowning my future…overwatering my past!
Oh how they’ve held me, and those thorns how they’ve torn-
My thoughts into two, I’m becoming so worn.
But go on without them, do I dare?
Pull away from the comfort that I’ve planted there?
My thoughts, my feelings…how do I show that I care?
Someone, please, rid me of all my confusions!
Take the time to show me that happiness
Is not just another one of life’s delusions...
Could you at least attempt to answer me this -
Or do I want to know?
Am I a rose blossoming in the light?
Or just another flower in the garden
Whose fragrance is fading in the night?
~written by Katrina Wylie ‘98

 

One of the things I’ve been struggling with the last few years is losing weight and getting back into shape after first: a car accident that resulted in a neck injury, and second: the pregnancy and birth of my daughter which also resulted in more physical injury and limitations.  Though getting healthy is definitely on my “need” list, it seems every renewed attempt I’ve made has ended the same way – giving into temptations due to a perceived lack of results.  Every time I’d get dressed, and every time I’d look in the mirror, I’d see the me that I didn’t want to be anymore…the extra me, if you know what I mean!  Then, out of discouragement, whenever a craving would present itself or when it became time to do a work out and I had a million other things to do, the attitude I found myself adopting was: “What’s the point?” I think this same thing can happen to us in our Christian walks...

Breaking Point

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This week in Melissa Taylor’s Online Bible Studies we studied chapter 10: “Broken for Breakthrough,” in the book “Stressed-Less Living by Tracie Miles.  As one of our blog hop topics, we were asked to write about a breaking point in our life.  For mine, I’m going to share with you all a previous post of mine that I had written last August, just a few months before discovering Proverbs 31 and the online Bible studies.  I think that through it you will see that it was no coincidence that I “stumbled across” these studies just as they were getting ready to begin the “Let. It. Go.” book.  At that time, I was definitely at a breaking point in my life – struggling with physical health problems, fear, lingering post-partum depression, stress-eating, relational and family stress, and on top of all of that, I had fallen away from my close, daily relationship with our Lord.  It was also only a couple months after my Mom had open-heart surgery to repair a birth defect that had gone undiagnosed and as a result had almost killed her…just one month after I originally wrote this post, she died…God turned me back to him knowing how much I was going to need him just a few short weeks later.  God is good. 

 

(from August ’12)

I spent much of my life struggling to hide and stuff down the pain that I felt, so that on the outside, I'd look strong and unbreakable; but it was all a front. Truth was, inside, my pain and sorrow continually cut like a knife, destroying me slowly one tiny piece at a time. I did not always know the Lord, nor have I always understood that my daily struggles in the world could be healed through His Word. While sometimes I find myself briefly falling back into my old habits, the Lord is always there to pick me up and remind me of His truths...

Matter of the Heart




"He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds." ~Psalm 147:3 
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The matter of the heart – it matters to God.  How do we know that? - Because it’s a topic that can be found all throughout the Bible.  In just the last three days I’ve spent digging deeper into Psalm 147:3, I counted the word “heart,” and its many variations, used 75 times in God’s Word.  That’s a lot and I’m sure there are many more still.  This “matter of the heart” has also been an important subject threaded throughout the book “Stressed-Less Living” by Tracie Miles.  Like I shared in a previous post of mine, "A Gift From Above," the lesson that has impacted me the most so far through this book is that God cares more about changing our hearts than he does about changing our circumstances.  This has been affirmed to me again this week, through Psalm 147:3.

When I looked up “broken hearted” in my dictionary, which read: “overcome by grief or despair,” I couldn’t help but also notice a few of the related words and their definitions. 

“Hearten” – encourage, energize, enliven, arouse, rally, rouse, stir

“Heartfelt” – sincere, genuine, honest, true, unfeigned, deep, profound
“Heartless” – unfeeling

What caught my attention in reading these, and maybe perhaps it drew yours too, is that the descriptions of the first two sounds like they’re describing God himself and what he does.  So much so that we could just erase the words “hearten” and “heartfelt” and replace them with “God” in the dictionary.  But then there’s the third one.  Is it just me, or could “unbeliever” possibly be substituted here for “heartless?”  I know that the word “unfeeling” described me before I came to know Christ as my personal savior and it is also how I can start to become again when I wander from him...

Spiritual Vitamins

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It seems that lately I’ve had so many questionable feelings, to the point where I can feel no more; only numbness.  The conflicting emotions have slowed my brain like a drug, taking over the realization that it is my turn to lead this dance.  Instead, I find myself waltzing around in a circle of confusion, battling myself every step of the way.  It’s as though a civil war has erupted inside of me and I’m frozen right in the crossfire of my own thoughts.  I sit here lost in the whirlwind of arrows buzzing by, not knowing which one is pointing in the right direction.  I try to find my way, but the smoke from the bombardment of mixed feelings has stolen my sense of direction and is slowly smothering me.  I run this way and that, finding myself advanced to the front line, where there are no more trenches to shelter me from the battle, only an open field of illusional freedom staring me in the face.

I wrote that sixteen years ago, as a senior in high school who was facing graduation and the prospect of going out into the world on my own for the first time.  I share it with you today because, to me, it illustrates what life looks like when facing it without God…or at least a life without leaning on His strength, power, and wisdom for help and guidance.   It is a painting of a battle met in confusion and ending in defeat because it is one that we can only recognize and win in Him.  It is the battle that is raging all around us for our hearts, our minds, and our souls - the spiritual warfare that the Bible speaks of and warns us about...

The Sound of Silence

My soul - in the world – it screams inside,

The noise, the clamor – it grows in size,

Rushing in - it continues to rise,

Consuming me like the ocean’s tides.

My soul - in the Lord – it soars inside,

The silence, the stillness – it grows in size,

Flowing in - it continues to rise,

Cleansing me like the ocean’s tides.

While the world - it screams – for my attention it vies,

The Lord - he whispers – in the quiet He guides.

And in the noise - there’s a battle inside,

But in the sound of silence - in Him I learn to abide.

For amongst the noise - my soul – it dives,

But in the sound of silence - my soul – it thrives!

While in the world - my soul may die,

In the Lord - my soul can fly!

For when the sound of silence sinks in,

It washes over the clamoring din,

And with the Lord - away falls my sin,

For in the sound of silence - control He wins!

Two months after becoming believers, my husband and I moved to the San Diego area.  This was a huge move for us, but I was ecstatic because I had always felt drawn to the big city – the lights, tall buildings, fast pace – it all exhilarated me!  However, once there, I was surprised by a yearning that began to grow in me for even just the smallest piece of quiet – a place of solitude where I could get away from it all…even if it was for just a moment.  I looked for it on our apartments balconies.  I sought it out in the recreational parks.  I even tried finding it through exercise and reading, and yet, no matter how much I searched and sought, it continued to elude me.  

Having grown up in a small town in Northern Idaho, I assumed that this longing for solitude was in my roots - where amongst the majestic mountain landscapes, the lack of population (people population that is) does not go unnoticed.  Little did I know that when I had accepted Christ, the seed that had been planted in me by God – the seed that is planted in us all – had been watered, causing the need to seek, and be with, and follow God to grow and take root inside me - that is truly where this new found longing had come from!

For several years I went on chasing the hustle and bustle of my dreams in the city of paradise, never once stopping to listen to the Lord, or even to consider the prospect.  Life was still all about me, which up to that point had seemed to work so well, but now – not so much.  Suddenly, life all about me felt uncomfortable.  Suddenly, life all about me felt wrong.  Suddenly, for the first time in my life, I felt directionless and confused, despite the fact that I was moving forward at a steady pace on the path I’d laid before myself.  Luckily, the Lord stepped in by placing several women into my life who would, with a lot of patience and persistence, lead me onto the correct path – the path of seeking, learning, and following the Lord rather than my own way. 

While there were many contributing factors that watered and fed the seed of Christ that was growing inside me, the all elusive sound of silence was finally fulfilled when I agreed to join a women’s Church group who was just starting a new study on prayer.  This particular prayer study, as I quickly learned, was not necessarily the best study for a first-timer.  It was very in depth and challenging beyond the average study, as the other more “seasoned” ladies pointed out.  But I was thirsty, like the psalmist in 63:1 (one of the memory verses for week three of that study): “O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.”  And so I soaked in the challenging material like a dried out dingy old sponge when dropped in a bucket full of fresh clean water.

Prior to that study, I had never even heard of having a quiet time with the Lord, never mind actually attempting to have one.  It did not come easily at first.  It felt awkward and pointless – sitting there in the silence waiting to hear the Lord speak.  What was I listening for?  I had no clue!  But then in week three, the writer challenged us to wake early, before the sun even, to have our quiet time.  She asked us to pray for the Lord to wake us in excitement to be with Him.  I - not being a morning person whatsoever, scoffed at the idea with skepticism.  “Wake early and with excitement?” I thought, “Surely not!”  But I did what was asked out of eagerness to figure out what this whole quiet time thing was about.

Not really believing I’d suddenly wake up before the sun, and magically be able to hear the Lord’s voice because of it, I prayed for the Lord to wake me that next morning…and to my great surprise, wake me He did, at 4:30am!  Then, to my even greater surprise, not only was I wide awake, but I was excited about it!  And my surprise didn’t end there either, I then got up and prayed the second memory verse for week three of that study, just like we were asked:

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To my amazement, the Lord’s voice came quietly through the darkness of that morning, entering in slowly like the dawn of the rising sun, flowing in to my heart, soul, and mind, filling them with the fullness of His light – the bright shining Son.  My heart sang, “I will praise you, O LORD my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.” ~Psalm 86:12.

It has been approximately five years since that first glorious morning in which I met with our precious Lord.  Learning to have quiet time with Him changed my life forever.  I wish I could say that I’ve consistently returned to the sound of silence every morning since then, but the truth is, despite the fact that I’ve been awoken to the beauty and nourishment that can be found there, there are still times in which I once again allow the noise of the world to rush in and seemingly extinguish His light in my life.  During those times, the Lord has patiently and quietly called for me to return…and inevitably when I do, He’s always there waiting for me - greeting me lovingly with His outstretched arms and grace.

“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” ~Jeremiah 33:3

“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.  Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.” ~Psalm 143:8

“My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.” ~Psalm 62:1

PREVAIL

From the time I was young, I set out to achieve,
In following God's plan, I did not believe.
Created to marry? Ha! That's surely not me!
A successful career women, is who I want to be!

So I strove for high marks, in all of my classes,
In a hurry to go out, and join in the masses.
On the fast track, I was headed straight for success,
There was no way I'd fall in love, and settle for less!

But then to my surprise, along came this guy,
I suddenly found myself thinking: "maybe I'll give marriage a try!"
For live without him, I'd surely not dare,
I had finally just found someone, in which I truly cared.

"I told you," said the Lord, "that you'd one day wear the veil.
For it is not your plan, but rather mine, that will PREVAIL."

I wish that I could tell you, I'd learned to follow God my wedding day,
But in truth I'd never let go, of my plan or my own way.
"Created just to marry?" I mocked God with a laugh,
"A career is what I'll have, and I'll even have my own staff!"

For the next five years, our life was all about my success,
So much so, that I didn't even know how much I'd let the rest digress.
Eventually, the day did come, in which I knew that I was lost,
I couldn't believe, however, just how much choosing my own way had cost!

Nothing, I did recognize, not even my own reflection!
How did I allow my life, to go so far in the wrong direction?
"OK Lord, I will quit then," I cried out in desperation,
"I'm done with my own way God, make me into Your creation!"

"It's not a "job" in which that I your God, had created you to hail,
I told you once, I'll tell you again, it is my plan that will PREVAIL."

For three beautiful years, to follow God is what I sought,
To love, and trust, and walk in faith, is what the good Lord taught.
Choosing to follow, in His great plan instead of mine,
Led to many blessings, unforeseen and truly divine!

Our financial future became bright, where once it'd been so dim,
God grew my faith tremendously, in my man and also in Him!
He proved to me they could provide, and so I stayed at home,
In God's plan we did invest, our time and tithes were sown.

Despite the fact our income, had been cut by more than half,
The dear Lord blessed and taught us, we're out of debt at last!
"How could this be?" I asked, surprised and in great shock,
No longer my own plans I'd follow, nor in God's plan I'd mock!

"It's not your job to understand, just what my plan entails,
It's only your job to follow me, and let my plan PREVAIL.

So walking in faith wherever He led, is what I set out to do,
And as a result my love for Him, just grew and grew and grew!
Then suddenly to my surprise, God had made me a true lady,
For I found out I was pregnant, expecting our first baby!

The labor went on for several days, and really took its toll,
But rather than handing it all to God, again I sought control!
It's been nearly four years now, since our daughter's birthday,
But never did I let go again, I've fought to control the entire way!

Exhaustion, anger, bitterness, again is what I've felt,
So why do I continue on, trying to control the cards in which I'm dealt?
Through all my pain the Lord's been there, He's never let me go,
He's been patient in loving me, even when I've ran the show!

"Alas, dear child," the Lord's said to me, "I did not make you male.
Let it go for good this time, for it is my plan that will PREVAIL!


 While the world has taught and continues to try to tell us to seek out and follow the desires of our own hearts, when we read God’s Word we gain the true wisdom and truth in the matter.  The question is- in which will you choose to believe and follow?  I’m choosing to let my own way go, once again, and it is my hope and prayer that you’ll do the same and join me in living for Him!

“For your thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. ~Isaiah 55:8

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” ~Jeremiah 29:11