Rooted

 

In the spring trees bring hope as their new growth sings.  Lush greenery offers peace in the summer.  In the fall, their colorful collages inspires creativity.  And in their emptiness, tree grace the winter with silent elegance.  (Alicia Britt Chole from her book Anonymous)

 

More from Alicia.

In the winter, are the trees bare?  Yes

In the winter, are the trees barren?  No

Life still is:

 

 The trees in the pictures has seen many seasons of spring, summer, fall and winter.  Every season drives it roots deeper and deeper  as it abides in the creation of God's rich earth, bask in His sunshine  and drinks from  His rain  Through the years I have not enjoyed the winter seasons as much as the other three because I failed to recognize it as a "rest time."

 

Alicia has this to say about the seasons.  Such is the rhythm of spiritual life: new growth,  fruitfulness, transition, rest...new growth, fruitfulness, transition, rest.  Abundance may makes us feel productive, but perhaps emptiness has greater power to strengthen our souls. 

 

In spiritual winters, our fullness is thinned so that, undistracted by our gifting's, we can focus upon our character.  In absence of anything to measure, we are left with nothing to stare at except our foundation. 

 

We begin to examine the motivations that supports our deeds, the attitudes that influence our words, the dead wood otherwise hidden beneath our busyness.  Then a life changing transition occurs as we move from resistance through repentance to the place of rest.  With gratitude, we simple abide. 

 

What season do you find yourself in right now? 

 

 

 

The Test Taker

“Courage is not limited to the battlefield or the Indianapolis 500 or bravely catching a thief in your house. The real tests of courage are much quieter. They are the inner tests, like remaining faithful when nobody's looking, like enduring pain when the room is empty, like standing alone when you're misunderstood.” Charles Swindoll quote (random thoughts this quote brought to my heart.)

Most test of courage is plastered on front pages of magazine, newspapers for the whole world to see but those inner test that reveal the character of our soul take more courage then the big ones.  If we fail the inner tests then we will for sure fail the big ones.  Now grant you when we fail those inner test the results will eventually be seen by others.

Nobody knows what movies I watch unless I tell them, or what kind of books I read.   But soon the words of my mouth will spill out what ever it is I am taking in.  Facebook and tons of blogs have given outlets to let the whole world know what you are thinking about for out of the heart comes the words we say or write.  You can fool people some of the time but not all the time.  And we never fool God. 

My quest to be a courageous wise hearted woman has led me to test my heart motive  in all things.  I want to pass the tests that come my way daily, lay my head on my pillow at night knowing I did my best and not have guilt flood me over a test I failed that day. 

Sometimes when they give you a test you get to see a sample test to help you understand what the tester wants from you.  I ask the tester of my life to give me a sample and He gave me...  Jesus, He never failed a test.

Trust me when I say I have failed many test and instead of an F, Jesus the perfect test taker signed my test in red...blood red,  I have passed this for her.  

 

               Are you in a testing time now?  Take it to the perfect test taker.