Interim

Thinking back over my 19 ½ years here on this earth, I remember the adventures and lessons and experiences and people involved in shaping my life... Each so precious. Each so unique. Each so important.  Yet they are here one moment and gone ~forever~ in the next... 
This reflection causes me to realize just how fleetingly seasons come and go...


And that's exactly how God created seasons to be; He created them to be a natural and beautiful part of life, looked back upon with smiles at the fond memories.

Interim Season: that's the name I would give to this time in my life. It is simply an in-between. Like a rose in winter, God has pruned me back~ slowly, painfully cutting away all the old growth and dead leaves hindering my growth. In the long run, I know this pruning is best, but at the moment, I sometimes feel stripped, wounded. 


What purpose does pruning serve? The Master Gardener knows that in order for His rose to be healthy, fragrant, and beautiful in another season, it must endure pruning now. Taking away all the dead, useless, and sometimes harmful leaves and branches causes the plant to focus its energy into replenishing its roots.

What would happen if the rose decided to not respond to the Gardner's pruning? What if it disowned its roots and refused to refocus its energy? The rose's denial wouldn't stop the pruning from occurring; it would just harm the plant. 


In the same way, this season of pruning and root cultivation is a special season in my life.

Seasons come and go... but some things never change with the seasons (or shouldn't change). They are hidden deeper in the plant ~deeper than the leaves or branches~ formed in the roots. Those are the things I desire to cultivate in my life during this season:

• to treasure Christ as infinitely valuable
• to set my hope in the triumph of God's sovereign goodness
• to find my entire source of love and security in Christ alone
• to spend my life purely for the supremacy and glory of God
• to constantly saturate my heart, soul, and mind in the Word of God
• to fight all known sin in my life that is hindering my relationship with Christ
• to humbly and joyfully honor God and my parents

This season of interim provides me with the time, focus, and atmosphere to draw closer to God.

It is truly a blessing.

Pressing on, one step at a time...

Rachel <><

Blink

As I was taking the time tonight to reflect and dig into God's Word, He impressed a simple desire into my heart: the desire to be still. I always seem to be in such a hurry, always going and going. It hit me that my problem seems to be that I desire to DO something to be a Christian and serve God, instead of allowing Him to work in me. Yet I know that God would never command me to “Stand still,” “Sit still,” or “Be still,” unless He planned on doing something.

But what is my purpose in life? Isn't it to bring glory to God?

And how do I bring Him glory? Isn't it by being conformed to His image?

Yes, He desires for me to be “conformed to the likeness of His Son” (Rom. 8:29).

So, how do I become conformed to His image?

I read a passage from “Streams in the Desert.” It related conformity to Jesus' image to having one's photograph taken~~ in order for the likeness to be captured, one must stand still. In order to be molded into the likeness of my Savior, I must be still.

Stillness. It takes long-term, God-given vision.

But only when I allow God to quiet my soul will He take my fragile heart, revive it's zeal, and work in and through it to conform me to Himself.

I heard a new song by Revive tonight as I was driving home. It speaks of this kind of God-given vision and how each moment is precious. My prayer tonight is that I will slow down and number my days before it's too late.

One step at a time...
Rachel

Listen to Revive's "Blink"

Teach me to number my days

And count every moment

Before it slips away

Take in all the colors

Before they fade to grey

I don't want to miss

Even just a second more of this

It happens in a blink

It happens in a flash

It happens in the time

It took to look back

I try to hold on tight

But there's no stopping time

What is it I've done with my life?

When it's all said and done,

No one remembers

How far we have run

The only thing that matters

Is how we have loved

Slow down

Before the day becomes our yesterday

Slow down

Before you turn around and it's too late