Upward and Outward

Leaves are unfolding.

New growth is reaching.

Our Creator is beholding,

His lessons are teaching

us how to trust Him through every storm

and allow luscious fruit to grow.

Jesus, the vine, will transform 

us, the branches, will show

 fruit born from living with the Gardener,

who roots us and grounds us in love.

The Vinedresser is also our pardoner,

pruner and friend, we sit with above!

  © 2014 Marie Nease 

John 15 ~ Galatians 5:22-23 - Isaiah 55:7 ~ Micah 7:18

Adversity is not simply a tool. It is God's most effective tool for the advancement of our spiritual lives. The circumstances and events that we see as setbacks are oftentimes the very things that launch us into periods of intense spiritual growth. Once we begin to understand this, and accept it as a spiritual fact of life, 

 adversity becomes easier to bear.

 ~ Charles Stanley

   

 
Becoming like Christ is a long, slow process of growth. 

~ Rick Warren

 

 If a man does not exercise his arm he develops no biceps muscle; and if a man does not exercise his soul, he acquires no muscle in his soul, no strength of character, no vigour of moral fibre, nor beauty of Spiritual growth. 

~ Henry Drummond, The Greatest Thing in the World

Men may not know how fruits grow, but they do know that they cannot grow in five minutes. Some lives have not even a stalk on which fruits could hang, even if they did grow in five minutes. Some have never planted one sound seed of Joy in all their lives; and others who may have planted a germ or two have lived so little in sunshine that they never could come to maturity. 

~ Henry Drummond, Pax Vobiscum

 

Focus

Mind wanders.

Thoughts flutter.

Eye shutter clicks

again and again.

Choose subject,

focus.

click.

Choose subject,

focus.

click.

What is my eye

drawn to?

 

In the dark room,

of life

what is developing?

What images emerge

after being

immersed in watery 

processing? 

As the image of me is created,

what am I allowing to be exposed

on the paper of my life?

What I focus on

will appear

almost magically

on the image

of me...

fixing our eyes on Jesus...

 Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

Hebrews 12:2 The Message (MSG)

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, 

since what is seen is temporary, 

but what is unseen is eternal. 

 2 Corinthians 4:18

So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are

here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.  

1 Corinthians 4: 16-18 The Message (MSG)

Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you.  

 Mark out a straight path for your feet;
    stay on the safe path. 

 Don’t get sidetracked;
    keep your feet from following evil.

 Proverbs 4:25-27

Wingdreamer is refocusing...

© 2014 Marie Nease

Listen

L-i-s-t-e-n ...

What do you hear right now?

For several minutes, just still and listen...

Outside my window, a whippoorwill fills the air with it's song, a repetitive, yet mysteriously calming melody. A gift to my soul. Last night a mocking bird's beautiful song echoed through the night air.

Listen...

What is going on in your mind in the midst of your day? What "self talk" to you hear? Self-talk is the endless stream of unspoken thoughts that run through your head. Are your thoughts mostly positive or negative? Do you breathe prayers to your Father God as you go about your day? Do you meditate on scriptures that apply to your current life situations or challenges?

May we be fully aware of the enemy of our souls and the lies he whispers in our ears. You aren't good enough. You aren't smart enough. You failed again. You aren't worthy. DON'T listen to those lies! Listen to the Savior of our soul and His whispers.

• Jesus whispers ... I'll never leave you or forsake you.
• Jesus calls to us... Come to me all you who are weary, lay down your heavy burdens, I will give you rest.
• Jesus reminds us...I give you peace, not like the world can give you. Don't allow your heart to be troubled or afraid.
• Jesus urges us... Come drink the water I offer to you, living water, then you won't thirst again!
• Jesus says... I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
• Jesus whispers...My little sheep, listen, and you will hear my voice and follow me and obey me.  

 
Jesus longs to speak to us and His words are spirit and they give life!

Listen to the voice of Jesus, not your inner critic. Listen to Jesus whisper His love and His direction and His encouragement to your heart as you go through your day.  

What are some of your favorite words of Jesus that encourage you? Write them down, paint them on your wall :-), share them here, share them with others!  


As we listen to the voice of Jesus, revel in the fact that His voice is like the sound of many waters. Revelation 1:15
                            

Rivers of Living Water!