Mark Hall's (Casting Crowns) post: My Bonsai Tree...

My Bonsai Tree. (click HERE for the actual post)
any kind of tree can be turned into a bonsai tree. Pinetree's, oak trees, maple trees. Anything. Want to know how?
First you pick a small pot. You have to convince the tree their pot is as deep as it's root system is ever going to get it. And soon the tree will begin to believe it.
Then you begin saying "no" to the tree. Every time it tries to grow you prune it. Every time it tries to stretch you stop it. You keep saying "no" to the tree until it is convinced that the pot is as big as it's world will ever be and this is as big as they will ever get. Soon the tree begins to believe it.
This is exactly what your enemy wants to do to you. He will use storms and hardships in your life to convince you that you can never be more than your last mistake and never be any deeper or stronger than you are right now.
But it's a lie. What is true about you is what God says about you. 2 Corinthians 12 says that God's strength is made perfect in our weakness.
Psalm 139 says that he created us in the womb and that we are all here with a purpose.
You are not a defeated little bonsai tree. You are a tree planted by streams of water that you will yield fruit in its season. Psalm 1
Stop listening to the wrong voices.
#castingcrowns #dreamforyou #thrivephotogroup

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When I read this post, I felt like I was given a "Get out of Jail" card (you know, from Monopoly?). Expectations, trials, and all kinds of weight from life- well- compound, crumple, and crush. With time, they can sure feel like part of a person; so much so that it feels like they have GROWN on a person and taken over personality, reasoning, coping, life. But this example, somehow, just clicked with me. This is what I have been feeling, but couldn't put into the perfect words. This is what I know to be true. And, I am blessed. And honored. And excited. Because the more I go about my house and life shouting (literally. I have done this over the last few days) "I am NOT a Bonsai Tree!!!", I feel my soul reaching out in hope and joy and relief.

I am NOT a Bonsai Tree. Where some may feel to say "Plot Twist!" (On some days this, too, applies for me.), in this season, in these days, "I am NOT a Bonsai Tree!!!" is the perfect affirmation that has encouraged and edified my soul.

Perhaps you, too, need this reminder. Seek God, and GROW!!! Seek God, and THRIVE!!! Do a search of scripture. See how often the words "expand", "grow", "multiply", "overflow", etc... are used. NEVER are we told to stay "small", "contained", "stuck". NEVER!!! Yes, we are told, often, to WAIT, but... whatever the Lord allows in waiting, stopping, or going, is meant for growth, not for crippling, debilitating, or damaging. I am marvelling over this even now, these days after reading Mark Hall's post. Marvelling STILL. I praise God, because He knew that my heart was desperate for a bit of encouragement. And, He provided in this simple, and remarkable, way.

Thank you, Mark Hall and Casting Crowns, for using your talents for Jesus, and sharing them to edify and encourage souls. It means so much.  Thank You, Jesus, for working "all things for good for those who are in Christ", and for ministering your joy, hope, and peace to me. You are so faithful and good.
 

One Wearying Wacky Wednesday...

There are days that stumble along, when nothing really goes right.
There are days that fly ahead of the one living the life.
There are days when minds, hearts, and souls become so overwhelmed.
There are days when one more weight might put a heart over the edge.

In all the times that we might have:  short or long,
good or bad, healthy or sick, weak or strong,
Consolation, encouragement, and hope can be found,
For the Bible says that ALL of our times are safely in God's hand.


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 Today was a wearying sort of "Wacky Wednesday". I find comfort in knowing that I am not alone, and that the burdens that comes my way are never too big for God. He is "mighty to save".

"But as for me, I trust in you, O Lord;
I say, 'You are my God.'
My times are in Your hand..."
Psalm 31: 14, 15

Shattered Slivers of Light...

"You shatter me into silence
Expectations poking out from you like porcupine quills
Like spears used to keep a prisoner submissive and contained.
Words slither from your mouth like a python's creeping
Reaching to suffocate its prey and drown out breath
And, yet, for all your efforts to destroy me
By the breaking, the mean crushing,
I am strong like an oak tree
Weathered and beaten, but solid.

I may be silent for a time
But when I am able
My cry will sweep through  to quench the hatred and pride,
That which you use to slash through the weakness, the vulnerability, of others.
There will come a day when you will taste the sting and crushing
Of your own envy and bitterness
And I will pity you with tears
For  you heeded not the warnings
You cared not for the oppressed or weary

For that, you are mine to worry about no more
You belong to Redeemer
Your history will dry up and be remembered no more
Eternity will be void of the grief you caused
I will be free of you soon
Until then, you may shatter me like glass
But every piece will shine in glittering light
My slivers will be rays of righteousness
To pierce you to your hardened, malicious soul."

(My Personal Creative Writing: CC)

General Questions Prompt Long Pauses...

Imagine two lines of people. Two lines glaring each other down. Like the good guys standing confident and ready as the evil guys stand across from them with eyes shooting daggers and pounding pipes into their palms. Well, that is similar to how I imagine my book, film, and character preferences. There is one question that is asked in "Get to Know You" questionaires that just pokes at me like a mosquito trying to dig its stinger into my skin to draw blood. Erg! "What is your favorite genre to read or watch?" Um.... And, that is where my imagination inserts this vision of favorite books or book characters or movie characters lined up glaring at each other in a face-off.

I mean on the one side, let us say to the right, we have Sherlock Holmes, Captain Jack Sparrow, Katniss, and other not so calm, peaceful, or meek characters; opposite them would be Elizabeth Bennet (Jack, no, that is not Miss Swan... hahahah), Ever After, Anne of Green Gables, and others. That is only a small peek into my literary or filmatic friends. Then, imagine characters like Bambi, Sully and Mike Wasowski, the Minions just traipsing through the middle of those two lines, clueless to the danger they are marching into. Oh, boy...

I am a fan of a little bit of everything. I don't even like to answer the "Who is your favorite author?" or "What is your favorite music to listen to?" question, because I am not guaranteed to LOVE everything any musician, actor, or author creates. I take it one book, one character, one movie at a time.

It reminds me of life. Is one day really better than another, if I try to make every day count? I take one day at a time, and try to acknowledge the lovely, beautiful, funny, enjoyable, laughable things in each given day. Because if I only wait for the days that I KNOW should possibly be great, like my birthday or Christmas, well, that just leaves a lot of days for me to be pretty down, discouraged, and not enjoying days. There is a song that reminds us to Choose Joy.

"Count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your blessings, see what God has done. Count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your many blessings, see what God has done." That daily habit can encourage myself daily. And, it helps to be encouraged, so I can encourage others daily. So, let's make the most of this day, filling it with wisely chosen friends (real or literary or on screen), activities, and habits that will inspire us to keep going, doing, being better and full of joy.

Psalm 118:24 says, "This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it."

Do you generally have favorites?

Below are some favorite articles that I came across. Things that make me think a little harder, observe a little stronger, evaluate a little more. So... here you go.

Here is a link called Jesus Stories are Not Just Allegories. I hadn't thought about this point before. It is worth a gander.

 Here  is a link to an article called The Image of Man. I got the book that was mentioned, shortly after I read about it, because the description given sounded like something that might amuse me. Interesting thoughts...

Here is a great article regarding Allegory and the Gospel. I loved reading this one. It encouraged, inspired and poked at me.

Here is a fabulous article called Art and Evangelism. Another perspective that was inspiring and prompting to me as a creative person who likes art, writing, music, and other artistic demonstrations.

Two specific comments made in that last article which really stood out to me were:

"...art, instead, should 'bear witness to truth.' "

“Art that reflects a biblical worldview does not necessarily have to focus explicitly on the person and life of Christ or specific Scripture passages. Everyday occurrences of life and work . . . may also be . . . a natural metaphor for spiritual truth”.