Pure Soil

In the moments just before I fully awoke yesterday, I saw this simple image.  A pot sat in front of me, and to my right a dying and withering plant being removed. There was a healthy plant ready to be planted.  Just before I could place the healthy plant in the pot, a hand came down on my left and began carefully picking out particles, seeds and weeds from the old plant.  Before the new one could be planted, grow, and thrive the soil had to be completely pure.  

That's where I am.  God is removing remnants of of what was unhealthy in me to grow something new a beautiful.  I've been praying and asking Him what I need to be doing in this season.  As soon as I opened my eyes, the answer was clear, let Him work in me. 
-  Selah (Pause and calmly think of that)

 "As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience." Luke 8:15 - ESV

Sammy Says

So a couple of years ago I adopted this dog named Sam.  I resolved to me a good doggie mama and walk him often.  There have been many joys and many many frustrations of teaching an energetic lab mix how to walk on a leash near the woods.  I quickly got over the embarrassment of scolding him for chasing squirrels, when I realized it wasn't as bad as having my wrist pulled out of socket.  I marveled at his sense of smell when he would react to a deer nearby before I could spot it, and wondered why he's afraid of turtles and not snakes.  Over the past two years, I've also had a few thoughts reverberate in my spirit (can thoughts reverberate in your spirit?  It just sounded like the right word) that echo God's perspective as I learn to walk with him.  Here they are.

1.       Stay close, it’s for your own good.

2.       You’re on a leash for your own protection and well-being.  When I can trust that you’ll exercise self-control and always stay close to me, you can run free.

3.       When you pull away, you only choke yourself out.  Sorry about that, I know it's uncomfortable, but if I didn't hold on to you, you'd get lost, hurt or even fatally injured.     

4.       Don’t follow your sniffer anytime something new catches your attention, follow me. 

5.       Nothing belongs to you, I just love you enough to let you enjoy it.

6.       When I speed up, speed up with me, when I slow down, slow down with me, when I say rest, rest.  Don’t fight the pace, it just makes things difficult.

7.       I greet new people (and animals) first, to make sure they’re safe and clean.  If I give you permission, you may get acquainted as well.  If I say walk on, walk on.

8.       I talk to you all of the time, it would serve you well to know my voice, my tone, my language, and to listen.