Head up, Heart down

hm, I'm feeling kind of lazy...like I ought to be starting school tomorrow, instead of three months from yesterday. Thank you Jesus, for a change in routine, for the chance to grasp the NEW thing that You're doing.

Really excited to keep going deeper in this word I've gotten for the month of July - how I need to focus on taking root in His Word. (truly abiding in Christ - I can't be His branch if I'm not stemming from the same source!)

⁷ "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose confidence is in him.

⁸ He will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit."
(Jeremiah 17:7-8)

¹⁶Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. ¹⁷But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. (Mark 4:16-17)

¹³Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. (Luke 8:13)

Knowing my own personality and how I (honestly) strive to be optimistic & encouraging, I have to be extra sure that my motives/responses are sincere. ie: 'receiving something at once with joy' isn't too hard for me...it's a matter of applying that joy to various situations. And I don't want the joy to be a flighty facade, but a genuine lifestyle - because the fruit of the root is so worth it!

"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ..." (Ephesians 3:17-18)

^"6So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, ⁷rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." (Colossians 2:6-7)

ah, I long to be overflowing with thankfulness! There are some days that before I can even open the Word, I have to take the initiative and write down or say out loud, whatever I'm thankful for...it's so basic, but it works! Removes any desire to whine or complain when I realize how good God has been/IS to me. You know, after going through all of those verses, how appropriate that God would call me to take root during this season of rest (academic rest, at least)...write it all on my heart now, so I can stand the test(s) once school is back in my face on a daily basis. Not just school, but anything that may come up - I will be rooted and established in the perfect Love that casts out/drives out/banishes/expels fear. (1 John 4:18)

Kinda random - I found this fern + bamboo story below while I was going through my files at work last week. (hahaha, I am terrible at electronically organizing myself...but, God's grace is sufficient to sort it all out!) Anyway, I found its encouragement to sort of parallel with my root word - because, for a while, God may be the only one to see the fruit of finding my root in Him.

A Story of Purpose

One day I decided to quit...

I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality... I wanted to quit my life.

I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.

"God", I asked, "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?"

His answer surprised me...

"Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"

"Yes", I replied.

"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them.

I gave them light and water. The fern quickly grew. Its brilliant green covered the ground.

Yet, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But . . . I did not quit on the bamboo.

In the second year, the fern grew more vibrant and plentiful.

Again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But . . I did not quit on the bamboo.

In year three, there was still nothing from the bamboo seed.

But I would not quit.

In year four, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed.

I would not quit." He said.

"Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth.

Compared to the fern, it was seemingly small and insignificant. . .

But just 6 months later, the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall.

It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive.

I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle."

He asked me, "Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots?"

"I would not quit on the bamboo and I will never quit on you."

"Don't compare yourself to others." He said.

"The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern, yet they both make the forest beautiful."

"Your time will come", God said to me.

"You will rise high."

"How high should I rise?" I asked.

"How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return.

"As high as it can?" I questioned.

"Yes." He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can."


*Another something random ~ Shane and Shane's I Want it All...

use me, break me, waste me on You, Lord
Ruin me, take me, waste me on You
For to die is to live...

To starve is to feast
And less of me is more of Jesus
Lord, I want it all
Lord, I want it all
If i lose my life
I gain everything
And at the cross
Away with all death's sting
Lord, I want it all
Lord, I want it all

There is power in the blood
There is victory in Jesus
Come in power, wash me clean
Overwhelm me with Your presence
There is power in the blood
There is victory in Jesus
Help me glory in the cross
Help me find my gain in loss



Also, discovering a key to humility (heart down) - a shift of my focus (head up).
¹I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
² My help comes from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.

³He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
⁴Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
(Psalm 121:1-4)
*Look to You ~ Hillsong United

Hope you've enjoyed/been encouraged/challenged to think from this smorgasboard of everything that God has been tossing my way lately. =) It's going to be a good July...expectantly not knowing what to expect other than getting ready for God to surpass my expectations!