I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.  John 15: 5 NLT

“WHY am I still such a little bud hanging here?  I should be a big red apple by now.  Wonder what I can do to make myself grow faster?  So frustrating because it feels like nothing is happening!”

It may sound silly that an apple blossom would get frustrated over its growth.  We all know that it takes months to go from bud to a ready-to-eat apple.

Yet we all are guilty of consciously or unconsciously falling into the same thought pattern.  We want more of God; we want to grow into a deeper relationship with Him.  We get frustrated at the seeming lack of visible growth.  At times it even feels like NOTHING is happening.  We strive to grow (at least I am guilty).  We read books, attend church, go to Bible study, and even attend conferences in an attempt to make something happen.  We feel the need to do SOMETHING.  None of these things are wrong; they will challenge and encourage you BUT they will not produce growth.

There is only one thing to do.  The little apple bud has to just hang on her branch and let the tree do its work.  Likewise, we need to spend time with God, in His presence… probably more than two minutes driving to work or school or grocery store.  As we spend time with God, meditating on His Word and communicating with Him, we too will grow.  If we “hang” in His presence, He will grow you and me; He will heal and restore us into something amazing.  

The frustrating thing is that I cannot DO anything to make myself grow (and neither can you) EXCEPT by spending time with God.  Then it will happen!  Yes it will take time! BUT it will happen.  I have no idea how it happens but I choose to trust that He will do it and choose to rest in the promise of John 15:5.

Join me:

•  in committing to spending some time with Him each day- no guilt trip here! but in order for “hang” with the Lord you actually have to do it, not just talk about it.

• in laying aside your striving and trying to figure it out and let Him do it- that is a hard one isn’t it?

•  in surrendering to His growth time- we chafe at His “slowness” don’t we?

Fire the Farmer

Poked…prodded…whacked… by the end of a herder’s stick.  Recently I was in India and observed cattle and goats being herded, driven by the farmer with a stick.  Ever felt that way?  I admit I have.  I have felt driven, hurried to the next thing- no time to relax, to enjoy the now-moment.  How frustrating not to be able to slow my footsteps; not to be able to breathe deeply because the farmer in my head, driving me to the next thing.

So who is that “farmer”?  Why do I allow “him” to drive me?

I think the farmer is the lies, the assumptions, and expectations that line up in my head like a firing squad, “do it now or die”.

So why do I allow myself to be driven?  Fear has a lot to do with it.  I’m afraid I’ll miss out on something; that something better is ahead, have to hurry to get there.  I fear that time is short and I won’t get everything done that I want to.   I have to hurry to achieve some unrealistic expectation.  I fear I will fall short when compared to ______ (you fill in the blank).  After all, they are accomplishing so much!

So…. What if I don’t get to experience everything I want to?  So… what if something is left undone or incomplete?  Will it really matter in the end?  The “so… what ifs” chide me and even though I know the truth, it’s hard to let go.  Ideas and kernels of ideas jitterbug around in my head, demanding to be realized NOW.  But wait, just because things get accomplished or just because they never get realized, doesn’t define me as a success or a failure.

I am slowly but surely learning that it is better to live fully in the present- loving the moments of the “now” rather than peering toward the next “now” with longing… missing the precious treasure of “now”.

I need to slow my steps a bit or the next “now” won’t even be enjoyed.  Of course being driven by that inner farmer has some merit when faced with looming deadlines.  But knowing when to quit, when to change; knowing when to slow my steps and take a walk is at best difficult when you’ve been giving the farmer free reign. 

 My Father is knocking on my heart’s door and I don’t want to miss it.  It’s a soft knock and I do want to hear it; I want to be quiet enough to hear His invitation to rest and eat with Him (Rev. 3:20).  He wants to eat with ME, feed me the daily food needed to sustain me.  If I’m too much in a rush, to driven, indigestion results and I miss the sweet time we could enjoy together.  He knows the food I’ll need to keep me going during the day.  I want to hear to hear the knock, I want to answer and I want to hear what He would say to me.  I cannot command Him to come my way; He chooses to come and speak.  My part is just to be slow enough…. quiet enough to listen.

Slow down!  What can be more important than savoring the “now” moment?  Enjoy its treasures and I am sure it will make the next “now” even sweeter.

****

Slow your hurried steps

the Father has come knocking

listen… and open

He wants to share a “meal” with you

He wants you to breathe and rest

    -margaret slabach