Four Seasons

"Now is the winter of our discontent, made glorious by this summer sun of York"

                                                                                 William Shakespeare; Richard III

I was thinking of ;

Earlier this week and also new creation and rebirth these all have something to do with seasons.

The harvest is ready and white in the heat of summer, so farmers are busy in the summer anxious to gather in their hard earned rewards to the safety of the silo.

The verse here speaks of this season of reaping, it must be summer, spiritual summer. 

If there be a summer then there must be other seasons spring is the rebirth of the earth, awakening from the 'death' of winter. Summer is the season of prime,the peak of the suns radiance and autumn must be a season of waning, the leaves 'fall' and fertilize the soil with there nutrients gained 

John 4:34-36

King James Version (KJV)

34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.

Occupy your God given place.

Prov 16:9 We make our own plans, but the Lord decides where we will go.

I used to think it was queer saying things like 'God lead me to come here', because I was stuck in the first half of this verse. I was good at making wonderful plans in my head with me at the center of ever grander schemes to gain wealth and prosperity and the acknowledgement of my fellow men.

I was locked into a single minded pursuit of my goals all of which required some assistance from others but I increasing found that others had goals of their own which didn't often coincide with mine.

I was in the habit of putting these discoveries down to a minor set backs waiting only for a creative way around to be found. They lacked the vision I thought. If  only others would recognize the gift of vision God had given me then we could all work together diligently at 100% effort to accomplish 'God's will'.

As new believers we take our first baby steps towards making God the Lord of our lives, well actually that is more of a quantum leap but in the context here it is only the beginning of a long journey. Growing up in a christian family you get used to hearing often repeated words about the sovreignity of God and you know that he is in control of all things,

                                                    'Hes got the whole world in His Hands'.

The understanding of which sometimes passes us by until by and by Gods switches on the light and we can see the truth layed out before us.

When we finally see the reality of the situation and begin to understand who God really is and how powerful and wonderful are His ways we are simultaneously made aware of how silly it to 'play god' and attempt to rule our own lives. When we see how strong God is we also realize how weak we are and turly dependent on Him in all things.

Fruit

Nearly a year since my last post. Sorry to all my loyal readers. As to where have I been? In a barren empty place, otherwise known as the wilderness.

 Not much grows out there its a good place to to go when your fasting,

Anyhow I guess I've turned a corner cause I'm back in the cultivated lands again thinking about fruit.

During the hiatus I have obviously been keeping myself alive, existing at least in the flesh.

My flesh is alive because I have been feeding it, with various foods, spiritually I have been staving.

The purpose of a tree is to produce fruit. A lack of fruit is a lack of purpose. Empty branches leave a farmer wondering why He wasted his time tending to it. Fruit is the substance of the life of the plant, the real stuff, the pay off, and the climax.

I am hungry for this, the whole earth is madly seeking it. We need it and we've got to, got to, have it.

If we cant find it we try to replace it with the product of this world. 

The problem with fake fruit is though, it has no substance, its hollow. It does not and can not satisfy.

A spirit to must have food to live, we find and eat this fruit then we are able to produce our own, and provide a harvest for others who have not.

Plants have their stages of early life and getting established but with maturity should come fruitfulness.  

Joy is like the Sun (It vanishes in the night seasons) it rises in the morning and warms our souls, Its the light of life, It energizes and motivates. When we are given joy to eat it fills us and radiates from us. To produce it we must eat it, so where do we find this rare fruit?

In the garden of our father.

Joy comes from the restored relationship we can have with our Father though Jesus. Joy is found only in the presence of God, and his indwelling Spirit. 

Adam lost his joy when he sinned and broke his relationship with the Father, He hid from His presence in a dark place, not able to bear the Light of His countenance. He was sent away from that beautiful place but he had already left in his heart, He could never be at home there with God until that sin was atoned for on the cross and He could be reconciled.

 Because of Jesus we (the sons of Adam) are able to re-enter into the Garden of our lord and eat of its heavenly fruits again, including the tree of life. Joy comes down from above and cannot be manufactured from earthly materials. When we are made right with our Father again and can approach His presence again, when the shame of sin is taken from us and His Spirit fills us. Then we can become a outlet of Heaven on earth, re-producing the food of Heaven. 

Others will see this fruit in our lives and desire it. As I said before all men desperately seek it. (the infamous 'God shaped hole')

Such treasures need to be shared with other hungry souls.

"Do you love me? Feed my sheep."