Deep Roots Bear Much Fruit

But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when the 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, NIV)

But those who trust in the Lord will be blessed. They know that the Lord will do what He says. They will be strong like trees planted near a stream that sends out roots to the water. They have nothing to fear when the days get hot. Their leaves are always green. They never worry, even in a year that has no rain. They always produce fruit. – (Jeremiah 17:7-8, ERV)

But blessed is the man who trusts in Me, God, the woman who sticks with God. They’re like trees replanted in Eden, putting down roots near the rivers – never a worry through the hottest summers, never dropping a leaf, serene and calm through droughts, bearing fresh fruit every season. – (Jeremiah 17:7-8, MSG)

I love this analogy, as it is a beautiful visual of what God does when we trust in Him. With roots deeply established in Christ, we won’t be swayed by the struggles of this life. In fact, we can continue to bring His good to others, no matter what we are going through, for He nourishes, equips, and strengthens us to fearlessly forge forward with Him. May we ever trust in the Lord and place our confidence in Him, for He is good and His love never fails.

Choose trust in the Lord,

No matter what comes;

For He is enough,

As love overcomes.

The cool in the heat,

True strength when we’re weak;

Abundant blessings,

Are found as we seek.

The Lord is faithful,

As we choose abide;

Our hope and our help,

His arms open wide.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You nourish, refresh, and equip us for all that life brings our way. Thank You that we need not fear struggles or difficulties, for You provide as we abide. Thank You that we can continue to bear fruit in every season as we trust in You. Forgive us for somehow thinking that we are only able to do good when things are going our way. Teach us to trust in You to bless and encourage those around us in the same ways that You do for us. Lead us to love as You love. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we invest our hearts and lives in You, trusting You to grow our roots deep, and to ever supply what we need to bear Your good fruit. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ my dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and how long and high and deep is the love of Christ. – Ephesians 3:16-18

Inner Beauty

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. – (1 Peter 3:3-4, NIV)

It is not fancy hair, gold jewelry, or fine clothes that make you beautiful. No, your beauty should come from inside you – the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. That beauty will never disappear. It is worth very much to God. – (1 Peter 3:3-4, ERV)

Don’t focus on decorating your exterior by doing your hair or putting on fancy jewelry or wearing fashionable clothes; let your adornment be what’s inside – the real you, the lasting beauty of a gracious and quiet spirit, in which God delights. – (1 Peter 3:3-4, VOICE)

God’s perspective is far different than the world’s; He delights in a beautiful heart and a gentle spirit that is gracious and kind. Such beauty does not fade, but rather it grows with wisdom and the deepening of our relationship with Him. There is nothing wrong with dressing up and wanting to present ourselves well, yet our heart, how we adorn our spirit with the fruit of the Spirit, is far more important than how we look. The most beautiful people I know are gentle and kind and are a peaceful presence to all who are near them. Looks are fleeting, but our spirit is eternal. May we ever invest our time and energy into growing in God’s goodness and grace, rather than fixating on the external that fades.

Gentle and quiet,

Beautiful the heart;

That extends kindness,

As each new day starts.

For external looks,

Will over time, fade;

But a loving heart,

Is valued always.

Lord help us focus,

On that which will last;

An inner beauty,

With loving impact.

Transform our hearts Lord,

So we would love true;

Let beauty within,

Be what reflects You.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You care about our inner beauty, the part of us that chooses to love, extend kindness, and bring about a quiet calm, simply by being present. Forgive us for the times that we have allowed the standards of the world to skew our perspective of what truly matters. Show us how to continue to invest our hearts in You so that we may more clearly reflect Your heart to the world. Lead us in Your love, for it is love that transforms and renews. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we focus on You and give You room to cleanse and change our hearts to more clearly mirror Your own to all whom we encounter. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. – Matthew 5:16

Purposefully Produced

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. – (Galatians 5:22-23, NIV)

But the fruit that the Spirit produces in a person’s life is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these kinds of things. – (Galatians 5:22-23, ERV)

The Holy Spirit produces a different kind of fruit: unconditional love, joy, peace, patience, kindheartedness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. You won’t find any law opposed to fruit like this. – (Galatians 5:22-23, VOICE)

I so appreciate that these things – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control – are all things the Holy Spirit produces in us, rather than us having to somehow will these things into existence in our lives. Rather than pursuing fruit, we are to pursue the One who grow such things within us as we follow Him. Every morning is new and He deposits fresh fruit within us as we give Him room. The more we allow God access to our hearts and lives, the more evidence of His fruit is produced within us. May we ever seek our Savior, for He grows and produces in us, good things.

The goodness of God,

Is grown from within;

Planted and rooted,

To overcome sin.

The fruit from the Lord,

Everything good;

To share with others,

His love understood.

So, seek Him each day,

All good is made new;

The fruit He’s planted,

Signs of His love true.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that every good thing comes from You. Thank You that love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control all come from You. Thank You that as we seek and depend on You, You grow these things within us. Forgive us for the times that we have not given You access to the spaces within us that need tending or pruning. Teach us how to open our hearts and lives to You so that You can transform us to bear good fruit and reflect Your love to the world around us. Show us how to love like You in everything we do. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You to grow good fruit within us to share with those around us. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I entrust my life. – Psalm 143:8

Train in Trustworthy Traits

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. – (Colossians 3:12, NIV)

God has chosen you and made you His holy people. He loves you. So your new life should be like this: Show mercy to others. Be kind, humble, gentle, and patient. – (Colossians 3:12, ERV)

Since you are all set apart by God, made holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a holy way of life: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. – (Colossians 3:12, VOICE)

If we know God, we are His chosen people. It is only by His great love that we are made holy through Him and equipped to be compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, and patient. This way of life is a choice and it requires us to invest our heart in Him. As we do, we grow in our capacity to be kind and loving, gently and patient, humble and full of mercy for those around us. The process is an ongoing, lifelong journey to ever be refined to more clearly reflect the Father. May we ever pursue the Lord with passion, being intentional to seek Him anew each day, for it is through our seeking that we come to find the One who gives us all.

Because we are loved,

We know to love too;

With patience, kindness,

As mercy shines through.

Ever we’re to walk,

In humility;

With a gentleness,

That brings sweet relief.

Relief from the harsh,

That the world does bring;

A generous love,

In everything.

O Lord, please lead us,

Throughout all our days;

With Your tender love,

To walk in Your ways.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You call us Your children and teach us to live as Your own. Thank You that Your love equips us to be compassionate, kind, patient, humble, and gentle with those around us. Forgive us for the times that we have been lacking any of these in our interactions with those around us. Teach us to listen to Your loving leading in all things. Show us how to love those around us with kindness and compassion, patience and gentleness, ever walking in humility knowing You are our Source for all things. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we embrace the grace that You alone give, and continually pursue the traits that You call us to carry throughout all of our days in every circumstance. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promises for both the present life and the life to come. – 1 Timothy 4:8

Sharing is Caring

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. – (Acts 4:32, NIV)

The whole group of believers was united in their thinking and in what they wanted. None of them said that the things they had were their own. Instead, they shared everything. – (Acts 4:32, ERV)

During those days, the entire community of believers was deeply united in heart and soul to such an extent that they stopped claiming private ownership of their possessions. Instead, they held everything in common. – (Acts 4:32, VOICE)

We have wandered a long way from the heart of community that was held by the early church. Society today is “all about me” and “mine”. Though our lives look much different today than they did two-thousand years ago, the concept of sharing what we have with those who have none or not enough, remains the same. Our charge is still to care for the poor, the widows, and the forgotten. Clearly, we must be wise and be good stewards of what we have, but we ought to also look for ways to help those who are lacking and cannot help themselves. When I stop to try and figure out how to do this best, I become overwhelmed. However, if I am intentional to pray and listen to the Lord’s leading, He is faithful to show me ways that I can do small things with great love. It can be as small as a granola bar for a kid who missed breakfast, to giving to an organization that reaches those in the community with the greatest needs. Though none of us can do everything, each of us can do something. May we ever seek the Lord to show us how to share our time, talents, and resources in such a way that we hold nothing with closed fists, but instead, choose to have open hearts and extended hands.

O Lord, please show us,

What we’re meant to do;

To share what we have,

As we hear from You.

Lead us in Your love,

With arms open wide;

Help us clearly see,

As we choose abide.

Abiding in You,

Show us what’s Your way;

To give and to love,

Throughout each new day.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You call us to care for the poor, the widows, and the forgotten. Thank You that You see every need, and You care for every heart. Forgive us for turning a blind eye on needs, or for becoming so overwhelmed by what we see that we freeze and do nothing. Show us how to do each next small thing with great love. Lead us in Your abundance to give as You’ve given to us. Make clear the ways to love those around us best so that they may see Your heart through us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You to show us how to better live in community as people who have open eyes, hearts, and hands, to share what we have with those around us. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. – Luke 6:38

It’s Going To Be All Right

You came near when I called You, and You said, “Do not fear.” – (Lamentations 3:57, NIV)

You came to me on the day that I called out to You. You said to me, “Don’t be afraid.” – (Lamentations 3:57, ERV)

You came close when I called out. You said, “It’s going to be all right.” – (Lamentations 3:57, MSG)

God is the God of all comfort and He is faithful to meet us as we call on Him. I love the Message translation of this passage, as it is exactly how it feels to know God’s comfort. His nearness surrounds and my heart hears, “It’s going to be all right.” This morning, I am at ease as I prepare to go in for a CT scan as a follow up for the procedure I had done in December. On my own, I would be freaking out a bit, yet with God, I am good. I know that He has me and will take me by the hand. He is faithful to meet us, walk beside us, and lead us through every obstacle that comes our way. May we ever call out to the Lord to be our comfort, for He is faithful to meet us and lead us along every path that we must take.

The Lord God of all,

Hears us as we call;

He comforts our fears,

And won’t let us fall.

He walks beside us,

In love, holds our hand;

Grants strength and courage,

To trust in His plan.

He is always good,

His love knows no end;

Overwhelming grace,

Is what He shall send.

So, rise up in faith,

Choose trust in the Lord;

He’s more than enough,

His presence outpoured.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are faithful to come close each time we call on You. Thank You that You are our comfort and courage in the face of the unknown. Forgive us for our fears and doubts that we allow to creep in. Teach us to trust You more, for You are faithful forever and will not ever leave us. Show us how to love those around us in ways that extend strength, goodness and grace. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we call on You to be our comfort and then extend the same to those around us. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9

Good Beyond

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. – (Romans 8:28, NIV)

We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love Him. These are the people God chose, because that was His plan. – (Romans 8:28, ERV)

We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan. – (Romans 8:28, VOICE)

It is easy to see how God will use blessings for our good, yet it often takes a significant amount of time to discover how the Lord will work out our trials and heartaches for ultimate good. There are times when the good is the experience of knowing God’s faithfulness through all things, yet other times, He brings us to a place that is far better than where we were before. Always, He makes His love known and supplies what we need to navigate each next step. Incredibly, God always will bring us to a different vantage point so that we can look back with new perspective and appreciate how far He has brought us. In all things, God is good and He can work all things out for our ultimate good. Right now, I have a few dear friends that are enduring the sort of challenges that can blind a person to how God could possibly bring good from what is going on. Though I know not what the outcome will be, I do know that God is faithful and will stay beside them each step of their way. His love will continue to be outpoured, and His strength faithfully supplied, as each of them seek Him to be their Source. May we ever seek the Lord in all things, trusting that He will work everything out for our good because we love Him and it is His perfect plan.

In everything,

.

The Lord God is good;

Trials and triumphs,

His love’s understood.

He grants us His strength,

To keep pressing on;

Supplies what we need,

To in Him, be strong.

Often He leads us,

To something much more;

Than we might have hoped,

Beyond that before.

His plans are perfect,

His grace is enough;

Our Hope and Healer,

Who knows what shall come.

Beauty from ashes,

Hope from the despair;

His good, unending,

Eternal, His care.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You work all things together for good for those who love You. Thank You that this includes both trials and triumphs. Thank You that You are still working, even when we cannot see how. Forgive us for our fears and doubts when the trials blind us to Your goodness. Teach us to have Your eyes to see, so that we might recognize the help and hope that You supply, and trust You to carry out Your plan to bring good, even from spaces and situations that are not. Show us how to love those around us through all things in tangible ways that make Your heart evident and Your provision clear. May many come into a lasting relationship with You as they experience Your faithfulness in all things. Be glorified O God, as we seek You to lead us through every situation and circumstance that comes our way, and trust You to bring Your good far beyond what we can see or imagine. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord. – Psalm 31:24

Seek to Grow

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. – (2 Peter 1:5-7, NIV)

Because you have these blessings, do all you can to add to your life these things: to your faith add goodness; to your goodness add knowledge; to your knowledge add self-control; to your self-control add patience; to your patience add devotion to God; to your devotion add kindness toward your brothers and sisters in Christ, and to this kindness add love. – (2 Peter 1:5-7, ERV)

To achieve this, you will need to add virtue to your faith, and then knowledge to your virtue; to knowledge, add discipline; to discipline, add endurance; to endurance, add godliness; to godliness, add affection for others as sisters and brothers; to affection, at last, add love. – (2 Peter 1:5-7, VOICE)

These things, faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and love, are not things we somehow muster up, but rather are traits that rise up within us as we faithfully follow our Heavenly Father. Our effort is our intentional pursuit of our Provider, and the investment we make – heart, soul, and mind – to follow Him. It is only through our growth in the Lord that these other things grow too. The more we know and love the Lord, the more clearly we reflect His goodness and love to the world. May we ever be intentional in our investment in Christ, for it is through Him that we exhibit the good fruit that He calls us to bear.

Without choosing faith,

It’s impossible;

To love like the Lord,

Who teaches us all.

He gives His goodness,

Help and self-control;

His perseverance,

And love that will grow.

The more we seek Him,

The more we will grow;

In love for others,

And for Christ alone.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the opportunity to freely seek You. Thank You that as we do, You transform us to more clearly reflect You through our words, thought, and actions. Forgive us for every time that any part of us did not bring honor to you. Teach us to love with patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You to grow us more like You every day. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. – Colossians 1:17

Called to His Covenant

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments. – (Deuteronomy 7:9, NIV)

So remember that the Lord your God is the only God, and you can trust Him! He keeps His agreement. He shows His love and kindness to all people who love Him and obey His commands. He continues to show His love and kindness through a thousand generations. – (Deuteronomy 7:9, ERV)

I want you to know that the Eternal your God is the only true God. He’s the faithful God who keeps His covenants and shows loyal love for a thousand generations to those who in return love Him and keep His commands. – (Deuteronomy 7:9, VOICE)

God is faithful and full of love, and He blesses those who keep His commands. If we love God and love people, all that we do will be in alignment with His commands. Our love for God leads us to follow after Him and seek to love as He loves. In doing so, we learn to love others the way He intended as well. Incredibly, the more we love God and those around us, the more we see His kindness and blessings unfold around us. God is our Heavenly Father who rewards those who earnestly seek Him. The more we seek, the more we know; the more we know, the deeper our love grows. May we ever pursue the Lord and obey what He asks of us, for it is through our obedience that we come to know the faithful kindness that flows from His goodness and grace.

There is only One,

He is God alone;

Who promises love,

Beyond what is known.

As we follow Him,

And choose to obey;

His blessings pour out,

May we walk His way.

For His way is love,

In all that we do;

Our purpose made clear,

As His love shines through.

He’s faithful always,

As we seek love true;

Hope that’s forever,

And grace that is new.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that as we seek You and follow after what You ask of us, we discover the goodness and blessings that are poured out through Your overwhelming and unending love. Forgive us for the times that we have not loved as You call us to love. Show us what it is to love You and those around us as You love each of us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we ever pursue a life of loving You and loving those around us as You created us to do. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever. – Psalm 136:26

Seek to Understand

Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. – (1 Peter 3:8, NIV)

So all of you should live together in peace. Try to understand each other. Love each other like brothers and sisters. Be kind and humble. – (1 Peter 3:8, ERV)

Finally, all of you, be like-minded and show sympathy, love, compassion, and humility to and for each other. – (1 Peter 3:8, VOICE)

In order to live together in peace, we must seek to understand one another and love each other like family. To accomplish this requires compassion, humility and kindness. It does not mean we have to share the same opinions on everything or like all of the same thing, but rather it is through mutual love and respect that we may live peaceably with the people around us throughout each new day. The challenge in this is that it only works if all are striving for the same end goal – to love and care for one another like family. I have been blessed to find myself in community at work, church, with friends, and actual family, where care for each other is valued over political, religious, and world views. If people are our priority, peace falls into place. May we ever seek the Lord to lead us in His love, and to show us how to best love those around us with compassion and humility, ever seeking to understand each other in love.

O Lord, please lead us,

To love as You love;

With kindness and grace,

Lifting others up.

Help us be humble,

Keep others in mind;

Seek understanding,

And always be kind.

With true compassion,

Let’s listen and learn;

Value each other,

In love, choose affirm.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You call us to be compassionate and kind, humble and loving, seeking to live at peace with everyone. Thank You that You remind us how to live together like family. Forgive us for the times that we have lacked compassion or humility, and did not seek to understand or to pursue peace. Show us how to love one another as sisters and brothers, for You love us perfectly and provide all that we need to love and live at peace with each other. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek to understand each other and live together in peace, with humility, compassion, kindness and love. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight. – Proverbs 3:5