Radically Rooted

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)

But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions: joy that overflows, peace that subdues, patience that endures, kindness in action, a life full of virtue, faith that prevails, gentleness of heart, and strength of spirit. Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless. – (Galatians 5:22-23, TPT)

 

Yesterday’s message at church was about living a “radical” life for Christ. Pastor Omar did not just present that term and continue forward, as if everyone had a shared understanding of the word and the way in which he intended its use, but rather he unpacked its Latin origin and the intent of what he was conveying. Radical, from its Latin origin, means to be rooted in. As people who are seeking to follow after Christ and do His will, it is critical that we are rooted in Him, in order to do His will and walk in His way. We are only able to walk forward in a willingness to experience discomfort when we know who we are in Christ, and who He is to us. As we surrender to Christ and continue to allow Him room to challenge and grow us, we begin to bear His fruit that lasts. The fruit that makes a heart after His known, is the very fruit that Galatians 5:22-23 unpacks. May we ever seek to deepen our roots and nurture our relationship with the Father, so that our lives may readily extend love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control towards all whom we encounter.

When I called to talk to mom yesterday, I was greeted by the voice of my eldest nephew. It was a treat to catch up with him, and know that the family was all enjoying time together with mom. Mom and the family had just returned from church for the second week in a row, and I know that the opportunity to do so, creates a bit more normalcy for her. In the evening, she and my sister and brother-in-love escaped for time out together, and appeared to have had a wonderful time. It is so good to see the smiles and know that mom is finding the courage to get out and go places. She is in great company, and good fruit is being extended between each of them, one to another.

 

Choose to be rooted,

Established in Christ;

Surrendered to God,

Let Him lead our lives.

As we choose follow,

Willingly obey;

He stretches and grows,

Leads us in His way.

As we are willing,

He grows within us;

Fruit of the Spirit,

That mirror Jesus.

Love, peace and patience,

And gentleness too;

Kindness, faithfulness,

Care in all we do.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that as we invest our hearts, minds and time into relationship with You, we become rooted and established in a right relationship that bears fruit that lasts. Thank You that the fruit You have for us is good fruit to give away. Forgive us for the times that we have set aside our roots and operated in our own ugliness. Teach us to trust and rely on You more, so that we would bear Your fruit wherever we go and whatever we are doing. Show us how to love those around us in a way that demonstrates Your joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we ever pursue a heart after You, and choose to be willing to be uncomfortable so that we can grow. Amen.

 

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

 

The earth is filled with Your love, Lord; teach me Your decrees. – Psalm 119:64

 

 

Inscribed on Human Hearts

You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. – (2 Corinthians 3:3, NIV)

You show that you are a letter from Christ that He sent through us. This letter is not written with ink but with the Spirit of the living God. It is not written on stone tablets but on human hearts. – (2 Corinthians 3:3, ERV)

You are the living letter of the Anointed One, the Liberating King, nurtured by us and inscribed, not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God – a letter too passionate to be chiseled on stone tablets, but emblazoned upon the human heart. – (2 Corinthians 3:3, VOICE)

 

Though this verse is but a portion of Paul’s second letter to the church of Corinth, it applies to all who faithfully pursue the Lord and seek to do His will. Those who invest in the spiritual growth of others, help nurture the truth that Christ engraves upon the hearts of all who follow Him. It is by God’s Spirit that our hearts become more like His. I love the imagery that this presents. We, as followers of Christ, carry the Spirit of God in our heart, and help others discover the same. Our hearts emblazoned with the love, light and truth of the living God… May we ever passionately pursue Christ, as He is the way, the truth and the light, who deposits His heart in ours, so that we may love as He loves.

 

A letter of love,

Inscribed not with ink;

But by God’s Spirit,

Most holy love link.

His Spirit within,

Makes the truth be known;

So as we love well,

His heart shall be shown.

In all that we do,

And all that we say;

May our hearts make known,

God’s goodness and grace.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that as we pursue You, You inscribe truth, love and light within us, so that we may point others to all that You are. Thank You for the people whom You have placed in our lives to show us what it is to have a heart that has been inscribed by You. Forgive us for the times that we have not pursued Your heart or have failed to represent all that You have deposited within us. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would further seek Your inscription upon our lives, and go forth investing in others around us, so that they too, may know Your nearness. Show us how to love like You. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we allow You to write upon the tablet of our heart. Amen.

 

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

 

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. – Proverbs 3:3

 

Purposeful Reign

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is My word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. – (Isaiah 55:10-11, NIV) 

Rain and snow fall from the sky and don’t return until they have watered the ground. Then the ground causes the plants to sprout and grow, and they produce seeds for the farmer and food for the people to eat. In the same way, My words leave My mouth, and they don’t come back without results. My words make the things happen that I want to happen. – (Isaiah 55:10-11, ERV) 

 

It has been a typically torrential week, weather-wise, in the great Pacific Northwest. Rain has poured down daily, and the mountains are gaining significant snow to help us all remember that December is actually here. Though I prefer the sunshine and sweeter, more leisurely days of summer, there are blessings to behold as the rains come down. Yesterday, as my best running buddy and I were braving the elements on a run, we hit a favorite sweet spot that is an actual decline (as everywhere we run in our town is hilly) an old song I love kept going through my head – “Send Your Rain”. As the lyrics were on repeat as we ran, I thought about the benefit and beauty that our wet winter weather affords our area. It is lush and green and gorgeous, and there is a view of either the mountains or water, (or both!) nearly everywhere one goes. In the same way, as I immerse myself in His word each morning, what I learn seems to be recalled at the most opportune moments, when I need to be reminded most. God is a God of intention, and He is able to use everything for good. Even the wet, cold days of winter serve a purpose, as they bring bounty as we walk into spring. (The jury is still out on spiders though, just sayin’…) May we ever seek the Lord and His word, recognizing that what He says is true and what He promises, He will do. May we allow Him reign in our hearts. 

 

Each raindrop that falls,

Has purposed intent; 

To water the earth, 

This grace, heaven-sent. 

The same with God’s word, 

Each spoken with care; 

To guide and instruct, 

Love, help and prepare. 

Both are sent for growth, 

For their yield is great; 

Each to be absorbed, 

New life, generate. 

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your rain and Your word. Thank You that both are used to nurture and grow. Thank You that You give us tangible, visible examples in the world around us to grasp that which might not be clearly seen. Forgive us for not absorbing all that we can from Your word, as You generously give us all that we need to navigate well. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would seek You and rely on Your word. Show us how to love those around us well, so that they may feel refreshed and grow in the grace that You so lovingly give. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we receive Your reign in our lives and soak in all that You speak to our hearts. Amen.

 

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

 

The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice. – Psalm 97:1

 

 

Each Child a Gift

Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from Him. – (Psalm 127:3, NIV)

Children are a gift from God; they are His reward. – (Psalm 127:3, TLB)

Children are God’s love-gift; they are heaven’s generous reward. – (Psalm 127:3, TPT)

 

This tends to be one of the longest weeks of the summer each year; the week before school officially begins. For those of us who teach or are involved in the public-school system somehow, this week is spent in meetings, seminars, classes, and retreats to best prepare for the upcoming school year. Some of said academic gatherings are great, and the time flies by. However, others are either repeats of what we have done year in and year out, or they are extraordinarily weighty, and make the day seem far longer than we might hope. The reason that we continue to invest our time, resources, energy and heart into what we do, is the very gist of this verse. Children are a gift, and we recognize the value in each and desire to teach and foster growth in each one who enters our classroom. Perhaps if we can see the struggling as God’s love-gifts and heaven’s rewards, we might approach each child all the more delicately and thoughtfully, as to not offend the Giver. May we look at children as gifts from God, just as we do our own, so that we may love them as we are loved by Him.

 

Each child is a gift,

Photos by Dee Jones of Open Door Photography ❤

From heaven to earth;

A life with a plan,

A purpose since birth.

Our charge and challenge,

Is to help each rise;

Point to discover,

Dreams to realize.

May we foster growth,

And nurture with love;

So each child feels known,

And knows they’re enough.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that children are a gift from You. Thank You that they are heaven’s reward here on earth. Forgive us for the times that we have viewed them as anything less than a gift. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would seek You for strength to love through the struggles, and to equip us to help kids grow in safety, security and trust. Show us how to love those whom You place on our path to care for well, so that they may know their worth in You. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we love children as You love us – unconditionally and lavishly. Amen.

 

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

 

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. – Proverbs 22:6

Trust in the Unseen

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. – (Hebrews 11:1, NIV)

Faith is what makes real the things we hope for. It is proof of what we cannot see. – (Hebrews 11:1, ERV)

The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. – (Hebrews 11:1, MSG)

Faith is the assurance of things you have hoped for, the absolute conviction that there are realities you’ve never seen. – (Hebrews 11:1, VOICE)

 

Faith is what happens when we allow our hearts to hold onto the hope of that which we cannot yet see. Though it may start small, if we nurture our faith and allow it to grow, mountains that appear to be a road block from forging forward, may be moved by faith. God uses the smallest seed of faith to grow and develop our fortitude and trust in Him, into something that becomes taller and further reaching than we know. By faith, seeming impossibilities become possible. As our hope lies in He who gives us life and love and good things, that which we cannot see begins to become reality. May we choose to hold hope, even in that which we cannot see, and trust in Him who can make the things hoped for our new reality.

 

Faith is confidence, 

In what we hope for;

Trust in the unseen,

As God unlocks doors.

It moves us forward,

When we cannot see;

It grants us the strength,

To simply believe.

Faith’s the foundation,

Of all good in life;

Our confident hope,

That helps us to thrive.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are our Source of faith and in Whom we place our hope. Thank You that faith makes hope reality, regardless of what we see. Forgive us for our lack of faith, as we tend to trust in that which we can see with our own eyes. Teach us to have faith in You and all that You are doing in and through us. Show us how to hold fast to hope in that which we cannot yet see. Lead us to love those around us well, so that they may find faith that grows. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we have faith in what we hope for and trust in that which we cannot see. Amen.

 

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

 

He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy. – Job 8:21

 

 

Hope in What is Unseen

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. – (Hebrews 11:1)

 

Perhaps that is why the term “leap of faith” is so often used. In order to demonstrate our faith, our certainty in what we do not see, we must move forward into the great unknown. Inevitably, this sort of movement can be likened to leaping headlong off of the edge of a cliff, uncertain of what lies below. Is it warm and inviting water, meant to refresh and renew our souls, or is it jagged cliffs, ready to destroy all that remains? This is where the being sure of what we hope for is absolutely necessary. If we are not certain that God is good, and that His plans are for our ultimate good in His kingdom, our faith falters and we cannot be certain of what we do not see. It becomes far easier to rely on what our eyes take in, rather than the truth that is being whispered within the walls of our hearts. May we turn to Christ in trust, allowing Him to grow our faith so that we are sure of what we hope for, and certain of that which we do not see.

 

How to be certain,

of what is unknown;

is found when we hope,

in Christ’s love that’s shown.

For His evidence,

wherever we look;

from heaven to earth,

written in His book.

We must make the choice,

to hope and be sure;

for though He’s unseen,

the Lord’s way is clear.

Allow faith to rise,

choose nurture and grow;

ever seek the truth,

and His way we’ll know.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that we can have faith, being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see because of Your ongoing, unchanging love for all. Thank You that Your faithfulness has been the same throughout the ages, and that Your love for us is so great, that You laid down Your very life so that we might live. Forgive us for our uncertainty in the unseen, and give us Your eyes to see the hope that lies before us, even when our own minds and hearts cannot begin to conceive anything hopeful ahead. Lead us to love others in such a way, that they too may find faith to hope in what is unseen. Be glorified O God, as we are sure of what we hope for, and certain of that which we do not yet see. Amen.

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

When times are good, be happy. – Ecclesiastes 7:14

To Honor the Dream

Today, many of us are the recipients of an extra day off.  This day is in honor of the birth and life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Were it not for him, and the myriad of others who joined in the fearless fight against the injustices taking place in these United States, the face of our nation would not be nearly so beautiful, as it is today.  My classroom, which is a melting pot of countries and cultures, seated together, learning from each other, would not be possible.  What a travesty indeed it would be, to miss out of the blessing of living out the dream, of Dr. King.

Our charge, as humans – God’s created, is to love one another.  If we truly love, then the dream that Dr. King and so many others fought for, is alive and going strong.  It is when we choose to allow individuals to taint the face of an entire people group, that barriers are built up, and all that was fought for, is for naught.

“I can’t help but wonder why You care about mortals – sons and daughters of men – specks of dust floating about the cosmos.  But You placed the son of man just beneath God and honored him like royalty, crowning him with glory and honor.  You ordained him to govern the works of Your hands, to nurture the offspring of Your divine imagination; You placed everything on earth beneath his feet.” – (Psalm 8:4-6 – The Voice)

May we learn and grow in how to nurture and govern well, in a manner that is pleasing unto God.  Let us choose love, even in the face of adversity or fear.  Our strength to live and love, comes from Christ alone.

To honor the dream,

of a faithful man;

to live out our lives,

in line with God’s plan.

He calls us to love,

to choose to embrace;

regardless of creed,

religion or race.

May we truly show,

what love really is;

so many may come,

and long to be His.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for men and women of faith who have gone before us and modeled love, and fought peacefully to end injustice.  Thank You for the progress that has been made in this nation, so that all people have opportunity to learn and grow, dream and achieve.  Forgive us for any personal barriers we may be bearing, and please break them down with the wonderful weight of Your love.  Lead us and guide us, so that we may love and embrace all who come near, regardless of whether or not their values and beliefs align with ours.  You dined with outcasts, and spoke freely with sinners – trusting the Father, never concerning Yourself with social norms, nor societal expectations.  May we have the very same trust, and continue to grow the dream.  May many come to know You as their Savior, as a result of our loving kindness.  Be glorified in all that we say and do.  Amen.

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

To Be A Blessing

As an educator and a mom, kids are often on my mind. Though both my students and my own children are at an age where they have reached some level of independence, they still need love, nurturing and guidance to make wise decisions, and still require support from adults to have their basic needs met.

In the public school setting, this requires a delicate dance. Wisdom and vulnerability must be in balance, or students will not trust, nor hear what I have to teach. When kids know that they are cared for, they are willing to try. “I am sending you out like a sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” – (Matthew 10:16) I am not implying that the students are wolves, for they are like little lambs, (that occasionally have sharp teeth), but rather those who would like to see robots instructing without any heart – those are the wolves of whom we must be wary.

Teachers, in their very job description, give to kids. If a child comes to class without a pencil, we supply them. If a child comes hungry, we feed them. When a students comes not knowing how to behave in the classroom, we redirect and instruct them in the ways that are acceptable. “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.” – (Matthew 10:42) Our love for God is exemplified in how we treat others, and He notices how we care for those in our charge. We don’t earn our salvation through our deeds, but our relationship with Him is made evident to others, by our love and care for His created.

With wisdom and grace,

give unto the Lord;

worry not the cost,

nor of the reward.

But think of the one,

who has the great need;

love to the lonely,

and hungry to feed.

May our hearts be known,

so all see His light;

may comfort be found,

in Him, all delight.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that our salvation is not earned, but rather is a gift of grace that You freely give when we come to You and invite You to be the Lord of our lives. Thank You that as You take Your place in our hearts, You invite us to partner with You in loving people well. Forgive us for the times that we have neglected a nudge to do something that You were asking, and help us to obey immediately, regardless of the cost. Thank You for the blessing of kids, and for the joy and perspective they bring to the world. Teach us how to love and serve them well, so that we raise up a brilliant generation of believers, who are sold out for You. May they be world changers, as they touch lives and transform the communities in which they live. May many come to call You King of their lives today. Amen.

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