Sharing from my journal hopes for 2023… from my beliefs.
To me a garden is where nature dwells and wisdom blooms among thistles and weeds.
It seems confusion wants to control our thoughts and actions from so many mixed stories and actions of others. I have a strong set of beliefs on certain things. And, confusion being high on the list, is not to be accepted as part of my prayers and living.
In my faith belief…Confusion does not come from light. I see and pray for truth, clarity, peace, unity, love, hope, good, joy, compassion and mercy among other life building tools/words such as forgiveness put into action.
When darkness, secrecy, ugliness shroud unity and peace I need to pull away from the table and find a tree, a garden, a flower among other natural beautiful things like a flying leaf or even sit by the stillness of a wind blown lonely pine cone.
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Sara, thank you for sharing ‘A few thoughts for 2023’ and the picture of the tree with its good advice on how to be like a tree.
You painted a clear picture on the darkness of confusion and the contrast characteristics of Light. I was recalling a scripture about confusion and some reasons for its cause. The Amplified Bible states it this way: “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder [unrest, rebellion] and every evil thing and morally degrading practice.” James 3:16
I noticed some broken end branches in the tree in the picture. I don’t know if it was the artist’s intent to show that or not. But it made me think that in winds and storms, tree branches can break, though the tree remains rooted and grounded and the main trunk may bend. It’s sad and often unsightly to see that happen. The branch won’t grow back where it broke. But, hopefully, there are some buds nearby where it broke that may begin to grow a new branch with new leaves.
Corinthians 14:33 — (KJV 1900)
“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, “
I have seen some VERY tall, not so big around trees, swaying in VERY strong winds; and yet, they continue to stand. The trees I have seen must have had some very good roots? This sure proves truth to this blog, for me.🙏
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” Psalm 1
It’s a few hours before I will let go of 2022 and begin 2023. That rings true when I begin to date documents or just care for papers for that day.
About this time of year I start to yearn for what my family might term, root meals! We would find and prepare our combo from delights such as, potatoes, turnips, rutabagas, and a few others that could prove they were from the root. Did you family have this tradition?
On New Years Eve, we would also find creative ways to root out old ideas that were not meant for the new. And, foster the root system that would continue to sustain our daily life. The second line in our guideline says, “connect with your roots”, brings me to remember and root for my highest goals. Part of my root meal is one of my favor and needful holy scriptures. I would like to share my meal with you to enjoy on your New Years travels.
“Whatever you do, whether in speech or action, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus and give thanks to God the Father through him.”
—Colossians 3:17 (CEB)
May your 2023 be greatly blessed!
Sara’s root meal sure does give us something to feast on, in this New Year! The footnotes for Colossians 3:17 from the NIV says: “Doing ‘all in the name of the Lord Jesus’ means bringing honor to Christ in every aspect of activity daily living. As a Christian, you represent Christ at all times —wherever you go and whatever you say. What impression do people have of Christ when they see or talk with you? What changes would you make in your life in order to honor Christ?”
One traditional meal in my family for New Years are black eyes peas, and I did have some, but yesterday I did cook some rutabagas! 😋😉😋 Happy 2023 to all!🥳
Dear footnotes, you sure have a way with daily “down home” type language! 😮 And, your notes are a perfect pitch to start our day and stay in pitch as we sing our way through each day. You even give us a root chord when we do get off pitch, “ What changes would you make in your life in order to honor Christ?”
“Did you family have this tradition?” No, my family did not have a tradition of root meals. As a child, I recall eating potatoes and carrots in great soups my mom made, but not turnips or rutabagas. My grandmother did have a love of parsnips, and she would cook those in a fry pan until tender when they were in season.
“The second line in our guideline says, “connect with your roots””…I think one of the first times I became aware of the connection to our roots was learning about it in Sara’s retreat book, “Dressing for His Glory.” Sara mentioned above, “To me a garden is where nature dwells and wisdom blooms among thistles and weeds.”
“Lesson 4, The Garden of the Lord” had a lot of instructions and wisdom words about this. We learned that according to Isaiah 11:1 we need to have a root connection to Jesus if we are going to be a part of the family of God and bear any fruit. “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.”
And, I think in keeping with her scripture meal from Colossians 3:17, we were told in Lesson 5, “Golden Apples in Silver Baskets”, “Steps to maintaining a Healthy Tree (capturing my words)…scriptures that had to do with our tongues and words. “The tongues of those who are upright and in right standing with God are as choice silver; the minds of those who are wicked and out of harmony with God are of little value. The lips of the (uncompromisingly) righteous feed and guide many …Prov. 10-20-21 AMP.”
Blessings to all in this New Year as well.