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Monday 31 December 2012

Springtime resurrection

Yesterday I was  tidying up some papers in my workroom and came across  several things that I had written when I was living in our previous home.  Today has been a very dark  rainy day, as have been the last thirty . y.. y... y.... y something days, so I thought I would post one of the articles I had written back then, which speaks  about looking forward to both physical and spiritual brighter days.  I called it 'Springtime resurrection'.
 
 
Springtime!  What a perfect example of resurrection.  I look at the cherry tree in my garden at that time of year and see life that has lain hidden for months shoot forth in new form from the branches of the tree that has stood firm through Winter's harshness protecting all that lay within.  How clearly it reveals to me the protection of the Lord as I struggle to live the life of a Christian in this world, endeavouring to run and win the race that is set before me. 


I am being formed in Christ, being created in the image of the One within whom I rest, as I learn God's ways.  I am encouraged through all that I see in this example of nature's time of renewal as the branches start to sprout buds which in their turn become both leaves and blossom which will play their individual parts in the tree bearing fruit and reproducing, and I am captivated by the fact that the parent tree has given the protection from the elements that is essential before this new creation can emerge.
 
 
Just as the new life began to form in the darkest season, so too did Jesus enter into my life at its darkest time.  Just as the life of the tree is within  the new creation that it will form and the new creation lies within  the tree at its most vulnerable stage in Winter, and even when Spring arrives must stay connected to live, so too a Christian must hide in Christ at a very young age and stay connected, even when mature, to live. 
 
 
In the book of John, ch.11 v.25 Jesus says that He is the resurrection and the life, and it is belief in Him that causes one to have that 'life'.  In the same way that the tree contains every thing within itself to protect and bring forth its own new life, Jesus has within Himself, through the Word of God, everything that will protect us from the world's destructive influence, and that will conform us to His image.


If God is for me

If God is for me who can be my foe?
that the Master loves me is all I need to know
Can tribulation, trial and fear
make me give up hope when my Lord is near
can worldly woes and misery
keep me tightly bound when I've been set free?
No, God the Father heard my cry

long ago He sent His Son to die
The perfect, spotless lamb was slain
to free man from sin's filth and pain
and now this sin - my enemy
always crouching at my door
at Jesus' name must bow the knee
and trouble me no more

 
 
Throughout the Winter, though the elements may pound against my cherry tree, the forming of the new branches that will appear in the Spring goes on within.  So too if I remain within the protection of Christ the tree of life, being nurtured by His substance, I shall attain that resurrection from the death of my sinful state and be conformed into His sinless image, just as my loving Heavenly Father has desired.


I say a prayer to Jesus

I say a prayer to Jesus
to the One who always hears
to the Holy One of Isra-el
who wipes away all tears
Great reader of hearts 
and Spirit of truth
guide us dear Lord
in our days of youth
My prayer is for wisdom
to know what is right
Oh send us the fire
to lighten our night

Make our pathways straight Lord
teach us to lean on You 
lead us by Your Spirit Lord
with Your word so pure and true
We love You Lord as children
who love a Father dear
we cry to You to comfort us and know that You will hear
We know the world is treacherous in this the evil day
so guide our feet dear Father along the narrow way
One thing we've known for certain from the day of our rebirth
is that He who lives within us is greater than he that is on this earth


  'I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.   He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes that it will be even more fruitful.   You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.   Remain in me, as I also remain in you.   No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.   Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.   I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit;  apart from me you can do nothing.    If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.   If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.    This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.'     John ch. 15 vs.1-8

24 comments:

child of God said...

Hi Brenda,
I sure do love the picture of the tree, very beautiful.

Happy New Year sister. Praying 2013 will be a real joy in your heart.
<><

Brenda said...

Hi child of God,
the picture of the cherry tree is actually a tree in my present garden, I love cherry trees. Happy new year to you too and a blessed 2013

Unknown said...

VERY WELL DONE!

Brenda said...

Hello Jerry,
thankyou for your kind comment, all credit to our Lord for things well done. Happy new year to you and your family.

Ken said...

Hi Brenda,
As I was reading your post I was thinking about John 15. Excellent choice for a verse to close your post with. Great post and I pray you have a blessed 2013.
Ken

Patrinas Pencil said...

Brenda....

"...my enemy
always crouching at my door
at Jesus' name must bow the knee
and trouble me no more"

This spoke to me tonight. We must remember that Jesus is the King of Kings... and all must bow to Him... if God is for me, who can be against me... Right!

blessings for a fruitful cherry blossom 2013!

Thanks for visiting my place :_)

patrina <")>><

T-Childs said...

Your blog is always illuminating and worth readig Brenda. Happy New Year!!!

Brenda said...

Hi Ken,
How lovely that you was reading John 15, it is a beautiful chapter isn't it? May God bless you in 2013 too.

Brenda said...

Hi Patrina,
yes Jesus is definately king of kings and Lord of lords isn't He? He gave me those two poems when I really needed them to strengthen me against the enemy. I love the blessing you have left and it is nice to hear from you. May God bless you with a cherry tree 2013 too, with much fruit in it.

Brenda said...

Hi Tim,
thankyou as always for your kind comment. Happy new year to you too. I hope you had a lovely Christmas and that you will have a very blessed and prosperous 2013. I look forward to reading many really interesting posts on your blog.

Eya Ayambem said...

Well done Brenda! I am happy to be back and able to visit your blog.
Happy New Year to you and your's!

Brenda said...

Hi Eya,
lovely to see you again and a happy new year to you and yours too.

A-9ja-Great said...

The presence of God in our lives are the light we need.It is said in His word that "...your word is a lamp to my feet" amd God word is God himself.

Never Forsaken said...

"my enemy
always crouching at my door
at Jesus' name must bow the knee
and trouble me no more."

Hi Brenda,
I copied that quote from your poem, and scrolling through your comments, noticed that I was not the only one that was moved by this!
I know how it is to be patient and remain in Him even when things seem to be dormant...it is times like that, when the enemy will try to lead us away into what may look like greener pastures...after all, his tricks are the same, and it workd on Adam and Eve in the first place.
I know, that with the newness of this year, we are also faced with a time of our natural world being dormant...I must remember to always look at the blessings and the beauty in each phase of my life...Being a new creature in Christ means we are not restricted by what we see in the natural world any longer, as we learn to see with our spiritual eyes, and hear with our spiritual ears the voice of our Lord.
But we must remain in Him for to be shaped and molded for our Father's glory. Amen to that!

Brenda said...

Hi A-9ja-Great,
Amen to what you have said. God's word will see us through the darkness if we stay within that light.

Brenda said...

Hi never forsaken,
so true, We are in this world but not of this world. It is beautiful being in the Lord and you can see why He encourages us to remain in Him in John ch. 15. Why would we want to be without His love and guidance and become like a dead branch that will never have the chance to produce fruit. I never see scripture which portrays the warning of what would happen if we wander from the Lord as a threat. I see it as God means me to see it, as an encouragement to stay within His protective love. I think of Him as a shaft of light and if I walk away from Him I walk into darkness. He doesn't put me there. He only wants for our welfare and He has been the best thing in my life. Never be afraid of trials, they strengthen us, and never fear that the Lord will not be with you in them. I know that you know this yourself, I am just saying 'amen' to the fact. God bless you in 2013.

a joyful noise said...

God does not condemn us even if our lives do not fit exactly into the pattern of others. When we follow His Word, and the Holy Spirit, we are living in His will.
Beautiful post and photos.

Brenda said...

Hello a Joyful Noise,
Yes that is true. We have a common source but, like the snowflake, have our uniqueness. Your blog name reminds me of what the Word of the Lord is, a joyful noise. Nice to meet you.

a joyful noise said...

I loved your poem too! and thanks for visiting my blog and your kind comments.

Brenda said...

You are very welcome AJN, it is a very nice blog.

Floyd said...

Awesome poem. It's nice to think about the season when we're not in it. I think it brings wisdom and we can relate our lives to our future seasons. Will we bloom?

It's even cold today here in usually sunny Arizona... I took a trip to spring and across the pond and didn't even leave the house yet... pretty cool. Thanks.

Brenda said...

Hi Floyd,
I always love it when January comes, I immediately think of Spring. You make me laugh with your 'not leaving the house' bit. Here in Wales the temperature has dropped to near zero but the new shoots have arrived on the trees and plants and they amaze me with their ability to withstand the cold. Thankyou for visiting, very nice to meet you.

Eya Ayambem said...

Hi Brenda, just came to say hi, have a lovely week!

Brenda said...

Hi Eya,
you have a lovely week too, been out enjoying myself with family today in a country nature reserve - lovely.