The Bloom Taking Shape*

Our family has undergone a refining process over the last few months.  I love/hate those times!!  It is a lot of that: hurt to end up feeling good in the process.  I like it though.  I like it because I know, in the end, I won't be the same... in a wonderful way.

BLOOM, my one word from last January, has been ringing around my brain.  When God laid that word on my heart, I never could have anticipated the path He would take me down in order to find my bloom.

I thought this blog would be my record of blooming... but one of the elements of Bloom required me to step away... lay down everything outside of basics.  It was so hard.  Let go of writing, blogging, creating.

But... He is my creator... He wanted to mold me, and I was holding him back.

I was holding Him back through busy-ness.

I was holding Him back through noisy mind unable to Hear.

I was standing in the way of progress and in danger of being dashed to the ground... wanting to move on my own strength rather than acknowledging and giving myself over to His.

Real blooming isn't something we force or strain.... it is a gentle submission to soak in what is good and open our arms to the Son-light.  To breathe in the fresh air and be willing to bend and sway with the gentle breeze... knowing it makes our roots stronger and deeper.

Foolish pride threatened.

Stubborn single-mindedness loomed.

I was going no-where and in danger of shriveling if I didn't.just.submit.

I am feeling the release now... the gentle unfolding, the bloom taking shape... I feel, still tender, but mostly stronger and ready to ease into the light God has shined down for me.

I want to encourage you today, dear reader,  to remember: it isn't how many steps we can take in His name.... it is more a matter of how many pauses we will take in His presence, ready and willing to change direction as He leads.

 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will let you hear my words.” So I went down to the potter's house, and there he was working at his wheel. And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter's hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do. 

Then the word of the Lord came to me: “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the Lord. Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.

- Jeremiah 18:1-6 (ESV)

May you be soft clay in the Great Potter's hands... or a gentle flower, poised for BLOOM.

Blessings,