Root

ROOT
[n] source [v] establish or tear out

"so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God" [Eph. 3:17-19; NASB].

"so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God" [Eph. 3: 17-19; ESV].

I decided to look this up--root it up?--subsequent to Bible study and discussion which ensued. It seems that being rooted and grounded in love provides both source and establish[ment] of our life and our growth and our fruitfulness--but I may be misreading this.

A B C s of Friendship

A:
Access
Accountability
B:
Babyhood
Brotherhood
C:
Comfort
Calling

Access is perhaps the most hazardous aspect of friendship. Both Job and the psalmists--not to mention the Lord Himself--had friend trouble.

One thing I appreciate about friendships I have made is the accountability that helps both me and my friends to be/become more stable in our walks.

But it isn't always easy to go through the various stages. It seems that sometimes we want instant maturity both in ourselves and in our friendships, which is not realistic.

There is a kind of babyhood through which each passes to mature brotherhood.

Then there is the comfort which we can extend to each other, and we can surely affirm each other in the calling of friendship, whatever our other callings may be.

From my archives: to lose and to learn and to trust

I was working on a document on the computer we had at the time and suddenly it was "gone"; when I tried to retrieve it, up popped a strange page calling itself "document 2." While I was not amused, it gave me food for thought which led both to this poem and to these Scripture passages: Hebrews 13:5-6; 2 Corinthians 1:20. Why? We can rest in not knowing because He always knows and reveals what is necessary for us to know [see 2 Peter 1:3+]

How can this be "document 2"?
I don't "have" to know
But
I wish I did.
I wish I knew other things, too.
But whether I am to know or not is
According to God's will;
He knows all;
He has all in hand;
He will not strand
His own
On sinking sand
Or in water less desert
Under a blazing unsetting sun;
Or of He does,
He will be with them;
Promised:
"I will never leave you nor forsake you"
And
Never is a long long timeless time

So
Rest, child of His in
Him and in
His promises
Which find their
Yes
In Him.

Psalm 29

Some days I actually get out just to walk, just to look around me, just to observe. One Psalm which reflects days like this for me is Psalm 29, which lifts my heart above what I see around me to the One who put all things in their places. Read Psalm 29 before you read this poem.

Poetry erupts
From winter cocoon, unfurls
Haikuic wings.
Leaves of many greens
Flutter butterfly-like as
If many wind chimes.
Silence, relative,
Broken, cracked, shattered, revives
As darkness overcomes.
Windows closed, voices
Softened to silence, traffic
Murmurs distant hums.
Night having fallen,
Sky darkened to navy's blues,
All creation rests.

Reflections on Psalm 119 verses 33 through 40

I love the Psalms--all 150 of them--and when asked to produce these reflections for another Bible study, was lighted and delighted, and it is a joy to share them again,

To ask God to "teach me" proves that I don't know all--but He does.
To ask God to "give me" indicates that I am dependent--whereas He is independent.
To ask God to "lead me" indicates that I cannot find my way on my own--but He is the way.
To ask God to "incline my heart" indicates my inability--His ability.
To ask God to "turn my eyes" indicates my tendency to look at what is worthless cannot be over ruled by mere force of human will, however moral.
To ask God to "confirm" indicated my faith needs to be strengthened and encouraged--and God alone can accomplish that, and will through His word.
To ask God to "turn away" indicates that I still struggle with a sinful fear of man--and recognize that God can and will help me to overcome.
The final verse--"Behold, I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life!"--indicates awareness that I am dependent on God's righteousness for life, having none of my own, and that my longing for his precepts is indicative of His work to bring that life-gift about is at work.

Reflecting on Psalm 1 verses 1 and 2

A Bible study lesson required a reflection be produced on these verses, and so it was.

Walk not in the counsel of the wicked
But according to the advice of the godly
Do not stand in the way of sinners but
Associate with the righteous
Do not sit in the seat of scoffers but
Prostrate in humility before the throne of God.