My earliest memories are of the cross-country course nibbling the tender, green grass next to my mother
‘Til one day I was shipped off separated from all I knew and loved to run mindless circuits round a dirt track on a dry, dusty prairie my legs stretching, muscles growing but my mind always drifting to the greener grasses rolling hills majestic trees open skies a wide open path space to run
With time, I matured, my muscles filled out I accepted a daily life of repetition–my training I ran every race with heart I won more than I lost I excelled beyond my own expectations I outran competitors I ran because it was in me to run
Before I knew it, I was “ready” I heard my trainer say, “she’s moving up”
My heart leapt could it be–the open course? my thoughts filled with the images of my youth carpets of endless green the sweetness of the owner’s touch upon my forelock carrots and apples from His hand
I had accepted the cruelty of my trainer I did as he directed I avoided his crop but still he expressed shallow kindness small mercies
The cruelty of his crop his unyielding weight in the saddle his careless flick of the reins his cheap grains and marginal hay I accepted as my lot I kept my head down
I’d learned to fear his hidden kicks his punitive half measures of grain He didn’t let anyone see his cruelty, our secret
I rode in the trailer blind to the road ahead I rested, trusted dreamed of my owner’s touch lush, tender grass open sky
More stunning than I remembered the owner’s barns were a palace huge stalls, wide corridors fresh, well-bedded stalls I was happy
But day after day my trainer lumbered up onto my back his body heaving and awkward he led me to the starting gate He let me start I’d sprint from the line my heart full of joy as I sprinted out then he pulled back the reins and turned me to do circles more training more blows from his crop I was losing hope of ever running in the long race the important race the owner’s race
One morning, my trainer didn’t come another brought my hay and an apple He filled my bucket with the coolest, sweetest water He brushed me and saddled me for a run but not with my work saddle with a new light-weight racing saddle it barely registered on my back
He walked me out to the starting line where many beautiful and fierce horses waited chomping at the bit pawing the loose dirt stamping their hooves impatiently
He positioned me in the far gate and left I waited nibbling tender blades of sweet grass at my feet All the horses got strangely quiet that’s when I saw Him
I couldn’t believe my eyes dressed in the finest riding gear Champion of all champions My owner–handsome, strong, confident He approached the line of horses met with a chorus of whinnies He knew each one–calling them by their names names He’d given them
I was entranced I didn’t register when he stopped beside me He tightened my cinches and adjusted my saddle I was so still–holding my breath I couldn’t imagine Him being so close touching me He reached up and scratched my neck–just under the ear
I’ll never forget what He whispered, “Are you ready to run? “Are you ready to run for Me?
I lifted my head and whinnied with delight “O Great Master, I shall run for You as none has ever run before!”
It was a beautiful day, a thrilling race My legs stretched out before me and all those years heavy saddle, hefty jockey served me well–making me strong
My Master is the sweetest rider caring, considerate, yet firm clear in His instructions
He had allowed my harsh training to prepare me for this day the day I would run for Him under His command only His words to instruct me no crop no bit just the precious Words of my master
Run! Run with endurance! Run with joy! Run because I made you to run!
I think the mistake people often make in thinking about God is to think of Him as linear, boxed in or predictable. No, He is not contained by the ordinary, the clear route, the short cut or the safe choice. The longer I walk with Adonai, the more I see He loves creativity, the path less traveled. He loves the winding country road lined with untrimmed trees guarding the edges of endless corn fields, stalks waving in the gentle summer breeze. He loves the walk by the surf listening to the waves crash against the sand, the wind and the spray. Mostly He treasures a day spent in thought of Him, a time like the Sabbath when He can speak into our rest–speak of His great love, provision and plans for us. Abba is never rushed with us. His limits, which he lovingly installs, keep us from harm and evil. Great is His concern for His children. He lovingly disciplines us when we require it. Coming to Abba is like eating from a bag of mixed jelly beans, different flavors continue to delight the palate–no way to know what flavor is coming next. I think this is part of His vision for our relationship with Him. Some parts worship, some parts petition, contrition, confession, rejoicing, abiding, adoration, but always open, honest, intimate fellowship. We see a picture of this varied tapestry of prayer and worship–life with Adonai in the offerings described in the book of Leviticus. Some offerings are for unintentional sins, some for marking a new season of life, a healing from illness. Some mark an ending of a season or moed (appointed time). Some are just to sit with God and enjoy being with Him–to receive His shalom (peace). The offerings remind us that God intends our relationship with Him to involve all the aspects of our life, e.g. beginnings and endings, successes and failures, as well as regular times of being in relationship with the Lover of our souls. The God who sees us.
It is our desire to help you grow in your knowledge of Adonai and His Word. If you are looking for additional information and/or materials, please visit our website at RootedinHisWord.org and our Facebook page.
Brothers, I, for my part, do not think of myself as having yet gotten hold of it; but one thing I do: forgetting what is behind me and straining forward toward what lies ahead, I keep pursuing the goal in order to win the prize offered by God’s upward calling in the Messiah Yeshua. Philippians 3:13-14 CJB
I love that he calls them brothers. Despite having just finished giving his credentials in Judaism to them, he reflects his renewed priorities in Messiah Yeshua. He doesn’t think of them as talmadim (disciples) as a Rabbi would, but rather he calls them (us) brothers–suggesting an equality unheard of in his culture and religious system prior to his meeting Yeshua the Messiah on the road to Damascus.
He gives us three things in this short passage that are worthy of comment and meditation:
Forgetting what is behind me In making this statement, Paul is telling us that his past is no longer going to be in the center of his thoughts and focus. This is important to think on for a moment. Our past grows in size and importance often as we age. It can loom as a great disappointment–failed relationships, failure in career, failure in faith and pleasing God. It can also loom large a great point of success as it did with Paul. He lists in Philippians 3:5-6, his claims to religious fame–these are things of considerable importance in Jewish culture. We may also have great accomplishments in career, academia or even in religious circles. What Paul is saying is to work on forgetting those things, both good and bad, and move forward with God. It is true that our past forms us, it carves us and imprints on us–but Paul is letting us know that it is not the end of the story in our relationship with God. He is telling us to work to forget what came before and who we were before we met the Messiah and live with God in the now by the power of the Spirit. (Galatians 2:20)
Straining forward toward what lies ahead The verb “straining” is a strong action verb. It suggests intentionality and going beyond oneself, going beyond one’s current location. We are not to be pew-sitters or Youtube watchers only, we are to work out our salvation with fear and trembling–get out of our chairs, get out of our houses, get out of our normal routine, seek the kingdom of God. To strain for what lies ahead means to be longing for God’s coming kingdom as well as for opportunities to share the love God, the beauty of His majesty, the comfort of His close presence. Straining implies I am making an effort to see God’s kingdom come. Life with Adonai is not a spectator sport.
Keep pursuing the goal in order to win the prize To keep pursuing requires steadfastness, determination and diligence. We must decide to follow Yeshua as the example of righteous living. We must continue steadfastly and with determination in Adonai’s commands, and we must use diligence to follow the dictates of Torah–the instructions for righteous living.
What is the goal? The goal is to live righteous lives as true witnesses of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob–Adonai. The goal is to keep Torah by the power of the Holy Spirit. We must be the witnesses that God’s word is true and that His ways are pure and holy. This life of righteousness will impact the world around us–it will show us to be different. It will cause us to stand out, which is exactly what it was intended to do. “Be holy as I am holy,” says the Lord God Almighty.
What is the prize? Eternal life with God. To rule and reign with Yeshua. To be forever in the presence of Adonai–never separated from Him. Eternally His.
It is our desire to help you grow in your knowledge of Adonai and His Word. If you are looking for additional information and/or materials, please visit our website at RootedinHisWord.org and our Facebook page.
I swim in the waters of my trial
your promises buoy me
I feel peace descend
A canopy over me
I will be all right
But clear waters turn swiftly to rolling white caps,
crashing on the sandy shore
from underneath, I feel the pull, the undertow of sorrow
pulling me, threatening me, holding me under the surface,
to drown me
I struggle to stay afloat,
reaching in my prayers for the arms of my Father, wanting You to take me from these waters
snatch me out, take me with You.
“Take me!” I cry. I want to be with You–completely with you
My tears are little comfort, my soul is bruised,
my confidence shattered,
I am broken.
I will never be the same.
You don’t correct me.
It is so. Irreparably broken.
It is no wonder that the non-believing world rejects the life-changing message of the gospel–the power of God to change a person, to break a chain of addiction, to break a life pattern of infidelity, to remove fear and anxiety, to heal a broken heart, a broken life . . . they see us, the chosen, the ones testifying of the power of God, but we show ourselves to be powerless.
We run like dogs to our vomit. We return to our addictions. We continue our patterns of infidelity, of anxiety. We seek that which God has taken from us. We pick our idols back up.
The non-believer sees this as a weakness of our God. But nothing could be farther from the truth.
Sometimes by our choices and our conduct, we make God out to be a liar.
But God cannot lie.
▸ If the Son makes you free, then you are unquestionably free. John 8:36 (Amplified)
▸ Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life]. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (Amplified)
▸ It is vain for you to rise early, to retire late, to eat the bread of anxious labors—for He gives [blessings] to His beloved even in his sleep. Psalm 127:2 (Amplified)
It is one thing to be broken. A clean break is not impossible to mend. Align the broken pieces, apply some epoxy, wait and time will heal the fractures.
Crushing is a totally different thing. With a horrible blow or a series of repeated strikes to the fragile porcelain of a human heart, a crushing occurs–thousands of tiny pieces are left with no hope of ever being re-aligned or re-assembled.
Humpty-dumpty all over again.
But God . . .
Indeed, the former things have come to pass, Now I declare new things;
Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you. Isaiah 42:9
If anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life]. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (Amplified)
Sometimes with God it is a break, clean and neat. But often with God it is a crushing–to testify to His desire and power and make all things new–to release the fragrance that is within us.
Take heart, beloved, if you are going through a time of crushing right now, He will make all things new for you. Not one of His promises will fall. He will keep each and every one.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. Romans 12:1 (NKJV)
Paul’s passion for those in the body of Christ is evident in the opening phrase of Romans 12 where he beseeches or urges us to present our bodies as living sacrifices.
If we are to do this presentation of our bodies (our lives) to God, it will have to be by the mercies of God. That is to say that God will be and is the power behind and the heart behind our desiring to dedicate our bodies (lives) to pleasing God.
He calls us to present our bodies–a voluntary action, a volitional choice–I (we) must make to be set apart for (holy) and pleasing to God.
The sacrifice I am to make is my body–and that is really all that I have to give to God.
Under the law, it is understood that in order to cover sin, to be holy and acceptable to God, a death must occur–more specifically, blood must be shed. Leviticus 11:17 instructs us blood makes atonement for the soul.
The sacrifice that I must present under the new covenant, established by Jesus and stamped with His authority as God by His resurrection, is to die to my flesh, to my own desires. This death to self will allow the Spirit of God to reign in my body. My life will then evidence the fruit of the Spirit described in Galatians 5:22-23, namely love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, [and] self-control.
Paul finishes by saying this is my reasonable service. I am a bond servant of God, and in light of what He has done for me, it a small thing for me to give my life–my sacrifice–to Him.
As Paul said in Romans 6:19, [f]or just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.
We will be a slave to something. Paul makes it clear who we are to serve and what is required–nothing less than everything.
Rooted and Grounded 