Update #133 - Spring

"…the joy of the LORD is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10

Portland, OR - Taken by a friend of mine

Every year Spring arrives. New verdant green leaves slowly unfurl in the suns rays. Tree blossoms become full flower and daffodils, tulips and narcissus mark the beginning of the season. Intermittent dark skies bringing rain, wind and showers which quickly dispel leaving behind soaked earth, fresh smelling air, and glistening surfaces as the sun reappears from behind scuttering clouds.

Spring brings with it renewal, rebirth and regeneration. It reminds us winter isn’t forever, and that death experienced in the fall is followed by life a few months later.

Spring, in the household I grew up, is a time for cleaning. Deep, empty every cupboard and closet, type cleaning. All fixtures, faucets, walls, and appliances get a wipe down, clean out and if needed, tune up. All blankets, pillows, and other miscellaneous linen are laundered – whether they need it or not. Furniture is taken apart and vacuumed, and if needed, steam cleaned. And my Dad goes through the garage in the same manner…

Back in pioneer days, spring was a time of checking fences and inspecting wells. Hard winter conditions caused the wood and wire to bend and break, and well openings to collapse, cave in, or disintegrate. Field hands were put to work fixing fences and re-establishing wells.

As I was pondering my parent’s laborious cleaning ritual, and the mend and fix routine of the pioneers it gave me pause. Shouldn’t we do this on the “inside” as well? Shouldn’t we pause to ponder what needs to be tuned up, cleaned out, laundered, and reorganized? Shouldn’t we re-evaluate our priorities and restructure if needed? Shouldn’t we check where our boundary wires have broken and what wells have gone dry?

Patching, restoring, restructuring – all is good and profitable if there is a working well to refresh the process. If the well is dead, dry, and full of decay then you have a problem…literally and figuratively.

Wells have been around since just after Noah’s flood. They provide water, they provide refreshment, they provide a place of meeting, and they are a life giving source to a community. Wells (running water) are a necessity in any settlement. Back to the pioneers, they would find a well site, establish an armory, and then start building the settlement. Water was tantamount in priority.

In spiritual terms, I think joy is one of the wells of God. The Bible says that the “joy of the Lord is your strength.” Run out of joy, run out of strength.

How is your joy well? Is it clogged? What keeps it from freely filling, flowing, and funneling to all aspects of your life? Unforgiveness? Bitterness? Anger? Resentment? Or is it the simple reason that you haven’t asked God for his joy, his strength, his resources?

What is the well in your life? Where do you go for refreshment? Where do you find community? Where do you get your strength? What deep reserve do you reach into to battle the next obstacle?

Updates:

Living – I signed ANOTHER extension yesterday since we won’t be able to close by today’s (18th) deadline; BUT, it looks promising that the property will close by the 27th!

Work – We are in the midst of training, and prep of the upcoming trips abroad. I am also focusing on editing / publishing three of Brett’s new books, and getting The Big Weekend staffed and ready. Brett is heading to Nigeria with a small team in September and our other trips will be in October and November.

Cool Stuff – I had several divine meetings the last few weeks that have opened several doors – I am so excited to be able to offer intercession training via partnering with a local church!

Friends – Loretta, a close friend from Seattle, came down last weekend and we had a great time! Did you know the Andrews Sisters aren’t really Andrews’…but Andreos…their Dad, a Greek immigrant, changed his name when he arrived in the US (I already knew I wasn’t related!).

Requests:

Living – For blessing and favor on the buyer’s bank…that the loan will be processed without delay and the funding will come through for Mr. Martin.

Work – Books re-published, up to Kindle and for training to progress smoothly. And for the upcoming trainee / alumni ‘weekend away;’ I will find the right speakers, testimonial givers, and intercessors to staff the retreat.