Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Beware the Barrenness of a Busy Life



This is a snapshot of the bulletin board in my office. Yes, that’s a napkin… Almost a year ago my hubby & I were at lunch with our spiritual mom and dad (in the pic above) and in the course of conversation Pops started writing on a napkin.

“Beware the barrenness of a busy life. Do what bears fruit with the seed of reproducibility.”

I thought it important enough to put in my purse that day, important enough to hang on my bulletin board for almost a year now.

And now, this week, those words of wisdom have returned to the forefront of my mind.

Over and over I keep hearing… slow down, be still, do less, rest in me, come away, quiet your heart…

But it’s hard! It’s hard to stop, to rest, to breathe. We run and go and do and where does it get us? Burned out. Washed up. Tired. Sick. Barren.

Barren (adjective):

1. Bare of vegetation having no trees or other growing parts

2. Not fruiting producing no fruit or seed

3. Unable to have children not able to bear children

4. With no useful result producing no valuable results or interesting effects

5. Lacking in something completely lacking in a particular thing

God, save me from such a life! I want growth, seeds, children (spiritual, not physical mind you!), and valuable long lasting Kingdom altering results!

Jesus said my life is to bear fruit. Fruit with the seed of reproducibility. But when I don’t abide in Him all my busyness is in vain.

Live in Me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only be being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me. I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you are joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown into the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who He is- when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples. I’ve loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. John 15:4-9 The Message

It seems to me we often times have it all backwards. We fill our days, schedule our lives, and then stop for a moment to ask God to bless the work of our hands.

Abiding should be our preeminent goal. Above all else. We should guard it as if our lives depend on it… because they do!

Beware the barrenness of a busy life.

Abide in Him.

Rest in His love.

Then, and only then… do what bears fruit.

Then Jesus said, “Let us go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest a while.” Mark 6:31 NLT

1 comment:

  1. Keri,
    Thank you so much for this powerful word and for sharing your heart. What a gift your words are. I really needed this today!

    ReplyDelete