Salt, Light and Fruit
Welcome to my new blogging adventure. Serving as current president of VI, it seemed that I should be in touch with all of you out there and so I have been given a blog of my very own on this wonderful new interactive website.
Visionwriting /journalizing is my passion, and the tool that God has used in my life to constantly woo me deeper and deeper into this love relationship with Him. For me it’s like a golden key that unlocks doors to hearing and knowing God. I hope that as you look around our website you will find encouragement and hope and get involved in one of our courses.
I must admit that I had an initial resistance to having a blog . After all, laying your heart out there with no idea who is reading it or even if anyone is reading it? So, this week, I took my attitude to the Lord and asked Him to clarify my mind and to show me what my aims and motives are, you know, the ones He has placed within me that are sometimes difficult for me to identify. Boy, did he come through, so much so that I now can’t wait to blog!
So, He decided to take me back to my very first journal, the weekend I attended Jaque’s retreat in Hawaii 18 years ago. Aha, right there he nailed me with this revelation: ”Sara, the reason that you are discontented is that you are not bearing fruit in your life.”
Jesus told us in John 17 that fruit bearing comes from abiding in Him, (listening to Him, staying with Him, paying attention to Him, trusting and obeying Him, and looking for Him everywhere and in everything).
He further explained to me that the fruit that we bear IS Him. From 18 years of abiding through journalizing, the fruit that I desire, see, taste and enjoy and can hold out to you is: GOD. Sharing what I see of Him with you in this format of blogging, keeping a web-log of God-sightings and God-tastings, oh yes all that I have to share is Him. What delicious, refreshing fruit!
Jesus said, “Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth…here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world.”
Matthew 5: 13,14 The Message
If I can add a little salt and light to your world by sharing what God is teaching me, I hope that it will help you to wonder and exclaim over the God flavors and colors that are all around you. Sometimes it’s hard to taste and see that the Lord is good, but we can point Him out to each other; just sprinkle a little salt and all the flavors are enhanced. Shine a little light and the darkness flees. Oh did you taste that? Did you see God there?
While seeking clarification and reassurance over this blogging endeavor, I went back to read those verses again. I heard God speak clearly to me as I continued to read:
Sara, “God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.”
OK, God, we’re going public! I can’t argue with that.
May He shine through me to you, even in my struggles. And what an incredible promise he has given, that by opening up with others, we prompt them to open up with God. More amazing fruit!
I hope you’ll come back and visit often and join me as I pursue God in the midst of the realities of my life.
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This post is so rich with God’s word and your own vulnerability in Christ. I love your honesty about laying your heart on the line for others to see…or for the possibility that no one will see it at all! Getting to the God motive is essential. Visionwriting makes “abiding in the Vine” a daily habit and clarifies the reality of His presence within us.
When I began blogging I battled with motive and a push that said it wasn’t enough to simply enjoy writing from the fruit of my journals. The purity of simply wanting to “share fruit” was perverted by a suggestion of some greater obligation to write as proof of my worth. Recognition was quick; the push wasn’t from God. He gave me permission to keep it simple.
I still remind myself that my site is free to be nothing. I am here to bear fruit, not to impress. I do not blog to validate my ‘right to write’ or to prove my worth. My true being hasn’t the need to authenticate my existence by trying to be above average in any way. I don’t have to quantify my days with accomplishment and the value of my actions are not confirmed by whether or not there are notable outcomes. The Lord has given me permission to just be…and in so doing the bearing of fruit is easy and abundant.
The purity of my innate sense of purpose is no longer tainted by the poison of performance, proficiency, utility, or function. This freedom unleashes the potency of Christ in me as me. I am perfectly equipped to be me…and being me is the most profound act of service I will ever fulfill.
Go, Sara! You rock as the new president of Visionwriters International!
Sara, your first entry refreshed me like new rain on a summer morning. Your fruit-bearing planted my own tree from which I have been harvesting for over three years and I can’t wait to see what God provides through you in this medium in the future. It will be good because He is good.
Thank you for your willingness to share your gifts, for sharing you. I have missed you since the day you left Okinawa. I feel closer already because in your words, I see the Jesus in Sara form that I so dearly love. I can’t wait to get to know Him even better through you.
Love Toni
Sara,
You’ve heard it before but you’re so on the right track and in the right place! It’s such an encouragement to read your thoughts as well as those of the others commenting. I look forward to hearing more of your heart and seeing more of Him there. The new site is wonderful!
Love you,
Lee
Sara,
How exciting that God is leading us to do simular work through blogging! Although I’ve not taken a formal VW course since leaving Oki, I do keep my journal in conjunction with my Bible study and it’s proven to be a great tool to allow me to allow God to take inventory of my heart.
I love this word picture: “You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth.” Gosh! Doesn’t life sometimes feel like we’re in a salt shaker…being tossed about this earthly container, but eventually, if being controlled by the Master Chef’s hand, we land just right where are supposed to. He’s able to use us in as much quantity as any situation calls for.
I have subscribed to your feed and look forward to following Sara at VI!
Much love,
B
P.S. Hi Toni! I haven’t heard from you in a zillion years! Glad to see you here!
Wow, Sara!
I have read this and the comments following and I feel so refreshed! Growing up in Sunday school I was taught that bearing fruit was “winning souls.” This became a burden of performance and translated into doing good works to prove that Christ was dwelling in me. But this blog turns it all around and lets me participate in the joy of sharing “God sightings.” This sounds like so much fun!!
Yes Georgia! That’s exactly the “Aha” moment I had. I love this adventure with God, there’s always something new to see around the corner. The more we grow in Him the more He reveals to us and the more our minds expand to understand and see in new ways. Also, the more freedom we can walk in.
Thank you all for your friendly, encouraging and enlightening comments
thank you sarah.