Violet's Surprise

I'm not much of a gardener. In fact, truth be told, I don't even like gardening. I feel sacrilegious even saying that, seeing that I live in the Northwest where everyone gardens. I get green with envy (pun intended) when I see the pristine, well-tended, park-like yards of many of my friends. I'm lucky if I can get a rhododendron to bloom again the year after I plant it. Rhodies, as we affectionately call them, are the native plant of the Northwest and are nearly impossible to kill. However, I have one in my yard that's looking like it's about to cross over and follow the bright light into eternity.  

You can't really blame me. I grew up in the Bronx, after all. Not much call for green thumbs on the asphalt and concrete streets of Tiebout Avenue and Fordham Road. 

I used to pass a triangular postage-stamp of a park, if you could call it that, on my way to school. I could count on both hands the number of trees that graced its solitary path. 

I did make a valiant attempt when I first moved to Washington. We purchased a house – the first one I’d ever lived in since my growing up was in apartment buildings.  A yard and grass and some bushes…Oh my! This was a new experience for me. I even tried my hand at a vegetable garden (about the size of a kitchen table) but gave up when the slugs were harvesting more of my veggies than I was.

I didn't do much better in the house-plant department either. My husband used to sigh when I brought home another green prospect. 

"Poor plant," he would say, "the minute it comes in this house there's a death sentence over its head!" 

And he was right. Nine times out of ten, my lush, vibrant new plant would be dry, drooping, and dead in no time flat. 

Which is why I was so surprised by this inconspicuous little African violet that I have in my master bathroom. It's just a tiny thing, in one of those 4-inch plastic green containers. I think it was all that remained of one of those lovely planted baskets that you get as a gift. I must have kept the violet because it hadn’t given up the ghost quite yet. It's been sitting on my sink for some time, the outer leaves yellowing and falling off. I thought it was a-goner more than a dozen times. After all, I didn't water it regularly and pretty much ignored it. The only attention I gave it was to move it when I was cleaning the sink. Every once in a while I'd give it a drink. 

One day I noticed something curious. There were new, fresh leaves growing! Sure enough, small, fuzzy circular leaves were sprouting and growing bigger each day. So I began to pay more attention to the sweet little violet. Watering it more frequently, plucking off the dead leaves; I even thought I might get a pretty planter and give it a new home. With fresh soil, and some room to spread out, who knows how big it might get! I haven’t gotten around to doing that yet, but I have great intentions.

Just last week, the most amazing thing happened. I was standing at the sink, brushing my teeth, getting ready to head into my day, when I shot a quick glance at Violet (seems a fitting name, don't you think?). Out of her middle sprang 3 shoots high above the nestled, velvety leaves. Bending down for a closer look, my jaw dropped to realize that those shoots were flower buds! OMGosh! My little Violet was blooming! It may seem silly, but I can't tell you what joy that brought to my heart. 

Three tiny pink flowers, smiling up at me as if to say, "I did it! I did what I was made to do...produce beauty that brings joy."

In that moment, I heard my Father's voice teaching me an object lesson though this little plant. I too, was created with a purpose not unlike Violet's. I was made to produce beauty in the dark and ugly places where joy is desperately needed, to spread the fragrance of Christ wherever I go, and to keep on growing even through the dry spells when I am parched for some of His living water. 

And if I am faithful to "keep on keeping on," I am sure to bloom!

How about you? Need a Big Gulp of living water? You won’t find it at Seven-Eleven. However, there is a never-ending supply from the Master Gardener. You see, He’s totally committed to seeing you bloom and bring beauty to those who need a touch of His joy in their lives. So, keep growing, keep blooming, because that’s what you were created to do!

”Violet””

The Unforced Rhythms of Grace

The human spirit resides in us as a divine instrument with strings tuned to resonate with the rhythms of grace.  (Ken Gire, The Divine Embrace)

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.

I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly. (Jesus, Matt 11:28-30)

Some days I fall into bed at night, drained of every last ounce of energy, wondering why I am so very tired…worn out…burned out, perhaps. To be sure, there may be very real physical reasons for fatigue, but I have a hunch more often than not in our frenetic world, it is weariness of soul. It’s the deep disconnectedness between the longings of our heart and the demandedness of the duties of our soul.

What are the “unforced rhythms of grace” Jesus is talking about? And how do I learn them and live my life from them? It means slowing down, allowing my heart to release the hidden longings, longings I don’t give time or energy to. Better not to get in touch, because to do so might lead to disenchantment or worse, an ache for something more. And so, I allow the din of the day to drown out the desires and dreams of the heart.

But in the stillness of my quiet morning time with the Teacher of the unforced rhythms of grace, the longings rise from the depths of my spirit to break the surface of my soul…unexpected and unbidden. I am in touch.

Before the day begins, in the quiet of my home,

                                       in the quiet of my soul…

Before the cacophony of sounds from the world around me rises to a deafening roar, 

silencing the still, small voice and the gentle rhythms of grace…

Before the mundaneness of life streaming incessantly breaks the divine connection of spirit to Spirit…

In those moments, I call out to my spirit to arise, to take the reins of my soul and mind…to hear, once again, the gentle strains of the unforced rhythms of His grace. 

And I find, from the core of my being, springs untapped creativity, divine inspiration, and enthusiastic incentive to embrace the longing once again. And to live “freely and lightly” within the “unforced rhythms of grace.”

- Diane Fink

Seasoned with Fire

For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt.  (Mark 9:49)

Remember those old, cast-iron skillets your Mom used to cook with? We had one when I was growing up and my Mom cooked everything in that pan. You didn’t see them for quite a while, but they seem to be making somewhat of a comeback. I bought one not long ago, but it had to be “seasoned” before I could cook in it. Had I tried to use it before being “seasoned,” anything from eggs to chicken would have just been a sticky mess. 

You see, when you first buy a skillet, it’s pretty much raw iron and has to be “seasoned.” The seasoning process goes like this: First, liberally rub the pan with oil. Then place it on the stove over very high heat. Wipe the pan with a paper towel when it cools and repeat. After you have repeated that process several times, the skillet becomes “seasoned.” And you have yourself a very valuable piece of cookware!

Cast iron skillets produce great culinary results when cooking on high heat, unlike Teflon-coated pans which are meant to used at lower temperatures. And there are just some foods that taste better when cooked on high. Like pancakes! You heat the pan so that a droplet of water sizzles on the surface. Then you add the oil – just enough to coat the pan. Next comes the pancake batter... watch the edges bubble as you pour it in the pan. A few moments later, you flip your pancake. Ah…golden brown perfection! You just can’t do that in a Teflon skillet. (In my humble opinion anyway!)

When I ponder my life and my walk with God, I see there have been times when I have needed to be “seasoned with fire.” Trials, temptations, difficult circumstances, have been the “fire” God used to “season” me so that I can be a vessel fit for His use in the Kingdom. 

When I have been “seasoned,” things don’t stick to me like they used to. Offenses, the devil’s lies, old beliefs and wrong ways of thinking slide off more quickly. I don’t have to hang onto them, which makes me a cleaner, purer vessel for Him to flow through. 

So if you are in the midst of the fire of His “seasoning,” remember that the day is coming when you will “taste and see that the Lord is good.” Not only will your life be enriched, but He will have a “seasoned” vessel through whom He can feed those hungering for the food only He can provide…and it’s a lot better than pancakes!

Positioned for Victory (Elijah List Post 5/2017)

They run like mighty men

They climb the wall like men of war;

Every one marches in formation,

And they do not break ranks.

They do not push one another;

Every one marches in his own column. (

Joel 2:7-8)

You Are Positioned for Victory!

Alignment…a word we hear often these days. The word refers to the aligning of time, of circumstances, of organizations. As in this verse in Joel, it also refers to the aligning of people, as in an army. God is raising up an army in this hour, with each person knowing their place and purpose in the alignment of God.

Timing and circumstance also indicate alignment. Don Finto, apostolic leader in the body of Christ, has defined this crossroad as a “suddenly”:

When the timing of God and the promises of God intersect. 

We experienced a “suddenly” of sorts when my husband and I recently moved from a home we had lived in for 25 years to a brand new house. The process took 60 days from the purchase offer on the old home to the move into the new one. I’d call that a “suddenly”! 

I experienced another suddenly in the prophetic when many things began to align around the number 17. I released a word related to that number in October, 2016. The number 17 means “Victory, God’s Elect, Transition, Promotion.” [You can read the full word here 2017 – A Pivotal Year] 

Let me give you a few examples:

·     12/17/16 – We accepted the offer on our home and would close on 1/31/17.

·     1/17/17 – A key date as the builder and mortgage company were meeting to determine our closing date.

·     2/17/17 – First day in the new house… and the new season of our lives. Incidentally, this was the day before my birthday. 

Each significant step in the process aligned exactly 30 days apart. 

Even more amazing is that when we signed the documents on the new house, the legal description of our property is Lot 17! God was saying something!

I have learned that part of being a prophet is hearing what the Lord is speaking through the circumstances of your life. As I have reflected on this process in my personal life, I also understand it is a picture God wants His people to grasp in this season. Here are the prophetic insights I feel the Lord wants to communicate to us:

Many are in a season of transition.

Our move represents a major transition in our lives – from one place where we have lived for 25 years, to a new house in which no one has ever lived. It indicates a change of season, a place that may not be familiar. For example, I turn to go to the sink in the kitchen, and it’s on the opposite side of the counter from my former kitchen. I go upstairs and have to stop and think which side the bedroom is on. 

So it is with the season we are in:

It is not yet familiar as we leave the old places to enter into the new. 

The broader application is that in our nation, things are moving very quickly with our new President. Things he campaigned on are being done NOW. Again, major transition. Despite the negative media reports, a positive shift is occurring as evidenced by the rise in the stock market and the decline in unemployment. God is doing something. 

·     In global prayer, there is a divine alignment in several areas as we have moved into 2017. Many ministries and churches are aligning in prayer for the new government as never before. A cry is going up from the Body of Christ for sustained prayer and intercession for our nation in a unified, focused effort that is new. Transition, alignment. 

·     Governmentally, there is an order coming that is rocking the status quo, which needed rocking. The major transition occurring is from the old guard of “politics as usual,” to a new breed of leaders who aren’t afraid to lead. What was once the “silent majority” is silent no more. Where the liberal agenda reigned supreme for more than the last 8 years, the conservative agenda has taken the lead, and has been given a great “victory” to move the nation forward. We are entering a new season in our nation…amid all the demonstrations, protests, and anger, there is an equally growing sense of hope for the future. It will be a year of victory as God’s people continue to pray and decree His purposes over our nation.

·     And finally, when I realized the legal description of our property was Lot 17, I felt God speak a word to me for His people:

God is giving us legal authority in the courts of Heaven to move into, and dwell, in the place of #17: Victory. This new position may take some adjusting to, just as I spoke of in my new home. Some may be accustomed to living from a place of defeat or pain or lack. 

But the Lord is saying to you –

It is a new season! You have legal authority to let go of the places in the past that have held you back, and take possession of the position I am giving you this year. Move into and take up residence in your place of VICTORY. It’s already yours – it’s been bought and paid for with the blood of my Son. Don’t let the past determine your future. Get comfortable in your new surroundings. Let expectation arise in your heart once again. Let dreams be rekindled by the breath of My Spirit. So, today, sign on the dotted line of the legal document that is already recorded in Heaven, and receive ownership of your new house. It is yours, it is waiting for you. WELCOME HOME.