"Planted"

 

Psalm 1

Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
    Nor stands in the path of sinners,
    Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
    And in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree
    Planted by the rivers of water,
    That brings forth its fruit in its season,
    Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper...

I have parked my rear down to write this several times and I trip over my words. I cannot say it better than God (duh, Erin). When we tap into the "rivers of Water" (God's loving word/direction) and we LIVE there, we will come along in perfect timing.  Our souls will grow just right- not too fast that our roots are too shallow and not too slow that we miss our "season" of growth. In that season, we will offer the world the LIFE-CHANGING sustenance of His character (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self control) and we will be prosperous in ways that are far more gratifying than we/this world could ever provide. 

 

Sounds pretty great right? Sign me up. The key is in the description just before the chapter: "The Way of the Righteous..." The Way is Jesus Christ. No one can come to the Father or any thing written above without Him. He IS the stream of living water that keeps us from the colorless, bitter world of sin, scorn and ungodly actions. The Way is also meant to be constant.  Like the beautiful color of life that drains from the flesh when our spirit departs our earthly body, so it is in our souls without that CONSTANT spiritual nourishment.

We are fully capable of walking in our beautifully adorned flesh (you know, the life that looks just "so") filled with parched, colorless souls- that are pushed to and fro with the winds of this world. But, if we hold onto God's promise that He WILL bless the one who meditates on His law day and night-who takes up SOUL residence in the River of living water- we can live in FULL Color no matter the surrounding lands. Dry and desolate or overflowing with abundant resources, we will not waver--Because He does not waver. He promises that we will grow and flourish in broken, hard to live places, while we await perfect eternity.

I desire that life. I hope you do, too! Love to hear from you, wherever you are. Email me: erinobrienart@gmail.com

 

 

 "Planted"
Mixed media on Stretched Canvas

36"x12"x.75"