Such a fantastic revelation... God initiating the relationship. It's so counter intuitive to societal norms where we have to prove ourself in some way...work hard, study hard, demonstrate you're worthy, kick goals, be successful, stand out and maybe you'll fit in.
But God flips that on its head...You're already chosen, seen, loved. As you are... clothed in human fragility.
The same human fraility they sought to both shame for and strip Jesus of. But in stripping away the outer, they are left with who He truly is... Son of God, Name above all names, King of kings.
Flourish or parakh is my word this year and like those scriptures that remind us that we flourish beside the river and when we stay connected to the vine. It's hard not to feel joy at the flourishing we do simply because He initiated an invitation to join Him before we even realise we need to.
We see this pattern of firsts continue in the Feast of Weeks. For 40days He ministered to people after He rose from the grave, and ascended just a few days before Shavout - The First Feast of the First Harvest. So what does He do... He initiates again. This time He initiates the release of the Holy Spirit, so that (oh how I love so that clauses), we may continue to flourish once He ascends back to heaven.. Only this time, we flourish because He is inside us, not just beside us,like the river. Always First. Always there. Always ready to help us go deeper.
Thank for providing such a wonderful reminder that we serve a God who doesn't wait for us, but goes before us each and every time.
What a beautiful addition — you’ve taken this somewhere I didn’t. That move from beside to inside is everything. River, vine, Spirit at Pentecost — it’s one unbroken progression, and you mapped it perfectly.
And the crucifixion read? That in trying to strip Jesus of dignity they only unveiled who he truly was? That’s quietly devastating in the best way.
Parakh as your word makes complete sense now. You’re clearly paying attention.
Thanks for this — you made the post bigger than I left it
Such a fantastic revelation... God initiating the relationship. It's so counter intuitive to societal norms where we have to prove ourself in some way...work hard, study hard, demonstrate you're worthy, kick goals, be successful, stand out and maybe you'll fit in.
But God flips that on its head...You're already chosen, seen, loved. As you are... clothed in human fragility.
The same human fraility they sought to both shame for and strip Jesus of. But in stripping away the outer, they are left with who He truly is... Son of God, Name above all names, King of kings.
Flourish or parakh is my word this year and like those scriptures that remind us that we flourish beside the river and when we stay connected to the vine. It's hard not to feel joy at the flourishing we do simply because He initiated an invitation to join Him before we even realise we need to.
We see this pattern of firsts continue in the Feast of Weeks. For 40days He ministered to people after He rose from the grave, and ascended just a few days before Shavout - The First Feast of the First Harvest. So what does He do... He initiates again. This time He initiates the release of the Holy Spirit, so that (oh how I love so that clauses), we may continue to flourish once He ascends back to heaven.. Only this time, we flourish because He is inside us, not just beside us,like the river. Always First. Always there. Always ready to help us go deeper.
Thank for providing such a wonderful reminder that we serve a God who doesn't wait for us, but goes before us each and every time.
Thanks Lynevve.
What a beautiful addition — you’ve taken this somewhere I didn’t. That move from beside to inside is everything. River, vine, Spirit at Pentecost — it’s one unbroken progression, and you mapped it perfectly.
And the crucifixion read? That in trying to strip Jesus of dignity they only unveiled who he truly was? That’s quietly devastating in the best way.
Parakh as your word makes complete sense now. You’re clearly paying attention.
Thanks for this — you made the post bigger than I left it