Inclosed part 5
The Gardener tends to the garden. Jesus is the Gardener. We are the garden. He takes care of us. And, yes, sometimes that means pruning. Getting rid of some things that need not be in us. Or around us. Boundaries are a good, healthy thing. Saying no can be a good, healthy thing. Those are ways we dress and keep our own garden. But, again, it all flows from our heavenly Father. He is the pattern son, and we just follow the pattern. He gives us the ball and we take it and run with it. The garden was inclosed. But then the wind (of the Holy Spirit) began to blow. It scattered the seed. The incorruptible seed of love. So that what was shut up in the garden (that we are) could come out. Living from the inside out. Letting what's inside come out by knowing and believing that it's in there. Filling ourselves to overflowing with what we've already been filled with. Letting God love us--which, again, includes chastening and correcting us--and loving Him back by loving the people that we come into contact with. We have everything we need. Because all good and perfect gifts come down from the Father of lights. And catch this: If our heavenly Father is the Father of lights... that means WE are the lights that He is the Father of. The light of the world. That's how Jesus described Himself... and that's how Jesus described us. It's the same light that God introduced way back in the beginning when the world was dark and void and without form. The same light of life. The same light of love. That's what shines on us, and in us, and through us. That's not just what we have... that's who we are. Because that's who HE is. And as He is, so are we in this world. In the beginning God created us in His image and likeness. And then on the cross God conformed us to the image of His Son. He shined that light, He sent that wind, so that we might be able to see clearly and go where He wanted us to go. Look at John 3:8, "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell where it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." The wind blows US where it wants to. Sends us to where we need to be. He that is led of the Spirit shall be called (identified as) the Son(s) of God, right? And where does that wind blow? Where does that Spirit lead? What does it direct us to do? (Because, remember, rest is not inactivity it is Holy Spirit directed activity.) Think about it. What else but love could, or would, the Spirit of love direct us to do? It's all about love. Love is not just what God does, love is who God is. Love is not just what WE do... love is who we are! The inclosed garden has always been filled to the brim with love. And now that it is no longer inclosed... that love that is inside can come out. It can get all over everybody we come into contact with. All of that good stuff inside of us can be shared with the people that need it. And, of course, the people that need the love that we have... are all people. So just be who you are, where you are, and love the people you come into contact with. The wind is blowing. And it blows where it wants to. Don't try to control the wind. Just let it go and let it blow. Let go and let God! Let what's inside come out as HE stirs up that love inside you!