Change your pot?

I absolutely love Rhubarb.

I just adore stewed Rhubarb on desserts or on my cereal.

Suze thinks it tastes like dirt. He taste buds are less developed than mine it seems…

When we moved down south in late 2024 my fantastic mother gave me a rhubarb plant to put in our little garden space. From my little understanding of growing this in a healthy way that you can harvest from, it is best to leave it a year. So that is what I did. Waited a whole year!

Unfortunately the anniversary came around and I was left disappointed.

The plant really hadn’t thrived and the stalks just too limp to do anything with.

My passionate (maybe too hot blooded) side of myself wanted to dig the dumb thing up and throw it away. Super annoyed that my effort and patience had not been rewarded.

I decided instead to research my options.

The research turned into a plan.

I dug up my plant carefully and placed it in a pot with fresh and rich in nutrients soil.

That was about a month ago now.

When we look out our lounge window we see something different. It is totally changed. 

The 6 or 7 at best limp stalks have morphed into a thriving living bush of this amazing rhubarby goodness!

And that got me thinking…

There are times, after a season of hardwork, endurance and patience, where you can feel a little limp. 

Like things didn’t work.

Expectations were sadly not met.

And you may want to respond in a passionate and potentially hot headed way?

Maybe what you need is a new pot?

Maybe what you need is some fertiliser?

Maybe what you need is to not panic but changed what you are sitting in?

Jesus talked about a man going to visit his fig tree in his vineyard. 

For 3 years he was waiting patiently for it to fruit (typically fig trees produce by then). 

Because it wasn't fruiting yet, a decision was made. 

Dig it or dung it. 

Give it some attention and see if it will produce something good. 

(Luke 13:6-9)

I don’t want to encourage you do something dramatic out of frustration, just maybe be motivated to think and pray before making am important decision. 

Don’t just dump a job or a friend group or relationship because it is now “limp”.

Can I encourage you to take a step back and look at the option of changing your pot?

You are designed to grow.

And maybe you need a fresh soil to thrive in?

Something to think about…

I miss how it made me feel

For most of my life and my many career paths, I always had a deep and undeniable sense of purpose.

That inner knowing that what I was doing matched some divine purpose for my life.

I found having it super helpful, especially in challenging moments.

And as I look on that time from what you may guess is the flip side of this posture, I have come to realise just how anchoring that knowledge is. 

How it gives you peace, along with the purpose.

I miss it. And I would like it back!

When I worked a warehouse job when I was a lot younger I knew it was a means to an end, to help me through Bible College.

When I worked in a challenging sales environment I had a deep conviction that it was going to develop me in many ways that would aid me in the future. And it certainly did.

And then when I served as a local church Pastor, even with the never ending people challenges, I loved pretty much every moment of it, because again I knew deep down I was in the middle of the purpose for my existence at that time.

So here is the brutal (not sure if that is the perfect noun for this) truth.

For the first time in all my adult life I am honestly wrestling with what my purpose is.

Desperate to discover the why for the season I am living through.

I recognise that not having a clear and defined purpose reinforces and exaggerates the desire for it again.

Something inside of me right now is determined for find my purpose. 

I refuse to live just to live.

That is not enough for me at all.

Maybe you resonate with this idea?

My hope and prayer for us both is that we both find it and then we live it.

Something to think about...

I will be ready!

Maybe this season is one of getting ready for the next one?

So I am being intentional with what I have ability to control.

Choosing to focus on the “…ally” words that I think are super important to make my life work.

It looks like this season is one where I prepare myself:

EmotionALLY

PhysicALLY

SpirituALLY

EcononicALLY

Being intentional.

Taking bite size chunks out of each area...

So I ready for the next big thing to come our way.

Maybe you have a similar feeling or expectation about the season you are in?

If you are, I would love to recommend you be intentional yes about your internal prep work, but also as gracious as you can towards yourself.

My firm belief is that life does include distinct seasons.

Some are uncomfortable, but are also eternally designed with a bigger purpose in mind.

Let's get ready!

Something to think about… 

All I Want For Christmas Is...

No I am not talking about the famous seasonal tune or alluding to Mariah.

And I am not giving you a vague Christmas present request hidden behind some clumsy words.

I have had the honour of being there for many people as they have faced difficult and challenging moments in life. My hope was that I could just help them in some way as they navigated those moments.

As I reflected on the idea / title of this simple thought, I immediately thought of one special gentleman.

This poor man was diagnosed and struck down with an aggressive form of cancer. And I had the privilege of spending a lot of time with him on his difficult journey.

Obviously we all hoped he would win the battle against this horrible disease, but this was not to be, and we all had to face the reality that his life would end.

From that moment on he regularly asked me for prayer for one specific thing. Peace.

Whenever he requested it I simply placed a hand on him and prayed God would give him peace.

And every single time he would tell me that something special happened. 

Whenever he was struggling with his thoughts or the pain, something happened inside him, the peace he longed for would come. His continence would change, his voice, his state of being.

It was amazing and special. Super hard to explain except I believed God did something for him.

You may not be facing a terminal diagnosis today, but maybe you are facing a struggle or a challenge that is beyond your ability to handle in your own strength this Christmas.

And maybe all you want for Christmas this year is peace?

At what we would consider the very first Christmas, it is recorded that angels appeared to some shepherds announcing, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests". 

It was a time of prophetic fulfilment as someone else many years before this is recorded as saying "For to us a child is born... and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace".

If this strikes a nerve for you, that supernatural peace would make a difference for you, then my hope and prayer for you this Christmas is that you would experience His peace.

Ask God from your heart to give you peace.

Let Him come into your life in a truly special and unique way.

Something to think about...this Christmas.

Hold

When you hear a stories, some news, my advice to you is to hold.
That’s right. hold.

Wait a day or two before you react, before you let it shape you and your thinking in some way.

Why?

Because the world has changed!

When we were 6pm news consumers, newspaper readers, we lived in a time where it was thought balanced journalism ruled. Editors generally pushed for both sides of a story to be explored and then presented under a balanced narrative base.

Now with the pressure for news moments, right now, where attention gives advertising dollars and reaction generates traction, there is no time for balance, just a narrative devoid of good practice and rigorous scrutiny.

Where does that leave you and me?
It leaves us tossed about in our emotional responses to what we see and hear.
It creates agitation in our being and causes us to react in some way, and not always in the best way.
The reality of social media algorithms thrive in this environment. But You don’t!

So here is my advice today. Hold!!!!

And see what comes out in a few days before sharing with others.

Maybe this will help you with a few things:

1. Help you to get more of the story

2. Protect your peace

Something to think about...