fruitfulness

to Him who is able to do more than all we ask or imagine.
to Him who is able.
i feel more His tool than i have in recent years.
and it is He who convicts... and yet He pours out grace.
and i've believed for years now that when He convicts He doesn't condemn, He doesn't point out sin
just to make a son or daughter feel terrible (though this is often to be expected)
but He convicts of sin in order to encourage us in a healthy direction, always back to Himself.
for it is His kindness that leads us to repentance.
because where sin is present, his presence is absent.
for no light is found where there is darkness.
and darkness cannot exist where the light is present.
but, He says, you, i, have His spirit.
and where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
and I see Him, pained in my selfishness, hurt by my chasing after the worries of this life, the Word being choked out and made unfruitful.
i've felt this to be the case.
time and time again.
but
He who is able
promises life and righteousness to those who will be trained by it.

i recommend reading, or i challenge you, as rod says, to read 1 john every day for at least a week.
and i pray that God roots His words into your life and that they flow out of you.

"i write to you dear children because your sins have been forgiven on account of His Name...
i write to you young men because you are strong and the word of God lives in you and you have overcome the evil one...
and so we know and rely on the love God has for us."

to the only God [and you should listen to this]

now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory
with great joy,
to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord,
be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. amen.
[jude 24-25]