Category Archives: growth

Parables of the Cross

Posted on October 10, 2015 by mhrockness

It is in the stages of a plant’s growth, its budding and blossoming and seed-bearing that this lesson has come to me:  the lesson of death in its delivering power.  It has come as no mere far-fetched imagery, but as … Continue reading →

Posted in Cross, death, Faith, freedom, growth, life, nature, renunciation, suffering | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments

His Workmanship

Posted on March 7, 2014 by mhrockness

“God builds up a shrine within us of His workmanship, from the day in which Jesus was received.  The seed-vessel is its picture.  With the old nature He can have nothing to do except to deliver it to death:  no … Continue reading →

Posted in growth, testings, trials | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

The Poetry of God’s Ways

Posted on October 4, 2013 by mhrockness

All that outworking of His Grace has come so silently – “not with observation” – like His work in all growth around – so that one can hardly tell when or how the expansion has come.   9 March 23 “All that … Continue reading →

Posted in faithfulness, growth, obedience, perseverence | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Seed Sowing

Posted on September 13, 2013 by mhrockness

“. . . & so the seed scatters, & we know not which shall prosper, like the seed sowing that is going on before our eyes on every hillside.”   Journal 1894 Seed.  November 20, 1894.  Lilias and her colleague, Blanche … Continue reading →

Posted in faithfulness, growth, life, ministry | Leave a comment

August Oranges

Posted on August 30, 2013 by mhrockness

All little miniature beginnings but all “beautiful in their time,” like the dark green August oranges in the court below.  The fact that they have got thus far into being is more than a promise.  Like all the promises of … Continue reading →

Posted in growth, hope, life | 8 Comments

“It is when the death of winter has done its work that the sun can draw out in each plant its own individuality, and make its existence full and fragrant.  Spiritual growth means something more than the sweeping away of … Continue reading →

Posted on August 16, 2013 by mhrockness | 7 Comments

Beauty on the Wing

Posted on July 26, 2013 by mhrockness

“A flower that stops short at its flowering misses its purpose.  We were created for more than our own spiritual development; reproduction, not mere development, is the goal of matured being – reproduction in other lives.”     Parables of … Continue reading →

Posted in death, focus, growth, life | 6 Comments

February Flowers

Posted on February 22, 2013 by mhrockness

“The spring flowers that stand all about my room in Arab pots of green and yellow earthenware bring a very real revelation of Him, ‘by whom were all things created.’  The clear happiness of the daisies and the radiant shout … Continue reading →

Posted in growth, Lent, life, nature, renewal | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Desert Lily

Posted on January 19, 2013 by mhrockness

Today’s find was beautiful to the inward vision as well as to the outward.  It was clusters of exquisite wild lilies – white and fragile and fragrant – growing out of the hot salt sand that drifts into dunes round the … Continue reading →

Posted in difficulty, growth, life | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Growing Points

Posted on November 2, 2012 by mhrockness

“Growing points were the things that spoke to me on the journey through Italy.  You can see them already on the bare boughs, waiting for the spring, and all the year through they are the most precious thing the plant … Continue reading →

Posted in growth | Tagged , | 3 Comments