January, February and March represent the quietest season here at the Cottage. The winter birds flock around the bird bath. The trees wait patiently for warmer days, preparing to blossom profusely, then cover the garden in a snow flurry of white petals in mid-February. The citrus hold tightly to last season’s fruit, and at the same time pushes out fragrant bloom as March approaches. The little owl who lives in the big oak across the lane speaks softly to his lady-love of pleasure and passion in the quiet nights of late January and early February, then grows silent during the children’s quiet time in the nest.

“… pleasure and passion is remaining true to the Word of “I Am,”
meditating day and night in the true revelation of light.
… standing firm like a flourishing tree
planted by God’s design,
deeply rooted by the brooks of bliss,
bearing fruit in every season of his life.
… never dry, never fainting,
ever blessed, ever prosperous.

Psalm 1:2-4 The Passion Translation (TPT)

I have made the decision to rest “rooted by the brook of bliss” during this quietest season. In other words, to quietly wait for the next season; believing that by meditating in the Word and looking for true revelation God will produce fresh fruit in me, as He has in previous seasons. For those of you who follow along on my journey this means my only Bible Studies and Devotions will be posted here on the Blog and consequently forwarded to Facebook. No new face to face classes this season. That means cutting back to one class and two small group meetings each week, thereby gaining time to read and write, pray and listen. That means stepping away, refreshing and renewing, something the Lord has been talking to me about for a while.

My prayer for you, family, friends and followers is, as Paul prayed for his Christian family:

9 And so, from the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 to lead a life worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. 11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us[b] to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Colossians 1:9-14