Dear friends ~ 2022’s closure is but a handful of days away. It has been a year of transition. A time seemingly paused, yet poised, for those whose hearts refuse un-hope and still choose to walk by faith, not by sight. The Spring of ’23 will see ten years since I began writing Vineyard Days. In the re-shared post below, nearly three years can be added to the time-points referred to. We can all reflect on what the past three years have visited upon us, as well as how we each have responded to our own growing pains.
It has been nine months since our yearlong Sabbatical officially ended. I can testify that it has felt like a nine-month-long spiritual pregnancy. A few weeks ago, I clearly heard the Lord in my mind, “Get to work.” It is time for delivery, like I knew when I bore my children. In the Spirit, a beloved of the Lord, whether female or male, knows the stirring of birthing pains. Barrenness and His life within are not compatible. While I set to work on what has been developing, I believe re-sharing the post, Seven Years in the Vineyard, is a trustworthy use of Holy Spirit’s time and ministry to your pondering, stirred soul as 2022 is laid to rest. It serves, even now, as a timely precursor and call to remembrance for our pick up at Songs chapter 5. Blessed New Year, my friends, that has been in the making all along ~ not a blank slate, but full of His inscribing from eternity past ♥
April 22, 2020
Dear Shulamite-hearts,
When the writing of Desert Days* began nine years ago, it was accompanied by a strong impression of a trilogy. I knew the titles with Vineyard Days next, then to be followed by Harvest Days. We have now traversed together in Vineyard Days – seven years in the vineyard! Harvest Days still awaits its appointed time.
Though I ended the Desert Days series knowing there was much more that could be written, it was time to move on. My now deeply personal Shepherd Lover was intent that, while healing and restoration would continue, it was not healthy or profitable to linger on the edge of the desert. Somewhere along the trek, Holy Spirit’s breath-wind blew and blurred the line in the desert sands. I soon found myself deposited in vineyard ground with John 15 and the Song of Songs.
I never anticipated that Vineyard Days would be seven years in its expressing; but here we are with yet more to come. (Ed. Note: never dreamed it would be ten+ years either!)
John 15 ~ how does your vine-life grow?
When I think back on the discovery of what causes a grapevine to grow and bear fruit, I am reminded of the means, love, and care with which it is tended by the vinedresser. Now transfer that to our spiritual vine-life and the Husbandman.
Even with that perspective, but especially without, we can be swift to shield from the distress that comes timely and necessary to vineyard dwellers. The vineyard is one place the modern adage, “no pain, no gain” does indeed apply. Largely because none of us likes the pruning seasons. Nor the processes by which the old and no longer productive is removed to make room for new growth.
However, a spiritual vine-life will not grow, develop, or produce fruit in keeping with repentance 1 by any other means.
Repentance carries the definition of turning and walking away from the sin – whatever it may be – that is to end when true repentance has taken place. Our lives evidence the fruit of a yielded, responsive heart – or a hardened one. Selah.
The Song ~ the Shulamite – bud, blossom, fruit
The Shulamite in Solomon’s Song is our heroine, for she is so relatable as a person of self being transformed by Love.
Throughout, Shulamite is a legitimate model of us. And in the end, a glorious portrayal of the transforming power of Covenant love, poured out in and through relationship with the One whom that soul has come to know and love.
After seven years of intimate acquaintance with the Shulamite of Solomon’s Song, I am convinced that her end beauty and maturity is the heavenly by-product of holding the Lord Jesus Christ fast in her gaze. Unveiling light. Mirrored glory. 2
…and so, the journey continues – or begins – or deepens
Every beloved disciple of Jesus Christ is on their own journey of relationship with Him. Each one has discovered that it began with answering His call to ‘come away, my beloved’. It is why I believe the Shulamite’s story is timely and timeless.
For you who chose or chanced to read this seven-year testimony, Vineyard Days is set to press on into the heart of chapter five of the Song and what is to follow. As Shulamite was then, so are we now: on the threshold of transition.
Perhaps you are in a place where ‘the journey continues’ means to start at the beginning. Vineyard Days is posted in chronological order to assist you with that. Too, a refresher reading has a way of restoring a spirit of hope and courage.
You may have journeyed hit and miss throughout these seven years. For discernment and heart confirmation of where you are in this season, Holy Spirit aids with the Shulamite’s three confessions of love and three yieldings.
More recently as Vineyard Days arrived at pivotal chapter five, you may have engaged the latest Christ’s Bride posts. The dream upon which the five writings are based is witness to present activity and timing of Holy Spirit. In this Selah time, I have asked the Lord for His intervention to stir the hearts of those who will and who do belong to Him.
a Selah benediction
No matter on what threshold of transition you or I find ourselves standing – be it from the desert to the vineyard, from the vineyard to the garden, from the garden to what lies before – our Beloved still calls us to come away – and stay – with Him. It is in His presence and companionship we find rest for our weary selves, wrapped in life-giving tendrils of His love.
~ Gracefully Free
*written during the waiting period between my end of cancer treatment and stepping into God’s purposed new season
1 context of Matthew 3 (verse 8)
2 II Corinthians 3:18
Golden Hour – Photo by Boudewijn “Bo” Boer on Unsplash
I’m excited, and honored, Nancy, to follow on this journey with you, as you go on with these “Vineyard” posts in the Song of Songs! The differentiation between Desert, Vineyard, and Harvest Days is an intriguing one that I look forward to settling into my spirit like rain soaking into freshly tilled soil. It makes complete sense to me, in an “I-don’t-completely-understand-yet” way. 🙂
You made me curious with your trip down date-line way, as it was also 7 years ago about this time that Father made it clear He wanted me in the Song, too, and soon after (in the Spring of 2013) IntimateKingdom.com was begun. But unlike you, I think, I stumbled and more-or-less returned to the desert for a few recent years. (Thanks – you helped me understand what happened!)
I really wish I knew you 7 years ago, and was following along with your journey all this time. But here we are…meeting at the crossroads now. 🙂 Me still in chapter 1 (Going back through it a second time, otherwise I might be further along) and you in chapter 5. But it’s all one Song, isn’t it? And one thing I have observed is that it’s a “loop.” It starts off with a prayer of intensity, and ends with a prayer of intensity, and it’s all grace in-between. That brings me comfort. It’s not a linear race. If anything, it’s more like a circular exercise track. 🙂
Also, I’m not worried about it, but I think we have some differences in how we interpret the Song’s story. (from something I gathered from reading a previous post) I don’t see a pervasive love-triangle dynamic in the Song – or at least not with Solomon as the distractor/temptor. Rather I see Solomon as a picture of a Shepherd-King, and the Prince of Peace. I’ve written a page on my website about it, but have not made it public because it’s not my focus to debate interpretations and steal the glory from Christ. I’d be happy to share it via email if interested, but not to distract you from the vein God has you in right now.
I was excited to read that you see the possibility of the Shulamite being Abishag. 🙂 There’s soooo much to unpack in this, and why she is a picture of the Bride of Christ, and also – why she would have been pivotal and controversial in the Kingdom. I could go on and on about this, and how Adonijah is more a picture of the distractor in my mind, especially if this book was written right at the turn of David’s death and Solomon taking the throne. It’s all very rich.
But richer than all this, my friend, is our mutual love for the Lover of our souls – the Beloved! The Spirit points to Christ, and I can certainly sense this is your heart in your writings. 💜
He is the King of kings, and the Lover of lovers.
Affectionately,
Pamela
Dear Pamela ~ Thank you; I too am beyond blessed how the Lord weaves connections in His time. I appreciate your open heart’d sharing in your comment above. There is much I could say, but I’ve spent the past ten years writing a lot of it, after the previous 20 years of living into it.
With regard to our different interpretations of the Song’s story, I’ll state this: through the events and inner workings of the Lord in my life, the Song was and is more prophetic in its outworking of my life. I have written from a deep place within while identifying with the Shulamite’s journey. There is a lot of life history that is behind Holy Spirit leading me to these writings. Shepherd Lover / Bridegroom King’s relationship and dealings with her in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ superseded historical Solomon. So, whereas you are digging into much of the historical background of the Song (which I love reading, it adds such rich facets), I never intended it to be an expositional study. In that regard, I’ve lost a lot of readers, but that too has been part of my ongoing journey ♥ I know you understand that piece.
There have been so many thrilling discoveries throughout (like Abishag , so please, write away as the Lord inspires you!) and they continue. So, too, do I – until Vineyard Days is done. Not complete, but like Desert Days, when there is a sense of having fulfilled this portion. It’s so much less about keeping to a writing schedule; it has everything to do with living and walking it out with our Shepherd Lover. It’s deeply personal. It’s also worthy of sharing with others. I’ve come to know, and still get to experience aha moments, that He uses what we give Him from a broken turned healed & healing heart of love. Much affection returned ♥ N
All good there … and boy, do ever I resonate with the Shulamite story being very personal. Every post becomes an “altar” of stones to look back on, and remember where God had me, and what He had to work in me first. I know you know what I mean, in your (His) own way. Blessings.!
I know you know, Pamela. That brings joy to the journey, doesn’t it? 🙂