Recently I have been strolling around the fruit orchard. The trees are loaded with fruit, just waiting for someone to eat of it. It is a bit unusual to see so many different fruits all in one orchard. In Florida, there are orange groves, but no apples in these groves. In California, there are vineyards full of grapes, but no cherries there. In Washington, we would find beautiful apples and cherries, but not in the same orchard.
The orchard in Ephesians 5:8-9 speaks of the Fruit of the Light. This fruit is goodness, righteousness, and truth. The Root of this tree is the Light of the World, Jesus! Without the Root, there is no Fruit!! I can't just pick and choose this fruit, when I am grafted into this Root, the fruit will be there. I am washed in the Blood of Jesus, and then am clothed with the robe of Righteousness. He sees me through His rightness. Within myself, there is no goodness. Only through Jesus, is there goodness. and truth.
There is another fruit orchard found in Galatians 5:22-23. This one is the fruit of attitudes. This seems more like a vineyard, where the grapes are processed in the winepress. It is truly a daily process in my life, where God "squeezes" out more and more of self. Read the list: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Just when I think I am doing fine, then comes the testing. Someone says something that hurts my feelings, and then come unlovely thoughts, not so kind. Oh I may not say them, but they are "in" there. God takes me back to the winepress, and presses in on those things that need to be taken out.
As we grow in Jesus, as we learn more and more of His ways and how to walk faithfully in Him on a day to day basis. The fruit becomes sweeter, not because of who I am but because of Who He is, and who He has made me through Him.
Reminds me of the Garden of Eden, how Adam and Eve walked with God in the Garden. What peaceful walks that must have been. They did not know the ugliness of rotten fruit until after disobedience.
As I stroll through the fruit orchard with God, my desire is to see more fruit in my life that is in His likeness. May the fruit people see in me, exemplify the Fruit of the Light.
His Grace Abounds
Barb
Thursday, August 28, 2014
Sunday, August 17, 2014
Seasons of Life
Seasons come and seasons go. The summer season is now gone. School starts on Monday. A new beginning. Beautiful memories of our summer vacation days. Patrick and I had a 10 day road trip visiting churches, friends, and small groups. A great time. Two days after returning home, he went to Haiti. The children had a 10 road trip to Michigan and back. Great memories. They learned so much on the farm, canoeing on the lake, going to Mammoth Cave. All new experiences. They had many beach days. Another highlight, I had 5 days alone at home, just God and I. It was a great experience. I was also privileged to enjoy my mother's 93 birthday.
Seasons of Life. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 cites many seasons. Some things are but a passing moment, but then there are those times which are truly seasons. For example vs 2, "there is a time to give birth." Giving birth doesn't stop there, the season of raising our children lasts many years. Those years bring times of laughter and tears. Raising children is a very emotional time for a mother. And then, suddenly that season is done, and our children are gone. As difficult as it is, to see our children leave "the nest," I remember telling our children, "I didn't raise you to sit at home and nest, I raised you to go out and make a difference wherever you are."
Mourning is a difficult season. Psalm 30:11"You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness." Even that season, will eventually turn to a more joyous time.
For those of you who are hoarders, stashing everything: there is a season for you. Vs 6 "...a time to keep and a time to throw away." What a job that is!! Shall I keep this or throw it away? There is a time to throw away...you may give it to Goodwill, a garage sale (did you know you can donate your unused items to a fund-raiser garage sale for Kingdom Kids in Haiti?). By the way, it is much easier to clean a house that isn't loaded with "stuff."
A season of speaking and one of silence. Now that is a difficult one. Truly it is a refreshing time when I just reflect and listen. A lot can be learned in a time of silence. My family may read this and wonder if that ever happens in my life, the silence. Smile. But it does happen. It is so important to be silent when God speaks. Hear Him. Don't try to defend yourself. He already knows your heart.
Eccl 3:11 "He has set eternity in their hearts" is one season that will not end...eternity. Whatever you are going through right now, remember it is a season. The seasons of life are for our learning and drawing closer to God. It is a preparation time for Eternity. The secret to enduring the seasons of life is to keep our eyes on Him and not on the misery of the season. Trust the God of the circumstance and not the circumstance. We may not always understand, but God sees the beginning from the end.
I hope your summer vacation (season) was a blessing to you. Now we move to the season of school months again. Let's make them a blessing to our children and their teachers.
If you need information about the Fund-raiser Garage Sale, contact me at: livingwordhaiti@me.com
His Grace Abounds
Barb
Seasons of Life. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 cites many seasons. Some things are but a passing moment, but then there are those times which are truly seasons. For example vs 2, "there is a time to give birth." Giving birth doesn't stop there, the season of raising our children lasts many years. Those years bring times of laughter and tears. Raising children is a very emotional time for a mother. And then, suddenly that season is done, and our children are gone. As difficult as it is, to see our children leave "the nest," I remember telling our children, "I didn't raise you to sit at home and nest, I raised you to go out and make a difference wherever you are."
Mourning is a difficult season. Psalm 30:11"You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness." Even that season, will eventually turn to a more joyous time.
For those of you who are hoarders, stashing everything: there is a season for you. Vs 6 "...a time to keep and a time to throw away." What a job that is!! Shall I keep this or throw it away? There is a time to throw away...you may give it to Goodwill, a garage sale (did you know you can donate your unused items to a fund-raiser garage sale for Kingdom Kids in Haiti?). By the way, it is much easier to clean a house that isn't loaded with "stuff."
A season of speaking and one of silence. Now that is a difficult one. Truly it is a refreshing time when I just reflect and listen. A lot can be learned in a time of silence. My family may read this and wonder if that ever happens in my life, the silence. Smile. But it does happen. It is so important to be silent when God speaks. Hear Him. Don't try to defend yourself. He already knows your heart.
Eccl 3:11 "He has set eternity in their hearts" is one season that will not end...eternity. Whatever you are going through right now, remember it is a season. The seasons of life are for our learning and drawing closer to God. It is a preparation time for Eternity. The secret to enduring the seasons of life is to keep our eyes on Him and not on the misery of the season. Trust the God of the circumstance and not the circumstance. We may not always understand, but God sees the beginning from the end.
I hope your summer vacation (season) was a blessing to you. Now we move to the season of school months again. Let's make them a blessing to our children and their teachers.
If you need information about the Fund-raiser Garage Sale, contact me at: livingwordhaiti@me.com
His Grace Abounds
Barb
Friday, August 1, 2014
A Disquieted Soul
It was a long sleepless night. It was one of those nights when my mind didn't stop thinking. The more I thought of things, the more troubled I became, and sleep was further from happening! Basically I had an ungrateful heart. I was complaining in my soul.
After some hours of hashing over things, a verse came to me:
Psalm 42:5, 6, 11 and Psalm 43:5 "Why is my soul disquieted within me?" (disquieted--not quiet nor peaceful!) Yes, this verse is repeated 4 times. Why the troubled soul? I was looking on those things I wanted to do, but couldn't. Thinking of those things I wanted but they evaded my grasp. The bottom line was, Me, myself and I wanted its own way.
David wanted his enemies out of the way. He was tired of running from Saul. His enemies were oppressing him. They persecuted him, and pointed their finger "Where is your God?" Isn't that just like satan...throwing things at us, then pointing his finger, trying to get our attention away from God?
I find it interesting that my troubled soul came right after my 5th day of posting on Facebook what I am thankful for...I wrote Grace three times. Is there still Grace when my soul is disquieted within me? Absolutely! It also came shortly after I had written a previous blog of my Lesson for Life to be Always Thankful, pray without ceasing and Rejoice always.
After struggling for several hours, I wondered why this was happening to me, and clearly I realized, my focus was on "me" and not on God. So I prayed...when I awoke the next morning, I looked up the verses in Psalm 42.
The verses didn't end with "Why are you disquieted, O my soul...the next part says "Hope in God for I shall again praise Him." God is so good. He doesn't leave us in despair. He floods us with His Goodness and Grace.
So has my situation changed? No! But my attitude has! And that makes a world of difference. I can thank God for the blessings He showers on me everyday!
If your soul is in turmoil, go to God's Word. Read Psalm 42, then pay special attention to verse 8 "The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime; And His song will be with me in the night..."
His Grace Abounds
Barb
After some hours of hashing over things, a verse came to me:
Psalm 42:5, 6, 11 and Psalm 43:5 "Why is my soul disquieted within me?" (disquieted--not quiet nor peaceful!) Yes, this verse is repeated 4 times. Why the troubled soul? I was looking on those things I wanted to do, but couldn't. Thinking of those things I wanted but they evaded my grasp. The bottom line was, Me, myself and I wanted its own way.
David wanted his enemies out of the way. He was tired of running from Saul. His enemies were oppressing him. They persecuted him, and pointed their finger "Where is your God?" Isn't that just like satan...throwing things at us, then pointing his finger, trying to get our attention away from God?
I find it interesting that my troubled soul came right after my 5th day of posting on Facebook what I am thankful for...I wrote Grace three times. Is there still Grace when my soul is disquieted within me? Absolutely! It also came shortly after I had written a previous blog of my Lesson for Life to be Always Thankful, pray without ceasing and Rejoice always.
After struggling for several hours, I wondered why this was happening to me, and clearly I realized, my focus was on "me" and not on God. So I prayed...when I awoke the next morning, I looked up the verses in Psalm 42.
The verses didn't end with "Why are you disquieted, O my soul...the next part says "Hope in God for I shall again praise Him." God is so good. He doesn't leave us in despair. He floods us with His Goodness and Grace.
So has my situation changed? No! But my attitude has! And that makes a world of difference. I can thank God for the blessings He showers on me everyday!
If your soul is in turmoil, go to God's Word. Read Psalm 42, then pay special attention to verse 8 "The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime; And His song will be with me in the night..."
His Grace Abounds
Barb
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)