I love this time of year! I see spring in the air!
Even the sun looks different! Seriously! Have you ever noticed how the sun looks different at the beginning of each season?
Beautiful, clear, deep blue skies . . . yesterday!
Winter’s death giving way to new life
Daffodils emerging from hibernation
Crocus poking through the mulch, soon to be in full bloom
Iris 2-3 inches tall
Fat robins – Ken says they’re not fat, they’re fluffy!
I can plant pansies soon!
Friday, March 11, 2011
Useless & Fruitless?
Women are bombarded with products designed to hide – or reverse – their age!
Anti-wrinkle creams, moisture rescues, sculpting serums
Night resurfacing elixir – sounds like something a road crew would use!!!
Dark spot corrector to even skin tone
Makeup that is “cream-whipped for 100% baby-smooth perfection!
Hair color – ANY color!
Exercise programs!
Drink milk!
It takes a lot of work to take care of and make this earth suit I live in look good! But these products are superficial; they do not define me!
It’s not our outward appearance or our age . . . young or old . . . that matters to God.
It’s our heart!
I’m so thankful that God doesn’t see us through the number of candles on our cake! It isn’t a matter of how old we are but how willing we are to respond to God’s working in and through us!
Look at Abraham . . . Sarah . . . Moses . . . Mary, mother of Jesus . . . Elizabeth!
They were all “numerically challenged” . . . old! . . . when God chose to use them for His kingdom!
I love Psalm 92:14 (Amplified Bible) . . .
“[Growing in grace] they shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap [of spiritual vitality] and [rich in the] verdure [of trust, love, and contentment].”
Teenage or 105 or somewhere in between . . . God has a plan for your life! Ask Him about His plans for you and make the choice to be fruitful!
Anti-wrinkle creams, moisture rescues, sculpting serums
Night resurfacing elixir – sounds like something a road crew would use!!!
Dark spot corrector to even skin tone
Makeup that is “cream-whipped for 100% baby-smooth perfection!
Hair color – ANY color!
Exercise programs!
Drink milk!
It takes a lot of work to take care of and make this earth suit I live in look good! But these products are superficial; they do not define me!
It’s not our outward appearance or our age . . . young or old . . . that matters to God.
It’s our heart!
I’m so thankful that God doesn’t see us through the number of candles on our cake! It isn’t a matter of how old we are but how willing we are to respond to God’s working in and through us!
Look at Abraham . . . Sarah . . . Moses . . . Mary, mother of Jesus . . . Elizabeth!
They were all “numerically challenged” . . . old! . . . when God chose to use them for His kingdom!
I love Psalm 92:14 (Amplified Bible) . . .
“[Growing in grace] they shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap [of spiritual vitality] and [rich in the] verdure [of trust, love, and contentment].”
Teenage or 105 or somewhere in between . . . God has a plan for your life! Ask Him about His plans for you and make the choice to be fruitful!
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Fig Leaf Troubles Again!
"He noticed a fig tree in full leaf a little way off, so he went over to see if he could find any figs. But there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit. Then Jesus said to the tree, 'May no one ever eat your fruit again!'" Mark 11:13-14 NLT
It has always bothered me that Jesus cursed the fig tree for not having fruit when it says it was too early in the season for it to have fruit! Seems a little unfair to the fig tree, don’t you think?
My study Bible shares this . . .
It takes 3 years from the time a fig tree is planted until it bears fruit. Maybe this was fig tree was only 2 years old?
Fig trees yield a great amount of fruit twice a year . . . in the spring and early autumn. Maybe it was summer or winter when Jesus walked by?
Figs normally grow as the leaves fill out. That explains it! The fig tree was in full leaf; there should have been fruit.
The fig tree gave the “appearance” of fruit. When Jesus found none, he said no one would ever eat fruit from that fig tree again. It withered from the roots and died.
So how does this apply to my life, to the life of the born-again, spirit filled Christian?
If we are fruitful in appearance only, we are living a religious life without substance . . . spiritual barrenness.
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23 NLT
The Message Bible reads . . .
But what happens when we live God's way?
He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard – things like
affection for others (love)
exuberance about life (joy)
serenity (peace)
We develop a willingness to stick with things (patience)
a sense of compassion in the heart (kindness)
and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. (goodness)
We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments (faithfulness)
not needing to force our way in life (gentleness)
able to marshal and direct our energies wisely (self-control)
fruit in parenthesis added)
Walking in and producing fruit of the Spirit is not a piece of cake! There will be pruning, a cutting away of dead things in our lives. Pruning produces more fruit, allowing God to fulfill His plan and purpose for our life on this earth.
Be fruitful, not just leafy!
It has always bothered me that Jesus cursed the fig tree for not having fruit when it says it was too early in the season for it to have fruit! Seems a little unfair to the fig tree, don’t you think?
My study Bible shares this . . .
It takes 3 years from the time a fig tree is planted until it bears fruit. Maybe this was fig tree was only 2 years old?
Fig trees yield a great amount of fruit twice a year . . . in the spring and early autumn. Maybe it was summer or winter when Jesus walked by?
Figs normally grow as the leaves fill out. That explains it! The fig tree was in full leaf; there should have been fruit.
The fig tree gave the “appearance” of fruit. When Jesus found none, he said no one would ever eat fruit from that fig tree again. It withered from the roots and died.
So how does this apply to my life, to the life of the born-again, spirit filled Christian?
If we are fruitful in appearance only, we are living a religious life without substance . . . spiritual barrenness.
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23 NLT
The Message Bible reads . . .
But what happens when we live God's way?
He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard – things like
affection for others (love)
exuberance about life (joy)
serenity (peace)
We develop a willingness to stick with things (patience)
a sense of compassion in the heart (kindness)
and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. (goodness)
We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments (faithfulness)
not needing to force our way in life (gentleness)
able to marshal and direct our energies wisely (self-control)
fruit in parenthesis added)
Walking in and producing fruit of the Spirit is not a piece of cake! There will be pruning, a cutting away of dead things in our lives. Pruning produces more fruit, allowing God to fulfill His plan and purpose for our life on this earth.
Be fruitful, not just leafy!
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