Birth and Death

The doctor says, “Congratulations! It’s a boy!” The excitement and exhaustion of delivering your baby fills you. Joy floods your heart at the same time as fear, as your baby is 5 weeks early. What will happen next? A few days later the doctor comes in and says, “We’re sorry, but your son has Down Syndrome.” Your dreams of a healthy child are dashed one more level down. What will you do?sleeping_baby_199491 8-24-2015

You receive a phone call from a dear friend that her dad has just died. You cry with her and grieve as he was also known to you as “Daddy O” and “Grandpa O” to your son. How are you going to tell your son who is away at work that this man he knew as grandpa was now dead?

We talked about getting together several times, but we never put it on the calendar and made definite plans. Now it’s too late. We learned the cancer had taken over her entire body even her brain. She no longer had control of body function and couldn’t even remember her husband. Now she is gone. What do you say to the husband who lost his wife of only 5 years? How can God take the young woman who fought cancer so valiantly?

These were heart wrenching conversations and things that happened to our family over the last several months. It makes you stop and think. Where is the hope, the joy, the blessings in these things? What could we or should we have done differently?

But yet these things encompass part of what Solomon is saying in Ecclesiastes 3:2a “A time to give birth, and a time to die;” These two events we have no control over when they will happen. Only God knows the exact timing of them. God is sovereign and in control of all things.

When I first read “A time to give birth, and a time to die” I only thought about physical birth and death, but the more I pondered it the more I realized that that is not the only kind of birth and death there is.

Yes, there is the physical birth and death that we as humans all go through at some point in our lives. We also go through the birth and death of ideas, projects, goals, dreams and so much more on a daily basis.

With each birth there is a sense of excitement, and joy. The idea of something new, a new beginning brings such a rush that we struggle to contain the enthusiasm.

But with each death we sense the loss of something close, someone we loved, something we cared about. Sometimes these losses are devastating and we feel like we just can’t catch our breath or believe it is true.

Where is the hope? Does God really care? We start to question and wonder can we go on?

I think about the farmer. He plants seed and hopes for the plant to grow. But before that plant can grow the seed must die. From the death of the seed comes a new plant that grows and produces much fruit. The hope from the death is an abundance of bounty.

Can we find that hope in the loss of a job, dream, idea? We can when we realize that God is in control and He is our hope. He is the One who will bring us the strength to go on.

Our hope is in Jesus. He is our help in our time of need. He draws us ever closer to Himself even through the struggles. He takes us through trials to grow our faith. We must die so He may live in us.

We can celebrate life and death as we go to the Lord and trust Him to know what is His good and perfect will.

As we celebrated the birth of the new child added to our family we also grieved the loss of a dream. We have also watched how this child is loved and continues to grow as he struggles. But we see a fighter and wonder what plans does God have for this child, for this family to have been blessed to raise him and love him. I know at first they wondered if it was a blessing, but I think they are finding out that it will be a wonderful blessing.

As we celebrated the life of daddy/grandpa O, we supported and encouraged each other and knew that he was in a better place. Where there is no more pain and no more sorrow. Where he is reunited with his wife. He lived a long full life and at 87 he was ready to go home.

The loss of our cousin at 3 days shy of her 41st birthday was hard, but when we attended her funeral and saw the many lives she touched we could celebrate her freedom from pain. We saw the love of Jesus as through her death an opportunity for others to hear the Gospel and follow Him was given.

Where is the hope? Our hope is in Jesus. The author of our life story.

Prayer:

Father, may we remember that in life and death you are still in control. May we realize that you know what is best for us. Show us your perfect love for us in your provision of hope in the joys and sorrows of our lives. Thank you for caring for us in each thing that comes our way. In Jesus’ Name Amen.

A Time for Everything

CLOCK (262x358) (262x358) (262x358) (262x358)Ecclesiastes 3:1  “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every [a]event under heaven— ”

The Lord takes us through different seasons in our lives to grow us. The challenge always is to remain faithful to Him and trust Him to know what He is doing. Are we willing to keep our focus on Him and trust Him to meet our needs? Or are we going to run the other direction and do things our own way?

Reflecting back over the last year there has been so much that has happened in our family and the lives of those we know around us. Each event has affected us in different ways. Not only is the person going through that immediate situation affected but so are those around them.

As I taught this spring I learned that a suicide immediately affects the lives of 6 people. No one is solely affected by the event they are going through. I think about that as I reflect on the many things that have happened in our own family.

Over the course of the last year many things have happened. Here are just a few.

My sister’s co-worker lost her 9 year old twins in an accident. The mother did not suffer the loss alone, it also affected her husband and other child, her co-workers and their families, her church family, the classmates of the boys, the families of the classmates, the entire student body and faculty where they went to school, and probably many others that we do not know.

When the student from our school was killed in a car accident, she was not the only one affected – her entire family, the student body and teachers and their families, her friends deeply, her church and many others that she had touched. She had a presence on Facebook and other places where now there is an empty hole.

As a family we attended the funerals of two uncles. We celebrated three weddings and the birth of three new babies. We prayed fervently for family and friends fighting cancer, heart infections, brain injuries, and organ transplants. Together we mourned and rejoiced. Together we have been made stronger. God takes these things we are going through to strengthen our faith.

We all go through various seasons of life. How we go through them will determine who WR clock with wordswe are in character.

In Scripture we are encouraged: “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”(Romans 12:15)  “Bear one another’s burdens… ” (Galatians 6:2) “Consider it pure joy when we go through trials… ” (James 1:2-4)

No matter what season you are going through at this moment, remember God is there with you. He is in control and He will carry you through. He also brings into our lives others to walk with us through those seasons. Don’t close others out but invite them into your season. “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven — ” Ecclesiastes 3:1

Prayer:

Lord, may we trust You as You take us through each season of our life. May we remember that You have appointed a time for everything. The timing may not be our timing but it is Your timing. And Your timing is always perfect and good. It may be painful at the moment, but ultimately You will use it to grow us. Thank You for loving us even when life looks dark. Thank You for bringing us the joys as well. May we never take our focus off of You. In Jesus’ Name Amen.

 

Seasons of Life

good pic sun riseAs we begin this new series SEASONS OF LIFE, I would like to point out a few things.

Let’s take a quick look at the passage that we will be studying over the next several months. We all go through different things in our lives. Some of them good and some of them bad. But through them all we are strengthened by the Lord. He has a plan and a purpose for each one of them. Read the scriptures and then check out some key points below.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

A Time for Everything

There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every [a]event under heaven—

A time to give birth and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
A time to kill and a time to heal;
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to weep and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn and a time to dance.
A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.
A time to search and a time to give up as lost;
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;
A time to be silent and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate;
A time for war and a time for peace.

God is in control and He has a plan for everything that takes place in our lives and in the world around us. There is a time and a place for every event in the universe. From the creation of the world to the very end of time when the world will be no more as we know it, but a new heaven and earth.

A couple of key points as we take an overview of this  passage.

1. Each event has a time and place. We do not know when but God does. He prepares us for what we need to know and helps us through each season.

2. We all will go through different seasons throughout our lives. Some will last a short time while others will last longer. Some times we go through several seasons at once. And sometimes the seasons are spread out. Only God knows when we will be going through a particular season.

3. For every season there is an opposite. For every negative there is a positive. For every positive there is a negative. Ultimately each season though is for our good. To draw us closer to God and trust Him. God’s peace through eternal life is the best thing ever.

God is sovereign and has a plan that is bigger than we are. Are we willing to let Him be in control and watch what He is going to do next? Trusting that He knows what He is doing?

Prayer

Lord, help us to remember that You are in control and You have a plan for each of us. You take us through the seasons of life and hold our hands through them all. Each day is a new challenge. Together we walk and learn to trust you. Help us not to get caught up in our circumstances but to turn to You and trust You through it all. Amen.

Wise or Foolish Tongue

Proverbs 15:2

The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable, But the mouth of fools spouts folly.

The campers all sat in rapt attention as the speaker talked about God’s love and truth. Challenging the campers with the Word of God.

As I sat there observing this scene this verse came to mind. “The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable.” The young teens were mesmerized by the speaker who was revealing God’s truth through real life experience and situations. He related to them and helped them to realize that God cares about every detail of their lives. Those campers seemed very interested in the truth and knowledge of the Lord.

“But the mouth of fools spouts folly.” Many times these young teens give way in day to day life to believing what fools say. They trust the words of those with less life experience or TV programs that make fun of those who are really wise. They speak or act in ways that are not serious. They then follow in the footsteps of these people and find heartache and pain. They try the things that they talk about or make fun of but in the end they are made to look like the fool as they followed the folly of others.

The Bible has a lot more to say about being foolish and following the foolish. Don’t do it. Instead follow the wise. Listen to the truth, accept knowledge and learn from the Lord.

Proverbs 13:20 “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” You tend to become like those you spend time with. Be sure to choose your friends carefully.

Prayer:

Lord, help us to be wise. Help us to listen to those who are wise and accept knowledge from You. Help us to know who is wise and who is a fool. May we make wise choices in who we hang out with each day. Show us Your wisdom for today. In Jesus’ Name Amen.

Gentle Answer or Harsh Word

The students had been assigned to work together in a group for two weeks. Everyday I heard the same thing. “I can’t work with those people. We’ll get into a fight.” and they would refuse to work in their group. One day I arrived at school and decided I would challenge the students to consider how they talk to each other.

I put the following on the board “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” I then went on to explain what it meant. That not only the words that you use but the tone you use and how you use those words can cause hurt or pain or can encourage and help the people around you.

I challenged them to think about those things while they worked in their groups. That day was an amazing day as they all worked in their groups. They were productive and I even heard laughter as they worked all class period.

Proverbs 15:1 is powerful because it is God’s Word. When we use His word to challenge others and ourselves we will grow.

As I ponder about this verse and what it means, I find myself thinking of several different situations where over the years where I did not always handle things so well. My words probably caused more chaos, hurt and trouble then good. Relationships were broken and have been hard to renew. But I am so thankful that God has forgiven me and has given me new opportunities to choose my words more wisely. Times when I have given that gentle answer that allowed peace to come into the situation and bring healing to a relationship.

Whether we are in a group setting at work, church or even as a family we need to remember how we speak to one another. Everyone wants to be heard and wants to contribute without being stepped on. So as we go into conversations and situations with other people whether it is one person or a whole group we would be wise to remember that what we say and how we say it will impact those around us. It can cause them to respond with peace, order and growth in the relationships leading to productivity. Or, it can cause discord, chaos and a break down in the relationships leading to turmoil and destruction.

Prayer:

Father, help us to remember that our words can help or hurt. Help us to give a gentle answer and not use harsh words. May we remember Your Words and ask You to continually guard our mouths. Thank you for hearing our prayers and helping us to speak to others with Your Words to build up and not tear down. In Jesus’ Name we pray Amen.

For further study on your tongue, words, mouth check out the following scriptures: Psalm 19:14; Psalm 39:1; Proverbs 13:3; James 3:1-12; Matthew 12:36

Gleaning from the Lord

gleaning

2014, A YEAR OF GLEANING. That was what I prayed for back in December of 2013, as I was reflecting on the year past and the New Year to come. To glean – reap, gather, select, harvest, pick, and separate. I made a commitment at that time to glean as much as I could from God during this one year. Little did I know how God was going to teach me to glean from life every moment and truth, to spend time with Him to hear His still small voice. Here are a few of the many gleanings from 2014. May you be blessed as you enjoy my gleaning – to collect or gather facts by patient effort.

The year began with a plan to study God’s Word in more depth. The following books of the Bible were laid on my heart with discipleship a main theme. Titus, Acts, Proverbs, I Corinthians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, Hebrews, and Ephesians, these were the planned books to study. God allowed me the opportunity to study Titus, Acts, Proverbs, 1&2Peter, 1, 2, 3 John, Jude, 1&2 Timothy, Philemon. My study of Acts probably took the longest as I was gleaning so much about the church and the first missionary team. It was amazing to me to see how Paul had “disciples” who made up his team and would travel with him to different places. He would then leave some of them in different places to help lead and grow the church. One thing that stood out to me was that no one was ever left in his own home town. He was always left in someone else’s town.

Two of Paul’s disciples, Timothy and Titus, were both left to lead and establish churches. Both of these men have books named for them because they were Paul’s direct letters to them regarding what their mission was and encouragement from their mentor. Both books are rich with instructions on the operation of the church and how to handle different situations. They deal with issues that relate to both men and women, especially when it comes to mentoring or to disciple believers.

Throughout 2014 God took me on many adventures and helped me to see what He wanted me to glean. Here is a summary of things I gleaned from God.

I have gleaned deeper relationships with Friends from the past, and the present, even making new friends this year. Learning that friendships are important to help encourage and build each other up in the faith.

I have gleaned a deeper understanding of God’s Word and the opportunity to learn Greek. Digging into scripture has taught me so much more about God and His plan for my life.

I have gleaned a deeper dependence on God and His perfect timing for meeting my financial needs. God always provides at just the right moment. He knows what we need and when we need it. He just wants us to depend totally on Him and trust Him with every detail of our lives.

I have gleaned a deeper understanding of who I am in Christ, and what He has for me to do. As I have written in my journal over the last year God has shown me many things that He has done in my life over the years to prepare me for the next step. One of the best learning experiences over the year was to write my life vision statement. It helped me to see what it is that God has for me to do.

I have gleaned a deeper love relationship with my husband and creator God. Just as a love relationship grows with the time you spend and put into it so does ones relationship with the creator of the universe. I am so thankful that God is my husband and creator. He loves me more than any human ever could. I have deepened that love relationship by spending time with Him and crave to have more of those moments.

My prayer for you is that you will glean a deep relationship with the One who knows you best. Allow Him to touch your heart right where you are.

Prayer:

Father, You are good. You know us more intimately than we even know ourselves. You have a desire for us to grow in You and love You more. Help us to dive deep into Your Word and find Your true, deep love for us. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

Blessed Beyond Imagination

Reflecting on 2014, I found that God has  Blessed Me Beyond Imagination. He has done some amazing things. Some things may seem so simple and normal, but yet when I see it through God’s eyes it is a huge blessing that I never thought possible.

I have been blessed with many friends who have been the hands of God for me. I’ve had friends who have been there as support at doctor appointments. Some who have provided a listening ear, allowing me to bounce frustrations, ideas, and thoughts off of them. They even have helped me to process various trials in my life. Another friend and her family provided actual physical help as they mowed my lawn all summer and painted my house. Friends are such a blessing that many times are overlooked, but God has brought them into my life to Bless Me Beyond Imagination.

My family is a blessing to challenge me to grow in Christ as well as to be an encouragement to each other. This year we had an uncle pass away. My sisters and I traveled to the memorial service to support our cousin. What a blessing to hear the truth of how hard he was on those around him. We remembered some of those harsh things. But we also heard how he was locked in his own harshness. The pastor referred to a book that talked about being locked up with the doors wide open. It reminded me of some other people I know who are locked up inside their fears and not seeing the doors open right before them. There are times I can have that feeling of being locked up even though there are other ways out. We were able to encourage one another as we processed the things of life and had a great time remembering our youth.

Through the years God has laid some family members on my heart. I have been praying for them. It was refreshing to hear that they are listening to the Word being proclaimed and asking questions. Are they seeking God or some way to discredit those who believe in Jesus. That is what went through my mind. But I have come to realize that they are hearing the Word of God and it will NOT return void. Maybe one day they will see that Jesus loves them and wants a personal relationship with them. I continue to pray for their salvation.

I am Blessed Beyond Imagination to have family that shares the truth regarding the past, works through the past together, and seeks the Lord whether as a searcher for the Truth or to grow deeper in the Word.

God has blessed me in usual and unusual ways financially. He has allowed me the opportunity to be a substitute teacher in several schools. This school year I was asked to fulfill long term sub positions for a teacher who had surgery, a teacher who had a baby and another teacher who is also going to have a baby. Guaranteed work days and guaranteed income. A usual way of income by working a regular job.

Through LightHouse PowerHouse Ministries I have been able to make some income by teaching CPR and being a consultant in a couple of areas. The coolest blessing came when looking back over the year to find that I had several new clients helping the business to grow. Another blessing that was related to the business has been with the restructuring of it; first, with the formation of an advisory board, and second, with the changes in services offered. Through these people and processes I have been able to receive extra help and encouragement. Another usual source of income self employment and the growth of the business.

An unusual source of financial blessing came from a settlement of my auto accident from 2012. The settlement came through out of court and was sufficient to pay all the bills associated with the accident and the case and a little more to take care of some other much needed things. God provided an amazing attorney who did a great job, a great mediator who knew what he was doing, and perfect timing for all that was going on in my life. Blessed Beyond Imagination by those involved in the situation.

Because God has Blessed Me Beyond Imagination in 2014, I have been able to bless others in various ways. It is so refreshing and revitalizing to be able to bless others. A joy overflows from a heart that has been Blessed Beyond Imagination. From that heart comes other blessings and opportunities to bless.

All I can do is praise God and thank Him for His many Blessings Beyond Imagination.

Prayer: Father, thank you for your many blessings. You are so awesome and know what I need when I need it. You have blessed me with friends, family, and finances in such usual and unusual ways that it puts me in awe of You and Your love for me.

Thank you for Blessing Me Beyond Imagination.

Broken and Overwhelmed by the Love of God

Have you ever been broken and not sure of what is next? Did you find yourself wondering, “What does God have for me now?” God took me on an adventure of being broken with my teammates and then bringing healing by His overwhelming love. Let me tell you about that journey.

It was the summer of 1992. Our entire team of 78 people from 6 different countries all arrived in Paris, France for preparations for our mission trip to Barcelona, Spain. We spent 3 days training and preparing for our assignments. Our team was broken down into smaller teams led by a full time missionary from one of the countries. Based on our experiences and passions we were placed on a music, mime, puppet, sports, or video team. We each had something to contribute to the team. We each were about to experience God’s training hand.

It was finally time to move to Barcelona for the mission we had come for. Olympic Evangelism. Our 15 hour bus trip was full of fun as we laughed, sang, played games, and slept together. We enjoyed the countryside full of sunflower fields and oh so beautiful.

We finally arrived at our host site, Camp Berea, on the side of the mountain, about 45 minutes outside of Barcelona. Our days were full with many activities. The best part of each day was the trip down into the city to the Olympic events or our mission locations. Sometimes we were in the outlying towns and villages and other times right there in the Olympic Village.

Some days were very challenging and others went smoothly. We all were being pressed and tried in various ways. God was using this time to build relationships as well as to make us into His masterpieces.

There is one particular day that sticks out more so than the rest. It was the day I was stuck at camp, sick. I was feeling down about not being able to go to tell others about Jesus. So, I spent time reading my Bible and a book I had brought along “The Joy of Frustrations”. I also spent some time resting and in prayer for those out witnessing.

There were a couple of us left at camp that day. As we reclined by the pool, a great sense of excitement started to build. We saw helicopters coming toward us with big buckets. What we soon discovered was that the mountain was on fire. They were coming to the pool to get water to dump on the fire because the water tanks were having trouble getting there. The fire was moving up the mountain towards us.

We began to pray for God’s safety and watched Him put out the fire. By the end of the Olympics God had broken each of us and stretched us to new levels. He broke us and put us back together to be used of Him. The one day of evangelism for our puppet team turned out to be a day of prayer for the team – those sick and those who had to return home.

God takes our messes and straightens them out. He takes the broken and overwhelms us with His love as He turns us into something new for His glory. My bell from this trip is my visual reminder of what God did on that trip. He took each of us, his children, who were being submissive to His call, broke us and grew us. We were able to support one another through some tough times. October 2014 013

As you look at my bell you see that it has some cracks that will always be there now. Although it is not so pretty, it does show that God puts us back together for His purpose. You can see that the cracks glued together still have gaps. That is what happens in our lives. We are broken and although we are put back together by God there are things that are still missing. Holes in our hearts and lives. But no matter what those gaps are God wants to overwhelm us with His love and does that in ways we may not know at the moment. He brings people, circumstances into our lives to grow us for His use and glory.

God took me on this mission trip to show me who He has me to be. I discovered through the things that happened that I was there to pray for the team and be a listening ear. That was the first time I was called a Prayer Warrior.

Prayer:

Lord, may we remember that although we go through tough times that break us, you are there picking us up and healing us with Your overwhelming love. Thank You for taking us through those things to grow us and use us for Your Glory. Thank You for showing me a part of who You have created me to be that I did not know. Being a Prayer Warrior and listening and encouraging others for You and Your Service.  Help me to see Your continued calling on my life. In Jesus’ Name Amen.

 

 

Trusting God with My Day

Have you ever had one of those days, where everything seems to be going wrong? You wake up late. Rushing through your quiet time. Rushing to grab breakfast and get out the door. And then you knock your cup over and it breaks. Now you have a mess to clean up and you are already late. What’s next? Well, that happened to me one day. And God took that crazy day, and broken cup to teach me to Trust God with My Day.

I was opening my kitchen window while hurrying to get out the door for the day. I was in such a rush that I knocked my cup off the sill into the sink and it broke. I quickly picked up the cup and pieces planning to just throw them away. I took a closer look at the cup and decided I would keep the cup but throw the pieces away.

October 2014 008I needed that cup at that very moment. Not to drink out of but because of what it said. It was something God knew I was struggling with that day.

It said:

I Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

“Good morning, this is God. I will be handling all your problems today. I will not need your help —- so have a good day. I love you!”

At that moment, I heard God saying to my heart, “Slow down. It’s okay. Take a breath. Let me have your day. Let me have your frustrations and struggles. I know what I am doing. Just let me lead you. Will you trust me?”

That day I decided to give it all over to God and let Him handle not only that day but every day and every thing that came my way. It has been a challenge, but each day gets easier to release to Him. As I have released those things to Him, I have seen answers to prayers regarding so many different things in life. God continues to lead my days and my peace of mind is so much more than I ever thought possible.October 2014 009

That cup remains on my kitchen windowsill as a reminder that God has my day in His hands. I just need to let Him lead me through the day. So, when I start to get frustrated or wanting to do things on my own, I just look at that broken cup and remember, “God has my day. I can give Him my brokenness and He will take me His way to healing.” I can Trust God with My Day.

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for the daily reminder that You are there and want to take care of everything that is bothering me. Thank you for taking each of my days and worries and giving me peace beyond what I’ve ever known before. Thank you that I can Trust You with My Day.

Bless this day and all you have in store for me. Thank you for loving me. Amen.

Many Flowers but Little Fruit

August 2014 072As I walked past my garden compost pile, I noticed a vine starting to grow. It looked to be maybe some squash or pumpkins. I watched it grow all summer, as it made its way out of the compost pile and around the side of the garage. It grew and grew. Then there appeared many flowers. I thought “My, with that many flowers we should have a good harvest this fall.”

As the summer progressed I saw 2 small pumpkins developing. Then another, but August 2014 079that was all. A few weeks later I found another small one forming.

So, from the plethora of flowers we will enjoy only 3 or 4 pumpkins.

Many flowers with little fruit. It makes me think about life serving Christ. How many times do we agree to serve on that committee, teach the Sunday school class, help in the nursery, join the Bible study, or so many other good things to reach others and then find that we are too tired to really make a difference, to see fruit?

We’ve become too busy to make much of a difference.

When we spread ourselves too thin, we become tired and have no energy to put into the things that we have been doing. One by one they become a heavy burden and our attention to them less and less.

These good things start to have smaller fruit, no fruit, or spoiled fruit. In other words, we start to miss Bible study and don’t do the lesson. Our Sunday school lessons become boring as we teach. We start to have wrong thoughts that distract us from the truth of God and His love for those around us. They all become a burden.

God revealed to me, that I had been doing many wonderful things for Him and His Kingdom. They were important and others were benefiting, but at the same time I was becoming burned out as I was stretched to my limits. My fruit was starting to become stagnant and rot as I would lose my patience, become irritated, or distracted by so many other things.

After a time of break and refreshing, I am finding that my energy is increasing and I am able to focus on a couple of things that are starting to grow. I need to stay focused on God and His Word and only those things which He has called me to do, so that they can grow into a bountiful harvest for the Kingdom.

September 2014 003As I put my time and energy into the study of God’s Word and what He has for me, I am finding a new growth taking place in my heart and life. I can give more of myself to the things of the Lord and really enjoy doing them. They are no longer a burden but a joy.

I look forward to harvesting a fruit that is pleasing to the Lord and not to myself. A bountiful, full, good fruit. So may I not have many flowers and little fruit.

Galatians 6:7-9

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Prayer:

Lord, may I look to You to help me to say yes to the things that You would have me to do. May I not become so busy that the fruit of my labor becomes rotten or fall by the way side. May I look to You for strength for each new day and trust You to lead me along the way. May I produce fruit that is pleasing to You. In Jesus’ Name Amen.