Wise women know what to hold fast to and what to release. They exchange the things of death for the blessings of life. As I let these words soak into my spirit and write themselves on my heart I lay in bed ready to weap.
I have to say this is going to be a very personal blog that is hard for me to write. I don't want to put these words on "paper" but I know I need to. I am struggling right now to get started and to realese what is in my heart. I want to make this post private and not let anyone read it but then that is not really letting go is it? So... here goes nothing... no not nothing... here goes a release in the spirit.
For a while I have struggled with the fact that I felt like I failed my two boys in their first years. And I failed the very description of being a mom. I resented having them so close (13 months) I thought that the joy of either pregnancy was taken from me. See with Daniel I was in a car wreck during the sixth month. So the rest of the pregnancy was over shadowed with fear and physical pain for while anyway. With Andrew I couldn't focus all of my energy on the joys of being pregnant becuase I was often too sick and still having to give mommy time to Daniel who was only 4 months old when I got pregnant. Then with having two of them in diapers, breast feeding one and bottle feeding the other I didn't force myself to stop and enjoy them. All I look back and see is staying tired and being miserable. I am not supposed to fell that way about the beginning of my children's life. I feel I failed as a mother becuase I can not honestly remeber holding either one of them for the first time. It hurts to listen to women who talk about the connection they instantly made with their baby the first time they looked at each other. I have no memory of either. And that hurts like you can't believe. I will never get back those moments.
So to try to heal myself I convince myself that I could do it better the next time. And the next time should be right away. I tell myself over and over just try again when you have the next baby - which has to be a girl becuase thats what I want. Well, it is just not that easy. People look at me and say I am crazy for wanting another one. While I am silently shouting - BUT IF I DONT HAVE ANOTHER BABY I CAN"T PROOVE THAT I AM NOT A FAILURE! It is not just a want - IT IS A NEED! But my husband (in his words) is "okay with not having another child." I AM NOT OKAY! I feel like I have to proove myself.
So for the past couple of days I have been addressing this in my spirit. I have to be okay with whatever God wants. Me and my husband are to be one. And this is putting a wall between us. (Dusty - if you read this please understand I am not gripping or complaining. I am trying to release this so that I can move past it. Thank you for understanding.) I have to release my desire for another baby. I think well, if i say that I am okay with not ever being pregnant again, then God will hear me and he wants me to be happy and he knows that another baby will make me happy. So basically I never really let go.
I am exchanging the what I see as past failures for God's encouragement that I am a good mother.
I exchange the need of a another child for the deisre to know my husbands heart on a deeper level.
I exchange the void of memories I should have for memories I will make with Daniel and Andrew each and every day.
I have come to realize that even if I have another baby, I will never get back what I feel like I lost with the first two. So now I re;ease all of those feelings and say to the enemy I might not have let God turn me into the the jewel he wanted to create then, but that does not make me a failure I take back my miserable past and give it to the Father that was always there right beside and I will no longer dwell on what I feel that I missed but I will dweel on what I remeber as great. The days I would breastfeed Andrew and rock Daniel with a bottle just praying that we could all sleep just a little. The times I would just watch Andrew and Daniel sleeping. the first time Daniel ate a pickle. how Andrew would cry until we set him in his walker and Uncle Daryl would give him a graham cracker to chew on until it was so slobbery he couldn't hold on to it. The day Daniel stood in the chair above Andrew on the floor and was eating a cookie spilling the crumbs on Andrew and Andrew would pick up the smaller pieces and eat them. How much fun they had in GoGo's pool. I cling to those memories, never to let go of them.
Lord, you know there will always be a severt place in my heart that wants a baby girl. But now I can say that it is not becuase I want to proove that I can do it, It is becuase I want to bring a lovely mighty daughter of God into this world and teach her how to fight like a girl. I know I have a connection to my boys but i know there is a different sort of connection with a little girl. Lord, I may not really mean it right this moment but I will say it until I do mean it. I am okay with not being pregnant again. I feel the release happening in the spirit. I don't have to get pregant to fix my past. The past is gone. Thank you Lord. Thank you for bringing me to this place. Thank you for exchanging the past for the future.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Gifts from the Father (FLaG Ch.6)
I have learned something from a favorite book of mine and when, why, and how I am to Fight as a Daughter of the most High God. The book is the Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis. If you have never read the book or watched the movie they are both excellent. This revelation came to be through another book I am reading and loving: Fight Like a Girl (FLaG) by Lisa Bevere. (Also a great book for women of all ages!)
Let me recap for you a little:
Narnia is a magical place found by a little girl named Lucy. The world is under the control of evil and it has been winter for years on end. It was proficied that 2 sons of eve and 2 daughters of eve would come and bring spring back to the land. Lucy and her brothers and sister come. At one point they meet Father Christmas, becuase before spring can come fully the life and joy of Christmas must first visit the land again. There is too much spiritually there than I have time and patience to type. The gifts that Father Christmas brings is what I want to focus on right now. Like I said if you haven't watched the movie go rent it TODAY!
From the book;
"Susan, Eve's daughter," said Father Christmas. "These are for you," and he handed a bow and a quiver full of arrows and a little ivory horn. "You must use the bow only in great need," he said"for I do not mean you to fight in the battle. It does not easily miss. And when you put thus horn to your lips and blow it, then wherever you are, I think help of some kind will come to you."
He gave her [Lucy] a little bottle of what looked like glass (but people said afterwards that it was made of diamond) and a small dagger. "In this bottle," he said, "there is a cordial made of the juice of one of the fire-flowers that grow in the mountains of the sun. If you or any of your firends are hurt, a few drops of this will restore you. And the dagger is to defend yourself at great need. For you also are not to be in the battle"
So basically each girl got two gifts. I know that God has given us each of these gifts as well.
The first gift is the gift of bow and a full quiver of arrows. Psalms 127:4 says "like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth." So our children are our arrows. As a mother I am called to position my children and launch them into the future. Just like shooting a physical bow and arrow there is a process to this: you have to draw back steady and slow, center your sights on the target, and release. At this time in my life I know I am in the first step of that process.
Susan's second gift was a horn. Father Christmas told her that in time of need to use this and that help of some kind would show itself. This is our prayers. We have been given a incredible link to the heart of God through prayer. This a weapon of great strength. I believe that sometimes we see things far in the distance that others around may not see. This is when we are called to pray. Prayers are also like arrows because they are both launched into the future. I also want to point out that help of some kind will appear. This means that it is not always the help that we wanted. God will show himself mighty if we jut trust Him.
Now unto Lucy's gifts. First she was given the cordial. In my soul I know this was a deep crimson juice. It is to represent the healing power of God through the blood of Jesus Christ. What a powerful gift! It was not to simply heal but to RESTORE. After a wound is healed there may still be a lingering pain but when something is restored it is often more glorious than when it was damaged.
Secondly, she was given a dagger. This shows me that we are to strike when the enemy draws near. And that when it is time to strike God will use whatever is in our hands. You may not see what is in your hands that is powerful but think of these weapons: money to single mom who needs some extra groceries, prayer with a friend in need, an encouraging word to a neighbor who is hurting, a blanket to a cold orphan, and the list goes on. My sister, what God has placed in your hands in annointed! It has a mark, a destiny and it will bless! You may not see the outcome with physical eyes but God will bring it about in his timing. you have to listen to the voice of God, when he calls you to fight you will be armed and dangerous. Sometimes our weapons are unexpected but they are none-the-less powerful!
you might ask the question why not the gift of the mighty sword and sheild so that we can ride into battle and defend the King in love... I only ask this: Is it more noble to wound and kill or to bring heling and strength to the army?
One final thought: Susan's gifts were both for seeing with spiritual eyes. We see spiritually where our arrows are to go and we see the spiritaul attack of Satan coming and when to pray. Lucy's gifts were both physical. We must physically reach out to heal those around us. And the dagger represents the actions we take to attack the enemy. I see where God has given all of these gifts to his Daughters and the privilege to use them.
This prayer is from Fight Like a Girl:
Heavenly Father, I come to you in the name of Jesus and by the power of Your Holy Spirit. Please reveal the importnace of my position. When I look at myself, I don't see it. But when I lift my eyes and look at the desperate need and devastation surrounding me, I long to have my part. I want to prove my love in every way possible. I will not despise the cordial of healing. I eill intercede for life in the face of death. I want to walk in wisdom, intuition, and understanding. I want to enter in the adventure of partnering with You to redee, the attack of the enemy. I will put arrows to the string. I will equip my children and send my prayers heaven ward. I am Your answer to so many problems; open my eyes to see it clearly. AMEN
Let me recap for you a little:
Narnia is a magical place found by a little girl named Lucy. The world is under the control of evil and it has been winter for years on end. It was proficied that 2 sons of eve and 2 daughters of eve would come and bring spring back to the land. Lucy and her brothers and sister come. At one point they meet Father Christmas, becuase before spring can come fully the life and joy of Christmas must first visit the land again. There is too much spiritually there than I have time and patience to type. The gifts that Father Christmas brings is what I want to focus on right now. Like I said if you haven't watched the movie go rent it TODAY!
From the book;
"Susan, Eve's daughter," said Father Christmas. "These are for you," and he handed a bow and a quiver full of arrows and a little ivory horn. "You must use the bow only in great need," he said"for I do not mean you to fight in the battle. It does not easily miss. And when you put thus horn to your lips and blow it, then wherever you are, I think help of some kind will come to you."
He gave her [Lucy] a little bottle of what looked like glass (but people said afterwards that it was made of diamond) and a small dagger. "In this bottle," he said, "there is a cordial made of the juice of one of the fire-flowers that grow in the mountains of the sun. If you or any of your firends are hurt, a few drops of this will restore you. And the dagger is to defend yourself at great need. For you also are not to be in the battle"
So basically each girl got two gifts. I know that God has given us each of these gifts as well.
The first gift is the gift of bow and a full quiver of arrows. Psalms 127:4 says "like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth." So our children are our arrows. As a mother I am called to position my children and launch them into the future. Just like shooting a physical bow and arrow there is a process to this: you have to draw back steady and slow, center your sights on the target, and release. At this time in my life I know I am in the first step of that process.
Susan's second gift was a horn. Father Christmas told her that in time of need to use this and that help of some kind would show itself. This is our prayers. We have been given a incredible link to the heart of God through prayer. This a weapon of great strength. I believe that sometimes we see things far in the distance that others around may not see. This is when we are called to pray. Prayers are also like arrows because they are both launched into the future. I also want to point out that help of some kind will appear. This means that it is not always the help that we wanted. God will show himself mighty if we jut trust Him.
Now unto Lucy's gifts. First she was given the cordial. In my soul I know this was a deep crimson juice. It is to represent the healing power of God through the blood of Jesus Christ. What a powerful gift! It was not to simply heal but to RESTORE. After a wound is healed there may still be a lingering pain but when something is restored it is often more glorious than when it was damaged.
Secondly, she was given a dagger. This shows me that we are to strike when the enemy draws near. And that when it is time to strike God will use whatever is in our hands. You may not see what is in your hands that is powerful but think of these weapons: money to single mom who needs some extra groceries, prayer with a friend in need, an encouraging word to a neighbor who is hurting, a blanket to a cold orphan, and the list goes on. My sister, what God has placed in your hands in annointed! It has a mark, a destiny and it will bless! You may not see the outcome with physical eyes but God will bring it about in his timing. you have to listen to the voice of God, when he calls you to fight you will be armed and dangerous. Sometimes our weapons are unexpected but they are none-the-less powerful!
you might ask the question why not the gift of the mighty sword and sheild so that we can ride into battle and defend the King in love... I only ask this: Is it more noble to wound and kill or to bring heling and strength to the army?
One final thought: Susan's gifts were both for seeing with spiritual eyes. We see spiritually where our arrows are to go and we see the spiritaul attack of Satan coming and when to pray. Lucy's gifts were both physical. We must physically reach out to heal those around us. And the dagger represents the actions we take to attack the enemy. I see where God has given all of these gifts to his Daughters and the privilege to use them.
This prayer is from Fight Like a Girl:
Heavenly Father, I come to you in the name of Jesus and by the power of Your Holy Spirit. Please reveal the importnace of my position. When I look at myself, I don't see it. But when I lift my eyes and look at the desperate need and devastation surrounding me, I long to have my part. I want to prove my love in every way possible. I will not despise the cordial of healing. I eill intercede for life in the face of death. I want to walk in wisdom, intuition, and understanding. I want to enter in the adventure of partnering with You to redee, the attack of the enemy. I will put arrows to the string. I will equip my children and send my prayers heaven ward. I am Your answer to so many problems; open my eyes to see it clearly. AMEN
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Thoughts Late at Night
Okay, so I was up really late the other night and sat down to try to settle some of the thoughts gong through my head. They ranged from the tower of Babel to wedding cakes. Yeah it was LATE!
Chapter 1 - The tower of Babel
I really haven't had the time to dwell on this and study it but I wanted to write it down so that it would stay fresh on my mind. Here is the question though: It is possible that when God scattered the language at the Tower of Babel that He also caused men and women to communicate differently. I mean come on - in the garden of Eden there was a perfect relationship between man and woman. That has to mean that the communication between them was perfect right? And I don't remember anything about communication being said when God caused the man to have to labor all his life and the woman great pain in child birth. Do you? This is why I want to go back and look into a little deeper. I just couldn't find my bible at 12:30 last night and my husband was asleep with the kids which meant I couldn't get online to BibleGateway.com either. So that study will have to come later.
Feb. 12. 08
Okay So i did go look all of it up and studied it a little more. This is what I have come to discover: when Adam and Eve fell God placed Adam over Eve. Not in a "position" to say that man was better than women. It was a wives be submissive to your husbands and husbands love your wives the way Christ loved the church kind of way. Spiritually they were on the same level but this still had to play a psycological part in their communication. However, the Tower of Babel is the first instance where God seperated language. I still believe He was speaking to the division of man and woman here as well. And when we look at it that way there is something else we have to consider.
If man and women will try to work together and listen to each other "there is nothing we can not accomplish". Afterall, that is why God split the language anyway. Right? So the lesson is this: Women and men may speak the same langugae but we speak differently. Lets come together knowing this and let God be the interpreter. Men - you can't just talk to your wife like you do your buddies. Women - men sometimes don't want to know if your shoes match your bag. And on a serious level - You have to let God show you the heart of your spouse and reveal their language to you.
Chapter 2 - Weaknesses and Strengths
I was praying last night for my marriage and God spoke this phrase into my heart:
Chapter 1 - The tower of Babel
I really haven't had the time to dwell on this and study it but I wanted to write it down so that it would stay fresh on my mind. Here is the question though: It is possible that when God scattered the language at the Tower of Babel that He also caused men and women to communicate differently. I mean come on - in the garden of Eden there was a perfect relationship between man and woman. That has to mean that the communication between them was perfect right? And I don't remember anything about communication being said when God caused the man to have to labor all his life and the woman great pain in child birth. Do you? This is why I want to go back and look into a little deeper. I just couldn't find my bible at 12:30 last night and my husband was asleep with the kids which meant I couldn't get online to BibleGateway.com either. So that study will have to come later.
Feb. 12. 08
Okay So i did go look all of it up and studied it a little more. This is what I have come to discover: when Adam and Eve fell God placed Adam over Eve. Not in a "position" to say that man was better than women. It was a wives be submissive to your husbands and husbands love your wives the way Christ loved the church kind of way. Spiritually they were on the same level but this still had to play a psycological part in their communication. However, the Tower of Babel is the first instance where God seperated language. I still believe He was speaking to the division of man and woman here as well. And when we look at it that way there is something else we have to consider.
If man and women will try to work together and listen to each other "there is nothing we can not accomplish". Afterall, that is why God split the language anyway. Right? So the lesson is this: Women and men may speak the same langugae but we speak differently. Lets come together knowing this and let God be the interpreter. Men - you can't just talk to your wife like you do your buddies. Women - men sometimes don't want to know if your shoes match your bag. And on a serious level - You have to let God show you the heart of your spouse and reveal their language to you.
Chapter 2 - Weaknesses and Strengths
I was praying last night for my marriage and God spoke this phrase into my heart:
Without confessed weakness in one there can not be a glorified strength in another.
Okay, pause for a minute let that settle into your spirit - Good huh? ya know, it really applies to any relationship. In our relationship with God He cannot move in His strengths until we confess our weaknesses to Him. you know all the scriptures: "Come to me you broken hearted I will give you rest." "Ask and you shall receive" "God gives grace to the humble" yadda yadda... In our marriages the woman can not expect her husband to fill a void and show his strength if is she herself is trying to fill the void to prove that she is good enough for him to love.
We need to take back our weaknesses from the enemy and claim them as our own. When we can do that and give them back to God we are reclaiming them for His glory. Too often the enemy uses our weaknesses to say something like this: "You're not good enough to be loved. Do you see everything that is wrong with you? How can you except anybody to love all that?" Well, it is time to declare our weaknesses as such and hand them over to God. Only God can make beauty from ashes and gladness from mouring and strength from fear. Maybe the conversation should be more like this: "Yeah Satan those are my weakness. Now I demand you GIVE THEM BACK TO ME. Ya wanna know why? cause my God - Ya know the creator of heaven and earth - He created me with those weaknesses. And when I am done here I am going to put them in HIs hands and watch and see how His glory is going to be revealed."
Like I said before this also works in other relationships too. Think about that friend that always seems to cheer you up when you are down and who is there for you whenever you feel alone. Thank them today for being that friend (Thanks Jerri, Sharon, and Emilie to name a few of mine own.) When we admit that we have a weakness in one area it gives someone else a chance to shine. It gives God a chance to show His glory.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Fight Like a Girl - Ch. 1
Okay so after watching the first session of the Fight Like a Girl (hereafter called FLAG) I was stuck with one thought. We are made in the image of Christ - a reflection of sorts.
I have not been able to get that out of my head. (We met monday and it is Wed.) While you are looking into a mirror you are seeing a reflection of yourself. That reflection can not make individual movement or process thought on its own. We are to be the reflection of Christ. However, we are able to move outside what God does and speak things that God does not directly speak to us. We ARE to be a reflection of his love to the world.
My first though on Monday night was how we are to only speak the words he puts in our mouths and make the movements He has spoken into our lives. I also thought about the times where God has given me a Word to me or to somebody else and I try to figure out by myself. That always ends up pretty bad. I don't that to ever happen again. I want people to see beyond me and to see Jesus through me.
I was thining about this whole image reflection thing in the car again today and I asked what do people need to see when they look at me as Your reflection. And the answer was simply this:
I have not been able to get that out of my head. (We met monday and it is Wed.) While you are looking into a mirror you are seeing a reflection of yourself. That reflection can not make individual movement or process thought on its own. We are to be the reflection of Christ. However, we are able to move outside what God does and speak things that God does not directly speak to us. We ARE to be a reflection of his love to the world.
My first though on Monday night was how we are to only speak the words he puts in our mouths and make the movements He has spoken into our lives. I also thought about the times where God has given me a Word to me or to somebody else and I try to figure out by myself. That always ends up pretty bad. I don't that to ever happen again. I want people to see beyond me and to see Jesus through me.
I was thining about this whole image reflection thing in the car again today and I asked what do people need to see when they look at me as Your reflection. And the answer was simply this:
There is life through death.
I got to thinking about that and I saw a picture of my life reflecting the cross. But not in a sad way in a way that showed the world that you can't truly live until you have died to yourself. There are so many levels to that answer. I know I haven't grasped the fullness of it yet, but I am listening to may He may continue to speak to me.
I pray that the next few weeks of the FLaG LifeGroup bring lots more to my life.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Plastic Fruit (of the Spirit)
Sometime ago while I was praying God spoke these words into my spirit; "Is the fruit plastic?" It immediately struck me as an odd question. Since then I have not been able to get those words out of my head. I can list most of the Fruits of the Spirit but I felt a calling to get deeper into the subject and to put my thoughts in writing.
So what is The Fruit of the Spirit? In Galatians 5:22 it lists the fruit of the spirit. The new King James Version lists them as, "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." The King James Version lists them as, "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance". In the Message it reads like this, "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, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely." When we compare all of these different versions I am able to get a better idea of what each of these truly mean.
NKJV – KJV – Message
Love – Love – Affection for others
Joy – Joy – Exuberance about life
Peace – Peace – Serenity
Longsuffering – Longsuffering – A willingness to stick with things
Kindness – Gentleness – Compassion
Goodness – Goodness – A conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people
Faithfulness – Faith – Involved in loyal commitments
Gentleness – Meekness – Not needing to force our way in life
Self-control – Temperance – Able to marshal and direct our energies wisely
So now that we know what they are, now we need to figure out why we need them. Matthew 12:33 says, "a tree is known by it fruits." (NKJV) We are all baring either good fruit or bad fruit. Matthew also says that a good tree can't bear bad fruit nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. So one way or another your fruit speaks about who you are and what your heart is really like. This is where the "plastic" fruit comes in to play.
Everyone has seen the beautifully created plastic fruit at the home décor stores. Although it is beautifully made, if you look at it close enough, or touch it, or maybe even smell it, you can instantly tell the difference. Let's examine the differences between real fruit and plastic fruit.
First, there is the outward appearance. Some of these plastic fruits are created and crafted so well that you can't tell them from real fruit at a distance. Sometimes you even have to touch them to see if they are real or not. How does speak on a spiritual level? Lets talk about joy. You can have joy in a group of people while you are all having fun, but what are feeling when you are alone? Real joy is lasting, it doesn't leave when people leave. Showing joy in front of people just so they won't know your real hurts is putting out the plastic fruit of joy. Fruit that is portrayed just so others will see it is plastic fruit. Let me give you another example. Showing up at an outreach just so other people will see and think better of you is also putting out plastic fruit.
The major differences are seen when the two are cut open. When real fruit is cut open you see the "meat" of the fruit, and usually the seeds. There is substance and nutrients in real fruit. These things may help our muscles develop or help us see better, but they all produce good things in our bodies. Seeds are always present in real fruit. One major purpose for real fruit is for that fruit to reproduce another fruit. In some cases, this is called the heart of the fruit. When you cut open a plastic fruit you usually just get stinky, stagnant air, or you may just get more plastic or styrofoam. This is harmful to ingest, it may even poison the body. Therefore we can say that there is no "heart" in plastic fruit.
Lastly, there is a huge difference in the purposes of displaying plastic fruit and setting out real fruit. Plastic fruit is placed out as a decoration so that someone will see them. This brings glory to the decorator. Real fruit is set out to be eaten and enjoyed. This brings nutrients and good things to those who partake. There is a level of commitment that it takes to replace that fruit everyday. Plastic fruit can be put out once and it lasts forever.
Real fruit is grown in secret everyday growing a little more. It needs sunshine, rain, and sometimes a little manure or fertilizer. Real fruit may take longer to produce, but the outcome is so much more beautiful than plastic fruit.
Everyone around you can see your fruit. Make sure that they can partake of the Real Fruit of the Spirit and not some empty fake. Our fruit is supposed to bring good to others not glory to ourselves. Also, make sure that the fruit that is seen is fresh. Don't display an act of compassion that is years old. Renew your fruit everyday.
As a little sidenote I want to show you this little nugget:
In The Message after it lists the fruits of the spirit it says this: "Legalism is helpless in bringing this about, it only gets in the way." (Galations 5:23-24)
So what is The Fruit of the Spirit? In Galatians 5:22 it lists the fruit of the spirit. The new King James Version lists them as, "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." The King James Version lists them as, "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance". In the Message it reads like this, "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, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely." When we compare all of these different versions I am able to get a better idea of what each of these truly mean.
NKJV – KJV – Message
Love – Love – Affection for others
Joy – Joy – Exuberance about life
Peace – Peace – Serenity
Longsuffering – Longsuffering – A willingness to stick with things
Kindness – Gentleness – Compassion
Goodness – Goodness – A conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people
Faithfulness – Faith – Involved in loyal commitments
Gentleness – Meekness – Not needing to force our way in life
Self-control – Temperance – Able to marshal and direct our energies wisely
So now that we know what they are, now we need to figure out why we need them. Matthew 12:33 says, "a tree is known by it fruits." (NKJV) We are all baring either good fruit or bad fruit. Matthew also says that a good tree can't bear bad fruit nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. So one way or another your fruit speaks about who you are and what your heart is really like. This is where the "plastic" fruit comes in to play.
Everyone has seen the beautifully created plastic fruit at the home décor stores. Although it is beautifully made, if you look at it close enough, or touch it, or maybe even smell it, you can instantly tell the difference. Let's examine the differences between real fruit and plastic fruit.
First, there is the outward appearance. Some of these plastic fruits are created and crafted so well that you can't tell them from real fruit at a distance. Sometimes you even have to touch them to see if they are real or not. How does speak on a spiritual level? Lets talk about joy. You can have joy in a group of people while you are all having fun, but what are feeling when you are alone? Real joy is lasting, it doesn't leave when people leave. Showing joy in front of people just so they won't know your real hurts is putting out the plastic fruit of joy. Fruit that is portrayed just so others will see it is plastic fruit. Let me give you another example. Showing up at an outreach just so other people will see and think better of you is also putting out plastic fruit.
The major differences are seen when the two are cut open. When real fruit is cut open you see the "meat" of the fruit, and usually the seeds. There is substance and nutrients in real fruit. These things may help our muscles develop or help us see better, but they all produce good things in our bodies. Seeds are always present in real fruit. One major purpose for real fruit is for that fruit to reproduce another fruit. In some cases, this is called the heart of the fruit. When you cut open a plastic fruit you usually just get stinky, stagnant air, or you may just get more plastic or styrofoam. This is harmful to ingest, it may even poison the body. Therefore we can say that there is no "heart" in plastic fruit.
Lastly, there is a huge difference in the purposes of displaying plastic fruit and setting out real fruit. Plastic fruit is placed out as a decoration so that someone will see them. This brings glory to the decorator. Real fruit is set out to be eaten and enjoyed. This brings nutrients and good things to those who partake. There is a level of commitment that it takes to replace that fruit everyday. Plastic fruit can be put out once and it lasts forever.
Real fruit is grown in secret everyday growing a little more. It needs sunshine, rain, and sometimes a little manure or fertilizer. Real fruit may take longer to produce, but the outcome is so much more beautiful than plastic fruit.
Everyone around you can see your fruit. Make sure that they can partake of the Real Fruit of the Spirit and not some empty fake. Our fruit is supposed to bring good to others not glory to ourselves. Also, make sure that the fruit that is seen is fresh. Don't display an act of compassion that is years old. Renew your fruit everyday.
As a little sidenote I want to show you this little nugget:
In The Message after it lists the fruits of the spirit it says this: "Legalism is helpless in bringing this about, it only gets in the way." (Galations 5:23-24)
Thursday, November 8, 2007
If HIS People....
2 Chronicals 7:14 says: 14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
I think in a time when 33 senators can vote against English as an official language for the USA, that a female and a muslim are running for president, the current Christian presidant can't return to office, war is raging with the threat of nuclear bombs, mothers have the "right" to choose life or death for their unborn child, and famine and death reign, IT IS TIME TO PRAY!!
It is TIME!! It is time for those who know they are called by the name of the Almighty, the ruler and creator of this Earth to come together, to collectively cry out to the father in humility. I belive that means saying we don't know how to fix it. It is time to pray, better yet call out to the father from a humble heart fervently praying for our country. It is time to seek the face of God! It's time to put away the foolishness that has ruined this land. What is that foolishness? Sin!
It is time to put away the bitterness between brothers in Christ; time to quit bickering between denominations, time to stop fighting within families. After all, a house divided among itself can't stand up against an enemy. Can't we sometimes just agree to disagree? Let's quit agruing about whether a female can wear makeup or not and start reaching the lost. Let's burn our list of do's and dont's and lets replace them with lists of why we love our God.
Anyway, I know I am on a soapbox.....
I may not be big enough to chane anything about this country but I know my God is big enough! So all I can do is seek his face and pray. What should we pray? I don't have all the right anwsers but I can tell you this is what I am going to pray right now.
Lord, it's me. Thank you you calling me into your family. I know that I am daughter of the most high God, ruler and creator of this world. Right now that same world is in some pretty bad trouble. I know that I am not big to change the minds and hearts of anyone, but you are the ruler of the heart. I am not in a position politically to change any about this country. Lord, many of the men who first ruled this country loved you. When they established this country it was in your name. Forgive my generation and those before me that are trying to take out You out of the foundations of our free lifes. Show your soms and daughters how to strategically keep you in our land. Lord, I know you have placed men and women amoung the ranks of politicians that control our country. I don't know their names, but I pray for each and every one of them. I pray that each and every day you will give them the courage and the strength to make the Godly decisions and to stand by their beliefes and to not fall into the enemys grasp of fear and rejection. Lord, I pray these men and women will always feel your strength and guidance with them each and everyday. I also pray for the sons and daugthers around this country that we can collectively seek your face and your heart. May we all stand together unified by prayer lifting up the name of Jesus. Lord, I pray that someday this country can once again glorify your name. In Jesus name, Amen.
I think in a time when 33 senators can vote against English as an official language for the USA, that a female and a muslim are running for president, the current Christian presidant can't return to office, war is raging with the threat of nuclear bombs, mothers have the "right" to choose life or death for their unborn child, and famine and death reign, IT IS TIME TO PRAY!!
It is TIME!! It is time for those who know they are called by the name of the Almighty, the ruler and creator of this Earth to come together, to collectively cry out to the father in humility. I belive that means saying we don't know how to fix it. It is time to pray, better yet call out to the father from a humble heart fervently praying for our country. It is time to seek the face of God! It's time to put away the foolishness that has ruined this land. What is that foolishness? Sin!
It is time to put away the bitterness between brothers in Christ; time to quit bickering between denominations, time to stop fighting within families. After all, a house divided among itself can't stand up against an enemy. Can't we sometimes just agree to disagree? Let's quit agruing about whether a female can wear makeup or not and start reaching the lost. Let's burn our list of do's and dont's and lets replace them with lists of why we love our God.
Anyway, I know I am on a soapbox.....
I may not be big enough to chane anything about this country but I know my God is big enough! So all I can do is seek his face and pray. What should we pray? I don't have all the right anwsers but I can tell you this is what I am going to pray right now.
Lord, it's me. Thank you you calling me into your family. I know that I am daughter of the most high God, ruler and creator of this world. Right now that same world is in some pretty bad trouble. I know that I am not big to change the minds and hearts of anyone, but you are the ruler of the heart. I am not in a position politically to change any about this country. Lord, many of the men who first ruled this country loved you. When they established this country it was in your name. Forgive my generation and those before me that are trying to take out You out of the foundations of our free lifes. Show your soms and daughters how to strategically keep you in our land. Lord, I know you have placed men and women amoung the ranks of politicians that control our country. I don't know their names, but I pray for each and every one of them. I pray that each and every day you will give them the courage and the strength to make the Godly decisions and to stand by their beliefes and to not fall into the enemys grasp of fear and rejection. Lord, I pray these men and women will always feel your strength and guidance with them each and everyday. I also pray for the sons and daugthers around this country that we can collectively seek your face and your heart. May we all stand together unified by prayer lifting up the name of Jesus. Lord, I pray that someday this country can once again glorify your name. In Jesus name, Amen.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Just Venting
okay, so I am having a rough day. Why can't my boys get the potty training thing??? I've tried the "reward program". I am just really frustrated today. I know I just need to calm down take a few deep breaths and relax. In... out... in.... out
okay, now I just want to cry, every other mom has done it. I can too. Just when? When are hey going to get that I am not punishing them by making them use the potty.... it's just life.
OKay, I'm better. you know I think they had a good thing going back in the biblical days. You know back then during a women's "time" every month they were sent from the camp. I think that is a good idea, then no one has to deal with me and I don't have to deal with anyone. Doesn't that sound great?
back to work now.... I just needed a moment to reflect and breath.......
okay, now I just want to cry, every other mom has done it. I can too. Just when? When are hey going to get that I am not punishing them by making them use the potty.... it's just life.
OKay, I'm better. you know I think they had a good thing going back in the biblical days. You know back then during a women's "time" every month they were sent from the camp. I think that is a good idea, then no one has to deal with me and I don't have to deal with anyone. Doesn't that sound great?
back to work now.... I just needed a moment to reflect and breath.......
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