Fall Leaves

Raking leaves this week it occurred to me how in the Bible many times there is a reference to trees, roots and fruit in the context of believers. I thought about the fig tree Jesus cursed because it had no fruit. “And as He saw one single leafy fig tree above the roadside, He went to it but he found nothing but leaves on it [seeing that in the fig tree the fruit appears at the same time as the leaves]. And He said to it, Never again shall fruit grow on you! And the fig tree withered up at once.” Matt. 21:19 The leaves on the tree led Him to believe something that was not true. The tree was a fake and had to go. “Beware of false prophets, who come to you dressed as sheep, but inside they are devouring wolves. You will fully recognize them by their fruits. Do people pick grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? Even so, every healthy (sound) tree bears good fruit but the sickly (worthless) tree bears bad (worthless) fruit. A good (healthy) tree cannot bear bad (worthless) fruit, nor can a bad (diseased) tree bear excellent fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire. Therefore, you will fully know them by their fruits.“ Matthew 7:15-20

As Christians, we are to bear fruit as well. “Bring forth fruit that is consistent with repentance [let your lives prove your change of heart]“ Matt 3:8. “…so that now you may belong to Another, to Him Who was raised from the dead in order that we may bear fruit for God.” Romans 7:4b There are seasons of our lives that we are dormant and not visually growing, but inside of us, there is something going on. In the spring, the buds show up on our branches, the sap starts flowing and we bear fruit. If we are Christians that do all the “things” on the outside that Christians are “supposed” to do and when someone gets close to us, they find there is no fruit beneath our leaves; we are a fake, a hypocrite and should be cursed and thrown into the fire.

I was sitting on the sofa the other day and I heard a huge gust of wind. I looked out the window and saw the leaves off the trees blowing sideways across the yard. I was reminded that just as the leaves on the trees change colors and fall off, so do the things in our lives that God is through with. There are times the Holy Spirit’s wind blows through our lives to make the things that are dead fall off of us. There are things we sometimes insist on hanging on to. Maybe it is something God once anointed us for and now wants us to move on. Yet, we hang on to whatever it is; teaching Sunday School, working in the Nursery, attending prayer meeting, whatever it is. We hang on because it is a good thing and God really used it in our lives and we think we are to keep it. “Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away; and he cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit.” John15:2

There are times in our lives that we need to have some trials happen to us to get the fruit producing in our lives again. Jesus told a parable in regards to this: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it, but did not find [any]. So he said to the vinedresser, See here! For these three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and I find none. Cut it down! Why should it continue also to use up the ground [to deplete the soil, intercept the sun, and take up room]? But he replied to him, Leave it alone, sire [just] this one more year, till I dig around it and put manure [on the soil]. Then perhaps it will bear fruit after this; but if not you can cut it down and out.” Luke 13:6-9

Sometimes it takes a little “manure” to get the fruit growing again.

You Can’t Stop Me

Last Saturday, I attended a conference sponsored by Women of God. The theme was “In His Presence”. I was within minutes of walking out the door when something happened–my power went out! I checked the circuit breaker box and it was okay, I looked outside to see if my neighbor’s had power, but I couldn’t tell.

I went to the car to leave and I couldn’t–the garage has an automatic door. I remembered if I pulled the red handle that was hanging down I could manually open the door. I pulled the handle, it disengaged, I tried to pull the door up and it wouldn’t budge. I tried and tried and tried! Finally, I went in the house and called the Power Company to see if they knew about the outage. They knew and said it would be back on sometime between 9:00 and Noon! I found myself sitting down and starting to tell myself I would just get comfortable and stay home. Then it came to me that the last thing the enemy wanted me to do was to go to this event! I figured it was going to be great. I decided nothing was going to keep me from going. I sat down, prayed and started to read my Bible, I was going to get filled with the Word and ready for my day. By 9:05 a.m. the power was on and I was on my way.

I wasn’t very late, worship had just finished. They asked us to introduce ourselves to someone near us. I told the lady I spoke with that I was expecting great and wonderful things from God. I knew something awesome was going to happen and that’s why Satan tried so hard to get me discouraged.

I was right, the conference was really terrific! I learned so much and I was so blessed by the worship and the other women. It was a wonderful day. The speakers were really good; one was a Pastor and a psychotherapist. She spoke mostly about the different coping skills and emotions that are developed by people who have been abused. She believes healing ultimately occurs through strengthening the spirit, a deepening relationship with God and healing the soul. We learned contemplative prayer, which I found to be really helpful. Contemplative prayer is when we place ourselves as the “main character” in a Bible story. I stretched out on the pew and closed my eyes as she read a Bible story. She asked us at different times how we felt, what things looked like, etc. It was a healing thing to do. I believe we’re most open to the Holy Spirit and His work in us when we are creative.

I was reminded how important it is to just sit with Jesus. Since then, I have made it a deliberate action in my day, to spend quiet time with Him. He’s my best friend and I find myself throughout the day talking with Him. He goes to work with me, grocery shopping, walking, to coffee and lunch. He goes everywhere with me. I look forward all day to spending quality alone time with Jesus, I am excited and eagerly anticipating my time with Him. I know and I’m aware of Jesus with me throughout the day, because I have set my mind to be. I’ve asked Jesus to help me to be aware and I’m changing already.

I know spending time with Jesus is not just a feeling, it is a state of my soul, and it transforms me. In His presence I am changed, my soul is refreshed and my heart is softened. Little by little, day by day, I develop the mind, heart and attitude of Jesus. I will start to manifest more and more compassion, love and humbleness, all the fruits of the Spirit will be developed in me. I have learned prayer isn’t always talking, thinking or even trying to listen, prayer can be just being open to receive whatever it is Jesus has for me. There are times He brings things up and we walk through the memory or issue together, that’s how healing happens. There are not words to describe the presence of Jesus, or the transformation He does in my soul.

“He must increase, but I must decrease. (He must grow more prominent; I must grow less so.)” John 3:30

I finally got the meaning of this Scripture, and it is so easy! I don’t know why I had such trouble with it. I’ve tried for most of my Christian life to do the things I thought I was supposed to do. For instance: crucify my flesh, seek God’s will, show the fruits of the Spirit, resist the devil, etc. When what I need is to spend time with Jesus. The Holy Spirit impressed upon me this illustration: if I have a glass with dirty water in it and I pour in fresh clean water and continue to pour water in the glass until it overflows; and I pour still more water in it, more and more and more…eventually; the glass has NO dirty water in it, JUST clean water!

“Let this same attitude and purpose and (humble) mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus” Philippians 2:5

“(Not in your own strength) for it is God who is all the while effectually at work in you (energizing and creating in you the power and desire) both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.” Philippians 2:13

All I need to do is focus on filling myself full of Him, not removing the undesirable traits that are in me. The undesirable will go when I am continually filled with Jesus. He will never leave me or forsake me, He will not quit-He will continue to transform me and finish the work He started in me. All I have to do is cooperate!

Willing to be Willing

“As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to Him and fell on his knees before Him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”  “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good–except God alone.  You know the commandments: `Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.”  “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” He said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.”  Mark 10:17-22

The rich man had kept all the commandments and was successful, but his values were distorted. He had to face the reality that his goals in life were wealth and power, yet these had left his life empty. Happiness is never found in money, success, or power. It is found in living in a good relationship with God and others. The rich man had loved things more than God and people.

The rich man was not willing to give up what he had. His grasp was firmly around his possessions and he was into idolatry, he loved his possessions and success more than God.

“The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” Matt. 26:41b

God knows that we are not perfect and we have desires of the flesh. He doesn’t demand perfection, just willingness. If we are willing to do something for God, He will give us what is needed to accomplish whatever it is.

The rich man was not willing. I can relate to him, there are times in my life that I’m not willing either. During those times I have learned to pray to the Lord and tell Him that I’m not willing, but I am willing to be willing. I pray that if it is something Christ wants me to do, He needs to make me willing.

Following are words to the song “Everything I Own” by “Pegtop”. A group the Minister of Music at my church is in. It touched me so deeply, I want to share.

What would I give to be pure in heart,
And pure in flesh and bone?
What would I give to be pure in heart?
I’d give everything I own.

I’d rid my whole house of its demons of lust
And open the windows of trust
And out of those windows all fear will have flown
And I’d give everything I own

What would I give for the words of God
To come tumbling from the throne?
What would I give for the words of God?
I’d give everything I own

I’d open my head and they’d roll right in,
When I open my mouth they’d roll out again.
They’d uproot the weeds of the deeds I have sown,
And I’d give everything I own

What would I give for my children’s strength
On the day they stand alone?
I mean what would I give for their strength to stand firm?
I’d give everything I own

I’ve wasted my life
In accomplishing things
Ignoring the giver of wings.
Lord teach them to fly to the foot of Your throne,
And I’d give everything I own

All I’ve accomplished and the titles I hold,
My passions, positions, possessions and gold.
To God they must look like a thimble of foam–
And it’s everything I own.
Dirty rags is all I own.

So I stand before God with my truckload of hay,
He gets asked, but says there is still a way.

Because “Father forgive” are the words Jesus moaned,
And He gave everything He owned.
When He gave everything He owned.

So what would I give to be pure in heart
For the known to be unknown?
I mean what would I give to be…
Born again?

© Pegtop 1999 Stone Jetty Publishing/BMI

Are you willing to give it all; everything you own? Are you like the rich man, holding tightly to things that have no lasting value? Ask God to make you willing to be willing, you’ll not regret it.

Making Excuses to God

It was a day just like any other day, except it was really hot and humid. I came home from work, laid underneath my ceiling fan and put in a movie. It wasn’t too long and I got a call from the Pastor of my old church. He and I had been really close, I was the church secretary and we would spend a lot of time talking. He was there for me the first few years of my Christian life and got me going on the right path.

He called wanting to know if he could refer someone to me that is going through a time in their life like what I went through in my past. He wanted me to share and minister to this person. I felt honored, that God wanted to use me in this person’s life. All the pain, heartache and struggles that I went through were not in vain. God is going to use those to help others in need! I love to minister to others, to see someone who is hurting and struggling find hope and healing. There is no greater joy than to watch that transformation happen.

As we were talking, we were catching up on each other’s lives. I updated him on a few things and he asked me questions that no one has asked me lately. Things like: How do you feel about that? Where are you in your walk with God? How is your soul? After I got off the phone I got thinking about his questions.

I am the kind of person that needs a sounding board, someone just to listen to me as I talk about my feelings, emotions and thoughts. It helps me to figure out what’s really going on. If it’s ok, I’d like to use this forum as my “sounding board”.

I realize that I am at a place in my life that I’m making excuses to God for my sins. I’m not being accountable or responsible for the way that I’m living. I am blaming my past experiences for my current behavior and choices. I really love God and want to be obedient, but, I am afraid to do what I know is right. I don’t trust my discernment and my ability to make right choices.so I am currently living with my boyfriend and I know that I should marry him, we talk about it, but yet due to a previous marriage/divorce I am afraid to make that step. We both love God and have given our lives to Him. My boyfriend has a history of DWI’s and addiction, I have a history of addictions as well. I’ve been straight for almost 5 years and never have slipped. He’s had a slip just recently and is in the workhouse serving time for a DWI. I know that God has gotten his attention and is working on him.

I got delivered from my addictions by God in a supernatural way, and have a hard time remembering that some people have to be healed step by step. I know that we are transformed from glory to glory, and I need to have the grace, mercy and patience to allow God to know the timing that is needed for each individual. This is a learning experience for me because my deliverance was immediate. It was a miracle in my life. I know that God is using my boyfriend (and maybe this other person that my Pastor is referring to me) to teach me the various ways that God works.

The Bible says “Not that I have now attained (this ideal), or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me his own. I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own (yet); but one thing I do (it is my one aspiration): forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the (supreme and heavenly) prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.” Philippians 3:12-14 (AMP). Also, “Therefore, if any person is in Christ he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!” II Corinthians 5:17 (AMP). Both of these verses tell me that I am not to look at the past to get a picture of the future. The past is exactly that, the past. Joyce Meyer (spiritual teacher and conference leader) often says that the way you start is not as important as the way that you finish and the start does not make or break you at the finish when it comes to spiritual matters. God can and does transform everyone and anyone.

The Bible also tells me “Now the Lord is Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom) And all of us, as with unveiled face, (because we) continued to behold (in the Word of God) as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; (for this comes) from the Lord (Who is) the Spirit.” II Corinthians 3:17-18.(AMP) Also, “”Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind…” Romans 12:2. These verses tell me that we are changed from “glory to glory” and by the renewing of our minds. I know that this is true, my anniversary for being straight is in August and it will be 5 years. I think of how far I’ve come and I’m amazed. God is truly an Awesome God.

Thank you for allowing me to use this as a sounding board, I pray that this article has given you something to think about in your own life. If you are like me and using excuses for your sin or using your past to judge the future, join me in trusting the future to God, trusting our own and other’s transformations to God, (nothing is too big for Him!), confessing and repenting our sins, knowing that God will be and always has been faithful. He is there for us, He loves us and we CAN trust Him.

Bless you.

Walk on Water

Jesus walked out on the water,
said take courage, it is me.
Peter trusted and he wanted to go further,
so he stepped out on the sea.

If I keep my eyes on Jesus, I can walk on water.

Just like Peter I want to go further,
tread on the sea and walk on the water,
step where He steps and go where He goes,
side by side when the sea billows roll,
it’ll be all right when the wind comes,
be all right when the waves come crashing,
I’m not afraid, no, no,
for this is my Father’s world.

Audio Adrenaline “Walk on Water”
To me, this is the basis of the Christian life. If we keep our focus on Jesus, we can do anything. We are safe, whether the sea billows roll, wind comes, waves are crashing, nothing matters if we are focused, intently focused on Jesus.

“The boat was by this time out on the sea, many furlongs (a furlong is about 1/8 of a mile) distant from the land, beaten and tossed by the waves, for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch (between 3:00 and 6:00 a.m.) of the night, Jesus came to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified and said, “It is a ghost!” And then screamed out with fright. But instantly He spoke to them, saying, “Take courage! I AM! Stop being afraid!” And Peter answered Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” He said “Come!” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and he came toward Jesus. But when he perceived and felt the strong wind, he was frightened, and as he began to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me (from death)!” Instantly Jesus reached out His hand and caught and held him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat knelt and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God!” Matthew 14:24-33

There are times in my life when I feel like my boat is being tossed by the waves and the wind is against me. When struggles come, it is never just one thing that I have to deal with, it is always several. Just like the disciples, they were being tossed around and the wind was against them, but on the 4th watch Jesus came walking across the water to their boat. What strikes me, is that Jesus waited until the 4th watch, He had been on the shore praying, He knew what the weather was like and yet He waited until the 4th watch to go to them. We need to never give up hope, Jesus will come to us, but it will be in His time. His time is perfect, there are times that He allows us to be in the storm for awhile. I imagine that the disciples were not just sitting in the boat and waiting for Jesus to come, I think that they were busy trying to save themselves. Busy trying to steady the boat and to navigate through the waves to shore. Probably by the time the 4th watch came, they were pretty exhausted, they had been fighting this storm for quite some time, and the waves were beating against them.

We need to remember that right before the disciples got into the boat, they had just witnessed and been a part of a tremendous miracle. Jesus had just fed 5,000 men, not including women and children with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish and they had 12 baskets full of the broken pieces left over! Now, here they are, many hours later and they are fighting the weather in the boat.

When the disciples saw Jesus coming toward them on the water, they thought that it was a ghost. They didn’t even think that Jesus could possibly be out there walking, they thought that it must be a ghost, it couldn’t be a person, they started screaming! Jesus called out to them to calm them and told them to take courage, I AM! Well, it seems that they still had some doubts, so leave it to Peter to speak up. Peter called out to Jesus and asked Jesus to make it possible for him to walk out to Jesus. Sure enough, Jesus commanded Peter to join Him on the sea.

The words of the song, “Peter wanted to go further, so he stepped out on the sea”. I love that, I want to go further, but it’s not going to happen in the safety of the boat. The other disciples, even though the boat was rocking and they were afraid, they chose to be in the boat rather than take their chances on the water with Jesus. Like the title of John Ortberg’s latest book “If You Want to Walk on Water, You Have to Get Out of the Boat”. Jesus calls us to go further, to come out on the water with Him. It requires trust and faith to take that step, a knowing that anything and everything is possible if we are in joint partnership with Jesus.

When we do muster up our faith and step out of the boat, just like Peter, we still need to keep our eyes on Jesus, more than ever we have to hold that focus. If we don’t, the things around us may appear very large and frightening. Peter looked around, he lost his focus on Jesus for just a moment and that’s all it took. He saw the large waves, he felt the strong wind, he was frightened and he began to sink. That’s what will happen to us if we break our focus on Jesus for just one moment, we will start to sink.

Jesus is there for us when we sink, and all we have to do is get our eyes back on Him and call out to Him and He will stretch out His hand, catch us and hold us. For it is a promise that when we seek Him, and we seek Him with our whole heart, we will find Him. I find much comfort in that.

Goodbye to Friends

Over four years ago, I was such a mess,
I thought I couldn’t be anything less.
The bottom is where I seemed to be,
That’s where I was when you met me.

You let me in, you showed me grace,
I learned my life was not a waste.
You taught me to boldly approach God’s throne,
And give Christ inside of me a home.

Since then, I’ve never been the same
I learned my life was not in vain.
Where I am weak, He is strong,
I follow Him, I can’t go wrong.

You openly listened, you were always there,
Anytime I needed friends to share
My joys, confusion or turmoil,
You were friends that were always loyal.

Now it’s time to say goodbye
It’s hard for me, but I will try
To express in words how I feel for you,
Friends like you are ever true.

God has put a call on your heart,
Your answer has meant a new start.
I love you and I send you my prayer,
That God will keep you in His care.

On the Anvil

You gave us a vision a while ago,
We didn’t have to say yes, we could’ve said no.
We know that everything You ask us to do,
You also provide strength to see us through.

We have a visionary Pastor whom You’ve anointed,
And the leaders You’ve sent our way, we’ve appointed.
It feels we’re living life on the anvil,
And it is all we can do to stand still.

As You mold, bend and shape us with Your fire,
Ever growing within us is a strong desire.
To jump off this anvil and get on our feet,
Gather the lost people for You to meet.

Lord, help us be patient, help us be kind,
All of this will come when it’s Your time.
Prepare us with Christ’s mind and a servant’s heart,
Each of us willing to carry our part.

Step 6

My prayer is for a willing heart,
I believe that’s the place to start,
Make me willing from within,
To let go of my defects and sin.

To give them to you for you to heal,
Straight-up, no strings, without a deal.
My previously developed coping skills
I now exchange for Your will.

Mold me, shape me and purify me,
Put me through the refiner’s fire.
To live a life like Jesus Christ,
This is my true desire.

The process is painful, this I know,
But, serenity is on the other side,
Your blessings You freely bestow,
To those willing to give up their pride.