Watering.....

 

Mother’s Day brought flowers, I’ve planted new plants in my yard. They look beautiful, yes, thank you for asking. I make sure to water them regularly because they’re just getting rooted in fresh soil. They’ll take hold and perhaps next year, they won’t need quite as much extra water, though I do pamper the ones I planted last year with some extra water too.

What would become of them if I’d carefully dropped them into the soil of my yard and turned to walk away, never going back to tend them again? Out here in the dry Colorado dirt, they’d quickly wither up and die without some love, attention – and water.

Making this a point to ponder, we can see how watering is important and necessary for spiritual growth. Whether we’re talking about a brand-new Christian who’s just been introduced to the new soil of Christianity or a seasoned Christian whose faith has already been tried, we all need the watering of encouragement.

Evangelists sometimes get a lot of attention; they often make a big splash exposing our need for a Savior. Many of them are louder than the average bear and might pack a bit more energy into their presentations. But we daily share Jesus with the people around us, sometimes quietly and without words. Evangelists might be considered the ‘seed planters’ – and might also be seen as the harvesters. To the lost soul coming to Christ, it may feel like they’re hearing these truths, these ‘seeds of faith’ for the first time. But God has always been sending people along the path of their lives, planting seeds they may not have been aware of, preparing them for the harvester who will come along and lead them straight to the Throne of Glory to receive the salvation they’ve been needing, that maybe they didn’t realize they were looking for.

But what happens in between and after? While some have been planting seeds from the Word of God into the fertile heart of one searching for answers, others come along side them and water those seeds, showering them with encouragement and stories of God’s faithfulness in their own lives.

Without water, seeds quickly die off, even after they’ve sprouted up out of the ground. We may stumble across seeds of Truth, not realizing that God was at work behind the scenes preparing them for us, unnoticed there in the background of our lives. Jesus didn’t die in vain, He’s at work with His Father and His precious Holy Spirit wooing us, revealing Himself to us, softening our hearts and opening our eyes and ears to see spiritual things - and by His kindness, drawing us to repentance.

Without the waterers, what would become of us?

Even those of us who are firmly established in our faith need God’s living water poured generously over us from time to time. God won’t deny us that. He has plenty of waterers around us. No doubt, you’re one of them!

How do we water the people around us? Well, how do you find yourself watered – or refreshed and encouraged? That’s what the people around you need, too.

God’s Word is called Living Water, among other things. The River of Life that flows out of us is the Spirit of God that moves through us to the people around us when we encourage them. When we need encouraging, God sends someone across our path with a fresh bucket of Living Water for us.

If we’re not refreshed or nourished by the Living Water of God, perhaps it’s because we didn’t like the looks of the bucket (pride). How long will we go thirsty?

Much of my poetry refers to gardens and flowers because that’s one wonderful way God relates to me, He fills me with joy and stirs His Spirit within me when I’m outside amidst the beauty of nature, or when I’m breathing in the fragrance of the pretty bouquet my husband nourished me with. (He’s my favorite waterer!)

“As the deer pants for the water, so my soul longs for God.” (Psalm 42:1)

And sometimes - it's just rains......

You, my friend, are an incredible waterer. Keep up the good work. You’re VERY important! I thank God for you.

 

My Favorite Comforter

(picture from wifeknows.com)

Do you ever catch yourself whining? Do you ever feel yourself panicking? I tend to find my mouth saying things that sound like complaints way more often that I’d like to admit.

Our Father in Heaven has given us the Holy Spirit to us to be, among other things, our Comforter. If you think in pictures, like many of us do, a plethora of imagery comes to mind at the sound of that word. Do you picture the cozy down comforter on your bed, the one that snuggles you as you wrap yourself in it? Do you picture a bereavement card? Do you picture the face of that one special friend who’s always there for you, not matter how much you pout, cry, mourn or throw a pity party? Do you remember the hands of your mother, as she gently smoothed a band-aid over that nasty scrape on your knee? Do you smell the glass of wine you nursed after getting disturbing or sad news?

(picture from friendsquotation.com)

I’m sure you have your own images that pop into place at the mention of most any word.

But, comforters can explore a thousand dimensions, depending on what kind of comfort we find ourselves in need of at any given moment. I can be in one dimension right now and discover myself in another place in just a few minutes, needing a whole new kind of comfort.

(picture from safebee.com)

Sometimes I want sympathy, or to hear that yes – I was right in that last disagreement that ruffled my feathers. I may just need a hug; a smile. I may need someone to simply listen to me rant. I may need to hear a soothing voice in my ears. I may want silence, or I may need a momentary distraction from my own thoughts.

But, our heavenly Comforter always knows just what we need, just who we need it from and just how to get it to us. Yet, sometimes we flat out refuse to be comforted.

“God, I’m feeling a bit scared right now.”

“But, Helen, you love Me, right?”

“Lord, this pain is unbearable.”

“You love Me, don’t you?

“Father, it was totally not fair for her to treat me that way.”

“Do you love Me anyways?”

“Grrrrrr! God, that made me so angry!”

“Yet, you still love Me?”

My heavenly Comforter doesn’t question my love for Him. He challenges my love for Him – bringing me right back to the place of safety I desperately need be whenever I need comforting.

Honestly, that’s the place of safety I seek to dwell in all the time.

Hard times, emotional escapades and every day frustrations come at us to steal our joy, to derail our day, and to cause rifts in relationships. Yet, knowing we’re centered right there in the love of God, protected under the wings of the Almighty, hidden in Christ, brings us to our knees and to a place of complete surrender, submitting ourselves and our circumstance to the King of kings, Himself.

And therein, we are comforted.

(picture from fggam,org)

“Peace, be still my Child, I am with you always. I love you. You are mine.”

“Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always, by all means. The be with you all.” -2 Thessalonians 3:16 (KJV)

“Let your conversations be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” -Hebrews 13:5 (KJV)

“…and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”  -Matthew 28:20 (KJV)

Peace Like No Other

The other night, well past midnight, I roamed my house. In yet another battle with sleeplessness, though thoroughly tired, I paced. Of course, in the quiet of night it’s a great time to listen and to pray. Admittedly, I’d rather be sleeping.

As I sat in the rocking chair in the front room, I closed my eyes. I was praying for my son. Sometimes the words to pray don’t come easily, those are times when I depend on the groaning of the Spirit of God, whether audible or not. Those are the times I yield myself to how He wants to pray, through me. Those are generally the most passionate and emotion-filled prayers.

With a flutter of my eyelids, I melted as the front porch light, creeping through the slats in the blinds, illuminated our American flag waving in the breeze.

When our children are young, we presume we can, or are at least supposed to meet most of their needs. We love them and teach them, we nurture them while watching them teach us so much more. We hold them. I miss holding them most.

My heart aches for the hearts of my children. Their grown up struggles are so much harder than that to which their childish concerns could ever amount. Perhaps because with age comes wisdom I didn’t have as a young mom, and I realize that it’s not my job to pave their way through life. I can’t show them their purpose or their path. They need to discover that on their own. Something given to us is sometimes less appreciated than something we work for ourselves.

Our children see our flaws more often than anyone else, perhaps even better than our spouse. They see when we don’t even realize they’re watching. And of course, they’re observing our shortcomings through the innocent eyes of a child, I’m quite sure that adds facets to who we are to them that we don’t even know about.

(fanpop.com)

No matter what I’ve done or how they see me, they’re all grown up now. I’ve done my part is messing with their view of reality.

Now, they struggle within their own hearts. Life is between them and God and their reality of God. It was always their own journey. My hope is that someday the struggles end and they’re at peace and can share their peace through just being who they are.

I can’t pray my will over theirs, I can’t pray for the path I want them to choose – that may not be the road God has planned to take them down.

I can only pray God’s perfect will over them and trust Him to complete the good work He’s begun in them.

(likesuccess.com)

That beautiful flag waving on the front porch may be part of the reason my son is on the other side of the world. But, my heart has to trust that it’s all part of a greater plan, the plan of God Himself.

Do I get all choked up and cry? Absolutely. But, praise God for His peace, which passes all my human understanding and teaches me to hope and stirs up supernatural patience and trust within me.

I’m so blessed and glad and honored to serve the Almighty God of the universe and to know that I know that I know that He’s in control. There’s no greater joy than to know God and trust Him completely. Anxiety comes from feeling the need to do life on my own or worse yet, from trying to control the destiny of another.

Thank You, Jesus for Your sweet, bountiful peace. Thank You for Your unconditional, never-ending love. Hallelujah!

(suggestkeyword.com)

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)

Full, Half-full or Empty?

(huffingtonpost.com)

That cup we’re always hearing about that’s either half-full or half-empty; what’s it’s filled with anyways?

In the Old Testament (Jeremiah 18) we read the story of the potter and his clay. Whenever I ponder that story, I envision a potter’s hands on a wet mound of clay gently pressing inward as his wheel turns. Behind him, I see other vessels he’s made, awaiting the kiln – where they’ll be tried by fire. I see tall, thin vessels – perhaps beautiful vases; I see shorter, fat bowls – perhaps casserole dishes; I even see one that looks like it could be a bedpan.

(hotpotspottery.com)

In the vast array of his work, I see the plans for his pottery unfold in his mind as he creates each one. When he shapes one like a bedpan, he probably doesn’t get excited about the flowers that wait to fill it. Yet, when he shapes the tall slender vases, he probably doesn’t smile at the aroma of a baking casserole that might enter his senses as he molds the clay for the baking dish. His mind will cause his fingers to shape the clay in just the right way to embrace the untold beauty of the bouquets that will all but cause the vase to vanish from sight completely.

(ingpeaceproject.com)

As I ponder the potter’s trophies, I trust that the Master Potter had a perfect plan for me when He created this vessel. What did He originally plan to pour into me? If I’m having a rough day, no doubt my mind wanders to the bedpan and laughs, “that’s you – right there!” Yeah. I’m still working on that. But, praise God – I’m making progress by leaps and bounds.

Fortunately, His Word tells me exactly what He planned to fill me with, and He pours into me with great abundance. In 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 we read: “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” (KJV)

(discussionsmnhs.org)

His original intent was, and still is, to fill us with His Spirit, the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, which He revealed to us through Jesus Christ. The glory is in that incredible power, not in the construction of the vessel it fills.

I may notice a lovely vase, but once it’s filled with the beauty of a bouquet, the vase almost seems to fade away, by comparison. It’s kind of like the word “is” in the middle of a sentence; who notices it when we’re busy taking in the meaning of the word combinations?

(etsy.com)

I recently heard Dr. Matthew Thomas speak on joy. He just wears it all over his face, there’s no mistaking it there. He used the illustration of pouring water from a large pitcher into a smaller glass. Once he filled it to the rim, he asked if there was room in the glass for anything else. He surmised that, if we are filled with the joy of the Lord, there could be no room for worry or anxiety, doubt or fear, complaining or offenses. His point lodged in my mind.

Psalm 139:14 beautifully points out that I am (we are all) fearfully and wonderfully made. But, an empty vessel just collects dust. Our Potter created us with specific purpose and phenomenal plans in mind.

(lakesidepottery.com)

It’s time for a fresh refilling of His Spirit, a topping off. Remind yourself Who you belong to, Who keeps you and loves you always and forever. No - matter - what! There’s no reason to be half-full or half-empty when He’s willing and wanting to fill us to overflowing!

Where's the Fruit?

(etsy.com)

If you’ve asked Jesus into your heart, He’s there. (So, think about where you take Him every day…….or what you’re saying that breaks His heart, or the actions you take daily that displease Him. I’m glad He’s so forgiving, but, are we taking His grace for granted?)

If He’s alive in us, so is the fruit of His Spirit! By fruit, I mean, the manifestations of His Spirit; the evidence He’s in there.  The New Living Translation says it this way: “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control…” – Galatians 5:22-23

These are the attributes that will manifest in our lives when we allow God’s Spirit to take over.

When we go through trials in life, as Christians, these are the things God is cultivating within us; the things He wants us to see in ourselves. Sometimes these are the very things we deny about ourselves.  “Oh, you think I’m faithful, eh? Well, let me tell you this…….” Or “Me? Good? How can you say that about me?” or “I have so little patience it’s ridiculous!”

(bouncingwithstyle.com)

 To prove to us that He’s alive in there and that we now possess His attributes, the facets of His love, He allows us to go through tests and trials so that we can see for ourselves what He already knows; that He’s really in there, producing all kinds of great fruit in us and through us. We may hate that we have to go through certain things in this life; perhaps if we were so stubborn and tough to convince of His promises, we’d face less trials.

God’s Word tells us, “These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold – though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.” – 1 Peter 1:7 (NLT)

Testing will bring us great joy because Jesus is really alive in us! Hallelujah!

(sermoncentral.com)

Without testing, we don’t believe we can use that fruit in our lives. Just as when David fought Goliath, he went with what he trusted; his own weapon. “So [King] Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he clothed him with a coat of mail. David fastened his sword to his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, “I cannot walk with these for I have not tested them.” So David took them off.” – 1 Samuel 17:38-39 (NKJV)

David, instead, chose to take his sling and some smooth stones into battle with the giant. To me, armor and a sword sounds more like what I’d want, but, David wasn’t convinced they’d do him any good, but rather, might hinder him.

God tests us for our own good; to prove to us that His power is real, and is actually within us!

Look for Him and the fruit of His Spirit as you go through your day. He’s there, and all that He promises will be revealed to us!

 

(theguardian.com)

Open the Ears of Your Heart

(picture from inherchucks.com)

 Have you ever complained that you can’t hear the voice of God?

In a nutshell, God speaks to us from the inside. If you don’t hear from Him, is it because you never invited Him in? If you’re one of God’s own, you’ve heard His voice.

Jesus tells the Pharisees, and each one of us, “The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.” (John 10:3-4 NIV)

The other day someone shared a quote with me about salvation through Christ. I don’t recall where the line originated, but it stuck with me. The idea that we’re all sinners, always falling short of the high standard of God on our own, ruffles some feathers. “I’m a pretty good guy, why would a loving God send me to a place of torment? I’ve never killed anyone, I don’t steal, I’ve never committed adultery. I’d say I’m an alright kinda guy….” This is one person comparing himself to the unrighteous people he perceives around him. God does not compare us to each other. We stand before His Son, Jesus, who was completely without sin, though tempted in every way we are.

With God’s grace freely available to all of us, we’re invited to put on His righteousness in exchange for our own filthy, sinfulness. The wages of sin have already been paid by our Redeemer. Once we recognize this truth, that’s one sure way of knowing we’ve heard His voice.

Oh, that quote? - “It’s not about being good or bad, but about being dead or alive!”

We can’t impart this truth to one another without the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them…..” (John 6:44 NIV) In Acts 1:4-5 Jesus told His disciples, “…Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” He goes on in verse 8 to say, “…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses ….to the ends of the earth.” So, by the gift of the Holy Spirit, from the Father, poured out on believers after Jesus ascended into the heavens, we can share the good news of salvation through grace. Our words and actions can present the gospel, but only by the power of the Holy Spirit do we perceive Truth.

Remember when Jesus asked of Peter, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter declared that Jesus is the Son of the Living God. And how did Jesus respond? Yes, He no doubt grinned from ear to ear when He said to Peter, “Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 16:17 NIV)

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Flesh and blood cannot prove or reveal God’s Truth in any meaningful way without the Holy Spirit. God’s Truth is not a doctrine or a line from the “Good Book” – God’s Truth is a person, the person of Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son.

To be drawn to God is to hear His voice. Listen not with your ears, but with your heart. The ears of our heart hear music. “….Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” – Hebrews 4:7 (NIV)

What have you heard God speak to your heart?

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Am I Listening?

(photo from vividhearing.com.au)

Am I listening? Do I hear God when He speaks to me? Do I hear you when you speak to me? Or do your words flutter past my ears as if you’re speaking a foreign language? More than that, do I miss what your heart is saying despite your words?

‘They say’ we hear what we want to hear. In the Bible, Timothy even mentions this when he refers to our ‘itching ears’.

In 2 Timothy 4:2-4 we read: “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” (KJV)

Bringing this to a personal, relationship level between us and those we love or choose to interact with daily – how much of what they’re saying to us do we miss? Do they perhaps think they’re communicating one thing, while we’re receiving something else completely?

All sorts of internet memes are created to joke about what a woman’s words really mean; that sometimes when she responds ‘fine’ to the question ‘how are you?’ it’s simply a mask for her PMS-self. But, let’s face it, we’ve all responded with that answer, whether we’re male or female; and we haven’t always been honest. We may have thought the person asking the question really didn’t care how we’re doing, but simply using the question as a greeting. We may have wanted to hide how we feel because we didn’t trust the asker. We didn’t think we had time for a conversation, or thought they didn’t. Perhaps we thought the person asking couldn’t handle the truth in our honest response and we’d make them uncomfortable. There are plenty of reasons why we might have withheld the truth. But most of these reasons include ‘we thought’. What if [gasp!] we’re wrong?

Is this why we don’t share the gospel as freely as we believe we should? Is our thinking getting in the way of our sharing? Not that we shouldn’t think, God gave us phenomenal brains for good reason. But, some things come more naturally than others. Like breathing. When we take time to be conscious of our own breathing, beautiful things can happen, like relaxation or even exhilaration. But fortunately, we don’t have to ponder breathing in order to fill our lungs as needed. We just do it.

What if we could share the gospel of Jesus Christ like that?

True; we want to know our audience. But even more profound; we need to LOVE our audience. God already knows them and prepares just the right words for us to speak to their hearts…if we’re listening for them.

At least ten times the scriptures share this message, “Then Jesus said, whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.” –Mark 4:9 (NIV)

Listening and speaking; two awesome tools to share God’s love – are we using either one of them?

Make time to love through communication today, even if you don’t use words.