It Takes the Stinky Stuff

And he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none.  And he said to the vinedresser, 'Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?' And he answered him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure.  Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'" (ESV) Luke 13:6-9

Jesus gives a parable about a fig tree in which an owner had been expecting fruit from it for three years. Exacerbated by the lack of fruit after all this time, he orders the vine to be destroyed. As I read several translations of this passage, I was reminded that it often takes the manure of life to produce real growth in us. As long as we reside in places of familiar comfort to us, we just exist. Producing little for the kingdom. We pray little, confess little, give little, study little, focus little, aim for little. But when trouble hit, it has a way of stirring up our prayer lives, driving us to fasting, compelling us to study, and it realigns our focus on things that truly matter in our lives.
Each of us have been allotted a time here on the earth. And how are we making use of our time? Are we just using up the ground? I don’t want to be guilty of fruitlessness. I don’t want God to grow weary of me just sitting around doing nothing. However, we should be cautious about busyness. Busy schedules are not an adequate measuring stick for fruitfulness.
The vinedresser requested more time in order to do two things.
1. Dig
2. Dung
Digging requires effort and it cuts into something that was hard or solidified and breaks into smaller parts. It separates things. For God to dig us out of those familiar places we’ve settled is uncomfortable. It’s irritating. Dung (manure) stinks. Who wants to endure being broken and being surrounded  by smelling situations?
Don’t be disheartened if you find yourself  encircled by dung during these days. Don’t even become discombobulated by the un-comfortableness of the things being broken down or detached from you. It all has purpose—growth.
Don’t miss the Common English Bible giveaway here.

Joining Word-Filled Wednesday and Winsome Wednesday.

Light of the World

Jesus said to the people, "I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't be stumbling through the darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life."

John 8:12 NLT

Strength for Today

There are days that I feel feel tattered and worn like this old door. But as I stumbled across verse 25 of Deuteronomy 33, I was encouraged and invigorated knowing that God gives me strength equal to the day’s challenges.

Got You Covered

I have never been to Jerusalem but I have seen mountains. They are massive and I pale in comparison to them. Same way with my God. He is bigger than me, can see farther than me, and He sits higher than me. 

I like The Message translation as well

Mountains encircle Jerusalem,
and God encircles his people—
always has and always will.

Happy Word-filled Wednesday!

And thanks so much for your prayers for my sister, she is doing better but still in the hospital.

The Night is Coming

 

We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work. John 9:4 (NLT)

We all know that we will not be here (not on this side of heaven anyway) forever despite the lyrics in Fame. But who knows the number of our days? Whatever the number, we only have a certain window of time to complete the work He has given us.

Are you using the time wisely? Night is coming you know.

Morning Manna

 

Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives. Psalms 90:14 NLT

Happy Word-Filled Wednesday

Enough Said

 

A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered. Psalms 17:27 NLT

The Danger of Knowledge

1 Corinthians 8:1b Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

No one really likes a know it all. Acquiring knowledge is important but we must be watchful of how we use it. How are you using what you know? Does it make you feel superior to others or are you sharing it love?

What to Wear?

Wondering what to wear today? God has something special picked out for you today. Nope, you will not find it hanging in your closet beside your favorite pair of jeans. But it is just as essential as your go to black dress. For a glimpse of God’s favorite attire on you:

Colossians 3:12:  So chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. (The Message)

For more Word-Filled Wednesday Devotions visit Internet Café Devotions.

My Heart’s Answer

My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” Psalm 27:8 (NLT)

Like the rest of the world, there are so many things that require my attention during the course of the day. Needful things. Critical things. Routine things. So much stuff and things that at times, I find myself overwhelmed by it all. And, if I’m not very cautious all of those things will drown out my ability to hear His call and my willingness to answer.

 

Can you hear Him calling you today? Will you answer Him or leave him waiting?

Refuse to Lose Ground

Only let us hold true to what we have already attained and walk and order our lives by that. Philippians 3:16 (AMP)

The past two weeks Philippians 3:16 has been my siesta scripture I have been memorizing. While there are a lot of things I have yet to obtain or comprehend, this passage of scripture reminds me that as I wait on them to materialize, I should not  loose what I have already received. 
Rather than focus on what is missing in your life, take a moment to do an assessment of what is in your possession now. Do you still have a measure of faith? Then hold onto it. And don’t just hold onto it but put it to use.
Hope over to the café to find others dishing up the word for Word-Filled Wednesday.

Broken but Useable

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not us. 2 Corinthians 4:7

 

 

Attempting to carry something of value in a broken container is counterintuitive. Yet it's amazing that God chooses to use broken people like myself to carry the essence of Himself.

 

Be sure to enter the giveaway for your opportunity to win a copy of I Dare You to Change by Pastor Bil Cornelius.

Full of His Glory {WFW}

 

background photo courtesy of photos8.com

May your Christmas be filled with an awareness of the glory of the Lord.

There’s Room Here

 

The Christmas season is a time filled with many things.

Tables spread with decadent treats.

Christmas trees brimming with presents.

Calendars full of activities.

Homes filled with family and friends. 

Radio stations filled with Christmas tunes.

Stores full of shoppers looking for the perfect item.

Lists full of things to do.

With so much activity it can be easy to allow our lives to become so full that we squeeze out the very reason for the season.

 

12 Make sure that when you eat and are satisfied, build pleasant houses and settle in, 13 see your herds and flocks flourish and more and more money come in, watch your standard of living going up and up - 14make sure you don't become so full of yourself and your things that you forget God, your God, the God who delivered you from Egyptian slavery; Deuteronomy 8:12-14 (The Message)

 

May We Never Forget Him!

 

Wanda

 

Eyes on Him

 

        My eyes strain to see your rescue,

              to see the truth of your promise fulfilled.

                                                          Psalms 119:123 (NLT)

 

Despite what things may look like all around you, be determined to keep your eyes upon the Savior. Let looking unto Him be your aim. For those that hope in Him will not be disappointed.

 

 

The Real ID

1 Peter 2:10 Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy. (NLT)

 

Ask the question, who are you, and you are likely to hear a myriad of responses ranging from a person’s family role to their job title.  Yet those pale in comparison to being identified as one of God’s people. I like The Message version of that verse which says, from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.

 

Drop by Internet Café Devotions for more Word-Filled Wednesday.

 

Wishing you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving

 

 

Ever Asked Why?

I say this because I know what I am planning for you, says the Lord. I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future. Jeremiah 29:11 (NCV)

 

Why does He say hold on, when you feel like quitting?

Why does He say let that go?

Why does He say forgive them?

Why does He speak life when all you can see around you is death?

Why does He say have faith in spite of what you see?

 

Because He knows the complete plan He has for our lives. The Message version says, I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out - plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. Can not tell you how many times I started out thinking I knew exactly what to do or what I wanted. Only to end up so far away from “my” plan but I find comfort in knowing that even when I’m lost, God is fully aware of both my current location and my final end.

 

Stop by the Internet Cafe  for others serving up fresh doses of the Word in graphics today. 

Do You Want It or Not?

Do you want to get well? John 5:6b (NIV)

 

Seems like a rather strange question to ask a sick person. Does it not? But it’s easy to find comfort even in a place of sickness and be satisfied to just complain. While most people would readily seek physical wellness, one can easily overlook the “sick” ideologies, attitudes, and heart conditions that govern our lives.  For we all can think of some good reason why we have the right to be in that condition. Just as He did for the lame man at the pool, Jesus offers us  the opportunity to lay aside all the reasons why. And He asks do you want to get well?

 

Sleep But No Rest

So we see that because of their unbelief they were not able to enter his rest. Hebrews 3:19 (NLT)

 

Perhaps it was the night of interrupted sleep due to the neighbor’s barking dog during the wee hours of the night that caused this passage of scripture to stand out as I read it this morning. But last night is not the only night that rest has eluded me. Sleep and rest are not necessarily synonymous. Despite the sheet thread count, type of bed, or even the room the bed is located, true rest can only be found in one place.

 

As I meditated upon the scripture, I was reminded or better yet warned about all the times I find myself anxious and fretting over various things in my life. The true cause of this state of unease is unbelief. No matter what clever sounding statements I tried to cloak it in, the reason came back to unbelief that God would handle this area. I mean I know that He can but can I trust Him to fix  it in a way that’s good and pleasing to me. Sounds rather shallow, huh, but it is true anyway. And, only in acknowledging it could I receive the help that I really need.  I don’t want to be self-deceived and I want to truly trust Him so that I might receive not just sleep but true rest.

 

Slipping Away

Headed out the door and down the steps, I found myself drifting downward towards an  unexpected and unwanted dirt kiss, if I wasn’t able to do something fast. Too late to completely stop the nose dive, I reached for the car in an effort to brace myself for the fall.  Luckily my whole body didn’t hit the concrete only one knee was scratched. Having gone down those steps many times, how did I manage to slip that day? In my haste, I missed the bottom step. The step hadn’t changed locations, it was I who failed to properly maneuver it.

 

Is that not how life can be at times? We’re residing in the same location yet something seems to have changed or slipped away. At least that is how I find my life at times. Living in the same house, working the same job, attending the same church, a member of the same family and participating in the same activities but things that I maneuvered so well in the past now feel as if I’ve misstep. Have you ever felt yourself slipping away?  There are days that my passion ebbs away. Other times I notice I’ve slipped into complacency, complaining, discontentment,  or depression. But, why? In most case it’s because I have allowed my focus to slide away from the one who is my ultimate support.  He has not moved and  it’s comforting to know that all I have to do is call out to Him. I can share my true feelings with Him; there’s no need to conceal my inner most thoughts.

 

Psalms 94:18-19 (NLT)  I cried out, “I am slipping!” but your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me. When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.