Praise the Lord!!! My heart is full of thankfulness and Praises! God is Love. “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.” Psalm 136:1 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.136.1.ESV
I delight in God’s ways for my life. I desire His heart desire that no one would be lost but all people would fully know God’s love for them and receive the gift of salvation through God’s one and only Son Jesus!
I remember the day my husband and I felt stuck in 2004 after my fourth child was born! On our knees we prayed asking God to teach us His ways, so we can teach our children! “Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.” Psalm 86:11-13 ESV
We did not know how to do this on our own. We knew we loved Jesus and listened to Scripture filled music but knew it wasn’t enough! We wanted to follow God’s ways but we were surrounded with the wrong ways and examples. I’m so thankful with all my heart for God’s Love, Mercy, Grace, and His Faithfulness! As I read Scripture today, Jeremiah 29:13 NIV, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” I remember singing praises everyday listening to scripture in songs and hymns and praying. As I continue to read the Bible, I didn’t realize at the time when I was younger I was meditating on God’s words day and night and even my children did too! I hungered and thirst for more of God daily as His word filled my heart and mind because they were in each song. “O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.” Psalm 63:1-4 ESV
Soon our prayers led us to our church family today! I’m thankful for our sisters and brothers in Christ and how all of us are rooted and established in God’s love grow together, where God Spiritually knitting all of us together all over the world in Unity giving God endless Praise forever! Amen!
I will soon start again writing my journey. So many of my friends have said I need to write. I’ve stopped for awhile but God has placed it on my heart to start. I pray God guide me in the process. God Bless all of you! ❤️
“Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Preserve my life, for I am godly; save your servant, who trusts in you—you are my God. Be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all the day. Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you. Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace. In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me. There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours. All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God. Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. O God, insolent men have risen up against me; a band of ruthless men seeks my life, and they do not set you before them. But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant, and save the son of your maidservant. Show me a sign of your favor, that those who hate me may see and be put to shame because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.” Psalm 86:1-17 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.86.1-17.ESV“O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. But those who seek to destroy my life shall go down into the depths of the earth; they shall be given over to the power of the sword; they shall be a portion for jackals. But the king shall rejoice in God; all who swear by him shall exult, for the mouths of liars will be stopped.” Psalm 63:1-11 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.63.1-11.ESV
One of the Song I listened too around 2004. Desert Rose
Lost in a windswept land In the world of shifting sand A fragile flower stands apart There in that barren ground Feel like the only one Tryin’ to serve You with all your heart
And you wonder, wonder Can ya last much longer? This cloud you are under Will it cover you?
Desert Rose (Desert Rose) Dontcha worry, don’t be lonely Heaven knows, Heaven knows In a dry and weary land a flower grows His Desert Rose His Desert Rose
Sometimes holiness can seem like emptiness When ya feel the whole world’s laughin’ eyes If it’s a lonely day, know your on the Father’s wave He will hear you when ya cry
And He will hold you, hold you Your Father will hold you He will love you, love you For the things ya do
Desert Rose (Desert Rose) Dontcha worry, don’t be lonely Heaven knows, Heaven knows In a dry and weary land a flower grows His Desert Rose His Desert Rose His Desert Rose
Dontcha worry, don’t be lonely Heaven knows, Heaven knows In a dry and weary land a flower grows His Desert Rose His Desert Rose
Don’t be lonely, don’t be lonely (Desert Rose) Dontcha worry (Desert Rose) Dontcha know He’ll be with you? (Heaven knows, Heaven knows) He will hold your fragile heart O Desert Rose
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” 1 Corinthians 9:24 NIVB Experiencing God is living your life (race) step by step, hand in hand with Jesus! Just like a physical race, you feel every up hill, down hill, desert flats through scorching valleys! It’s talking through the burning feeling you feel with every breath you breathe in the scorching temperatures to the burning feeling in your legs and arms! It’s even when every limb in your body is so frozen that you struggle to keep them moving. It’s the feeling when you are passed up and all alone! It’s struggling when you are overlooked left behind in the dust! There will be times you feel so exhausted like your legs and arms are like jelly! My daughter once said, “my arms are like noodles!” In my spiritual race, I don’t want to miss out on experiencing what God can do through each moment good, hard, or bad and experience what He has for me while running my race home to Him. Each day I look forward to not only seeing but experiencing what God will do as He develop perseverance – strength that only God himself builds in us as He spiritually knits us all together in Unity in Him building us all up for His Glory! “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For, “In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.”” Hebrews 10:36-37 NIV His ways are higher then my ways and so are His thoughts are higher then ours! I want to experience God with every step through all circumstances and trials while in relationship in the Body of Christ!
So let us all follow the Spirit of God by living our lives humbly under God’s mighty hands surrounded in His wonderful light! There is no better place to be! Let us all pray continually together in Unity by focusing on what we have in common while choosing to follow Jesus who is the Author and perfecter of our faith! All of us continually giving God glorious praise for His Kingdom come and His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven! Let us follow Jesus marvelous and wonderful ways by how we live our lives completely humble, and completely surrendered to God’s ways and not the ways of the world! This is so those who are of the world and don’t understand or know God’s love will be drawn into God’s unconditional love for them by how our actions in the body of Christ match what we do. This kind of love that God has for everyone surpasses all human understanding because the world doesn’t love in the same way. Especially when we all come from different places in life yet we have the love of the Father flowing in us and through us as we are led by the Spirit of God! I pray for all of us to have our Fathers heart! Let us slow down to hear His small still voice and be patient while putting up with each other! God promises to finish the good work in me and all of you until the day of Christ Jesus. Can you see it? The finish line the 12 gates with a pearl on each gate and streets made of gold so pure you can see through it. With Jesus arms open wide! Amen!
“But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of Lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.” 1 Timothy 6:11-16 NIV https://bible.com/bible/111/1ti.6.11-16.NIV
“Ands let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV https://bible.com/bible/111/heb.10.24-25.NIV“The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass. I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” Revelation 21:21-27 NIV https://bible.com/bible/111/rev.21.21-27.NIV“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV https://bible.com/bible/111/heb.12.1-3.NIV
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” 1 Corinthians 9:24 NIVB.
“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For, “In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.”” Hebrews 10:36-37 NIV https://bible.com/bible/111/heb.10.36-37.NIV
It amazes me how God works! We get to see the short cuts the Israelites could of went through as we read the Bible, to get to the promises land! However, God knows what it would take to work out the old patterns in their lives as they learn to depend and trust Him with all their hearts! What the younger generation experienced must have been amazing with their parents while spending 40 years in the desert and extremely hard! They experienced God’s power and Glory as they journeyed to the promise land! He knew what it would take to grow the new generation up for Him as he met the old generation where they are and made sure they were completely taken care of! The flesh can be hard to please as the intense, hot and dry land must have been hard! They learned hands on lessons that they can trust God and depend on Him! He never left them! “By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to given them light…Exodus 13:17-22NIV, “When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea.The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle. Moses took the bones of Josephwith him because Joseph had made the Israelites swear an oath. He had said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place.” After leaving Sukkoth they camped at Etham on the edge of the desert. By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.”
God loves us so much, he doesn’t leave us or forsake us! God does and continues to do the impossible! As we try to escape the blistering sun, the cloud by day makes more sense! God protected them by giving them shade from the fierceness of the desert sun! It also, get so dark and cold at night and He led them with His guiding light as they kept warm! He surrounded them with His presence and great and wonderful love! Today, we don’t have the cloud or fire! The good News is we have the Good News “Jesus” who is the light of the world! His living Words through the Holy Spirit gives us guidance to our day. He is with us and He will never leave us, He gives wisdom, He gives us direction, so we never have to fear being left on our own to figure things out. He goes ahead of us, he walks with us, and He guards our ways! His Word is truth and life, it shows us the way to walk in this dark world. We are called to be the light of the world!
We all need to keep hydrated and need water to drink, especially in the extreme heat! I love how God teaches us through scripture how as our physical bodies need water, we need spiritual water where we will never thirst! What do we do, when we thirst in the hot and dry desert heat? What do we crave in the waiting for a rain that drenched us to the bone? Romana 12:2 NIV, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is his good, pleasing and perfect will.” What you chose to do in the waiting matters! Where we spend our time matters! We are not suppose to be just hears of God’s word but doers as well! James 1:22 NIV, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” God says don’t conform to the patterns of this world! What does this mean? When we break this down, you will see that what the world says is the opposite of what God says! God says, seek first the kingdom of God and His righteous! When we seek God first, we are choosing to meditate on God’s words day and night as we live out what He says! We are filling ourselves up with His living words from the Bible while thinking and talking about them day and night! The world says empty your mind but God says fill it up with Him! But what we fill ourselves up in the waiting, matters and it must come from God! We need to guard our mind which flow into our hearts because out of the heart the mouth speaks! Philippians 4:8 NIV, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Not only do we fill ourselves with God’s living words while meditating day and night, we need to put them into practice in every part of our lives! Especially through the storms and trials in our lives! When you stand firm by being planted by streams of living water! You will be blessed because of God’s living words flowing into your life which gives you life forever in Jesus! Psalm 1:1-3 NIV, “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.” These dry and thirsty times are a reminder about who we hold onto while God walks with us as He molds us to be more and more like Him! We hold onto Jesus who is the author and perfectly of our faith! Who gives us living water where we will never thirst! In these thirsty days where the land even longs for a drop of rain! When the sand is so dense, the dust makes it hard to breathe or even see what’s going on around us! We need to remember, stay in God’s word and in relationship with our sisters and brothers in Christ! In Psalm 77, “I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me. When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands, and I would not be comforted. I remembered you, God, and I groaned; I meditated, and my spirit grew faint.You kept my eyes from closing; I was too troubled to speak. I thought about the former days, the years of long ago; I remembered my songs in the night. My heart meditated and my spirit asked: “Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again? Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time? Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion? Then I thought, “To this I will appeal: the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand. I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.” Your ways, God, are holy. What god is as great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. With your mighty arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. The waters saw you, God, the waters saw you and writhed; the very depths were convulsed. The clouds poured down water, the heavens resounded with thunder; your arrows flashed back and forth. Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind, your lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked. Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters though your footprints were not seen.You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
When the storms in life are raging and they come in So many different ways and you’re going through trials, remember, stand firm on the solid foundation of Jesus who is the vine” John 15:5 NIV, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” Trust God, who cares deeply for you! His thoughts for you are as numerous as the sand in all the world and nothing can ever separate you from the love of God! Even if the dust in the air makes it hard to stay focused, fix your eyes on Jesus who makes a way when there seems to be no way! When you meditate on God’s living words that give life, day and night, you will be blessed! You will be rooted in Jesus and will able to stand strong in Jesus, You will know what the world offers is temporary and won’t last like a sudden mist that comes out of no where! If might feel awesome but don’t be lead away from what your suppose to do! The mist really is temporary because it evaporates in an instant. 1 Peter 5:6-9 NIV, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”
Through the dust storms, we need to stay connected to the vine (Jesus)! As we fix our eyes on Him by staying focused on the kingdom mindset! We will have peace and joy that can never be taken from you! Even during storms in your life! The sand of the world will become an overflow in our lives as it shifts and moves! But you will not be moved! The sand washes things away! If your not on guard by taking the full armor of God, you will be swallow up by every distraction or care of the world! It’s like waves in the ocean! But remember, Hebrews 13:7-8 NIV, “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Even when it gets hard, don’t give up on doing good! Galatians 6:7-10 NIV, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Living out God’s love by living in His truth throughout our daily lives, will lead others to want to know God’s love too and we will be reminding each other not to give up! As we fix our eyes on Jesus and seek Him first in all we do, you do you will find Him, when you seek Him with all your heart! Jeremiah 29:11-14 NIV, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”
We can’t depend on our own strength because nothing good comes from it! Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. It’s in our weakness that we bring God glory! 2 Corinthians 12:9-11 NIV, “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” We must abide in Jesus who is the vine and God is the gardener! We will never thirst as our bodies do, because we are filled completely up with Him! We must cling to truth( Jesus)! Our bodies may struggles but we grow stronger as we grow spiritual fruit that bring God continual Glory! As I fall, I will stand, as I trip, I will remain! Everything we go through in life is an opportunity to grow more to know God’s love as we glorify Him!
Revelation 22:16-17 NIV, “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.
Stepping out by taking action to your faith in what God has for you, will change your life! 1 Peter 2:21, “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.” When you choose to follow in Jesus’ foot steps by allowing God’s word to flood into your life, it will expose lies from the world and reveal truth from the Spirit that you couldn’t see on your own! Instead of depending on what the world has for you, which is seen and temporary, you will lean/hold onto/depend on by focusing on what is eternal “unseen” instead of what is temporary! 2 Corinthians 4:17-18, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
1 Peter 2:9-10,”But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” We need to not only live this out in our own life but how we see and react to each other! We need to view people through God’s eyes! He loves All people and gave His life once and for All because He wants no one to perish! So, how we love God, is how we love each other! We need to see through only how God views love and not the ways of the world! Not on our own human standards or when it’s convenient to your lifestyle or expectations! But at all times! This is hard because most people truly desire to love everyone! It is a battle and this is why we need Jesus! I know most people know 1 Corinthians 13 about what Love is! However, when you really break down each part, and meditate on it! love is patient? Love is kind? It does not envy? it does not boast? it is not proud? It does not dishonor others? it is not self-seeking? it is not easily angered? it keeps no record of wrongs? Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth? Does it always protects? always trusts? always hopes? always perseveres? Love never fails and without love you are nothing Because it’s not that you love God but that he loved you first! 1 John:4:10,”This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” So, if you break down love! I think about what Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Also, what 1 Timothy 4:12, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” We need to follow Jesus’ footsteps, so we can live without conforming or joining in the patterns of this world! This world has so many things pulling us to the left and to the right and then your minds are full! Proverbs 4:25-27, “Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.” It really does matter what we listen to, yes the beat is awesome, but the words are far from God or against him! Also, be on guard to what you watch on your phone, YouTube, movies ect.! God says to guard your heart above all else because everything flows from it! We need every word God breathes to literally filter everything we see or hear, to lead us to know exactly what is good! It’s a battle that we can’t win on our own! Philippians 4:8,”Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” So, our influences affect our thoughts, attitudes, moods, and reactions to each other! We need to be on guard because the mind and heart go hand in hand! It’s literally not when you feel like it, we need to love at All times! If we love God, we will love other people (All) as we love ourselves! We need to love ourselves by taking care of ourselves by what we allow in our lives!
Romans 15:5,”May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had.” God exposed lies with his radiant light! The Holy Spirit lives in you and will lead you in Truth! The twisted weeds that once tangled up inside you were rooted deep and took you to the ground! These held you down by embedded rock, strongholds. These strongholds made you feel weighted and held down like there was no hope! You pull each weed one by one all on your own, and everything just gets worse! Until the day you chose to believe in Jesus and accept his free gift for you that he paid for with his precious blood! You took action by taking a step out in faith because you believe in Jesus who died and rose again, trusting God who sent His one and only son because He loves you, who is not seen but everywhere all at once! You saturate your heart and mind with every word of God, your heart soaks in every living word, as it filters out the poison that once filled your veins! As the ground of your heart softens to receive this free gift that you could never earn on your own! Soon you will grow good seed that will sprout up and take root in your heart! The rooted weeds that fed you poison had lost its grip on you! The lie that was fed to you that God only helps those who help themselves have been exposed! You are are now rooted in God, His child! Colossians 2:6-7, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” People who fed you lies saw love through what Jesus is doing inside you, as they reach up for the light too! The fear of failure that once snuck into your mind has been replaced with confidence from God! Failure is only when you give up!
Ephesians 4:1-6 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
1 Corinthians 13:4-9 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered,it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies,they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.Revelation 22:13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
John 12:32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that All should reach repentance.
John 15:1-8 I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory,that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
Part 1
The quarantine reminded me of a time our family moved to another state, I knew absolutely no one! It was hard for us! We desperately wanted to be a part of a church family again because we left ours behind! The only way we could go to church,as a family, was to watch church online! So many awesome sermons feed our family during this delicate transition in our life! Today, online services have blessed so many people!
We have a little garden in the window that showed us something new to think about. The plants in the window revealed what could happen if you’re stuck inside to long. My children continue to learn new things every year with me as we explore and watch each plant grow! It’s amazing how new things come to light each time we read God’s word! We grew tomatoes, basil and sometimes potatoes. This year we started with about forty tomatoes and only about ten made it! We’ve done so many learning projects as we discover new ways to grow food. In one of our observations, we noticed that something does happen to the plants when you keep them too long in their pot with lowlights in the window! They never grew to their full potential! Yes, you can get artificial lights and bigger pots, but as we dig in God’s word we learned you can’t grow and experience God fully unless you step out and establish relationships with your sisters and brothers in Christ. It’s God’s plan for us and it’s his design from the beginning!
We learn more of what Jesus taught in John 15! As we dig deeper in this story, it comes to light as we experience God’s word together in the garden! By talking about what we read and what we learned! We learn even more when we share our experience with our sisters and brothers! God is the gardener in our life and takes special care of each of us! Jesus is the vine! We need to stay connected to the vine and be rooted in God’s love through faith in Jesus! When we see and experience God’s goodness, like a plant desperately reaching for the sun! It looks like what God says, if you seek me you will find me, when you seek me with all your heart! Once we are rooted in God’s love for us, like healthy soil rich in nutrients for a plant, we are established as we grow deeper stronger roots in God’s love! It’s through faith in Jesus that we are established! So when storms come, we will not be moved! We can rest in Him as he works in us and around us!
During the process of transitioning out of quarantine, We have an opportunity to pray for each other like Paul did in Ephesians1 and 3! He prayed for All believers throughout all generations! That includes us! This is so powerful and deeply needed in the body of Christ! We need prayer and like Paul prayed for all believers to be strengthened through the power of the Holy Spirit! We need to pray for each other as we gradually step out of quarantine! Also, we need to pray for enlightenment in Ephesians 1:18-20, “8 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms” Like the plants in the window, we have been waiting as each stepping stone is presented to us! Keep praying! 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” As we pray continually through this, be patient with each other! Some people are jumping back in with both feet, while others are testing the water with their toes! Each step is a process, so we need to be sensitive to each other’s feelings and insecurities because a lot of fear swept over the news and social media! We need to remember in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” We need to make it personal to what is going on in our lives and our sisters and brothers! We need to remember the same power that raised Christ From the dead lives in you too!
Ephesians 3:16-21,”I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen!”
The most perfect gift we could give to someone is praying for them! We desperately need to be rooted and established in love, so we can experience God’s fullness that cannot be measured! As my son mesures each room of our house for new flooring, there is a stopping point with an exact measurement! With God, there is no limit, it goes on and on! His deep love for us has no limit! When we walk close with Jesus in our life, we grow closer to each other too! When I was reading this to my children! I asked them to hold out their right hand in front of them, that represents Jesus. Next, I asked them to hold out their left hand, that represents them. Finally, I asked them to clasp their hands together! I asked them, what does this look like to you? They answered, praying! As we spend time in prayer listening and reading God’s word, we grow closer in relationship with him! Colossians 3:1-4, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” They used their right hand for Jesus because he is seated at the right hand of God. We live our new life in Jesus, because he loves us and is our friend! John 15:14-15, “You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” Alway keep our hearts and mind on things above, then you will overflow with the fruit of the spirit! The Holy Spirit produces fruit and changes our heart as we are led by the spirit! Galatians 5:22-23, But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness and self control!” Through the power of the Holy Spirit that flows within us will strengthen our inner being! We will experience His deep love for us as we dig into his living word! The deeper we dig the more we discover as our lives reflect what God reveals in the Bible! Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. “ When you are alive in Christ, God’s plan unfolds inside your heart and mind as you step out in faith! When you step away from your old way of doing things by moving away from the window, and step into the light, you will see things differently! You will be rooted and established in God’s love! The power that comes from the Holy Spirit will strengthen you as you come together with your sisters and brothers!
The garden window is in need of constant care because it’s inner well being is weak! Our inner being can grow weak like the plants in the window if we’re not careful. 1 Thessalonians 5:13-14, “And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.” We need to support each other by being the salt and light during this difficult process. Just like we noticed each vegetable plant needed something extra to keep them growing, because it’s roots were in smaller pots in shallow dirt, and they couldn’t grow any deeper! They were idle and not going anywhere! They were weak because they didn’t have enough sun! They adjusted to the shallow pot and growing weaker instead of stronger! No matter what, they were not able to grow deeper roots in the ground or reaching higher up to the sun! We fed them plants food, and they started to grow taller and green! Then beautiful yellow flowers grew on each branch but right when I thought fruit would grow, the flowers wither and die! They didn’t produce any fruit in the window. They didn’t have enough inner strength to keep going all by themselves. They didn’t have a relationship growing with other plants experiencing life in the sun where honey bees Swarm! Their life was drained! We need each other to pray, encourage and support each other, so no one is left stuck or idle. If we wait for perfection to start, it might not ever happen. Ecclesiastes 11:4-6, “Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap. As you do not know the path of the wind or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things. Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well.” Also, we don’t want to get comfortable with the convenience by depending on online! It will be like getting a bigger pot for your plant! The soil is full of everything that is temporary and the nutrients will run out! It’s tempting to turn on the phone or Tv to watch church, however we need real relationships with each other! If we just sit and do nothing, we can’t grow. If we wait for perfect timing or for the conditions to be just right, we will never do anything at all!
Slowly, we acclimate each plant outdoors where they grew deeper roots strong enough to hold themselves up! It was rough at first because the plants might look worse than before. Yesterday, We put our tomatoes outside to harden them for the garden, and we accidentally left them out all night! The weather hit them hard and they lost most of their green color and were limp! We quickly brought them indoors and hoped they would slowly come back. When we transitioned our plants carefully outside, we usually add support as they develop strong branches to support fruit. We need to do the same each other as we take each step out of quarantine, we have masks, six feet apart, take temperatures, wear gloves and follow all the protocols to ensure everyone is safe! 1 Thessalonians 5:11, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” For us to experience God’s overflow that can’t be measured, we need to be rooted and established in love as we walk in relationship with Jesus! Talking out our struggle and praying for each otheralong the way! Ephesians 3:18, “may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,” we need to take hold of all God gives us through relationships! We will experience how wide and how long and high and deep through sisters and brothers in the body of Christ! It is more than we can imagine. Just like how we Gradually take each plant outside, and with love and patience, you will begin to see the beauty from within and grow beautiful yellow flowers again that will produce a harvest!
Ephesians 3:16-21, I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen!”1 Thessalonians 5:13-14, “And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.”Ephesians 3:18, “may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,Ecclesiastes 11:4-6, “Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap. As you do not know the path of the wind or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things. Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well.”Colossians 3:1-4, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”John 15:9-17 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.
Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Galatians 5:22-23, But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness and self control!”
