Category: Growing

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Spring Is Almost Here!

Last fall I purchased three mums at the home store. They bloomed nicely until we got our first cold snap and their growth was thwarted. Yesterday I noticed that the tops were spindly and dry. They need to be pruned, that will be one of today’s little chores.

That old dry growth needs to be trimmed away so the new leaves will thrive and the buds and blooms will return.

Much of the country is still experiencing cold and formidable weather. Crops are dormant, no evidence of growth. But don’t be fooled, the plants aren’t dead – they are resting. Some stock like grape vines and berry bushes are just waiting for the earth to warm and the sap begin to flow and new growth to appear. The tulip, crocus, daffodils and hyacinth are doing the same – waiting for the cold, frozen ground to give way to sunshine and they will blossom and color the landscape.

The vineyard stock has been cut back, pruned well so that the new fruit will be plentiful and rich.

“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. 5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:1-5 NLT

Does it seem you have been through winter? Things have gone dormant and life hasn’t been as productive and full of growth as you had hoped? Take heart – spring is on the way.

We go through these seasons of pruning so that those things that are detrimental can be pruned and we can grow stronger. There are emotions that are unhealthy and ambitions that can sap our strength. The time of pruning isn’t meant for our destruction, quite the opposite. It is meant for our growth.

“And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:6-7 NLT

When we are rooted in Christ we have the strength to weather the storms of winter and produce a new crop of peace, joy, kindness, gentleness, mercy, love and grace. The world needs the fruit that God has placed within us. They need to experience the harvest of His character that we embody.

“Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. ” John 15:5b NLT

Get ready – it’s almost Spring and time for your fruit to grow!

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Bumper Crop

I hope you will bear with me as we continue with the teaching on good soil. You see that’s something that Dave and I know a lot about.

In the early 1980’s we farmed 900+ acres of alfalfa on the Gila River west of Phoenix. The ranch had perfect conditions for growing a bumper crop. Rich river loam soil, plenty of water and the warm AZ sunshine. That plus hard work, long hours all covered with prayer produced a crop that was hard to believe.

That’s when I learned first-hand the practicality of the principle Jesus was teaching His disciples on planting God’s word in good soil.

God’s word is called an incorruptible seed, our hearts are the soil and Jesus provides the “Son-shine” and rivers of living water to make the seed grow.

“And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.” Luke 8:15 NLT

“You have been given a new birth. It was from a seed that cannot die. This new life is from the Word of God which lives forever.” I Peter 1:23 NLV

“The Holy Writings say that rivers of living water will flow from the heart of the one who puts his trust in Me.” John 7:38 NLV

Jesus worked continually to bring seed to the hearts of the people who followed Him. He would teach for hours and days to see that the seed of the Good News of the Gospel was planted in soil (hearts) that had been prepared to receive.

He encountered hard, stony and even thorny ground among his closest disciples but the longer he tended the soil of their hearts the more productive it became. The harvest in the life of the disciples was so productive that the seed sown is being used to produce a crop of faith in our lives.

Let’s look at what happened after Jesus preached this message. Luke 8:22-25 the thorny hearts of the disciples thought they were going to drown at sea. Luke 8:26-38 the good soil of the demoniac received his deliverance, but the hard heart of the pig farmers told Jesus to leave their area.

Luke 8:40-56 the seed of hope and healing was sown into the hearts of a woman who had a bleeding condition for 12 years and also in a father whose daughter was so sick she died. Both hearts reaped a harvest of healing and restoration.

Luke 9:1-6 the disciples’ hearts received the seed of God’s power and they went to the neighboring towns and cities preaching and healing.

Luke 9:10-17 Jesus was sowing seed in the lives of 5000 men and their families. Their hearts were prepared however, the hearts of the disciples were thorny and they let the size of the crowd steal the word, the seed, that Jesus gave them. But there was one boy whose heart was open and he shared his lunch with Jesus. Jesus prayed, the disciples served and a miraculous harvest took place.

Jesus was, and still is, the sower who sows the seeds of faith into the fields of our hearts. As we prepared our hearts, His seed will produce a bumper crop!

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Preparing the Soil

I have always enjoyed gardening and for the first time in a large number of years I live where I don’t have a garden plot.

For many of you, thinking of gardening is still several months away. I know when we lived in Montana I was advised to not put any plants outdoors until after Memorial Day. In Idaho it was a little sooner than that but not much, end of April. You see the ground was snow covered until then. But here in southern Arizona I started preparing the soil in February, however, this morning it was 33* when I got up.

There are so many stories in the Bible, parables they’re called, that teach us about our life in Christ through farming.

This morning I saw a correlation that I never noticed before and I have taught on the verses in Luke 8 many times. I love how God’s word is living, growing, always able to show us something new.

“After this Jesus went to all the cities and towns preaching and telling the Good News about the holy nation of God. The twelve followers were with Him…Many people came together from every town to Jesus. He told them a picture-story. 5 “A man went out to plant seed…”Luke 8:1-5 NLV

A man went out to plant some seed – that man was Jesus. You notice the first verse, “Jesus went to all the cities and towns preaching the Good News”?

Sharing the Good News of God’s kingdom is what Jesus did. He was the man sowing the seed. He was the one preparing the ground of men’s hearts. Some of the ground was hard as concrete, some was rocky, some was filled with thorns and some ground was prepared and ready to plant.

Now I know most of you are familiar with this parable but I’m going to take the next few days to show you examples of what Jesus taught, examples that occurred in the life of his followers just hours and days after He preached this message.

I would like you to take time today to read at least the first fifteen verses of Luke 8. When you do pray and ask the Lord to open your heart to the meaning of the message of the parable. For the next few days we will be looking at different soil and how it affects our growth.

I had to learn how to adapt the soil in each of the areas where we lived so that I would get a good harvest. Gardening takes work. If the soil isn’t prepared properly crops won’t grow, there will be no harvest.

“I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.’” Hosea 10:12 NLT

Being a fruitful Christian also requires good ground. Each year I ask the Lord to show me what obstacles might thwart my growth. It’s time to prepare the soil!

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My Heart’s Cry!

As dawn is breaking this morning, I’ve been listening to the elk bugle in the meadow below the campground.

First it started with just one bull calling for a mate and now more voices have joined the chorus. As I sit here, hearing them call I am aware that my heart is also crying out. These are a few words from my morning journaling:

“As the elk cry for their mate, I think of my own heart’s cry – to know You more, spending more time aware of Your presence & Your love!”

“Hear my cry, O God. Listen to my prayer. 2 I call to You from the end of the earth when my heart is weak. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 3 For You have been a safe place for me, a tower of strength where I am safe from those who fight against me. 4 Let me live in Your tent forever. Let me be safe under the covering of Your wings.” Psalm 61:1-4 NLV

King David wrote so many times of his heart’s cry. He desired to always be aware of the Father’s presence – of His protection and love.

“ For sure, You will give me goodness and loving-kindness all the days of my life. Then I will live with You in Your house forever.” Psalm 23:6 NLV

“For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.” Psalm 84:10 NLV

The writer of Hebrews expressed the same desire and he wanted us to know that access to the Father was always available to us.

“ Let us go with complete trust to the throne of God. We will receive His loving-kindness and have His loving-favor to help us whenever we need it.” Hebrews 4:16 NLV

I used to forget that I had an open door to the Father’s presence. I would struggle, get frustrated and sometimes be overwhelmed with worry but now, with years of the Father’s faithfulness and loving-kindness, I am quick to come into His presence. It is here I find help and peace.

The Apostle Paul wrote: “I pray that Christ may live in your hearts by faith. I pray that you will be filled with love. 18 I pray that you will be able to understand how wide and how long and how high and how deep His love is. 19 I pray that you will know the love of Christ. His love goes beyond anything we can understand. I pray that you will be filled with God Himself.” Ephesians 3:17-19 NLV

I pray that for us also. I pray that we will be filled with the knowledge (experiential knowledge) of Christ’s love. That we grow deeper in our understanding of the depth of His love and that we are filled with the fullness of God.

When my heart cries out, I will run to the Father’s presence. He is all I need!

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Hungry?

The last few days photos of our youngest grandson have been showing up on my memory pages. He just celebrated his 7th birthday and it’s been fun to look back at his first few weeks of life.

I love babies!!

They are so pure and so hungry. They eat all the time and make no apology for it. They have a God-given instinct to know that they must eat, and they let the world know it. Their feedings take priority.

“Be like newborn babies who are thirsty for the pure spiritual milk that will help you grow and be saved. 3 You have already found out how good the Lord really is.” I Peter 2:2-3 CEV

Yes, we need to be like babies – sincere, innocent, with an overwhelming desire to grow – to drink spiritual milk (the Word) and learn of the Lord’s goodness.

As we feast on milk we grow and come to a point where we are mature enough to enjoy solid food, as the writer of Hebrews put it. Growing is natural, it’s good, it is proof that we are healthy and strong.

“People who live on milk are like babies who don’t really know what is right. 14 Solid food is for mature people who have been trained to know right from wrong.” Hebrews 5:13-14 CEV

Sometimes babies, and adults, just need a drink of water and not milk. It keeps us hydrated and all our organs functioning well.

We also need to come for the living water that only Christ can give.

“Jesus answered, ‘You don’t know what God can give you. And you don’t know who I am, the one who asked you for a drink. If you knew, you would have asked me, and I would have given you living water.’

11 The woman said, ‘Sir, where will you get that living water?…

13 Jesus answered, ‘Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again. 14 But anyone who drinks the water I give will never be thirsty again. The water I give people will be like a spring flowing inside them. It will bring them eternal life.’

15 The woman said to Jesus, ‘Sir, give me this water. Then I will never be thirsty again and won’t have to come back here to get more water.’” John 4:10-15 ERV

Water and milk are both a necessity of life. When babies need to eat, they cry out. They really have no other way to signal that they are hungry.

When was the last time we cried because we were hungry for the sincere milk of God’s word or the living water that only He can give? Jesus made us all a promise.

“Jesus said to them, “I am the Bread of Life. He who comes to Me will never be hungry. He who puts his trust in Me will never be thirsty. 36 I said to you that you have seen Me and yet you do not put your trust in Me. 37 All whom My Father has given to Me will come to Me. I will never turn away anyone who comes to Me.” John 6:35-37 NLV

When we come to Him, hungry and thirsty for the life He gives, He will never turn us away!

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Family Portrait

Yesterday morning I was saddened to hear of a recent study on the decline of Christianity in the United States.

The survey stated that “people are giving up on Christianity”.

I can see how many are giving up on religion, man-made doctrines and legalistic rules, but how can people give up on Christianity? A Christian is one who is a follower of Christ. How can someone who has followed Christ and known the unconditional love of the Almighty God, our heavenly Father, and His grace, mercy and unfailing forgiveness give up on what they’ve experienced?

Was their experience purely an intellectual one and not a matter of the heart? Have we who are Christ’s followers not truly shown what it means to be in relationship with the Father?

“Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.” Ephesians 5:1 NLT

If our world is to see the depth of God’s love, His character, we are the ones who need to be showing it to them. As His children, we need to be expressing our love for our good Father.

“You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. 2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. 3 They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. 4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. 5 They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!” II Timothy 3:1-5 NLT

“They will reject the power that could make them godly”. This is how the decline is evolving.

Don’t give up what you have learned and what you know to be true of God’s faithfulness and love.

This morning’s picture is one of my family that was taken for the local paper when I was about 2 1/2 years old. There was an article that accompanied it on families that based their lifestyles in faith and on Biblical principles. Today my mother and father are in heaven and my sister and brother live according to the faith in God that we were taught as children.

“ But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. 15 You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” II Timothy 3:14-17 NLT

May I encourage each of us to continue to live according to the Scripture. It is the Father’s word preparing us for every good work.

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A List of Rules

When folks come into the campground there are a few rules we ask them to follow. Don’t leave a campfire burning when you leave camp; quiet time starts at 10 pm, keep your dogs on leash, and don’t park off the asphalt. Basics for a pleasant camping trip.

We all grew up with rules. School had one set of rules governing our behavior, at home there was another set and so it was with church.

When I grew up we had all sorts of rules that we needed to live by; no dancing, my grandmother made sure we didn’t say gosh darn it because that was swearing. My freshman year in college we had to sign a statement that we wouldn’t attend movies. Mom told me that she couldn’t use scissors on Sunday when she was a young girl.

There is always some well-meaning person who wants to make rules and regulations for us to live by.

There are some rules that were supposed to make us more holy. Holiness is never about what we do; it’s about our relationship with Christ who lives within us. The things we do or don’t do should be done as a way of showing our love for Christ, not as a way of earning His love.

“So don’t let anyone make rules for you about eating and drinking or about Jewish customs (festivals, New Moon celebrations, or Sabbath days)…Don’t listen to them when they say you are wrong because you don’t do these things. It is so foolish for them to feel such pride, because it is all based on their own human ideas. 19 They don’t keep themselves under the control of the head. Christ is the head, and the whole body depends on him. Because of Christ all the parts of the body care for each other and help each other. So the body is made stronger and held together as God causes it to grow.

20 You died with Christ and were made free from the powers that influence this world. So why do you act as if you still belong to the world? I mean, why do you follow rules like these: 21 “Don’t eat this,” “Don’t taste that,” “Don’t touch that”? 22 These rules are talking about earthly things that are gone after they are used. They are only human commands and teachings.” Colossians 2:17-23 CEV

If we ask the Lord to show us what things in our life don’t please Him, He will tell us. We need to be willing to change those things and ask for His help in doing so. Since we know that all of God’s power lives in Christ and we live in Christ there will never be a power shortage when it comes to change.

When the Father prompts us to change it comes with encouragement and not condemnation. It will be an action of love and never a list of unobtainable rules.

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Quiet

Back in the mountains this morning. We had a safe drive with clear roads. Thank you Lord!

The last couple of weeks I have been pondering my quiet time. For as long as I can remember I have been getting up early and sitting in the morning silence. I really can’t image starting my day any other way.

“Even before sunrise, I pray for your help, and I put my hope in what you have said.” Psalm 119:147 CEV

I remember when our oldest two children were little, I had instructed them that if they came into our room and I was in my chair praying that they needed to stand quietly until I asked them what they wanted it. It was “Mommy’s quiet time with Jesus and they needed to be quiet too”.

Several years later life got real busy and I forgot I needed that time. I lost focus for a while but then there was a rededication to spending my mornings with the Father.

“O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You
In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water. 2 So I have looked for You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your glory. 3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You.” Psalm 63:1-3 NKJV

My quiet time is my prescription for a healthy life. It’s where I find strength and peace, it’s my source of joy. Proverbs tells us that a merry heart does good like a medicine so, yes, my morning time is truly my prescription.

“You have shown me the path to life, and you make me glad by being near to me. Sitting at your right side, I will always be joyful.” Psalm 16:11 CEV

I am concerned for our society. Being pulled in so many different directions. I meet Christians who are exhausted and weary, that’s not God’s plan. I often hear “I am so exhausted”.

“…But the Son wants to tell others about the Father, so they can know him too. 28  If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest. 29  Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest.” Matthew 11:27b-29 CEV

Come to the Lord and find rest.

I would like to offer you this challenge. For the next two weeks, get up 30 minutes earlier. Sit quietly and pray. Read your favorite Bible verse. Ask the Lord to give you new insight into how to go through your day. Thank Him for giving you peace and rest. And then sit quietly and listen for His voice.

I guarantee He will meet you there. He desires to spend time with you – His heart’s desire is for a deeper relationship with His children.

Ssssh! Be still and know that He is God.

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The Way, The Truth, The Life

I just finished looking for an image to go with this morning’s blog. I was taken back when I saw the image I’m using this morning!

This is NOT an anonymous quote! These are the words of Jesus, but the image is a reinforcement of what I was wanting to share.

In today’s world we have better living conditions, better advancements in health care, better education than the generations before us. But we also have more stress, more acts of violence, more fear and less family stability.

In the “old days” people prayed for rain and the success of the crops, families worked and played together, communities gathered together to help a neighbor in need and children were educated by teachers who prayed and used the Bible as the core curriculum.

Truth was the foundation for society, government and the family.

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me.’ ” John 14:6 ERV

Truth isn’t subjective, it’s an absolute.

You are either telling the truth or it’s a lie. If you leave facts out to skew the story or sway the outcome, it isn’t truth. Remember the days when people in court had to place their hands on the Bible and swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth? People swore or affirmed their statement by the Bible because it was and is the only standard of truth that has never changed since it was written.

“The way”. Our life is a journey and we can choose the path but when we follow paths of our own making we become distracted, confused and even lost.

“Today I am giving you a choice of two ways…The first choice will bring a blessing. The other choice will bring a curse. So choose life! Then you and your children will live. 20 You must love the Lord your God and obey him. Never leave him, because he is your life.” Deuteronomy 30:19-20 ERV

I love that verse. When we choose “the way” and “the truth” we gain life. And when we don’t, we face an enemy who is out to destroy us.

“A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest.” John 10:10 CEV

When our youngest daughter was a toddler, she woke up crying in the night. I went to her room, picked her up and carried her to the living room to comfort her and rock her back to sleep. She wasn’t content there, so I took her from room to room until finally we came back to the living room where she snuggled in and fell to sleep.

I remember whispering to her, “This is where we started. I knew this was the best place for you. Why couldn’t you trust me and see that?” And then I heard God speak in my heart and ask me the same question.

Why don’t you trust Me to know what’s best for you and to have you in the right place?

WOW!

I wish I could say that I never had to learn that lesson again but that wouldn’t be the truth. However, the longer I walk with Him the easier it is for me to see when I am on a path of my own making and not where He wants me.

Make your foundation “The Way”, committed to “The Truth” and finding “The Life” that is abundant and everlasting. This isn’t an anonymous statement – it’s a promise from the King of Kings.

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Dry Ground

Years ago, when Dave and I were farming alfalfa, the Lord taught me a life lesson about the Word of God being like a seed planted in good ground.

The Lord showed me that His word will bring that same kind of continual harvest in the life of the believers. It was a real encouragement for me to keep the Word of God planted in my heart and to see harvest after harvest from the goodness of His word.

There have been times over the past 40+ years that I have gone through a dry place and have almost felt withered and dead spiritually. During those times I didn’t see much of a harvest – just brittle, dry stubble with no signs of life. I like the growth times much better and yes, I am the one responsible to keep the Word planted in my heart.

However, in the dry and brittle times, I have learned that the life is still there. It’s in the root.

Sometimes the dry branches have to be pruned back for the health of the plant, but I learned not to prune until water has been applied to the root. Living in the desert as long as we have, we see dead looking plants but as soon as the rain comes, they show signs of life.

Life lesson.

“Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that does not produce fruit. He also trims every branch that produces fruit to prepare it to produce even more. 3 You have already been prepared to produce more fruit by the teaching I have given you. 4 Stay joined to me and I will stay joined to you. No branch can produce fruit alone. It must stay connected to the vine. It is the same with you. You cannot produce fruit alone. You must stay joined to me.” John 15:1-4 ERV

Jesus is the Word and when we abide, stay connected to Him, our lives bear fruit.

I’m glad that I’m not responsible for pruning my life or the life of other believers but it’s the Father, the master gardener, who is responsible to prune our lives. He knows when something is dead and He knows exactly where to cut without causing damage. He also knows when all we need is water, the water of His word, and we will flourish once again.

“I will pour water for thirsty people, and streams will flow through the desert. I will pour my Spirit on your children, and I will bless your family. 4 They will sprout like grass in the spring and grow like trees by streams of water.” Isaiah 44:3 ERV

Are you in a dry place? Let God’s Word water your roots and you’ll begin to flourish once again.

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