Dry & Thirsty

I have lived in the desert most of my life. I remember when I was a child and we would go out to a dry river bed, I was amazed by the parched ground.

I could pick up the chunks of dried earth and hold the pieces  in my hands. The soil of the fields around it were a different consistency. They were grainy and the particles were finer but the river bed was dried mud; it had once been moist.

When we farmed alfalfa in Arlington, AZ we were out in the middle of no where. There was a dried riverbed just on the edge of our fields. The contrast between the soil of the two areas was amazing. One was dried and cracked while the other was lush, green and productive.

Don’t our lives seem to be like that from time to time? One moment we feel well watered and refreshed and then something happens and we seem to dry up and crack.

God has never wanted that for us. He wants us to draw our life from Him. He promises to provide the water we need; He has a supply of life-giving water that never runs dry.

For I will pour water on the thirsty land and rivers on the dry ground. I will pour out My Spirit on your children, and will bring good to your children’s children. They will grow like grass in the fields, and like poplar trees by the rivers.” Isaiah 44:3-4 NLV

This is a promise the Lord gave to the nation of Israel. They realized that God was promising to be the very substance of life. They lived in an arid region and understood the importance of life-giving water so verses like these were very applicable to their lives.

God, you are my God. I am searching so hard to find you. Body and soul, I thirst for you in this dry and weary land without water. Yes, I have seen you in your Temple. I have seen your strength and glory. Your faithful love is better than life, so my lips praise you.” Psalm 63:1-3 NLV

King David wrote the words above. As a young shepherd he knew it was vital for the well-being of his sheep to have a good source of water. He knew what it was like to search diligently for those ponds of water that would quench this tremendous thirst.

In light of that, the verses in Psalm 23 have a greater meaning. He knew how diligent he was to provide for the well-being of his sheep, searching out good pastures and clear water, and he saw the Lord provides for us in an even greater way.

The Lord is my Shepherd. I will have everything I need. He lets me rest in fields of green grass. He leads me beside the quiet waters. He makes me strong again. He leads me in the way of living right with Himself which brings honor to His name.” Psalm 23:1-3 NLV

Jesus met a woman who came to the well to draw water. Her life was emotionally and relationally dry. She had been married and divorced five times and was living with another man. He told her this.

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 4:13-15 NLV

Jesus is our source of living water. What we receive from Him does more than nourish the flesh, it brings us life eternal.

Have you gotten off in a dry place? Do you feel parched and cracked like the ground in the picture above? Come back to the One who has promised to give you living water.

God promises an abundance – a river that never shall run dry.

The Lord will always lead you. He will meet the needs of your soul in the dry times and give strength to your body. You will be like a garden that has enough water, like a well of water that never dries up.” Isaiah 58:11 NLV

Mission Possible

Your mission today, should you decide to accept it…

“Let the teaching of Christ live inside you richly. Use all wisdom to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. ” Colossians 3:16 ERV

Letting God’s word live in you will revolutionize your life and the life of those around you!

The understood subject of that verse, “let the teaching of Christ live inside you richly”, is you.

When I woke at 1:30 this morning thoughts of fearful things filled my mind and I couldn’t fall back to sleep. I could have laid there fretting or complaining in my head or I could let thankfulness replace the fear and fill my heart. It was my choice to make; it wasn’t impossible.

Let the name of the Lord be honored, now and forever. The name of the Lord is to be praised from the time the sun rises to when it sets. The Lord is high above all nations. His shining-greatness is above the heavens.” Psalm 113:2-4 NLV

There are so many things to be thankful each day; a bed to sleep in, food to eat, warmth and protection of a home, friends, good coffee, and beauty of nature.

Those are just the natural things, the things we can see. Then there are those things we can’t see like God’s love, his protection, mercy, grace, joy and peace. Those are the things that are eternal.

With perfect peace you will protect those whose minds cannot be changed, because they trust you. Trust the Lord always, because the Lord, the Lord alone, is an everlasting rock.” Isaiah 26:3-4 GW

We can choose to worry or be at peace; we can chose anger and resentment or forgiveness; we can choose to grumble and complain or to be thankful.

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. I trust God, so I am not afraid of what people can do to me! I praise God for his promise to me.” Psalm 56:3-4 ERV

The mission is possible. We need to be willing to accept it. I will put my trust in God.

 Let us give thanks all the time to God through Jesus Christ. Our gift to Him is to give thanks. Our lips should always give thanks to His name. 16 Remember to do good and help each other. Gifts like this please God.” Hebrews 13:15-16 NLV

I hope you are willing to accept this mission today. It’s Mission Possible, giving thanks and praise to God.

 

 

Shouts of Triumph

This morning I feel like shouting! Really shouting.

Clap your hands, all you people. Shout to God with a loud, joyful song. We must fear the Lord, the Most High. He is the great king of the whole earth.” Psalm 47:1-2 GW

You know the kind of shouting I’m talking about. It could more appropriately be called cheering. That makes it clearer right?

That cheering, roar-of-the-crowd, winning touch down, home run kind of shouting! The “victory is mine” kind of shouting. The walk around Jericho, let the walls fall down kind of shouting.

So then the priests blew the trumpets. When the people heard the trumpets, they began shouting. The walls fell down, and the people ran up into the city. So the Israelites defeated that city.” Joshua 6:20 ERV

Today is our day of victory! Maybe you feel you have been in a battle for a very long time. Almost ready to give up – feeling winded, knees wobbly, biceps quivering and shoulders drooping. Don’t quit now – it’s time to shout!

“I celebrate and shout because of my Lord God. His saving power and justice are the very clothes I wear. They are more beautiful
than the jewelry worn by a bride or a groom.
11 The Lord will bring about justice and praise in every nation on earth, like flowers blooming in a garden.” Isaiah 61:10-11 CEV

Not only do we have reason to shout but heaven is shouting too. The Bible tells us there is great rejoicing in heaven when we come to the Father and receive His love and forgiveness. He marks the day we find life in Him.  He circles it on the calendar. The angels in heaven sing and heaven’s “social media” come alive with the announcement of our birth.

Suppose a woman has ten coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house, and look for the coin carefully until she finds it? When she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Let’s celebrate! I’ve found the coin that I lost.’ 10 So I can guarantee that God’s angels are happy about one person who turns to God and changes the way he thinks and acts.” Luke 15:8-10 GW

And oh how the Father rejoices when we come to Him! It’s party time!!

Yes, it truly is time to shout!

God has made us His own. He has given us new life, new hope and a joy that is almost unimaginable.

You have now become a new person and are always learning more about Christ. You are being made more like Christ. He is the One Who made you... Christ is everything. He is in all of us.

12 God has chosen you. You are holy and loved by Him. Because of this, your new life should be full of loving-pity. You should be kind to others and have no pride. Be gentle and be willing to wait for others.” Colossians 3:10-12 NLV

More like Christ. Each day the Holy Spirit is working in us to make us more like Christ. Christ lived a life of victory; He had challenges, attacks and all out persecution but He knew victory was His because the Father had promised that He would triumph.

I am grateful that God always makes it possible for Christ to lead us to victory. God also helps us spread the knowledge about Christ everywhere, and this knowledge is like the smell of perfume.” II Corinthians 2:14 CEV

Join me please. Let’s start this day with a shout! Let the voice of triumph be heard!!

Making Time – Taking Time

A while back Dave asked me a question. “Do you have time for me?”

He was being silly and teasing me because he knew I was busy making him breakfast. I think it surprised him when I answered “Sure babe, I always have time for you.”

Time is the only commodity that we are limited in receiving. Every one of us has the same 24 hours, the same 7 days, the same 12 months. It amazes me how some seem to get so much done while others waste what can’t be replaced. Some are more productive at night while others rise early and seem to get their best inspiration during the early morning.

Taking time – making time for the things that are important sometimes makes me feel like a juggler with one too many balls in the air.

When the kids were little it was important to “take time” to help them grow. When they became teenagers it seemed even more important; now that they are grown and have homes of their own I fondly remember those days,  they are cherished memories. It delights me now to take time – undistracted time, to visit with them and be invited to share their time.

Everyone of us write appointments in our day planners, put them in our phone scheduler or write them on the calendar; the important things, things we don’t want to forget. Is our daily time with the Lord written there? Is it written on the schedule we keep in your heart?

One reoccurring question I have been asked over the years is “how long should my quiet time be”. My answer, “as long as you need”. It’s not important that we read multiple chapters in the Bible if we don’t remember what we’ve read when we’re done.  It’s better to take one verse and apply it to our lives that day.

 ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you. And I will show you great and wonderful things which you do not know.’ ” Jeremiah 33:3 NLV

The same holds true with our prayer time. Praying is simply talking to the Father heart to heart. It shouldn’t be a religious exercise. No, instead we need to make it a conversation with our dearest friend. Prayer isn’t us doing all the talking; we need to be still and listen to that voice in our hearts, giving us instruction. That’s the Father talking back to us.

Start with a few undistracted minutes. I guarantee it will increase naturally. Spending time with the Father creates a desire and a hunger for more.

“Even before sunrise, I pray for your help, and I put my hope in what you have said. 148 I lie awake at night, thinking of your promises.” Psalm 119:147-148

Early or late, it’s one of those appointments we don’t want to miss! I was surprised to see how many times the Scripture records “early in the morning they went out to worship the Lord”. Early morning is my time but for you it may be the watches of the night, whenever it is, we can be certain that the Father will be there to meet us!

“God, hear my cry for help. Listen to my prayer. 2 From a faraway land I call to you for help. I feel so weak and helpless! Carry me to a high rock where no one can reach me. 3 You are my place of safety, a strong tower that protects me from my enemies.” Psalm 61:1-3 ERV

I will answer them before they call for help. I will help them before they finish asking.” Isaiah 65.24 ERV

Take time to make time with the Lord. It is the best part of the day.

God’s QR Code

We are all getting more and more familiar with those QR codes that let us scan them with our smart phones and be taken directly to a website. You know they are those boxes with all the maze-like lines on the back of magazines, in printed ads and on products.

I was going to use an image of one with my blog this morning but I didn’t want everyone scanning some random code.

I remember the first time I was asked to scan one while in I was in one of my favorite stores in Tucson.  If I scanned the QR code they gave me a free gift. I didn’t  have a smart phone at the time so I couldn’t use it but they gave me the gift anyway.

That made me think – I should have a spiritual QR (Quality Relationship) code that I can scan to be taken directly to Father’s Website.

Oh wait, I do. It’s called God’s word. And many of us can now access it from our computers, tablets or smart phones.

What do I want to be my home page – something that will remind me daily of my relationship with the Father. Something like…

“Remember, in Noah’s time I punished the world with the flood. But I made a promise to Noah that I would never again destroy the world with water. In the same way, I promise that I will never again be angry with you and say bad things to you. 10 “The mountains may disappear, and the hills may become dust, but my faithful love will never leave you. I will make peace with you,
and it will never end.” The LORD who loves you said this.” Isaiah 54:9-10 CEV

or maybe

“Keep your lives free from the love of money. And be satisfied with what you have. God has said, “I will never leave you; I will never run away from you.”
6 So we can feel sure and say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
People can do nothing to me.” Hebrews 13:5-6

or even

“Christ died for us when we were unable to help ourselves. We were living against God, but at just the right time Christ died for us. 7 Very few people will die to save the life of someone else, even if it is for a good person. Someone might be willing to die for an especially good person. 8 But Christ died for us while we were still sinners, and by this God showed how much he loves us.” Romans 5:6-8 CEV

I want these verses to be forefront in my heart. They remind me that God isn’t angry with me – He’s not in a bad mood. He is always extending His love to me and desiring His best for me. Even when I fail, He has promised not to remember my sins.

“This is the agreement I will make with my people in the future, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts. I will write my laws in their minds.” 17 Then he says, “I will forget their sins and never again. 18 And after everything is forgiven, there is no more need for a sacrifice to pay for sins.n remember the evil they have done. ” Hebrews 10:16-18 CEV

“God our Father loves us. He is kind and has given us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope. We pray that our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father  will encourage you and help you always to do and say the right thing.”                          II Thessalonians 2:16-17

I encourage you to scan God’s QRcode today. It will bring you to a terrific website and there you will find wonderful free gifts that will last forever.

Labor of the Day – Do It

This morning I learned something very interesting about the word labor.

In the King James Bible the word is spelled labour. So when I first looked up verses on labor there were none to be found. When I tried using the Old English spelling I found 128 references.

Isn’t that just the way it is. There is no real labour with “u”.

So often people think that they need to be super saints to be used by God. Not so…God is looking for people who are available. You don’t have to be someone who has been a Christian for a long time – someone who has been to Bible school or seminary – or even someone who has lived an exemplary life.

God is looking for the willing and obedient!

Come on now, let’s discuss this!” says the Lord. “Though your sins are bright red, they will become as white as snow. Though they are dark red, they will become as white as wool. 19 If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land.” Isaiah 1:18-19 GW

At the marriage feast in Cana Jesus mother told him that they were running low on wine. She expected Jesus to do something and then she said to the servants standing nearby, “whatever he tells you to do, do it”. They did and a miracle took place.

If we will just “do” what we hear from God, He will work the miracles. We don’t have to know great amounts of Scripture, but we need to be willing to do what we hear.

His mother told the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.”

Six stone water jars were there. They were used for Jewish purification rituals. Each jar held 18 to 27 gallons.

Jesus told the servers, “Fill the jars with water.” The servers filled the jars to the brim. Jesus said to them, “Pour some, and take it to the person in charge.” The servers did as they were told.

The person in charge tasted the water that had become wine. He didn’t know where it had come from, although the servers who had poured the water knew. The person in charge called the groom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the best wine first. When people are drunk, the host serves cheap wine. But you have saved the best wine for now.”

11 Cana in Galilee was the place where Jesus began to perform miracles. He made his glory public there, and his disciples believed in him.” John 2:5-11 GW

Obedience was a big part of Jesus ministry. He told Lazarus to “come forth”. To the cripple man, He said “rise up and walk”, Zacchaeus heard Him say “come down” and to the harlot he said “sin no more”. These are just a few examples but each of them were willing  to do what Jesus said and then they were obedient to “do it”.

You know this is a play on words but it’s important that “u” stays in labor.

We can’t earn our salvation. God’s love is unconditional. By our obedience we do show the love and gratitude in our hearts. “U” must be involved, it’s called faith.  Our obedience is an outward expression of our inner heart.

Jesus said He would provide rest if “u” (we) come to Him and learn.

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29 KJV

or perhaps this is easier to understand

Come to me all of you who are tired from the heavy burden you have been forced to carry. I will give you rest. 29 Accept my teaching. Learn from me. I am gentle and humble in spirit. And you will be able to get some rest.” Matthew 11:28-29 ERV

I encourage “U” to labour today.  Work hard to be obedient and you will see God’s power working in your life bringing you to a place of rest.

Lord, today, I desire to be willing and obedient!

First Look

First Look. This isn’t a term I was familiar with before our grandson’s wedding.

No this isn’t their “first look” picture; they should be able to share that on their own without my interference.

Anyway, First Look describes the first time the bride and groom see each other dressed for their wedding. Many brides and grooms are having their photographs taken before the ceremony but still want the element of surprise when they see each other for the first time that day. The photographer captures that intimate moment when they First Look at each other.

Last night I went to bed thinking of how special that must have been for them and how truly special it is for us when we get our first look of Jesus.

I grew up in the church and always remember knowing Jesus. As a little girl I remember when I realized I wanted to give Him my heart and accepted Jesus as my Savior.  However, I know that I took His great sacrifice for granted. I didn’t take into account what it truly cost to pay for my sin and for me to be reconciled to the Father.

It took years for me to realize that!

But I do remember the day when I fell hopelessly in love with Jesus, the day I gave Him my all. That day I came to know, really know, that if I went through the rest of my life with only Jesus by my side that was more than enough.

That was my First Look at the bridegroom who held my heart and still does today!

The Lord makes me very happy. I am completely happy with my God. He dressed me in the clothes of salvation. He put the victory coat on me.
I look like a man dressed for his wedding, like a bride covered with jewels.
11 The earth causes plants to grow, and a garden makes the seeds planted there rise up. In the same way, the Lord God will make goodness and praise
 grow throughout the nations.” Isaiah 61:10-11 ERV

As a little girl I grew up singing a chorus in Sunday School, Jesus Loves Me This I Know. According to my Mom I sang it all the time running around the house. But then there was that day when I would start to sing that simple chorus and my throat would constrict and the words would struggle out as I wiped the tears from my cheeks.  I was overwhelmed by His love.

“Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong. They are weak but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. The Bible tells me so.”

Like the bride seeing her groom for the first time on their wedding day, I hope that you are seeing Jesus with eyes of love. I’ve learned that no matter how long I am in relationship with Him he looks at me with that same unconditional love in His eyes.

The Lord came to us from far away, saying, “I have loved you with a love that lasts forever. So I have helped you come to Me with loving-kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3 NLV

Amazing love – Amazing grace – Amazing sacrifice – Amazing life

 

Pulling Some Weeds

Well that certainly didn’t take long! Just yesterday morning I was talking with you about being more than conquerors and by afternoon I was feeling quite unnerved and almost defeated.

Ever have one of those days? On top of the world one moment and tempted to give up the next.

We shouldn’t be surprised, Jesus told us this would happen.

“The farmer is like someone who plants God’s teaching in people. 15 Sometimes the teaching falls on the path. That is like some people who hear the teaching of God. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the teaching that was planted in them.

16 “Other people are like the seed planted on rocky ground. They hear the teaching, and they quickly and gladly accept it. 17 But they don’t allow it to go deep into their lives. They keep it only a short time. As soon as trouble or persecution comes because of the teaching they accepted, they give up.

18 “Others are like the seed planted among the thorny weeds. They hear the teaching, 19 but their lives become full of other things: the worries of this life, the love of money, and everything else they want. This keeps the teaching from growing, and it does not produce a crop[a] in their lives.

20 “And others are like the seed planted on the good ground. They hear the teaching and accept it. Then they grow and produce a good crop—sometimes 30 times more, sometimes 60 times more, and sometimes 100 times more.” Mark 4:14-20 ERV

In the morning the good seeds of God’s Word were planted and by afternoon the worrying about life’s circumstances were trying to choke it out. It is important to recognize this immediately and get those weeds pulled out while they are small. We can’t  give them time to grow taller because then we’ll need a hoe and a lot more effort to remove them.

Sow, pun intended, last night I was able to go to sleep trusting God for His answers and perfect timing. I woke this morning full of gratitude and joy. I am very thankful for my dear friend Pam and Dave would gave me time to express my disappointment and then gave me wise, and I feel, godly counsel.

Today will be a day of resting in the Lord.  He brings peace to our hearts when we trust Him.

Don’t worry—I am with you. Don’t be afraid—I am your God. I will make you strong and help you. I will support you with my right hand that brings victory.” Isaiah 41:10 ERV

You will keep the man in perfect peace whose mind is kept on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever. For the Lord God is a Rock that lasts forever.” Isaiah 26:3-4 NLV

So be patient, peaceful and wait for the Lord. Pull out the weeds and have a grateful heart!

Knowing When to Stop or Go

Yesterday we safely completed our trip from Arizona to Idaho. It was another 12 hours of travel and although we arrived weary we certainly enjoyed the journey.

As we drove through the rolling ranchlands and the greasewood covered plains we imagined what it must have been like for the first settlers that came to the area. Looking at the beauty of the landscape through their eyes gave us an appreciation for their sacrifice and dedication in coming to such a place.

What was it that made them stop here. Build their homes, raise their families and create a new life? I imagine it was much like King David wrote in Psalm 23, it was a place of quiet streams and green grass. A good place, a place of peace. A place to stay.

The Lord is my Shepherd. I will have everything I need. He lets me rest in fields of green grass. He leads me beside the quiet waters. He makes me strong again. He leads me in the way of living right with Himself which brings honor to His name.” Psalm 23:1-3 NLV

As we traveled down the road further I was faced with the contrast between staying in a place of rest  and moving forward.

For a good portion of the day we followed the Payette River. We had travelled this road last year and it was a beautiful drive. The forest was green and lush, the river beautiful but all of that was obscured from view this year.

There were fires in the area the last few days and the smoke was lingering in the air. Along the highway we passed numerous signs telling us “fire activity…don’t stop…proceed with caution”.  So we were obedient and just kept moving.

Isn’t that a lesson for life? Just keep moving!

Things happen that will obscure our view, detour our route and slow our progression but when we have Christ as our guide we can continue forward knowing that we will arrive at our destination.

You are my God. I worship you.  In my heart, I long for you, as I would long for a stream in a scorching desert. I have seen your power and your glory in the place of worship.

Your love means more than life to me, and I praise you. As long as I live, I will pray to you. I will sing joyful praises and be filled with excitement like a guest at a banquet.

I think about you before I go to sleep, and my thoughts turn to you during the night. You have helped me, and I sing happy songs in the shadow of your wings. I stay close to you, and your powerful arm supports me.” Psalm 63:1-8 CEV

Staying close to the Lord, receiving His powerful support is the key of our success.

The conclusion  I drew on yesterday’s journey is a simple one. Whether we are stopping in a place of resting or moving forward to a new place it’s important that we allow the Lord to lead in all of it.

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, you will hear a voice saying, “This is the road! Now follow it.” Isaiah 30:21 CEV

I pray that you hear God’s voice today in your resting and receiving strength or moving forward by His leading.

 

 

 

Summer is Time to Grow

Dave and I spent 13 hours in the truck driving from Arizona to Nevada. We enjoyed our travel time – we talked, looked at the scenery, talked some more and filled our day with the beauty of God’s creation.

I loved driving through the ranch country. We didn’t see a lot of cattle grazing but the alfalfa fields were filled with big square green bales. The thing I did miss seeing were the fruit trees. I guess the area we were in isn’t known for it’s fruit. But I always love how the spring rains prompt the blossom of the peach, apple, pear, cherry and apricot trees which lead to a full and bountiful end-of-summer harvest.

Summer is good for that – producing a harvest. I feel like I am going through, and growing in, a harvest season of my own. God is working in me, changing me, giving me strength and peace. I can see fruit developing and maturing.

There is a single verse in the Psalm 40 that I want us to look at this morning.

You, Lord God, have done many wonderful things, and you have planned marvelous things for us. No one is like you! I would never be able to tell all you have done.” Psalm 40:5 NKJV

Look at this phrase “many are the wonderful works which You have done”. Think about that for a moment – what WONDERFUL works do you see that He has done? Was it last night’s sunset or this morning’s sunrise? Was it the love and compassion you felt for a stranger who was in need? Or was it the unpretentious love and acceptance of a child? What did you experience just yesterday that you can see was a wonderful work of God in your life?

“Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!” Psalm 107:8 NJKV

“He has made His wonderful works to be remembered; The Lord is gracious and full of compassion.” Psalm 111:4 NJKV

“O Lord, You are my God. I will exalt You, I will praise Your name, For You have done wonderful things; Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.” Isaiah 25:1 NKJV

I like the verse above – God’s counsellors are faithfulness and truth. The things that are wonder – full are the things that have the character of God woven through them. Things like faithfulness, truth, love, forgiveness, peace, gentleness, patience, joy. When God’s love fills us, we begin to produce fruit.

In nature a fruit  tree produces fruit for the kind of tree it is. Apples – apples, oranges – oranges, bananas – bananas and so on – you know what I’m saying. When we grow in Christ we will begin to produce fruit that is consistent with the vine we are growing on – we will begin to produce godly character.

As we examine our lives we should see godly fruit is growing. The Father is wanting us to share the fruit that grows in our lives with others. He is wanting to use us to do wonderful things in the lives of those around us.

Stay joined to me and let my teachings become part of you. Then you can pray for whatever you want, and your prayer will be answered. When you become fruitful disciples of mine, my Father will be honored. I have loved you, just as my Father has loved me. So remain faithful to my love for you. ” John 15:7-9 CEV

I pray that this summer we all produce a bumper crop! May God bless  you with an abundant harvest.