Category: Growing

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Proper Input

Last winter while I was working on my book, The Best Gifts of Christmas, I had a time of keyboarding that reminded me how important it was that I pay attention to what I was doing.

I had some handwritten notes and I was reading that text, inputting it word for word, or so I thought until I looked up and saw that my hands had been on the wrong keys. Seriously? I had several pages of jibberish! Absolute nonsense, not one word made any sense.

Our minds are much like the computer I am using to message with right now. They can only produce on screen or in memory what we input. Our minds can be our most valuable ally or our worst enemy, it just depends on how we use it.

God won’t force us to do things against our will. He won’t force us to accept His wonderful gift of salvation, even if it means we will eventually go to hell, and He won’t force us to accept His blessings that He is pouring out in this life either. We must willfully accept all of His provisions for them to work in our lives.

It becomes our responsibility to input the correct information. We move our minds from an adversary to an ally by what we consider. We can think on things that can make us angry and bring fear or we can focus on God’s promises and be filled with peace and joy.

“So I beg you, brothers and sisters, because of the great mercy God has shown us, offer your lives as a living sacrifice to him—an offering that is only for God and pleasing to him. Considering what he has done, it is only right that you should worship him in this way. 2 Don’t change yourselves to be like the people of this world, but let God change you inside with a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to understand and accept what God wants for you. You will be able to know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect.” Romans 12:1-2 ERV

The Apostle Paul instructs us to give ourselves over to the Lord and He will change us from the inside out. By changing our input and our minds will be renewed.

We should be considering what life will be like in heaven and all that Jesus did to provide this for us – if that’s our focus, we won’t have time to be “considering” thoughts that are contrary to God’s way of thinking.

“You were raised from death with Christ. So live for what is in heaven, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Think only about what is up there, not what is here on earth. 3 Your old self has died, and your new life is kept with Christ in God. 4 Yes, Christ is now your life, and when he comes again, you will share in his glory.” Colossians 3:1-4 ERV

It’s imperative that we guard our minds more than we guard our wallets. The damage caused by wrong thinking is more detrimental than loosing our cash. In fact, it’s very similar to spiritual identity theft. Thinking like the world thinks will keep us from realizing all the wonderful blessings that God has provided.

“We live in this world, but we don’t fight our battles in the same way the world does. 4 The weapons we use are not human ones. Our weapons have power from God and can destroy the enemy’s strong places. We destroy people’s arguments, 5 and we tear down every proud idea that raises itself against the knowledge of God. We also capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ.” II Corinthians 10:3-5 ERV

Counteract the world’s influence today and live with the proper input.

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” II Timothy 1:7

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Custom Built

The neighborhood Dave and I live in has quite of bit of building going on. In the last two years there have been approximately twelve new homes built. For those in more populated areas that doesn’t sound like much but up here on our mesa we had less than seventy houses when we moved in five years ago. Most are being built as small custom or semi-custom homes.

Solid built custom homes!

Have you ever read those on-line real estate listings? They focus on the upgrades and the custom features. Pictures are taken of the special features; the upgraded cabinets and counters, water features, outdoor living space and landscaping.

But without a solid foundation the “extras” don’t have much value. If the foundation cracks or shifts then the custom window treatment and high end wood casings around the doors will shift with it. Things will have to be torn out and redone to maintain the integrity of the home.

The same is true in life. We need to be built on a firm foundation – one that will never shift or give way.

“The people who come to me, who listen to my teachings and obey them—I will show you what they are like: 48 They are like a man building a house. He digs deep and builds his house on rock. The floods come, and the water crashes against the house. But the flood cannot move the house, because it was built well.” Luke 6:47-48 ERV

Building our lives on God’s word, listening and obeying, will keep us strong when the storms come. We won’t be moved by the circumstances because we are well built.

Loving the Lord and then loving others is the bedrock or the base for everything else that needs to be constructed in our lives.

“Teacher, what is the most important commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus answered: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. 38 This is the first and most important commandment. 39 The second most important commandment is like this one. And it is, “Love others as much as you love yourself.” 40 All the Law of Moses and the Books of the Prophets are based on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40 CEV

Each one of us is a custom built home. After all, we are the temple of the Holy Spirit. When we are born again He comes to live within us. We are His home. No two are alike but we all have the same foundation.

Some of us are tall skyscrapers, while others of us may be a single story rancher but we all come from the same design firm. Hebrews tells us that we are to look at Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith.

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2 KJV

If He is the author, the one who wrote the plan, that makes him the architect, the designer, the developer. He’s also the contractor since He is the finisher as well as the author. He gave his all, his life, in the process. That’s how important we are to Him.

So, take a look at your home, your life. If there are things that don’t seem quite right or things that don’t looked finished it’s ok. He’s still working in you. Let Him finish. I guarantee you’ll like the finished project.

“God is the one who began this good work in you, and I am certain that he won’t stop before it is complete on the day that Christ Jesus returns.” Philippians 1:6 CEV

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Good Bones

I like to watch those home improvement shows on television. Some of those houses are in bad shape. You would think the best thing would be to tear down the entire structure and start over. But that’s when you hear the host of the program say “this house has really good bones”.

Good bones.

Years ago I became aware of a verse in the Bible about bones. Before I give you that verses I want to share this experience I had last May while we were at the Indy 500. Each morning I would get up and take my coffee and my Bible then go outside the RV to have my morning quiet time. Dave and Koy were sleeping inside and I didn’t want to disturb them.

I loved it. Sitting in the camp chair I could enjoy my coffee, read my Bible, pray and listen to the cars going through their morning tune-ups over at the track. Not really quiet but it was my time with the Lord. One morning I left my Bible on the outside table while we went about our day. That afternoon we had a brief rain shower. Things under the awning got damp but not really wet. Koy wanted to know if he should move my Bible inside but I said it was ok.

Later that day my Bible began to expand, literally! The pages got fatter as they began to absorb the moisture. When it dried out it never did shrink back to the previous size. Now, when I pick it up to read if I squeeze it together it crackles. It is daily reminder to me of this verse.

“The Lord is far from the sinful, but He hears the prayer of those who are right with Him. 30 The light of the eyes makes the heart glad. Good news puts fat on the bones. 31 He whose ear listens to careful words spoken will live among the wise.” Proverbs 15:29-31 NLV

Good bones, fat bones.

Good news puts fat on the bones. Another version of this verse says “a good report maketh the bones fat”. Each day when I pick up my Bible and open it to where I’m going to read I say “Thank you Father. The Good News in this book is making my bones fat. Just like the pages of this Bible got fat, when I read the words of this book they are making me strong, healthy and giving me wisdom.”

I truly believe that. God’s word is our good news. In fact, it’s the best news ever. Where else will we find unconditional love, unending mercy and infinite grace? Where else we find direction, peace and complete forgiveness? There is nowhere on the face of the earth, there are no other books that contain life-giving words and there are no computer programs or data updates that bring us into a loving relationship with Almighty God.

“My soul will be happy in the Lord. It will be full of joy because He saves. 10 All my bones will say, “Lord, who is like You? Who saves the weak from those too strong for them? Who saves the poor from those who would rob them?'” Psalm 39:9-10 NLV

“Because of Your Word and Your own heart, You have done all these great things to let Your servant know. 22 For this reason You are great, O Lord God. There is none like You. And there is no God but You, by all that we have heard with our ears.” II Samuel 7:21-22 NLV

It’s time for self-assessment. If I compare myself to a fixer-upper I must admit that I have some rehab work that needs to be done. There’s some selfishness that needs to be scrubbed off the walls and some spots of pride that have stained and discolored the countertops. There are other issues that the Lord needs to replace, I’m still under construction. But…I have good bones!

The framework, the support beams, have been furnished by the Holy Spirit and they are strong. I am His dwelling place.

“Do you not know that your body is a house of God where the Holy Spirit lives? God gave you His Holy Spirit. Now you belong to God. You do not belong to yourselves. 20 God bought you with a great price. So honor God with your body. You belong to Him.” I Corinthians 6:19-20 NLV

My foundation is solid, it’s built on the rock of God’s word. God has placed His light in my soul and He causes me to shine with His glory.

“It was God Who said, “The light will shine in darkness.” He is the One Who made His light shine in our hearts. This brings us the light of knowing God’s shining-greatness which is seen in Christ’s face.” II Corinthians 4:6 NLV

The good report, God’s Good News, is putting fat on my bones. Yes, I’m going through some renovation but I’m so glad to be the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. I have strong bones!

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Are You Growing

This morning I was on my way to the kitchen to get a second cup of coffee. I passed the side table and realized that the bamboo plant sitting there needed water.

Two years ago a neighbor brought it to us as a Christmas gift. I’ve moved it to a larger pot. It had one shoot die and another start. I must admit that I haven’t had as much success with it as I do with my other plants. It seems odd to me that a plant can grow without soil and survive, or even thrive, on only water.

I enjoy taking care of my plants. Some of them I brought from Montana when we moved almost five years ago. Others that made the trip have been with me much longer than that. I have one corn plant that I rescued from near death when we lived in Encinitas, CA. That was 1990. I can’t remember how many shoots I have cut from that plant and given away. It continues to thrive.

At the end of each year I ponder my spiritual growth. Years and years ago I heard a minister say “if you aren’t growing and moving forward in your spiritual life you are backsliding”. Yikes! Since that time, I have prayerfully evaluated my spiritual growth.

Do I look and act more like Jesus than I did before? I must honestly say the answer hasn’t always been yes. Some years my growth seemed dormant and in others it appeared that my leaves were dry and brittle, almost dead and in need of pruning.

“Jesus said to his disciples: I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts away every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit. But he trims clean every branch that does produce fruit, so that it will produce even more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of what I have said to you.

4 Stay joined to me, and I will stay joined to you. Just as a branch cannot produce fruit unless it stays joined to the vine, you cannot produce fruit unless you stay joined to me. 5 I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I stay joined to you, then you will produce lots of fruit. But you cannot do anything without me.” John 15:1-5 CEV

One thing I have learned in tending to my plants is that pruning doesn’t hurt a healthy plant. Pruning is the cutting away of the dead and useless branches. When they are removed, the plant grows stronger because it is no longer trying to supply water and nutrients to areas that have died.

It’s important that we are well watered. We will grow and be more like Christ when we are. How are we watered?

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. 10 The rain and snow come down from heaven and do not return there without giving water to the earth. This makes plants grow on the earth, and gives seeds to the planter and bread to the eater. 11 So My Word which goes from My mouth will not return to Me empty. It will do what I want it to do, and will carry out My plan well.” Isaiah 55:9-11 NLV

We are watered with God’s word. It provides what we need for a full and fruitful life.

“If you get your life from Me and My Words live in you, ask whatever you want. It will be done for you. 8 “When you give much fruit, My Father is honored. This shows you are My followers. 9 I have loved you just as My Father has loved Me. Stay in My love. 10 If you obey My teaching, you will live in My love. In this way, I have obeyed My Father’s teaching and live in His love. 11 I have told you these things so My joy may be in you and your joy may be full.The Christian with Other Christians 12 “This is what I tell you to do: Love each other just as I have loved you.” John 15:7-12 NLV

Take some time over the next few days to ask the Lord if there is anything He would like to prune from your life. There’s no condemnation if He shows you something; it’s for your benefit. Pruning will make you stronger and more productive.

I thank God that He loves me enough to see that I grow in a healthy way by removing those things that would stunt my growth.

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Red & Green Have New Meaning

I don’t really know much about the traditions of Christmas. Why the use of red and green, what’s the message behind the tree, and the tinsel? I’m sure they have meaning but I’ve never researched it.

And really, I’m not a big “red and green” person. They add festive color to our homes at the holidays but  they’re not colors I would decorate with the rest of the year.

Looking around my living room  I was struck by the red and green poinsettia, it’s absolutely beautiful! Then I noticed a deer with a nice red bow. He’s adorned with a holly sprig and sits on my fireplace hearth. He was a  gift from a dear friend years and years ago. 

As I sit here, I realize I am impacted in another way by  red and  green. The words, in red, in my Bible have had a life changing effect. The words of Jesus, and His shed blood, have brought me life. Green is the color of living things.  God’s word gives me abundant life here on earth and eternal life with my Father in heaven! 

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

“10 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

“Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him would not be lost but have eternal life.” John 3:16 ERV

Today’s Christmas carol is an old traditional carol from England. In European Christian tradition, the prickly leaves of the holly bush represent the crown of thorns that Jesus wore when he was crucified. The berries are symbolic of the drops of blood that were shed by Jesus because of the thorns. In Scandinavia, holly is known as the Christ Thorn. It would seem then that holly would be more appropriate at Easter but it grows in winter and so it was used to adorn homes during the holiday season.

If you’re not familiar with this carol, you may click this link to hear the song, The Holly & The Ivy.

The holly and the ivy,
When they are both full grown
Of all the trees that are in the wood
The holly bears the crown

The holly bears a blossom
As white as lily flower
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To be our sweet Saviour

The holly bears a berry
As red as any blood
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To do poor sinners good

The holly bears a prickle
As sharp as any thorn;
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
On Christmas Day in the morn.

The holly bears a bark
As bitter as any gall;
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
For to redeem us all.

The holly and the ivy
Now both are full well grown,
Of all the trees that are in the wood,
The holly bears the crown.

 When I see the red/green color scheme now, I won’t just think of Christmas but I will be mindful of the words of Jesus, and the growth they have brought  to my life.

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Tired & Cranky

You understand what I am saying here, tired and cranky? We all have those times when we just want to throw a fit and get away with it. Right?

Monday morning I received a text from our youngest daughter telling me that our little granddaughter had just cut 3 new teeth. My first response was “that explains her mood on Thanksgiving, she was hurting”.

We excuse some crankiness when children are little and don’t  know how to tell us what’s going on. But we should be giving them instruction that selfish actions aren’t right. The problem comes when we are teenagers or adults and we have these same outbreaks of self-centered frustration.

“Remember this: There are some terrible times coming in the last days. 2 People will love only themselves and money. They will be proud and boast about themselves. They will abuse others with insults. They will not obey their parents. They will be ungrateful and against all that is pleasing to God. 3 They will have no love for others and will refuse to forgive anyone. They will talk about others to hurt them and will have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. 4 People will turn against their friends. They will do foolish things without thinking and will be so proud of themselves. Instead of loving God, they will love pleasure. 5 They will go on pretending to be devoted to God, but they will refuse to  let that “devotion” change the way they live. Stay away from these people!” II Timothy 3:1-5 ERV

These verses are a description of many of the attitudes and actions that are going on in society today. There’s an entitlement mentality that says I deserve it; I should have more and better things, not because I have worked hard or sacrificed but because I’m entitled to better.

I really wanted to be cranky yesterday. I did. I was tired, hadn’t slept much the night before and I “felt” that I deserved to be treated with more consideration. I wanted to be entitled. I was being selfish. I was thinking about me and what my needs were and what I wanted.

It only took a few minutes for the Lord to step in and correct me.

“If then you have been raised with Christ, keep looking for the good things of heaven. This is where Christ is seated on the right side of God. 2 Keep your minds thinking about things in heaven. Do not think about things on the earth. 3 You are dead to the things of this world. Your new life is now hidden in God through Christ.” Colossians 3:1-3 NLV

and

“ Whoever wants to be first must serve the rest of you like a slave. 28 Do as I did: The Son of Man did not come for people to serve him. He came to serve others and to give his life to save many people.” Matthew 20:27-28 ERV

Pity parties have a very small guest list; me, myself and I. When we look at Jesus and how he lived, keeping our minds focused on how things are done in heaven, we will see that we have been given a higher assignment. We are to be an example of self-control and self-sacrifice.

“ God’s Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, 23 gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways. 24 And because we belong to Christ Jesus, we have killed our selfish feelings and desires. 25 God’s Spirit has given us life, and so we should follow the Spirit. ” Galatians 5:22-25 CEV

Probably no one else has to deal with keeping their feelings, emotions and thoughts in line but just in case you are like me I thought I would share this with you today.

Let’s live like the Apostle Paul said here in verse 25. Let’s follow the Spirit. Life will certainly be better.

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Lessons From the Pumpkin Patch

Fall. The joys of autumn. Cooler temperatures, shorter days. The year’s final harvest.

When we lived in the Northwest, each Fall there would always be a field trip to the pumpkin patch. There was an area close to  town called Green Bluff and that was the place to go.

We loaded up in the school buses; teachers, students, parent helpers, and headed up the hill for a day in the country. When we arrived at the designated farm everyone got onto a wagon lined with hay bales and a tractor would pull the wagon out to the field of pumpkins where the kids could pick out their own pumpkin to take home.

It was a wonderful day; laughing children, happy teachers, cool air and a cup of hot apple cider before heading back. What a treat!

But it was called a pumpkin patch because the farmer had planted pumpkins. Well, of course. That’s what you would expect, right? If you plant pumpkin seeds you expect pumpkins, not turnips or zucchini or cabbage or spaghetti squash – no, pumpkins. Can you image how shocked the farmer would be if he went out and found that there were potatoes coming up where he planted pumpkins?

Well naturally we know that couldn’t happen. Then why do we think it should be any other way in the other areas of our life?

We burn the candle at both ends. We get very little sleep, don’t drink enough water, aren’t eating right  and we end up stressed out, overly tired and sick. But we seem to be surprised when that happens.

Or how about this? We are cranky, rude, sarcastic, unsympathetic and unconcerned about those around us yet we are surprised when we receive the same treatment. Why should that be shocking? If we plant the negative things of life, they are going to grow.

Jesus compared God’s word to seed. He said if we (our hearts) are good ground, the seeds will root, grow and produce a harvest.

It’s a fact of nature and it’s a spiritual principle as well.

“Make no mistake about this: You can never make a fool out of God. Whatever you plant is what you’ll harvest. 8 If you plant in the soil of your corrupt nature, you will harvest destruction. But if you plant in the soil of your spiritual nature, you will harvest everlasting life. 9 We can’t allow ourselves to get tired of living the right way. Certainly, each of us will receive everlasting life at the proper time, if we don’t give up. 10 Whenever we have the opportunity, we have to do what is good for everyone, especially for the family of believers.” Galatians 6:7-10 GW

What we plant in our lives is our choice. Just like the farmer, he wants a crop of pumpkins so he plants pumpkin seeds. He will have to go out occasionally and pull some weeds that pop up but he knows what his harvest will be because he’s confident of the seeds he put in the earth.

Now we all have had times that some of the seeds  we’ve planted weren’t good ones. What we need to do about those is pray for crop failure. We ask the Lord to help those seeds die before they sprout and if they should come up we take a hoe and chop them out.

Here’s verse 9 from the King James Version:

“ And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

Harvest is hard work but well worth it.

Not only did the school kids have field trips to the pumpkin patch but those farmers made an event out of harvest. There were other crops too; corn, apples, peaches. So every weekend for several weeks they would open their farms to the folks from town. There would be hay rides, a corn maze, cider, fresh pies – apple and pumpkin. This was harvest and it was fun.

Just think, if we plant the right seeds we can expect a bumper crop. A crop that we can share with friends, family and others.

 

 

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Growing With Time

Four years ago I remember how excited I was to be planting our front courtyard.

I had envisioned what I wanted it to look like; there would be an agave, hibiscus, bougainvillea, cactus, a lime tree, Mexican bird of paradise and tecoma.  Spaced throughout the yard would be potted plants, bird baths and rock rivers.

I remember wondering what it would look like when given the chance to grow. How would it have matured and changed in 5 years. This is but year 4 and it has truly changed.

The agave bloomed and died. The hibiscus has been replaced with a rose bush, more pots have been added and we have cleared a spot for hollyhocks. The bougainvillea, bird of paradise and tecoma still bring beautiful color and the mums bloom all year long.

I love it!  It’s a visible change.

And then as it is with most things in life, this growth has caused me to look at my life in Christ. Have I matured and grown? Is that growth visible? Do I look and act more like Jesus than I did 4 years ago?

In the past years of my adult life I have sown seeds that have produced a wonderful marriage (although we had to pull up some weeds along the way), 3 children and their mates, 4 grandchildren, and numerous friends who have been apart of our lives for so many years.

I have planted seeds of encouragement, of faith in God’s word and confidence in His unfailing, unconditional love.

Then there are the plants that had to be rooted out; things like bitterness, anger, selfishness and discontentment. These had to be dug up and pulled out by the roots so that the other seeds could grow and produce fruit.

So this morning as I marvel at the growth of the  lime tree, fire bells, and bougainvillea, I pray that there has been as much growth to the shoots of hospitality, acceptance, forgiveness, peace, joy, healing and restoration.

“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.” Hosea 10:12 KJV

It is my desire that all who come to our courtyard  will know God’s goodness and the abundant life that He has given us in Christ Jesus.

“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 61:11 ERV

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