Tending Roses and the Garden of Our Hearts

Sam's wife, Jamie, loved flowers in her yard, and she was terrific at growing them. Jamie used a technique that might have helped me over the years. She planted one at a time and carefully tended it until it was well established and growing.

Jamie loved roses. She had two red rose bushes, one planted on either side of her front stoop. I'm ashamed to admit how many roses I've planted. In general, they haven't done well, mostly because they were more trouble than they were worth to me.

When I stopped by Sam's house this past weekend, I was stunned. Jamie's roses are nearly to the roof and are filled with healthy, beautiful flowers. 

Jamie understood that plants need care if they are to thrive. She wanted them to thrive, so she tended them. She provided what was needed to make them grow and bloom. She treated disease before it was widespread. 

Her attention made a difference.

In Jesus' parable of the sower, He talked about the conditions into which the seed was planted. If the soil wasn't right, the seed wouldn't grow. When the good news of Jesus lands in hearts, He said, it wouldn't take root unless conditions were favorable. 

When the conditions in our heart aren't optimal, His word can't take root and yield a harvest in our lives, either. If we gave our hearts the kind of attention Jamie gave her roses, it would be a different matter. She sprayed her roses to rid them of disease, carefully picked off insects, fertilized, pruned as needed. She tended her flowers.

I'm left wondering if I tend my heart the way I tend my roses. Poorly. It's a surprise every time those roses bear flowers, and it's no wonder. If I sprayed, fertilized, and pruned the way Jamie did, I'd have better roses.

If I did that in my own heart, I'd likely have a better, more God-like heart, too. Are there pesty sins that need to be removed? Dead wood that needs pruning? Do I need the fertilizer of God's Word and Bible study? 

What would it take to make my heart a healthy garden in which God's word can flourish? What would it take for your heart?

Today, let's do a heart-check and tend the garden of our heart. If we give them the attention we should, a garden of God's making is sure to grow and we, too, can yield a harvest.

And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit, and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty." Matthew 13:23 nasb

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In case you missed yesterday's post, here's the link: Golden Words

Follow me on Google Plus and see the new collection I've started of Sam Stories.

#word #gardenoftheheart #roses

Morning Quiet Time: Who Speaks First?

I found two notes in the margin of my Bible as I was reading this morning that stopped me in my tracks. 

The passage was from Exodus 29. It was about the consecration of the priests and I was maybe not paying quite as much attention to priest consecration as I should. When I came to verse 43, I had to backtrack to get the full impact. I'll show you the two verses that spoke to me, then tell you what I learned.

"It shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations

 at the doorway of the tent of meeting before the Lord, 

where I will meet with you, to speak to you there. 

And they shall know that I am the Lord their God 

who brought them out of the land of Egypt, 

that I might dwell among them. "  

Exodus 29:42, 46 nasb

My notes in the margin of my Bible (from 2/2005) read:

"The purpose of meeting with God daily is for Him to speak to me."

"The reason for bringing them out of bondage was so that God could dwell with them."

I don't know about you, but sometimes I forget who is supposed to be talking in these early morning quiet times of mine. There are days when my routine goes something like this:

Read a little Scripture. Run through a litany of prayer requests. Proceed to my day.

That's not the way quiet time with the Lord is supposed to go. 

It's not called quiet time because God is supposed to be quiet before us. It's called quiet time because we  are supposed to be quiet before Him. 

I hate to admit this, but I kinda wanted to read over what I'd written yesterday before I got to quiet time this morning. My laptop was in my hand, but I set it aside. "No, Lord. I'd rather hear from You first," I said and reached for my Bible. 

I was cruising through the passage when Exodus 29:42 hit me like a palm to the forehead. "I'd rather speak to you first, too," it seemed as if the Lord said. "I want to dwell with you. That's why I brought you out of your sinful life."

It's what God wants with all of us. He wants to abide, to dwell with us. To speak with us and help us live the kind of lives He intended for us.

We don't have to do life alone. God stands ready to walk through it with us, but the choice is ours.

Will we stop talking long enough to listen? 

Will we step outside our Egypt of sin and allow Him to dwell with us? 

We have a choice to make, and it's one we must make every day. 

No matter how busy we are, no matter how many concerns burden our hearts, the first One who should speak as we begin our day is the Lord God Almighty. If we'll listen, we might find He has exactly the words we needed to hear.

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Our next Friday Night with Friends guest blog will post at 6 pm this Friday night. You don't want to miss it!

In case you missed one of the past week's posts, here are the links: Behavior That Demonstrates Belief, Answered Prayer: The Bulletproof Vest, Bringing Good from Tragedy: Wives of Warriors Make a Difference, Friday Night with Friends: New Beginning, The Temperament Test and Married Oneness, Leaving a Legacy: Choices That Last for Generations, Jumping to Conclusions: The Terrorists That Were Not, Nothing is Impossible: Ayman al-Zawahiri

#quiettime #Godspeaks #chronologicalBible #devotions #JesusChrist #disciple #wordofGod #Biblestudy #Bible

Finding Christmas: The Good Husband

It was more than two decades ago, but I can still see myself, standing in the hallway of the office, one hand on the phone, blinking back tears. Former State Senator Nancy Collins was working at the hospital back then. She had called to ask me to be chairperson for a fund-raiser. I don't remember the cause, but the conversation is still vivid in my mind.

I didn't feel I could tackle a big project, I told her, because I was in the midst of a divorce. It was a devastating time. Between working, dealing with my farm and livestock, and (most importantly) being a single mother, I had more than I could handle already. I was fragile. The thought of adding one more thing to my overwhelming life brought me to tears.

She understood. She'd been there before, she told me, and there were two verses that had sustained her during those difficult days.

Fear not, for you will not be put to shame;

Neither feel humiliated, for you will not be disgraced;

But you will forget the shame of your youth,

And the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more.

For your husband is your Maker,

Whose name is the Lord of hosts;

And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel,

Who is called the God of all the earth.

                                                     Isaiah 54:4,5 nasb

I didn't realize how important those two verses, hidden away in Isaiah, would be to me over the years. The words "your husband is your Maker" rang in my heart. That evening, I wrote the verses on an index card and tucked it in my pocket. I carried it with me until I had memorized the words. They are written on my heart to this day, for they sustained me through a time when I felt shamed, humiliated, and disgraced. A time when I was heart-broken and struggling to carry on.

Nancy was right. My Maker did become my husband, and He has been the best husband imaginable, even though He is a not a "husband with skin on". He's met my needs, provided wisdom, strength, and hope. The shame I felt during that time is only a distant memory.

I've never believed in a "name it and claim it" theology, but I do believe in clinging to truth. Over the years, the truth in Scripture has spoken to me just as these two verses did. It has specifically addressed my need and given me direction, or hope, or strength. Sometimes, it's given me conviction when I was in danger of wandering.

This year, let's immerse ourselves in the Word of God, the Word that became flesh and dwelt among us, the Word we celebrate this season. Whatever need we face, the answer lies in the Word. If we need help, or hope, or strength, we can find it, not in the glitter and rush of this world, but only in God's Word.

"And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14 nasb
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In case you missed any of the past week's posts, here are the links: Finding Christmas: Hidden Paths, Finding Christmas: Not Forgotten, Finding Christmas: Sustenance for the Weary, Finding Christmas: Remembering the Stripes,  Finding Christmas: Look to the Rock, Finding Christmas: The Rear Guard, Finding Christmas: Prosperity and Success, and Finding Christmas: Prophecy Fulfilled. 

The most read post of the last week: Finding Christmas: Separating Truth and Fiction.

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#Advent #keepChristinChristmas #MerryChristmas #JesusChrist #disciple, #Wordof God #Wordbecameflesh, #NancyCollins

Finding Christmas: The Word of God

Several people were gathered around my car, pondering the problem of a second flat tire in less than a week. We were a few feet away from the horses' feed trough and they thought our attention was misdirected. Toby, my cranky thirtyish-year-old horse would not be delayed. He stepped into the trough and began to stomp in an attempt to get my attention. He wanted supper without delay. 

The lush grass of summer is gone and winter grass is in short supply. As I examined the pasture's grass, a verse I'd read earlier in the day came to mind. 

"The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever." (Isaiah 40:8 nasb)

I've been in Isaiah 40 for several days. This morning, I read those verses again and noticed something I'd missed yesterday. The preceding two verses both describe people as grass. It's a truth we don't often consider, but worth remembering.

We are as frail as grass that withers with the frost or wilts in summer heat, and dies. 

We were not made to last forever. 

There's not one person on earth now, nor has there ever been, who can "stand forever". There is no one whose words can last, either.

The Word of God is a different matter. Isaiah tells us it "stands forever". It never fails. It never goes out of date. It's never in error. 

The Word of God is truth that stays true.

There's a trend in Christian circles that is disturbing to me. We have become a people of "God-books" instead of a people of "God's Book". This should not be. Why read about God when we can read words directly from God? Why be a purpose-driven church when we can be a Spirit-led, redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb church? Why pray the prayer of Jabez when we can pray the prayer of Jesus Christ?

I'm not saying that Christian non-fiction doesn't have a place. After all, I write books, too. There is no book, however, that should replace the Bible. It is alive and sharper than a two-edged sword. It is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. 

When we need wisdom, we need look no further than the Word of God. When we need direction, comfort, inspiration, or encouragement, the Word of God has an ample supply. 

If we feel disconnected from God, if we are wondering where God is in the midst of the hustle and bustle of this season, let's take time to anchor ourselves in Words that never fail. Words that come straight from God Himself. 

Schedules are busy and time is in short supply. There's only so much that can be squeezed into 24 hours. I hate to say this, but not even touching Christmas movies are a good substitute for the Word of God. 

As we celebrate the birth of our Savior this month, let's be sure to read what God has to say about this great gift He has given. From Genesis to Revelation, the truth of Christ permeates every page. 

Pasture grass withers. People fail. Despite the frailty of this world, the Word of God stands forever. 

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In case you missed any of the past week's posts, here are the links: Finding Christmas: Something Better than Stuff, Finding Christmas: Setting a Goal, Finding Christmas: When Life is Less than Perfect, Finding Christmas: Clear Vision, Finding Christmas: Making Choices that Count, Finding Christmas: Truth, Tradition, and Choice, and Finding Christmas: The Joy of Relationship.

The most read post of the last week: Finding Christmas: When Life is Less than Perfect

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 #Advent #keepChristinChristmas #MerryChristmas #JesusChrist #disciple #WordofGod

Beginning the Advent Journey

Sunrise from my balcony today. Sweet spot for morning devotions.

* Because I'm traveling today, I'm posting from my Advent devotional book, The Road to Bethlehem. 

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just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, (Luke 1:2 NASB)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1, 14 NASB)

Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You. (Psalms 119:11 NASB)

Luke describes two previous levels of information about Jesus. The first accounts came from eyewitnesses and "servants of the word", who handed down, probably orally, the stories of their personal experience with Christ.  Luke makes a clear distinction between eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 

Eyewitnesses simply reported what they had seen just as they had seen it. They had a story to tell, but not much more. 

Servants of the Word, however, are more than observers. They have become participants who give evidence of the truth of their story by their changed lives.

John tells us that Jesus is the Word, and Peter, when asked if he wanted to leave Jesus as the crowds had done, proclaimed, "Where would we go? You have words of eternal life!" (John 6:68) 

Jesus IS the Word. 

Jesus HAS the Word. 

Jesus SPOKE the Word. 

Our job is to know the Word, embrace the Word, and incorporate it into our lives in such a way that we  become SERVANTS of the Word.  

People who encountered Jesus and His life-changing truth responded in one of two ways. They were either an observer of the Word or became a Servant of the Word. Which are you? Do you merely pass along the stories of Jesus you learned as a child or are you a participant who demonstrates truth by the power of your changed life?  

Today pray to become a more committed Servant of the Word. Pray, too, that our loved ones will encounter believers who are Servants of the Word,  bearing irrefutable witness to the power of Christ by the quality of their transformed lives. May they present that truth in such a way that it is irresistible. 
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If you'd like to follow along during Advent, you can find The Road to Bethlehem on Amazon here. 

In case you missed any of the past week's posts, here are the links:  Grateful Heart: Maggie Protects her Master, Grateful Heart: Hard Times, Red Hot Christmas Pickles and the Broken Jar, Grateful Heart: The Beginning of Stories, Grateful Heart: Blessing of Position, Grateful Heart: Wonder Pickle, and Grateful Heart: Family. 


The most read post of the last week: Praying for Peace.
#Advent #Adventdevotional #JesusChrist #disciple #WordofGod

Where the action happens

"And the Lord said, 'Who then is the faithful and sensible steward, whom his master will put in charge of his servants, to give them their rations at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.'" Luke 12: 42-43 NASB

It sounds terrible, but I've been dreading this section of Scripture. I've spent days (okay, weeks) on the first portion of this passage, and there are more days to come. I have quietly worried that I was "stuck" in the passage. My little foray into Romans felt fresh, and I've worried this would feel stale. 

The Word of God stale? The sharper-than-a-two-edged sword Word of God boring? I might be boring, but God's Word has life in its pages.

I dreaded resuming the series until I opened my Bible and saw Truth again. I am sometimes so very foolish, and I apologize, to you my fellow readers and to our Lord. How could I possibly think reading about being a "faithful and sensible steward" is boring? 

Close to Christ is where the action happens, where all the excitement begins.

We've seen pistis, the word translated as "faithful", several times before. I've reread these posts. Pistis is NOT boring. The woman with the issue of blood had enough pistis to reach out to Jesus' for healing. Jesus told her it was her pistis in Him that made her well. One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is pistis. 

This pistis, or faith, is a rock-solid certainty that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and the One through whom we receive salvation in the Kingdom of God. 

It takes pistis to stake our eternal future on Jesus Christ.

It takes pistis to follow Him every day.

This is not an esoteric concept reserved for a few. This is the bone and muscle of being a disciple of Christ. It's more than "God said it so it's true". This pistis, this kind of faith, believes not only that God can do what He has said, but that He will.

It's the "down to the last dollar and I need milk for the children" faith that knows, somehow, God will send what's needed.

It's "I don't know which way to go because every door is closed" faith that expects, knows, God will open the one door we haven't yet seen, and it will be right.

I learned an interesting thing at Writer's Conference this week. 

I have pistis. 

I don't always act like I have pistis, but when I do, it's a glorious, exciting thing. When I believe with pistis, I believe that there is nothing my God can't do. Nothing needed He won't do to provide for me, His child. 

With pistis, I know the impossible is possible, because I serve a God who laughs at impossibility. I become an Hercule Poirot-Miss Marple-McGyver problem solver because I know the answer is waiting to be found... in Christ alone.

It's who I want to be, and I've spent the last few days considering what it would take to live in wide-open pistis. As Paul wrote, I must get rid of the sin that encumbers me... the fear that encumbers me, and live like I believe. It changes my life when I live that way, and I love the excitement of that lifestyle, the fresh joy every day. 

We're all supposed to be following Jesus with pistis, so let's do it. Let's live with wide open trust in the One who redeemed us. Let's live with the faith of those first century disciples, who weren't afraid to say, "I don't have any money, but I'll give you what I do have. Stand up and walk." 

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Our Father, forgive us for our failure to follow You, to believe You. Help our unbelief and give us the pistis to follow You, to believe You to do what You've promised to do. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Special Seed (Luke 8:5,11)

"The sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell beside the road, and it was trampled under foot and the birds of the air ate it up.

"Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God...(Luke 8:5 NASB)

As Jesus began to explain His parable to the crowd of disciples, He made it clear from the start that the seed was the Word of God. The seed was not the myriad of regulations of the Pharisees, the commentaries of scholars, or the studies written by noted teachers of the time. The seed was not the word of popular speakers or preachers. The seed was not the Word of God plus anything. The seed was simply, completely, totally, and only the Word of God. 

When we understand that one principle, we take a great step in discipleship. No one can write words that replace His Word. No one. (not even this prolific blogger) There is a very important place for a cogent, coherent explanation of Scripture. Well-written exegesis can expand our understanding in amazing ways, but it is still only the Word of God that is the seed. 

"Why is this so important?" you may ask. That's a good question.  Especially in today's culture, where compelling voices compete for our attention, there is a tendency to listen to the loudest or most entertaining voice. Although there is nothing wrong with listening to those voices, at the end of our listening, it is only the Word of God that matters. Does what we hear line up with what God has said? That is the plumb line that must be used. 

There is one very important characteristic of seed that is vital to this understanding. You can't have a harvest without it. There is no way to produce a harvest of any kind without a "real" seed. In the life of a believer, there is no harvest without the work of the Word of God in our lives. Scripture describes the Word of God as a lamp to our feet, and a light to our way (Psalm 119:105). If we allow it to have a harvest in us, not only will we bear fruit that lasts, but we will be able to clearly see the next step on our path. We will have clear direction! In these tumultuous times, knowing the right steps with certainty is invaluable. 

Are you allowing the Word of God to be like a seed planted in your heart? Today, read the words I've written and use them as a magnifying glass to help you see the Word, the Word of God, with clarity. Meditate on that good seed found in the Scripture and allow it to take root in your life. There's no other way to have a harvest. 

Today, pray that we and our loved ones will allow the seed of the Word of God (and that only) to be planted in the fertile soil of our hearts. 

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Link to last night's excellent guest post: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/06/friday-night-with-friends-self-control.html

The Flabbergasted Heart

And He came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and He was teaching them on the Sabbath; and they were amazed at His teaching, for His message was with authority. (Luke 4:31, 32 NASB)

The word that is translated "amazed" is ekplēssō, which means (according to blueletterbible.org) "1)to cast off by a blow, to drive out

2)commonly, to strike one out of self-possession, to strike with panic, shock, astonish

3)to be struck with amazement, astonished, amazed"

You don't quite get the idea from that very overused word "amazed", but when Jesus taught in  Capernaum, the people responded in a totally different way than in Nazareth. In Capernaum, Jesus's teaching hit them like a blow and left them reeling. It knocked them out of their self-possession  and not only made them think but brought lasting change. 

What a great way to receive the Word! When was the last time you heard the truth of Scripture in such a way that it totally flabbergasted you and left you speechless with the profundity of it? When did you last allow God's Word to bring lasting change in your life?

Today, pray that we and our loved ones will hear God's Word with ekplēssō and that we will be struck to the core of our being with truth that brings lasting change and makes us more like Jesus.