God's Favorite Fruit

Anyone who knows me well knows just how much I love to EAT! In fact, I

love to eat all kinds of foods from all five food groups. I truly savor all sorts of foods with varying textures, smells, and tastes. But I do believe that some of my absolute favorite foods are fruits ripened and in season. Take a big, juicy strawberry, for instance. Or how how about fresh blackberries, peaches, nectarines, and exotic fruits such as kiwi and mangos? My mouth waters just thinking about how delicious they taste. How about you? What type of fruit do you savor and long for?

My mind turns to yet another type of fruit—heavenly fruit. It is the fruit that gets God’s full and undivided attention. It is not edible, of course. Yet it is a fruit that God honors and unequivocally savors. It is called the “fruit of the Spirit” and its effects last much longer than the edible kind.

As Christians growing in the Lord, God calls us to possess these qualities in increasing measure. Now, I have to be brutally honest. How is it possible to always be lovable, joyful, peaceful, patient, and kind? How can I always have goodness, gentleness, and faithfulness in my heart? Let us not forget self-control, which I believe is one of the most difficult character traits to possess.

Early in my walk with Christ I remember asking God specifically for these fruits of the Spirit. “Please Lord, give me love, give me joy, give my peace, give me patience, give me, give me, give me.” Now, please don’t misunderstand me. My heart was in the right place, but I was somewhat misinformed. I soon found out that there is no way my human sinful nature could display all of these wonderful virtues in my life day in and day out. I would try to be loving, patient, and kind and some days I did pretty well. Then the next day would roll around and for some reason I lacked patience and self-control. Of course, I’d blame it on hormonal imbalance or my kids. I quickly began a self-defeating, downward spiral believing that I would never be able to possess all of these wonderful character traits. Frustratingly, I concluded that I just didn’t have what it takes.

Fortunately, God loves me enough to clarify His Word to me. My eyes were opened and I found new hope as I began to understand that I would never be able to master the fruits of the Spirit in my own strength. I learned that the Holy Spirit is working spontaneously in me to produce these character traits and only as I fill myself with Him will I ever be able to exhibit these stellar qualities. Simply put, they are by-products of living under His control. God lovingly taught me that the more I submitted to His control, the easier it would be for me to be loving, joyful, or patient. I realized that the Holy Spirit is the one who possesses all of these qualities and I can’t obtain them in my own strength or get them without his help. In short, I can not bypass a relationship with Him. These qualities are the very nature of Jesus Christ and as I join my life with His and make my relationship with Him a priority, He will begin to produce these traits in me in increasing measure.

Will I still mess up and lack self-control or patience at times? I know I will. But through God’s forgiveness and grace He will enable me to begin again. Thank goodness, He doesn’t give up on me as easily as I do myself! Together, we’ll tackle these virtues that need to be perfected. I know he’ll lovingly teach and guide me because He’s invested a lot in me. And he thinks I’m worth it!

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Gal 5:22.

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lam 3:23

Waiting on God

My pastor is currently doing a series on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount wherein Jesus gave the Beatitudes. Jesus taught the multitudes about what really mattered – heartfelt obedience, not legalistic observance of the law. The third beatitude talks about the meek. “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” Matthew 5:5. I’ve always wondered what it means to be meek. Although the dictionary defines it as being patient, humble and submissive, the worldly definition seems to invoke a state of “weakness” and “timidity.” Is that what meekness really is? No. On the contrary, biblical meekness is strength under control. It involves quietly submitting to God and in one’s patience keeping possession of his own soul, even when he cannot possess or change anything else. In other words, he recognizes that “self” can’t do anything. Basically it means that self-help can’t help. It is a recognition and desire to hand over the controls of your life to God. Biblical meekness is about releasing your life and decisions to God. You recognize that you are insufficient to handle life on your own. Then, you do the hardest part of all—be still and wait on God, especially through the difficult situations. God is certainly not slumbering while you are waiting for His answer. He has a magnificent way of working on his children during the “waiting” period, and often the process of waiting for a message from God can be just as important as the message itself. So be on the lookout for God’s answers. Don’t give in to worry which will do nothing but promote anxiety and distrust.

What makes waiting so difficult? It is interesting to note that we are willing to wait on things that are important to us. For example, we wait in line at a grocery store so we can buy groceries; we wait by the phone for an important phone call regarding a doctor’s prognosis; we wait for months for the arrival of a healthy baby; and we even plan and wait for next summer’s vacation. In short, the value we place on a person or object dictates the amount of time we are willing to wait on them. Don’t we value hearing from God? Why is it we always feel we have to run ahead of Him and take matters into our own hands? It is inevitable—He will speak and He will act, yet in His timing. The question remains, “Are you willing to wait?”

If you are willing to wait on God why not take a moment to consider meekness. Jesus taught that the meek are blessed and will inherit the earth. Remember though that being blessed means much more than a state of happiness. Things in this life do not always promote happiness. Can you be happy when you watch your savings account plummet to an all time low? Can you be happy when your employer terminates your position due to downsizing and hard economic times? Can you be happy when your child makes unwise decisions that reap severe consequences? No, of course not. Being blessed in God’s kingdom means experiencing a hope and joy despite any difficult circumstances you may be going through. This hope and joy goes much deeper. It means not fretting over unrighteousness, but leaving that in the hands of mighty God. It involves releasing your fears and the things you have tried to control over to Him. It means following Jesus and trusting Him to keep His Word. Above all it means continually focusing on Him, not your outward circumstances. This is not to say that it will be easy—it will take diligent effort on your part. Fill your mind with the truth of God’s Word and let it sink in deep. Surround yourself with Christian brothers and sisters who can pray for you in your weakness. Pray and fast while you wait for your answer.

When Jesus says the meek will inherit the earth I believe He is saying that this meek state of heart will promote comfort and security, and that you truly will be able to find solace and peace even in the midst of difficulty. Continue to be patient, doing the work God has given you to do, and allow Him to choose the best time to change your circumstances. He promises that if you submit to His timing, He will honor you.

“Wait for the Lord and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you will see it. Psalm 37:34

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” 1 Peter 5:6

“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.” Psalm 37:5

Are you listening?

How many times have you prayed to God for an answer or for specific direction; yet shortly thereafter frustratingly concluded that you need to take matters into your own hands? Even though you know that the God in heaven hears your prayers, how on earth is He supposed to answer them? Or does He even answer them? Maybe He just wants us to figure things out for ourselves. After all, that is why He gave us a mind, right?

Over the years I’ve certainly questioned how and if God answers our prayers and I now know with full conviction that YES, God does speak to his children. I have also come to realize that He had been trying to speak to me for a long time through many different avenues and the problem was not Him, but me. The reason I could not hear God’s voice is because I wasn’t listening. Usually my prayer time would consist of a long laundry list of personal requests. I would pour out my heart to God and then walk away without waiting and watching for His answer. The next day I’d come to Him with the same old list, and maybe a few more requests. Over many years, I learned that prayer was much more than just pleading to God on my behalf as well as others’ behalf. Yes, I should make my supplication known to God, yet I failed to do the most important thing of all—expectantly anticipate His answer. I have also learned that things don’t change when I talk to God; things change when God talks to me!

So how does God talk to us? I believe God can and does talk to us in many different ways. He talks directly to our hearts through the Holy Spirit in our prayer time, through circumstances, in worship, through other Christians, and most importantly through His Word. How God chooses to speak to me may be different than how God chooses to speak to you. Who are we to put God “in a box”? He can manifest Himself to us in any way that He so desires—in a vision or a dream, through the innocent voice of a child, or maybe even through a Christian song played on the radio at just the right time. The question is not Can God Speak to Us but Are You Willing to Listen to Him?

You might be wondering how you can hear that which is not audible, or see that which is not visible, or even sense that which is not tangible? First, we must recognize that we will not be able to clearly hear God’s beautiful voice in the busyness, noisiness, and frenzied activities of our day. We must set aside some time to be alone with Him, to sit at His feet and bask in His presence. God longs to speak to His children, but He will not compete for our time. Secondly, we must come to Him with a clean heart. Don’t expect to hear from God if you are harboring bitterness and unforgiveness in your heart. You must confess and turn away from your sins. Remember, you are entering hallowed ground. God is a holy God and our sinfulness grieves the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. Create in me a pure heart O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.

Next, anticipate hearing God’s voice. After times of prayer, worship, and the reading/studying of God’s Word, sit quietly, expectantly waiting for God to speak to your heart. Don’t just say your Amen’s, close your Bible, and run off to the next task on your To Do List. Linger a little while longer and sit quietly with your eyes closed and ask God to speak to you. “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.”

Most importantly, be purposeful in your listening. Practice active listening, not passive listening. Really open your ears and allow His words to digest the truth in your heart. I’ve heard it said that maybe God gave us two ears and one mouth because He wants us to spend twice as much time listening. Just remember that this type of listening requires participation from you. You must engage all of yourself—your mind, your body, and your actions. Invite the Holy Spirit to speak to you and fully concentrate on Him. What is He saying to you? Is there an example for you to follow? A sin to turn away from?

Above all, when God does speak, be obedient. Remember that Christianity is proactive, not passive. If we seek to draw closer to God, to learn, grow and mature in our faith, we must be "doers" of the Word. Luke 8:18 says to “Be sure to pay attention to what you hear. To those who are open to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But to those who are not listening, even what they think they have will be taken away from them.”

Remember, there is no magic formula for hearing God’s voice. Come to Him with a clean heart, anticipate hearing from Him, and allow yourself time to attentively listen for His soft, still voice. If you are one of his sheep, you will hear Him. Watch your relationship with Him flourish as you no longer will be the one doing all the talking. You’ll learn to decipher His voice from your own and you’ll sense His leading and direction. Above all, God promises you will be blessed in all you do.

The one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, he shall be blessed in what he does. James 1:25

Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man. Matthew 7:24

My sheep hear my voice. I know them and they follow me. John 10:27

Silence is Golden

It’s the New Year and I have a question for you. Have you taken the time to sit quietly by yourself to reflect on the upcoming year and possibly set some new goals? Or maybe just to reflect on some things you’d like to change about yourself, some places you’d like to visit? Now, I’m not talking about making New Year’s Resolutions. You know, the high goals and aspirations that only set you up for failure. I’m talking about just sitting quietly by yourself and God to think about the new year that has just been ushered in.

There is something to be said about just being silent. No noise. Period. No TV, no radio, no other voices. Silence helps us to reconnect with God and ourselves in a way that nothing else can. Yet often we tend to avoid silence in our lives. I, too, am guilty of turning on the radio, even Christian radio, to fill the quiet moments in my day.

Silence is golden because it is in the quiet moments when we can really listen to our hearts. We can hear our deepest desires and longings. We can hear the Holy Spirit speak to our conscience about different matters that concern us. And yes, we can hear our heart’s true condition—even if it is not as pure and lovely as we thought. Often silence reveals sin in our lives that needs to be confessed. Yes, God speaks to us in the silent places, not in the clamor of noisiness. I believe that is why he says in Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God.” Could it be that we are avoiding silence because we are afraid of what He may reveal to us? Or could it be that we feel lazy if we are not always “doing” something? Or maybe we are trying to fill a void and using noise to cover it up.

Each one of us needs to take time to recharge our batteries. We can do this by simply finding a place where we can retreat and be still. It is our own “secret garden,” our place of quiet and solace. Our personal little retreat. We need to frequent this place of solitude often. This is where we can commune with God and allow Him to purge the unnecessary weight and burdens we often carry around. This is where He convicts us, fills us with hope, and gives us His power to start anew. This is the place where He helps us put things into proper perspective and teaches us to focus on matters that have eternal significance. Sometimes, we may be still and find ourselves not thinking of anything at all, and that may be just what we need. To stare idly out a window to watch the squirrels and birds and just savor the beauty of nature all around us that often goes unnoticed.

This year why not give yourself a special gift? A gift of quiet time all to yourself. I know it will satisfy much longer and better than any reality TV shows, shopping sprees, or idle phone conversations. You owe this to yourself and your God who continually beckons you to come away with Him to a quiet place of rest. Make some room in your life for silence and really listen to your heart. You may just be amazed at what you hear!

“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:31

"In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength." Isaiah 30:15

The Greatest Gift of All

Every year I promise myself it will be different. I’ll slow down and really focus on the true meaning of Christmas. Yet for some odd reason December always marks a season of increased frenzy. Who do I need to buy for? What kind of gifts would they like? Who is coming during the holidays? What meals will I prepare? What about cookies? The list goes on and on. Now please don’t misunderstand me. I love preparing for Christmas and I thoroughly enjoy having guests and family over. Unfortunately what often happens in such busyness is that the actual reason we are celebrating Christmas to begin with goes by unnoticed. While I’m so preoccupied in preparing for Christmas, baby Jesus does not get the attention he deserves. Sure the manger is set up next to the Christmas tree, but how often do I stop to look at it and ponder the miraculous event that occurred over 2,000 years ago? How often do I talk to my children about that beautiful baby lying in the manger? They are older now and know the Christmas story. Yet I still feel there is something else I should be focusing on. Something else I should be doing instead. And year after year I vow to change that. I promise to really slow down, forget about all the decorating, the baking, and the entertaining. I vow to tell my children let’s just pass on the gifts this year. Or better yet, let’s donate the money we’d normally spend on gifts to a charitable organization.

However, when Christmas arrives and my children open their gifts, and our family is sitting around the table together laughing and enjoying one another, I feel so happy and fulfilled. As I see the joy on everyone’s faces, all the time spent buying, decorating, cooking and baking has been worth it. I just know Jesus is sharing that joy with us. I can see Him smiling from heaven above as He sees us filled with happiness and laughter. He remembers we’re human; He knows all of our inadequacies; yet, He also knows we’re trying. We do know the true meaning of Christmas—it is all about Him. He’s the one who should be getting all the gifts, not us. But He’s okay with that too. He’s so incredibly generous. So much so that He gave us the greatest gift of all—Himself. And if we can just make a little room for Him in our hearts and invite Him in, I just know He’d be thrilled. After all, we’re the reason He came. We’re His gifts and He is filled with love for us. So much so that He left heaven to come to earth as a baby, live as a man, and suffer and die as a criminal. He did all of this to save us from eternal separation from Himself. He’s the greatest gift of all, and He is the reason we celebrate Christmas.

So let me ask you a question. If you haven’t opened that beautiful gift yet, the gift of Jesus, will you consider doing so? Or if you’ve opened His gift and received Him into your heart, but just haven’t taken the time to learn about Him and grow spiritually through bible study and prayer, can you commit to giving Him the gift of your time? You know what? You won’t ever need to open another gift, because He is all you’ll ever need. All other gifts will pale in comparison. No other gift will satisfy your deepest needs, longings, and desires. Other gifts are temporal and will fade away with time, but His gift is life-changing and eternal. You’ll notice that His gift will give you more love, more patience, more understanding, more hope, more faith, more strength, and more power than you have ever had before. His gift is the gift that keeps on giving. Yes, Jesus truly is the Greatest Gift of All!

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23

"If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." John 4:10

What kind of soil are you?

Now what kind of question is that? Oblige me for a moment while I explain.

I’ve always been intrigued by Jesus’ Parable of the Sower found in Matthew 13. It’s the parable of the farmer who goes out to sow his seed among the soil. This story is satiated with meaning and I find it quite interesting that each one of us is likened to a different type of soil. The seed is simply God’s Word and is scattered by the farmer among the soil. "As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path…some fell on rocky places…other seed fell among thorns…and still other seed fell on good soil. Matthew 13:4-7. How we receive and apply the seed tells us what kind of soil we are made of. Excuse me for saying so, but every one of us is a “kind of soil”. Either you are the soil on the path, the soil by the rocky places, the soil among the thorns, or the fertile soil. Another analogy is that you are one of four different types of spiritual hearers. You either have a closed mind, a cloudy mind, a cluttered mind, or a committed mind.

Let me quickly summarize what they imply:
Soil #1 is the soil along the path. This represents the person with a “closed mind.” “Some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.” Matt 13:4. This person hears the Word of God, yet doesn’t fully commit to understanding it, nor does he care to for that matter. This is the passive listener who may have heard hundreds of sermons, yet listens with a closed mind. He has no intention of changing his ways or applying the message he has heard. Over time his heart has hardened and become calloused because he has heard the message so often without responding. He listens to a point; however, when obedience or commitment is required, he slams the door shut on his mind. He’s done.

Soil #2 is the soil that falls on rocky places. He is the one who hears the Word and instantly receives it with joy, but since he has no root, his joy lasts for only a little while. As soon as trouble comes, he quickly falls away. This soil represents the person with a “cloudy mind.” “Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.” Matt. 13:5-6. This person enthusiastically trusts Jesus as his Lord and Savior and he prefers to learn about God through thrilling Christian experiences. Yet, he doesn’t take the time to become grounded in the Word of God by studying Scripture. Therefore, he has no deep, doctrinal foundation. When the storms come and turbulent waves toss him to and fro, he falls apart. Since his roots are shallow, he quickly begins to doubt. This “cloudy mind” enjoys the security of knowing he’s missing hell and going to heaven, but he has no intention of growing in his faith through the diligent reading and studying God’s Word.

Soil #3 is the soil that is mixed in with the thorns. This is the person with a “cluttered mind”. “Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.” Matt 13:7. He hears and receives the Word and may even diligently study the Bible, but his mind is constantly churning with questions of various sorts. Did I turn off the stove? I wonder what is wrong with Betty. When will I get a raise at work? This mind is spinning aimlessly about. Thorn bushes of worry set in and suffocate the cluttered mind. Worldly cares bombard him until there is no room for God anymore. Though God continually beckons us, how can a mind so cluttered with worries and the cares of this world even hear God speak? Consistency in God’s Word is rare, since there is always something to do, somewhere to go, something to worry about. When he does make the time, it is usually half-hearted and hurried. Therefore, he misses out on the blessings of fellowship with God and he becomes unfruitful.

Soil #4 is the fertile soil and it represents the person with a “committed mind.” “Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown.” Matt 13:8. This is the person who is ready for God’s Word to penetrate deeply. He is likened to fertile soil which has been cultivated and is ready to germinate and bring forth fruit. Likewise, the “committed mind” brings forth abundant fruit because he has a teachable spirit and thoroughly savors sitting in God’s presence to learn and grow. A child’s mind is an example of such a teachable spirit. Children believe with open and impressionable hearts. Jesus tells us that we are to come to Him as little children. The greatest truths are available to all who come in humility and love.

Now, before you feel like a total failure, let me state that each and every one of us has at some time or another been just like soil #1, #2, and #3. But can you make a commitment to becoming like the fertile soil? Can you give God your best and come to him with an open heart and mind ready to listen and apply what He teaches you? Just as Jesus committed to rescuing us on that dreadful cross so many years ago, why not commit to giving Him all of our hearts, minds, and souls? It truly is spiritually impossible to apply God’s Word day after day, week after week, and not bear fruit. He promises to change us from the inside out and turn us into His productive and maturing children. With His help, we will be ready, willing, and able to carry out the plans and purposes He has specifically for each of us. So, let me ask you again.

What kind of soil are you?

May I have your attention, please?

I have a question for you. How does God go about getting our attention? Even though God is capable of doing anything He wants in any fashion whatsoever, I have found that He chooses to communicate and get our attention in some very interesting ways. I’ll be quite honest, sometimes I just wish Jesus would come down personally and make Himself tangibly visible to me. He would let me pour out my heart to Him, and then He’d gently cup my face in His hands, wipe away my tears, and speak to me in a gentle and audible voice. He’d give me step by step instructions on how to handle whatever is plaguing me, and then He’d whisper in my ear how confident He is in my ability to handle whatever comes my way.

The longer I have been a Christian the more I have come to experience that God does, in fact, communicate with us; however, often in rather unusual ways. At times He gets our attention through blessings; at other times, through sorrow. There is no limit to how God can speak to a person. In fact, how He chooses to speak to me may be quite different than how He chooses to speak to you. And how He chooses to get my attention and speak to me today may differ significantly from how He chooses to do so five years from now. The bottom line is we cannot limit or put God in a box. He is significantly far greater, far more powerful, far more holy, and far more sovereign than you and I can ever comprehend. Who are we to say that God can’t or God won’t act on our behalf? The Bible is replete with examples of God moving and acting in powerful ways. Take the story of Abraham and Sarah, for example. God promised that He would make a great nation from Abraham. Did you know that Abraham was 75 years old before God spoke and said to him, “Leave your country, your people, and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you.” Gen 12:1-2. Yet, it was another 25 years before this promise came to fruition and at the ripe ages of 95 and 90 Abraham and Sarah had their promised child, Isaac. To us this sounds so unimaginable, but with God nothing is impossible.

In the Bible we read stories of God getting people’s attention in various and peculiar ways: by giving children at ripe old ages, by talking through burning bushes, by revealing Himself through dreams and visions, and even by speaking through a donkey! We must simply agree that God can get our attention any way He wants!

As a Christian, it is our duty to live keenly responsive to God’s voice. Unfortunately, at times when life is going well, we don’t seem to be as interested in hearing what God has to say. Then something will happen and our lives will be shaken up as we question what God is up to. God is trying to communicate with us and sometimes it takes a little “shake up” for us to listen. Charles Stanley, one of my favorite Christian authors, believes that God gets our attention by giving us a restless spirit, through a word from others, through blessing us in most unusual ways, by unanswered prayer, and by unusual circumstances.

Persistent restlessness can be an indication that God is trying to get your attention. This is not the time to run hastily full steam ahead and make quick, hasty decisions. Rather, it is the time to slow down, seek Him intently, and listen for His voice. Other times God chooses to speak His words to us through other Christians. Of course, we should take all matters to Him and not just act on the advice of a loving friend, but it is important to listen with an open heart for God often chooses to convey His message to us through others. Sometimes God uses unusual blessings to get our attention. Now I like that way! These blessings are not limited to financial ones. He sure gets our attention this way and we recognize that His motive is always out of His incredible love for us. And then there is unanswered prayer. When heaven remains silent, we must take this opportunity to do a thorough self-examination. Look at yourself, your actions, attitudes, and motives under a microscope. Is there unconfessed sin in your life hindering God’s response? Maybe the request is simply not in line with God’s will and your own agenda has to be surrendered. Often God uses disappointments to bring us back to Him to heed His voice.

Lastly, there are the unusual circumstances that seem to come from out of nowhere. These can involve many things such as failure, sickness, financial collapse, and even tragedy. And these more than anything else, get our attention and usually rather swiftly. They are comprised of the major disappointments and deep sorrows in our lives that cause everything to stand still while we cry out, “Where are you God? Do you hear me? Are you with me?” It is in these desperate times that we are captive audiences of God. It is important to remember that God doesn’t necessarily bring calamity upon His people out of disapproval, but at times He does allow them to suffer. Use your disappointments and your pain to turn your attention to God, the true source of all strength, power, and healing. If we call upon and seek Him, He will be found and He will give us the strength to overcome any struggles that come our way. My grace is sufficient for you for my power is made perfect in your weakness. 2 Cor 12:8

Let us become wise and learn to live our lives for the presence of God in all circumstances of life. May we begin to see His almighty hand in every situation—in the good, and yes, even the not so good.