I’m baaaaaaaaaaack and boy do I have a message for you. As you may recall, my last word of encouragement was about “killing me softly” and dieing to the flesh because to truly live is to die (to self), amen?
My question for you today is: if you had to compare your life to a plum or a prune, which would it be?? Ripe plums are sweet, juicy and pleasing to the eye. Prunes are well, dry, not too attractive and they um, well … aid in eliminating the waste from our system. Need I say more?
I know this is not your typical Sunday morning message, but needless to say, the Holy Spirit had me belly laughing so hard while Maddy (my dog) just stared at me with her head tilted to the right.
Luke 13: 6-9 (Amplified) Jesus is giving the following parable: A certain man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it, but did not find any. So he said to the vinedresser, See here! For these three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and I find none. Cut it down! Why should it continue also to use up the ground (to deplete the soil, intercept the sun, and take up room)? But he replied to him, Leave it alone, sir just this one more year till I dig around it and put manure on the soil. Then perhaps it will bear fruit after this; but if not, you can cut it down and out.
Now, you may be thinking, what the heck?! One more year, but I’ve already waited three! Or, perhaps your thoughts are that of the owner of the vineyard – cut it down, it’s using up the ground, intercepting the sun, taking up room (fill in YOUR blank). However, Jesus’ illustration is one of patience … leave it alone just one more year until I add some manure on the soil! Isn’t it bizarre that farmers add manure to soil to aid the growth process or to bring life to something that’s dead? That’s exactly what aids our growth process – “POOP!” Of course I don’t mean real poop (please, see my humor). Think about it though - no poop, no fruit or I like to say poop initiates the fruit! In other words, what we may count as waste, God sees as an aid to our growth process, a “vitamin” so to speak. However, God is waiting on you to take action! He won’t give you more “poop” than you can handle. But, just as the owner of the vineyard came looking for the fruit on the fig tree, God is looking for the fruit in our lives. The fruit is this:
Galatians 5:22 (Amp): But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, gladness, peace, patience, an even temper, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, humility, kindness, self-control. Against such thing there is no law (that can bring a charge).
Friends, let’s not wait until tomorrow because we are not promised tomorrow. As I share with you, I am speaking to myself. Our pastor shared a powerful word on Sunday about the end times and it brought so much conviction to my life because it’s so easy to allow the cares of this life to weigh us down and turn us into a prune. However, it is imperative that our fruit grow in our own backyard because our families are looking to us to exemplify Jesus Christ.
Luke 14:15 talks about the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they heard the word, go out and are choked with cares and bring no fruit to maturity. It doesn’t say something harsh like murder or hatred, it something as simple as cares. Luke 21:24 says: but take heed to yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkedness and (here’s the word again) cares of this life and that day (the coming of the Lord) come upon you unexpectedly.
Man, I don’t know about you, but I don’t want that day to come upon me unexpectedly while I’m at home fighting or quarreling about the “cares” when the word of God clearly tells us to cast all our cares upon Him for he cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).
Well, I leave with this … the fruit is already there because God has already planted the seed in you. Bring it to maturity today; water it by the washing of the water of the Word. Let’s welcome our Father in our midst all the time and not just on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings. Can I get an amen somebody???
My question for you today is: if you had to compare your life to a plum or a prune, which would it be?? Ripe plums are sweet, juicy and pleasing to the eye. Prunes are well, dry, not too attractive and they um, well … aid in eliminating the waste from our system. Need I say more?
I know this is not your typical Sunday morning message, but needless to say, the Holy Spirit had me belly laughing so hard while Maddy (my dog) just stared at me with her head tilted to the right.
Luke 13: 6-9 (Amplified) Jesus is giving the following parable: A certain man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it, but did not find any. So he said to the vinedresser, See here! For these three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and I find none. Cut it down! Why should it continue also to use up the ground (to deplete the soil, intercept the sun, and take up room)? But he replied to him, Leave it alone, sir just this one more year till I dig around it and put manure on the soil. Then perhaps it will bear fruit after this; but if not, you can cut it down and out.
Now, you may be thinking, what the heck?! One more year, but I’ve already waited three! Or, perhaps your thoughts are that of the owner of the vineyard – cut it down, it’s using up the ground, intercepting the sun, taking up room (fill in YOUR blank). However, Jesus’ illustration is one of patience … leave it alone just one more year until I add some manure on the soil! Isn’t it bizarre that farmers add manure to soil to aid the growth process or to bring life to something that’s dead? That’s exactly what aids our growth process – “POOP!” Of course I don’t mean real poop (please, see my humor). Think about it though - no poop, no fruit or I like to say poop initiates the fruit! In other words, what we may count as waste, God sees as an aid to our growth process, a “vitamin” so to speak. However, God is waiting on you to take action! He won’t give you more “poop” than you can handle. But, just as the owner of the vineyard came looking for the fruit on the fig tree, God is looking for the fruit in our lives. The fruit is this:
Galatians 5:22 (Amp): But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, gladness, peace, patience, an even temper, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, humility, kindness, self-control. Against such thing there is no law (that can bring a charge).
Friends, let’s not wait until tomorrow because we are not promised tomorrow. As I share with you, I am speaking to myself. Our pastor shared a powerful word on Sunday about the end times and it brought so much conviction to my life because it’s so easy to allow the cares of this life to weigh us down and turn us into a prune. However, it is imperative that our fruit grow in our own backyard because our families are looking to us to exemplify Jesus Christ.
Luke 14:15 talks about the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they heard the word, go out and are choked with cares and bring no fruit to maturity. It doesn’t say something harsh like murder or hatred, it something as simple as cares. Luke 21:24 says: but take heed to yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkedness and (here’s the word again) cares of this life and that day (the coming of the Lord) come upon you unexpectedly.
Man, I don’t know about you, but I don’t want that day to come upon me unexpectedly while I’m at home fighting or quarreling about the “cares” when the word of God clearly tells us to cast all our cares upon Him for he cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).
Well, I leave with this … the fruit is already there because God has already planted the seed in you. Bring it to maturity today; water it by the washing of the water of the Word. Let’s welcome our Father in our midst all the time and not just on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings. Can I get an amen somebody???
P.S. As a reminder, a prune was once a plum - choose to be sweet today!
2 comments:
As we grow together as friends and in Christ, I truly see a significance in your words and ways. You truly are a light to me with all your knowledge, and your warm smile.
I wanna grow up and be just like you!!!
May the Lord contiune to use you and show you the true blessing that you are to anyone who the Lord blesses with your friendship.
Love Ya!!!
Well said Lauren, gives me something to think about and has shed new light on Luke 13: 6-9.
Thank you and God Bless.
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