Tag Archives: growing spiritually

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Do you need to restore your joy as a Christian?

RE-store, RE-condition, RE-connect, RE-vive!

RE-store, RE-condition, RE-connect, RE-vive!

After 15 years, I’ve decided our deck needs to be worked on.  It’s weathered, cracking, splintering, and you know, just wearing down from the forces of nature.  The Mississippi sunshine beats down on it.  The rain has a big part in wearing down this decking.  Also the human traffic, dragging chairs and furniture, the salt and chlorine from the pool….(even the cat who claws the post). Any and everything that can wear this wooden deck down is in high gear to try to turn it from a well conditioned deck into a rotting mass of wood and decay.

Until! ………..  DadadaDAAAAA! (Musical Intro!)  Until I hear about the 40% off all paint at the paint store.  My wife and daughter always tell me they shop because of sales.  (Seems like they always BUY because of sales too).  Well, I’m joining in myself.  Save 40%, so I’ll buy a bunch of buckets of paint for that deck of mine.

I’ve known for quite some time that the deck was needing a RE– conditioning.  I’ve just let it rock on.  The store has a paint that will RE-store your deck.  It also will RE-condition, and RE-vive.  Even says on the paint can that it will “make it like brand new again”.  I’m wondering if it works that well if I can take a drink of it.  A big ole swig just might be what I need for myself.

Restore unto me the joy of your salvation, and let a willing attitude control me Psalms 51:12  International Standard Version

OK, personal question here….. Is the joy of being a Christian fading, being worn away, and is being lost from all the weathering in your earthly life?  Well, it’s time to get RE- ‘d.  Anything that begins with RE-.   Restored, revived, realigned, reconnected, recharged, rekindled, REVIVED.

What’s amazing is that God Himself will be the one that restores you.  You are the one that must become motivated enough to ask for this reconditioning.  It’s a process between you and God.  It may not be an overnight thing.  It might take a “couple of coats”.  You gotta believe that your Lord and Saviour wants you to have a life that’s protected from this world’s harm.  You gotta believe that He knows and cares about your condition.  You gotta believe. You do don’t you?

See Ya!  Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher

 

 

 

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What to do when someone says, “what you’re doing will not amount to anything”.

a separate persimmon tree surrounded by an oak

a separate persimmon tree surrounded by an oak

Study this picture and you’ll see that is not a limb growing out of this tree, but it is an entirely different tree growing in  a most difficult situation.  Both trees are very old.  The net fencing at the bottom of the tree was put there during my papaw’s time of farming.  The barbed wire fencing has been nailed onto the tree over the last decades.  The top strand has actually grown into the persimmon tree over the past 30 years  I was curious why us farmers nailed the fencing to the small tree and not the much larger tree.  That’s when I realized that the small persimmon tree was growing more upright.  Poor little tree.  Sure has and is taking a lot of abuse just to be able to live where it is.

What is amazing to me is that each year this persimmon tree bears a lot of fruit.  Persimmons….. they don’t call it deer candy for nothing.  The cows love them.  As well as the horses, deer, and myself as well.  This tree’s fruits are sweeter than most persimmons.  But looking at this tree you would think that it would not amount to anything.  Wrong, wrong, wrong.

It does make you wonder what kind of tree this would have been had it been planted somewhere all by itself, away from encroaching oak trees, and farmers’ fence staples.  Probably would be 50 feet tall, with  uniform and gloriously spreading branches reaching in every direction.  It’s got perfect limbs, perfect leaves, why I bet there’s a bench under this perfect tree where people come sit to look and gaze and admire at what a perfect tree looks like. It’s got its own website, social media, fan club, and bank account.  A perfect tree in anyone’s book.  It has amounted to something.  But trees don’t decide where they are to be planted.  They are created to bear fruit.

But back to the original tree that struggles to make it.  I showed this tree to several people to see what their comments would be.  Most folks thought that the tree was struggling, it wasn’t being treated fairly, and that it certainly wouldn’t amount to anything where it is.  Wrong, wrong, and more wrong.  It bears fruit every year for the cows, deer, critters and me.  It definitely doesn’t look like it should.  It struggles.  but, the fruit is sooooo good.     To those of us critters 2 and 4 legged that know this tree, it’s valuable.  To the world in general, it is not going to amount to anything.

What about you?  Has life stapled barbed wire around you.  Does it seem that worldly “problems” have surrounded your life?  Have you heard someone say that you/your life will not amount to anything?

Matthew 7:16 NLT You can identify them by their fruits, that is, by the way they act………

People who tell you that you won’t amount to anything measure success by the amounts.  You know, the amount of units sold, the amount of money possessed, the amount of people you control, the amounts of anything you can claim.  But shouldn’t we be more than that.  Because if that is our life’s true goal, then we truly haven’t amounted to anything.

Identify yourself by your “fruits”.  Even when wrapped up in “barbed wire” and surrounded by the world you can still be what God has created you to be.  I like to think that this persimmon tree is a great example of “living in but not of this world”.  It’s focused on bearing fruit, growing upright, and LIVING no matter what comes.

So there you are producing fruit.  So many different fruit trees.  Look at this list of fruit…… teaching music to a child, singing at the nursing home, raising children, leading a men’s group, praying for someone, volunteering, helping the needy, being there for someone.  My, my, the list is endless as it should be.  Fruits of the spirit have no limit.  They  also  have no amount.  God knows where you’ve been “planted”.  He knows about the “barbed wires” of your life that could hold you back. But He also sees “your fruit”.  Well done, keep on bearing fruit, growing upright, and LIVING no matter the cost.

What should you say when you are told that you won’t amount to anything?  My advice……. say nothing.  You are focused on bearing fruit, not amounts.  That’s difficult to calculate what is considered successful to some people.  Or……………, you could tell them they are wrong, wrong, wrong.  That to argue with them about what you are worth would be a waste of your time.  Besides, it wouldn’t amount to anything.  Bam! 

 

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Put On the Full Armor of God

armor of God

So, last week’s video was funny……hahahaha, well, it wasn’t that funny. (see last week’s blog of me being chased by bees).  The point made very clear was that I didn’t have all the protection needed against the bees.  I didn’t have the gloves and hat with veil on.  I faced my battle only half prepared.

Ephesians 6:13 (NIV)13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground…….

Read verses 10 – 20.  Little ole you and little ole me are “battling” against evil forces in this world.  Yep, you yourself are in a war with the powers of this dark world.  You are at odds with another student, a co-worker, other people, situations beyond your control.  Maybe you need armor to protect you from people, from traffic, work situations,……from yourself.  How does the “forces of evil destroy you?  Answer, one sting at a time.

Tell me if this hasn’t happened to you.  You wake up excited about a new day.  Let’s see what God’s got in store for my journey today.  Then suddenly it hits.  The first sting, just an annoying occurrence.  It could be bad traffic, a putdown from someone, a difference of opinion.  Then the 2nd and 3rd sting……  getting no show of respect, or worse, no love from these other people (and forces) trying to stop your Spiritual Journey.  It seems like people are ganging up on you.  Finally the final onslaught of vicious attacks and STINGS!!!  You know,  the doubts and especially the FEARS that are placed in your head making you want to quit.  To give up. They come from other people, from the TV, from the weather, from the dad blame car you’re driving.  The day of evil comes against you in any and everything possible. It changes your attitude.  You go from positive to negative.  You turn sour.  You want to kick your dog (and sometimes the people you most care about).  Well, buddy, whether you can realize it, you are fighting with the forces of evil…… and you are losing!!!  Sorry to break the news to ya!

Without full "armor" I couldn't do this.

Without full “armor” I couldn’t do this.

What’s most troubling is how all this dark and evil power can still get inside of our head.  Then you yourself become your worst enemy.  Try wearing the armor of God but forgetting to button up the last button.   Ever had a bee inside of the veil crawling on your lip, then stinging you inside of your nose?  I just did! The pain is tough, but worse is the change in brain activity from “I’ve got this” to now dealing with more bees that sting,(fears, doubts, anxiety, panic).   An unfortunate predicament is to not be fully armored with 6 bees inside of your veil.  You can’t do anything about it because of the hundreds outside looking to get in.  A most unfortunate predicament is to have 6 of those “stingers” inside of the armor God’s given you.  Now what you gonna do?  Can’t get them out because of the hundreds looking to get in.  The forces of evil are massive against little ole you.  That’s why it takes the full protection.  Not just a Bible on your desk, but in your hands.  Not just a churchy visit, but a worship service with fellow Christians and God.  Not just a wandering walk through life, but a journey each day with your Lord and Saviour.  Button up that last button!!!

Funny (like the previous weeks’ video) how we go into spiritual battle only half protected, or with one last button unbuttoned.  Sad how we think that all is fine, (I hate that word), and that we will be able to handle everything.

Maybe this story will help us to realize how serious our spiritual battles are each and every day. Little ole you and me better suit up everyday for every possibility.  How can we best go out into this world against forces of evil.  Prayer…… not just “God is great, God is good, pass the bacon” prayer.  Not some religious “thee’s and thou’s” prayer.  But a most powerful prayer from your very own heart that goes like this. “LORD, HELP ME!

Watch out soldier!  You have now become dangerous!  To God be the Glory!  Let the past wounds heal.  Move on from past defeats.  Little ole you may be in the battle (and battles) of your life!  With God by your side, and wearing His FULL armor, don’t be surprised to see rewards along the journey!  Matter of fact, expect it!   See Ya!

armorreward