It isn't always new - it could be unused

Get the word out. Teach all these things... Teach believers with your life: by word, by demeanor, by love, by faith, by integrity. Stay at your post reading Scripture, giving counsel, teaching. And that special gift of ministry you were given...keep that dusted off and in use. Cultivate these things. Immerse yourself in them. The people will all see you mature right before their eyes! Keep a firm grasp on both your character and teaching. Don’t be diverted. Just keep at it. Both you and those who hear you will experience salvation. (I Timothy 4:11-16)

There is much to be learned, much more to be incorporated into our lives, and way more to we can become consistent in practicing than most of us really want to admit. I always say it is a good day when I have learned something new. It might just be a clever way to recycle some object into a newly purposed item for my home or garden, or something more academic which I can use over and over to solve problems. As I go about the day "learning" new stuff, when and where I choose to use this newly acquired knowledge is entirely my decision. Just because I get exposed to a truth doesn't mean it is of use - at least not until I am willing to believe it, act upon it, and stand in it fully. This is often where we fall short in the realm of moving from "learning" to the place of making the stuff we learn impact our daily practical life. A lot of times, we don't need new truth - we just need to bring out the stuff we have learned some time ago, dust it off and put it into fresh use in our lives!

The best opportunity to learn comes when we see an example of how it is we are to do something. I am self-taught in a good many things. Unfortunately, this means a lot of trial and error. It I don't put any new knowledge into regular and consistent use, we have just tucked it away without really mastering it. We often treat God's truth this way. We get exposure to it, even have someone willing to live as an example of that truth right in front of us, and then we do nothing more than "tuck it away". We have just fallen short of really "learning" the truth. How are we 'taught'? Most of the time, we find learning occurs more cy what is 'caught' than what is 'taught'. What we speak is important. What we choose to remain silent about also speaks volumes. Choosing words well, using them to encourage, building up each other unto full maturity, this is proper use of our words. Choosing words which correct may also be throwing someone a lifeline. As important as other things are in our lives, our words have to match our walk. Any amount of disconnect between what is spoken and what is lived out gives those who look upon our lives a "mark" far from mid-center at which to aim with their own actions and attitudes.

Our demeanor matters. This is nothing more than how we conduct our daily business. We can look all "put together" and "self-righteous", but when the chips are down, how we walk out the truth we proclaim to live by becomes apparent. Our behavior has to register true to the words we proclaim, otherwise the message comes across "mixed" and "impure". Genuine love looks outside of what one can "get" from a relationship and looks at what one can "give" into the relationship. There is this desire to lay it all down for another, no strings attached, not to get something from them, but because it matters that they get something instead. Our example for this is none other than Christ himself - having it all, he laid it all down, not because he had to, but because he wanted to see us get back into close relationship with God!

We get this idea of faith all trumped up in our minds and think it is something we "attain" rather than something we receive as a gift from God. We don't "pump up" faith - we have faith built in us. Faith comes by hearing - hearing by the Word of God - hearing the Good News of God's love for us and his grace toward us. What we choose to do when we hear truth determines if our faith will grow, or simply wither away. We can embrace or reject it. We can stand upon it or walk away from it. Our faith in the midst of moments of decision is based on whether we will believe what we hear! Most think of integrity as the "honesty" or "trustworthiness" of an individual. When integrity is evident, there is "unity" within the parts. A life put together by grace's touch is a testimony of vast proportion. Grace affords the means to "pull together" what life has made a mess of and when you look upon how truly awesome this "put together" life is when it is genuine, you see the beauty of God's grace in action.

We discount our ability to teach another - thinking we don't possess the "book learning" or the "theological knowledge". No amount of book learning can substitute for words which speak peace into a troubled life, reaching out to draw in those who have been rejected by others, and then living out life together with them each and every day. All God ever asks of his kids is to live as examples of his grace - pure and simple. We might "shelf" truth for a while, but when we finally bring it down of the shelf and dust it off, beginning to put it into practice in our lives, we are on a journey which will begin to speak volumes to those looking on. Just sayin!

Stay green - inside and out

A good friend gave me some advice that has stuck with me that I would like to share with you again today. She said, "Green is growing, ripe is rotting." At first, this may not seem like a very "profound" truth, but I have often thought on this, mulling over decisions I have made throughout my career, in my home, with my family, and in all kinds of relationships using this simple "rule of thumb". Keep yourself in a place of being just a little greener than you may like, and you won't risk the potential of losing contact with that which will continue to produce life within! I live in a region where citrus grows better than most other fruit. That green orange is on the tree a long, long time before it ever sets its color to resemble an orange. All through that long season of growth, the orange is actually quite green. It isn't that it isn't growing, it is just not "ripening". As soon as it begins to turn its full color, it actually is beginning to "separate" from that which has been giving it the potential for growth - the branch.

It’s certainly possible to say, “Other branches were pruned so that I could be grafted in!” Well and good. But they were pruned because they were deadwood, no longer connected by belief and commitment to the root. The only reason you’re on the tree is because your graft “took” when you believed, and because you’re connected to that belief-nurturing root. So don’t get cocky and strut your branch. Be humbly mindful of the root that keeps you lithe and green. (Romans 11:19-20)

The orange tree has the ability to produce life in the form of fruit over and over again, not because of its branches, but because of its root. Some of us view fruit as the "end all" - but fruit eventually rots if it is the main focus! The process of seeing fruit grow is a good thing, but just admiring the fruit is not the purpose of the fruit - it is used to further other growth. It isn't until the fruit is actually plucked and eaten that it serves its purpose. Staying on the branch will eventually stunt the growth of any other fruit just beckoning to get out! The fruit God brings in our lives is a matter of growth - sometimes deeper down than we might see on the surface. The growth isn't the end result - it is the use of that growth - putting it into practical use - that is the purpose of the fruit. Green signifies a connection with that which produces growth. Ripe fruit actually begins the process of "separation" - for it is only in separating from the tree that the orange serves to bring its juices and richness of healing power into the lives of the one who will partake of it. I also see a whole lot of citrus just laying around on the ground rotting. It hung around on the tree way too long, eventually falling to the ground. The shame is that it stayed on the tree so long - eventually beginning the process of "rotting" right where it hung. Some of us are guilty of allowing the fruit which is born in our lives to just "hang around", almost content just to note we have fruit, but not really recognizing the potential that fruit has if it is actually put to into use in our own lives and those we touch.

Green may not outwardly show the evidence of fruit, but the place where fruit was once attached becomes the place where the next fruit has the potential of growing from. "Spent" fruit - that which actually gets put into use in our lives - is really making more room for new growth to begin. As the new growth begins to bud in the place of connection, it doesn't seem like much at first. It is small, hard, and kind of bitter at first. Most new growth is just like the tiny "citrus" on the tree - small at first, even bitter to the taste. But...as long as the connection to the tree's life-giving root continues, the potential for the bitterness to develop the sweet juices of mature growth is there. The tiny green citrus is pretty well-attached to the tree at first. Try to pluck it from its connection and you will have to tug pretty hard to get it loose. Why? It knows it must maintain that connection in order to realize its growth. As the fruit begins to "set" on the tree, the "connection" is not as "tight". It is connected, but it is easier for the fruit to begin to be plucked from the tree, so it might be given in service to the needs of those for which the fruit was produced in the first place! The tree doesn't suffer from the fruit being plucked when it is ripe - it actually begins to "ramp up" to bring forth new fruit in its place! When we begin to recognize fruit production is not just so we can have it on "display" in our lives, but so it can begin to "serve" the needs of others, we don't hesitate to put our fruit to use! Anything not put to use is just going to rot! Just sayin!

Dad used to say, "Use it or lose it"

Through your faithful prayers and the generous response of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, everything he wants to do in and through me will be done. I can hardly wait to continue on my course. I don’t expect to be embarrassed in the least. On the contrary, everything happening to me in this jail only serves to make Christ more accurately known, regardless of whether I live or die. They didn’t shut me up; they gave me a platform! Alive, I’m Christ’s messenger; dead, I’m his prize. Life versus even more life! I can’t lose. (Philippians 1:21)

You never know what your 'platform' will be, do you? You might envision one thing, but God has a different avenue for you to explore and use as the platform by which he is glorified through your life. Paul was in prison and those who had grown close to him in his ministry were concerned that he would no longer have a 'platform' for ministry. He turns that fear around with these words: "...they gave me a platform!" Christ's messenger in life - his prize in death - no losing there, is there?

What we may not realize is that God's message within us cannot be shut off by anything man can do to us. Everything God wants to do in and through us will be done - no matter the 'platform' we may be given. The 'audience' may change. The 'method' may need a little different approach. BUT...the 'message' is still the same! There is no denying the power of Christ in a person's life when the 'platform' changes and the commitment to the message remains as steadfast and solid as ever, is there?

I wonder what 'platform' you have today and how it differs from mine. It could be you are younger, in the workforce, and 'out there' with tons of people each day, influencing and challenging each other. It could be you are retired, free to go as you please, seeing far less people, but still able to make an impact. The important thing is that we use the 'platform' we have been given. We use the power Christ brings into our lives - allowing his message to be seen and experienced through us.

What seems to get you excited and moving in life? Chances are that could be the beginning of your 'platform'. It doesn't take a license to preach and a pulpit to make an impact in this world for Jesus. It takes a commitment to his commandments, a willingness to get to know his Word, and a desire to see others find his grace. The 'platform' is up to God - we just need to be willing to be used wherever that 'platform' may be! Just sayin!