The treasury of the heart

“A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart." (Luke 6:43-45)

In case you were wondering, figs are not grown on bramble bushes. The fruit we produce is equal to the 'tree' that produces it. Character is a result of what we 'connect' our lives to on an ongoing basis. The fig cannot connect with the bramble bush any more than the thorns of the bramble bush can be produced from the fig tree. The connection wouldn't be consistent with what is being produced. The fruit born actually is a direct reflection of the tree - the nature of the tree produces the fruit. When our 'fruit' is a little bitter, kind of 'pricking' in nature, and lacking in nourishment, we should evaluate where we have made 'connection' in our spirit.

The treasure of a good heart cannot be undervalued. Whatever it is we hide away in our heart, 'bramble bush' or 'luscious fruit', is going to be evident in the 'fruit' of our actions. Our hearts can either connect to the goodness and grace of Jesus, allowing good to flow forth, or they can connect with the values and attitudes of this world, allowing brambles and thorns to be produced. Brambles and thorns hurt others, keeping them away, and discouraging real connection. In other words, they act as a barrier to us having and maintaining close interpersonal relationships with others.

A good tree cannot produce bad fruit. The evidence of 'fruit' doesn't always indicate a 'good connection', does it? I live in an area where citrus is grown pretty easily, but we have these trees that look exactly like an orange tree, even producing large, round orange citrus. The only thing about those trees is that the fruit produced is bitter and isn't good for much. The tree 'looks' good, but the fruit betrays its true nature. In much the same way, we might 'look' like we are connected to Jesus, but the 'fruit' of our lives betrays the true nature of our heart's connection. Not everyone who calls themselves a Christian is connected to Jesus. Just sayin!

Consistently, or most of the time?

The fruit of the [consistently] righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise captures and wins souls [for God—he gathers them for eternity]. (Proverbs 11:30)

The fruit of the 'consistently' righteous - those who make the choice to live 'right', following the directions God gives over their lives. The idea of consistency might just vary a little bit depending on who you ask. To the one who is 'always' on the mark, they will define it as never missing the mark. To the one who occasionally misses the mark, they might define it as making good decisions the majority of the time with a 'once in a while' slip up. I will not debate this with anyone - when God asks for consistency, he means with no or very few exceptions. He forgives those exceptions when we ask for his forgiveness, repent, and actually turn back to him. He would much more prefer that the seeds he sows into our lives would produce 'consistent' growth, but he knows that even the most 'righteous' among us misses the mark on occasion!

When we choose to pursue righteousness, we are not only doing so for ourselves, but for all those around us who 'witness' how it is we choose to live out our daily 'Christianity'. I put that in quotes because so many claim to be Christian, but their life choices certainly don't add up to 'right-living'. Pursue righteousness and you might just be labeled as 'weird', 'out there', 'a holy roller', or even 'a goody two shoes'. I think I have been referred to in all these ways and that is fine by me. Do I 'hit the mark' all of the time? Certainly not! I do want to live in a way that honors the sacrifice Jesus gave so willingly for me. I don't always demonstrate wisdom in my choice of words, actions, or even thoughts, but I know that God's plan is for me to lean into him, be as consistent in my walk as possible, and then trust him to bring about the changes within me that will help me to make wise choices more and more.

Just in case you haven't thought about it in a while, your choice to 'live right' actually is a means of 'evangelizing' the world. Your actions are making an impact on a life right now. Choose to live consistently by asking God to help you make 'right choices'. Then lean into him to help you choose wisely. Don't just ask for his help and then go around doing your own thing. The proof of who we live for is really observed best in the fruit that is produced. Just sayin!

The seed was created to reproduce

Then God said, “Let the land sprout with vegetation—every sort of seed-bearing plant, and trees that grow seed-bearing fruit. These seeds will then produce the kinds of plants and trees from which they came.” And that is what happened. The land produced vegetation—all sorts of seed-bearing plants, and trees with seed-bearing fruit. Their seeds produced plants and trees of the same kind. And God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:11-12)

Ever stop to think why God created seed-bearing plants and trees? Why a seed? Why not just have them grow some other way? It is a principle of 'creation' and one of 'reproduction'. The seed plant or tree was originally created, but the plan for reproduction was meant to show that the life 'created' was to be sustained and multiplied. It wasn't supposed to be a one-time deal - plant born, tree born, then they die off never to be seen again. There is a great deal of potential in the seed - growth from the seed represents the possibility of continued reproduction into eternity. When God created a seed, he created the potential for what some might see as abundance - one seed producing much fruit, the next generation of life.

The seed was created to grow into whatever it was created to be, bearing fruit unique to the plant or tree that was created. No two trees or plants are identical. What is produced from each is unique - either because of color, scent, fruit, nut, and even leaf that is produced. God calls each of us to 'uniquely' produce fruit, according to the way he created us. Some can sing beautifully - use that voice for his glory. Others have a mind for facts and figures - use that to teach, organize, bring a means for continued growth in others. We use our 'unique identity' in service to him, allowing the fruit he produces with us to become the means for 'reproducible growth' into eternity.

We each have the potential to grow, flourish and bear fruit that reflects the beauty of God’s glory in our lives, but we must never stifle the potential within the seed. The seed produced as we are obedient to Christ, following closely after him, will reproduce much life. The fruit we bear is according to the way God created us. No matter how 'dull' or 'routine' you believe your life to be, when it is growing in Christ, there will be seed produced that has the potential to reproduce life in others. Christ's seed never fails to bear fruit. Don't try to be what you are not - be true to what type of 'plant' or 'tree' you are, bearing much fruit, allowing his life within you to produce the seed that will flourish into great faith in another. Just sayin!

Go and produce what lasts

"Treasure the love you receive above all. It will survive long after your good health has vanished."

(Og Mandino)

This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other. (John 15:12-17)

The same way Christ loved us - is it possible to love that much? I don't believe Jesus would have told us to do so if he wouldn't also empower us to love in such a manner. How does one actually lay down their life for another? Does it always require physical death? I don't believe Jesus would have told us to all die - he might want us to have the attitude of heart and mind that considers the other person's need as 'worthy' of being met, not just our own need. We have no issue with meeting our own needs, but when another expresses their need, do we always realize we could be instrumental in helping to meet it?

Whatever we ask for - could it be that Jesus wants us to take the needs of each other before him more than we take our own? I think Jesus wants us to look out for each other, knowing that some will not be able to bring their needs to him as well as we can. At times, we see the other's need better than they do, but if we don't 'lay down our life' to bring those needs before Jesus, what good does it to just 'see them'? Perhaps the greatest thing we could do for each other is lift one another in prayer each day - knowing there will be things that challenge our consistency, interfere with our willpower, and become too hard for us to handle alone.

When we have another so 'dedicated' to showing us the love of Christ, we should treasure that relationship. There are many who give 'lip service' to our needs, promising to pray for us, but those who put 'feet' to their prayers, coming alongside, lending a hand, and being the hands and feet of Christ to us are most valuable indeed. We are appointed to go and produce lasting fruit. I believe we do this whenever we bring the love of Christ into the relationship. Love lasts long after the action is done. Just sayin!

Beware the foxes

Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5,8)

John Calvin said a dog barks when he sees his master attacked. Why would we ever think God wouldn't raise a ruckus when the enemy of our soul even attempts to snatch away one of his own? Those who remain in him can always be assured of his protective oversight in their lives. We have a protected relationship and one that is intended to be quite productive. It is no wonder our enemy wants so badly to get at us! 

To remain indicates a specific state is met and maintained. In other words, we don't move from where are because it is a place specifically designed for us - a place designed for his presence to dwell. If we want to go beyond that protection, we will find ourselves kind of on our own - outside of the place where the best fruit can be developed in our lives. Maybe this is why we haven't produced fruit - we have 'detached' ourselves from the vine long enough that we are drying up.

Some think 'remaining' means you will be 'stuck' doing the same things, in the same way, in the same place. To God, 'remaining' means a vital, growing relationship. We don't remain the same - we are always changing. A branch attached to a tree doesn't remain the same year after year. It lengthens, thickens, grows new leaves, drops old ones, and even produces some type of 'fruit' while attached. It is a 'life-cycle' that is being 'lived out'. God asks his kiddos to 'live out' this spiritual life-cycle close to him.

Much fruit - not just a little here or there, but a bigger and bigger harvest as long as we remain in him. This only happens because we make a place for him in our lives at the center of our lives. The vine produces fruit because it has a good root. The vine is important, but the root is foundational to all growth. "Catch all the foxes, those little foxes, before they ruin the vineyard of love, for the grapevines are blossoming!" (Song of Solomon 2:15) There will always be 'little foxes' attempting to disturb that connection between the vine and the root. God's instruction to us is to be alert to their presence, then to catch them before they go to work!

We might not realize just how hard our enemy is working to sever that relationship of connection but be sure that he is there. The foxes aren't easily seen in the vineyard, for they can hide deep within the vines. Sometimes sin hides deep within our hearts - working to destroy the root of grace, freedom, and peace that God plants there. Don't forget to look for the foxes - their presence is never welcome! Just sayin!

Living FOR, not just with

You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other. (John 15:16-17)

Choice - to select from a number of possibilities - usually because you know something about what it is you are choosing. I choose one of a couple of brands of toilet tissue because I know the quality of those brands. I sometimes see other choices that may cost a little less, but I don't choose them because I have no clue as to their quality. I choose one brand of dish detergent because I have observed what it does when I make a sudsy water to wash my pots and pans. We make all kinds of choices each and every day, some of them pretty much a matter of 'routine' in our lives. There are choices we make consciously and others we make subconsciously, something we might not even realize we are doing. How is it we choose to serve Christ today? Is it a conscious or subconscious decision? Is it purposeful or by rote? If we truly love him as he has loved us, I daresay a relationship that is 'rote' or 'routine' is not really a relationship at all!

Paul put it this way in his letter to the Philippian church: "To me, living means living FOR Christ...but if I live, I can do more and more fruitful work for Christ." (1:21) Christ's command to his disciples those many years ago still stands today. We are to be 'grafted into' his family, taking care of one another, loving one another as he first loved us. A relationship is established in his 'choosing' us, but it is our responsibility to keep the relationship fresh and vital by actually engaging with him each and every day - consciously. When you first start a relationship, you make very conscious decisions to get to know each other, what the other person likes, how they relate to you when they are happy, tired, sad, or hungry. You are learning 'about' them, but does that learning ever truly end? Not if you want it to be a vital and lasting relationship!

Jesus asks us to learn who he really is - yes, learn about him, but we must also learn things we can only know by spending time WITH him. We can know a whole lot 'about' Jesus and totally miss out on the joy of actually getting to spend time in his presence. We call that being a 'churchgoer' - one who merely warms the pew with their presence, but totally misses that Christ's presence is right there beside them. When we really want to grow in relationship with Christ, we soon discover we want to see certain fruit develop within our lives. The fruit we might desire is gentleness of spirit, kindness of heart, wisdom to speak words of hope and comfort. We only develop fruit through attachment to the vine. We only remain attached and vital when we take that time at his feet developing the relationship. Just sayin!

What flows from your heart?

We ought to do good to others as simply as a horse runs, or a bee makes honey, or a vine bears grapes season after season without thinking of the grapes it has borne. (Marcus Aurelius)

What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” (James 2:14-18)

Do good - for faith is manifested in the goodness produced without thinking - all because the heart is so in touch with God that goodness just flows from it. Actions speak louder than words, but actions alone are not enough. The spirit bears witness to the actions as much as the actions bear witness to the condition of the heart! God expects us to keep our heart in the very best of condition so that goodness is the natural outflow.

You see those little reminders on bumper stickers from time to time that challenge us to practice 'random acts of kindness'. You hear of the person at the coffee shop paying for the person's order behind them, or the customer adding a hundred-dollar tip to the five-dollar coffee and pie they enjoyed. Yes, these are perhaps 'random acts of kindness', but could it be that someone is so in tune with the goodness of God that their heart just overflows with that goodness to others? Perhaps, but not always. It is possible to 'practice random acts' such as these without ever knowing or trusting in God.

It may come as a surprise to some that good deeds don't always mean someone has said 'yes' to Jesus. It just means they chose to think of someone other than themselves for a moment. When God is at the center of one's life, ALL that flows from that life is bathed in God's goodness. Mercy and kindness are byproducts of having experienced God's grace. The heart is transformed and what flows from the heart is genuine and consistent. I see many a Christian beating themselves up because they don't feel they are living as well as God wants them to. Just know this - live for God, not for man. What flows from that is bound to be good. Just sayin!

A bigger hole

Thomas Fuller reminds us: "One that would have the fruit must climb the tree." I would say the one that would have the fruit must first have a good root! Without proper rooting, the tree may grow for a while, but the fruit will be lacking. The tree will not withstand the winds that actually challenge its footing.

And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. (Colossians 2:6-7)

Fuller also reminds us it is possible to miss the mark simply by aiming too high or too low. Where is your aim today? At what (or may I ask at whom) are you aiming? If you are to have deep roots, you must aid them in growth. 

I have planted trees in my hard Arizona soil. Before I could sink those trees deep into the harder soil, they had to take root in rich, easily tended soil. They had to be grown, well-rooted, with roots ready to make their way in this hard soil.

I had to prepare the soil - digging a much bigger hole than the tree roots required right now. Then I added all manner of nutrients and rich mulch to the hole. Why? To give the roots the greatest chance to take hold. 

God does much the same with us. He lets us take root in 'safety' and 'security', then as he 'transplants' us into the place where we will one day flourish and bear fruit, he does so with absolute care to ensure our 'roots' grow deep and our footing is sure.

You may feel like being 'transplanted' is scary, but chances are when God is ready to bring forth great fruit in your life, it will require a 'bigger hole' for those roots to take hold! Just sayin!

A Gardener's Delight

We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. (Colossians 1:9-10)

The moment we say 'yes' to Jesus, this 'grow as you learn' thing begins to happen. We might 'know' a little bit about God from what he has created, for creation speaks of him all around us. We might 'know' something about him because we went to church as a kid and heard 'things' about what he had done in the past. This walk with Jesus really begins in earnest once we move from just knowing 'things' about God into a place of really learning from him directly.

Good fruit is produced at the hand of a skilled gardener. I have tried my hand at planting this or that in the 'garden', but I must not be a gardener. In truth, what I am not - a patient, attentive worker in the garden. I can prepare the soil, bring home the seedlings, plant them, ensure they have water, and then I kind of leave it be. I forget it needs tending. Leaves need nipped, soil needs to be loosened, bugs need to be sprayed away, and buds need to be pollinated.

It is a good thing God is not a gardener who 'plants' and then 'forgets' to tend. He spends a tremendous amount of time 'tending' the garden of our hearts because he is looking for the very best harvest of fruit. Things in our character that will honor and please him are being produced - to neglect such good fruit would be terrible. We might not even realize the fruit is there in our lives, because just like in my raised garden beds, some of the greatest finds have been behind the leaves in my garden.

Prepared soil will not always ensure a good harvest. Tended gardens are what produce the ample harvest that will keep us well-nourished and 'healthy' for a good long time. Nothing please God more than asking to have the 'garden of our hearts' tended under his watchful and skillful hand. Just sayin!

A life more fruitful

Mark Twain said that the human race had one really 'effective' weapon - laughter. I think our most effective weapon is not really laughter as much as it is the Word of God. Laughter might give us a momentary release - the Word of God and what it can accomplish within us is lasting and sure. Have you ever been reading through scripture only to find something within the passage 'calls out' some behavior you have been struggling with, or reveals some answer to a worry you have been mulling over? The purpose of the Word of God is to teach us - to make us wise. We are able to discern direction once hidden from us because of the work of the Spirit of God within us and the revelation of the Word of God to us. If we want more than an 'immediate release', we need to take in what can give us a permanent and secure hope.

If you rebuke a mocker, you will only get a smart retort; yes, he will snarl at you. So don’t bother with him; he will only hate you for trying to help him. But a wise man, when rebuked, will love you all the more. Teach a wise man, and he will be the wiser; teach a good man, and he will learn more. For the reverence and fear of God are basic to all wisdom. Knowing God results in every other kind of understanding. “I, Wisdom, will make the hours of your day more profitable and the years of your life more fruitful.” Wisdom is its own reward, and if you scorn her, you hurt only yourself. (Proverbs 9:8-12)

Who among us doesn't want a more fruitful life? If we embrace God's wisdom - the holy scriptures - we are bound to see fruit. Why? The seed of truth isn't just casually cast into our lives - it is purposefully placed. Teach a wise man and he will be wiser - because the seed is taken in, then it is turned over in the fertile soil of his heart and nurtured there by the Spirit of God until it takes root. When good seed takes root, fruit is bound to come forth. Knowing God results in every kind of understanding - even though we are unlearned in so many ways, God's Spirit can give us wisdom far beyond our years or education. 

Wisdom adds years to our lives - years that become more settled and certain as we allow God to impart his wisdom within. We could go through life on our own, but the wise man or woman will embrace all the help to sort out life's woes and worries as much as possible. Why? They have learned trusting in one's own ability to consistently produce the best outcomes (fruit) is pretty close to impossible. Good men exist, but any goodness that is 'self-made' is still flawed goodness. There is but one 'goodness' that is perfect - Christ's. There is but one source of true goodness of heart, mind, and spirit - to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ with all we have within us. 

Seeds will be planted today. They can be seeds of goodness and grace, springing forth in season in an even bigger harvest of that which reveals the goodness and grace of God within. They can be seeds of self-seeking, pride, or mistrust - all producing a harvest, but not always a good one that is 'unmixed' with the tares of this world. God's Word isn't to be trifled with - it is the source of much life and goodness. Take it in - trust it to accomplish its work. That work may be correction - reminding us of choices that have not been all that wise. It may be confirmation - allowing us to feel at peace with decisions we are about to make. How is that? The Word of God is purposeful - it is focused on the harvest that is about to be produced by being introduced to the soil of our hearts and minds. A ready heart and an open mind go a long way in providing soil that is fertile for fruitful growth. 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!

Be watchful over your seed

You will know these people because of what they do. Good things don’t come from people who are bad, just as grapes don’t come from thornbushes, and figs don’t come from thorny weeds. In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, and bad trees produce bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot produce good fruit. (Matthew 7:16-18)

If you have ever had something begin to grow in your garden and then wondered what it might be, you may have left it grow a little longer because you think it resembles a flower or perhaps a plant that may produce some type of "fruit". As it grows, you can begin to tell if it is what you thought it might be or not. When it no longer resembles what you thought it was, you pluck it up because you now recognize it as not being the "fruit-bearing" plant you imagined. I feed birds - this produces a variety of "undergrowth" in my flowerbeds because they fling seed everywhere. There is also a whole lot of stuff in there I don't recognize. I just pluck those out right away because I have no idea what they will produce. A whole lot of "seed" gets "flung" in life, doesn't it? Much of it can begin to grow wherever it is "planted" - but not all of it is beneficial. Some of the fruit produced may not be as helpful or beautiful as others.

When I first take notice of these little sprouts in the garden, I am being an "inspector" of this growth. I am looking for evidence of two things - I need to recognize what it is, and if it is beneficial to leave it where it is planted. These are two very important points for us to keep in mind in our own lives as these two principles can guide us in relationships, spiritual pursuits, and emotionally charged times. We need to be able to recognize the "seeds" for what they will produce, and we have to know if what is produced will actually be of any value to us in the long run. Some call this being "inspectors" - I call it being wise. Much of what is offered to us today in life is in the form of "short-cuts". We have all kinds of ways to produce something which "resembles" the "real deal", but it really falls short of the original. We have instant mashed potatoes. Add water or a little milk, heat in the microwave, and we have mashed potatoes, right? Nope, we have reconstituted powdered potato flakes. They look similar to the real deal, and even taste a little like fresh mashed potatoes, but they lack something in the consistency and appearance. What we have produced is "close" to the original, but truthfully, it is only a substitute for the original produced through a series of short-cuts.

Things produced in life are a result of what takes root. Fruit comes because there was first a root. You cannot have one without the other. These things which sprout up quickly in my garden take root easily. They are flung on the surface and don't need much depth to take root. When something doesn't need much depth to take root, it usually is a weed and the "fruit" produced will oftentimes give you more headache than heart-peace! Things which matter - producing luscious fruit - are things which take a little longer to root and are almost always planted more "purposefully". 

Short-cut "fruit" is rarely as rewarding or satisfying as that which is "purposefully" produced by being planted, nurtured, and harvested in season. Fruit is often a key indicator of what has been taking root. I don't make my own mustard, so a tiny mustard seed taking over my garden with one sprouting plant may look nice for a little while, but it will soon crowd out the rest of what I have growing there. The birds may like it, but it produces nothing I can actually "use" in my life. What we allow into the garden of our hearts and minds begins to take root in our inner man. How do we begin to analyze what has taken root. Usually the "behavior" is the evidence of what has taken root on the inside. Some behavior is to be trusted at "face value" while other behavior is a cleverly produced "imitation" of what we think is going to produce good fruit. Becoming clear on what is "good fruit" and what is not will help us accurately judge what might be at the root of the behavior we are producing.

Remember we have to both recognize what is planted and know whether it is good for us. Recognition comes with a little help from some tools we have at our disposal - the Word to guide us into truth, the Holy Spirit to prompt us when "truth" isn't accurate, and our conscience to assist us in weighing the "truth" in response to the values God is working into our hearts. Knowing if something will actually produce worthwhile fruit takes a little practice. The instant mashed potatoes will put dinner on the table quickly, but they don't provide nearly the nutrients as the ones I peel, boil, and mash with milk and butter. They aren't as rich in flavor, and they aren't as satisfying to the palate. Sometimes I have to taste a little of the fruit to really become aware of what has been produced! This is a little sad really because some of the fruit produced in my life has been a little bitter! Yet, when I get a good taste of the bitter fruit, I know it doesn't belong and I seek to get it out. I think all God wants for us is to become a little more proficient at recognizing the fruit of what is taking root. Shallow roots may produce fast growth, but will it be lasting and fruitful? Not too likely. Do more than just accept the "fast growing" and begin to allow the "purposeful planting" of what God knows will produce "good fruit". It isn't in the "short cuts" we produce our "best" fruit - it is in the tender-loving care of his watchful eye. Just sayin!

Got any grapes?

“I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples." (John 15:5, 8)

Most might be familiar with this passage about the vine and branches - being joined together with Christ producing new life within us. I have to ask - did anyone really see the part about how God shows WHO HE IS to the world? It is the production of fruit in our lives - when we become mature in our faith and stand strong in the faith - these are evidence of WHO he is, not just what he does! The first thing to remember is that fruit cannot be produced where there is no connection to the life-giving source that produces it. Apart from Christ, we don't bear great fruit - but connected directly to him and the fruit becomes pure, agreeable, and perfectly enjoyable. 

Connection is something I refer to from time to time because I think it is easy to get caught up in 'life' and forget about the things that really matter. We need connection with Christ on a daily basis - dare I propose it is a moment-by-moment connection, as well? We need time alone with him - considering his truth as declared to us in his Word - and then we need to take time to listen, not just talk. The fruit is a result of the vine's work, not the other way around. We cannot expect fruit if we disconnect from the life-source of the vine. As important as our connection is with Christ, it is also important to maintain positive connection with those he has placed in our lives. Perhaps this requires a little mending of fences on occasion, as we humans can mess things up in relationships, sometimes without even knowing we have!

Connection means we have a 'conduit' of sorts for what we need to be 'infused' into our lives. When the 'conduit' becomes broken or clogged, the 'flow' of all we need for good fruit to be produced is interrupted. As a plant grows from the smallest stages of new growth into a fuller and more vibrant plant, we may help it grow straight and tall by providing support. We 'tie' it to a trellis and help it find its way. In time, if those ties are left in place, they will become points where the life-flow is 'strangled'. We need to release those ties when the plant is able to stand on its own. In much the same way, we may be 'tied' pretty close to Jesus at times, then he lets those 'ties' go as we are learning to stand on our own. We might call these 'tests' or 'trials', but their purpose is to help us stand in our faith - removing all hindrances to us having any 'strangled growth'.

I have two grape vines in the backyard, but this year they produced zero grapes, and the year before they were so tiny they weren't really all that edible. They got green and healthy looking, putting off new growth in various directions, but produced nothing for all that growth. God doesn't just want growth - he desires fruit and 'fullness' of fruit. Growth is a great thing, but when the growth is designed to produce fruit, a 'fruitless yield' is kind of disappointing. Just sayin!

Clarity, Purity, and Beauty

If you grow a healthy tree, you’ll pick healthy fruit. If you grow a diseased tree, you’ll pick worm-eaten fruit. The fruit tells you about the tree. (Matthew 12:33)

If you have mastered this art of jelly-making, you know under-ripe fruit that is too green actually makes the jelly a little cloudy in appearance. It affects the clarity of the jelly. The fruit must be ripe, but firm - not too mushy. If it is too green, it does not go through the "straining" process well. If still too green, it will cook down to what you think will make a good jelly, but you will have to exert too much pressure on it to get the juices out of it in the straining process. It actually makes the resulting "juice" for the jelly very cloudy. If you have ever tried to "force" fruit from your life (or had someone else trying to do it for you) - producing some semblance of "jelly-quality juice" from your life - you might have seen some of the issues of being "squeezed" too hard. Yep, you "produced" something, but the quality of what was produced only produced something which lacked clarity - it looked okay, but it didn't look great!

Are you impatient? I will admit there are moments when my patience is tried - I want things to go as planned. I want fruit in season - but sometimes I want to 'rush' the season! For the clearest jelly you allow the fruit to sit in the strainer, juices dripping freely from it. You don't squeeze the fruit to get the juice - it comes naturally in the straining process! You add the fruit to the cotton flannel bag, then you wait - patiently. We might want to squeeze a little here and there, hoping to get just a little more out, or to speed up the process. The important thing I needed to recognize is that fruit comes forth in a process of patient and consistent growth, just as much as the clearest juices are extracted in allowing the process of separating to occur. No amount of my "squeezing" will produce anything as beautiful as the slow, but consistent process of having the separation of those things which will "cloud" my life. Left in the hands of God, readied fruit will come forth as clear and consistent beauty.

If the fruit is cooked way too long, the jelly-juices which are produced are just made cloudy by the "over-cooking". Mushy fruit produces little particles of fruit which escape the "straining" process. In turn, they make the jelly cloudy. The clarity is produced by cooking the fruit ONLY until it is tender. To be able to produce the clearest jelly, God doesn't just put all the fruit inside of us, turn up the heat, and walk away. He tests, retests, and then finally he is pleased with just the right quality of "tenderness" which will produce the excellence desired. He allows the "mixture" of fruit in our lives to be brought to a boil, but he doesn't want it to be "over-cooked". He looks for us to be just "tender-enough" to produce the clarity and beauty he desires. When we reach this point, he removes us from the heat - so as not to "over-cook" us! There is an 'art' to "pouring off" jelly into the jars. Pour it too slowly and you allow air bubbles to get in - giving it the appearance of being cloudy. Pour it too rapidly, and you might actually over-fill, splash hot juices onto yourself and be burned. Letting the jelly sit in the pan for any length of time before pouring it off allows it to begin to "set up" where it is.

I think we all probably struggle with some of these ideas as we look at how God brings fruit from our lives. He "picks" the right combination of ripe and "under-ripe" fruit in our lives - to make the clearest "jelly"! He allows the straining process because he knows the "sweetness" and "richness" of the end product when it is allowed to occur through patient "processing". He might be able to produce "more" juice from the fruit by squeezing the "straining bag" a little, but the sweetest and clearest juices are produces from allowing the fruit juices to "pass through" the straining bag over the course of time. The goal is not the "quantity" of "jelly", but in the richness and clarity of what is produced. God doesn't let us "over-cook" - he is attentive to the "fire" in our lives. We may only feel the heat, but he knows when we are just "tender enough" to produce the most flavorful of juices. The next time you pick up a jar of jelly, think about what "jelly" God is working on in your life. The mixture of "fruit" he is using, the care he is taking in getting it "just tender enough", and the patience he exhibits in waiting for it to be "strained" to purity. When he finally "bottles" the fruit in your life, he indeed will be delighted by the richness of it! Just sayin!

Be at home here

“I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples." (John 15:5, 8)

A few moments this morning pondering this passage may help us to understand just how much God is concerned with our growth - not just our statements of faith or acknowledgements that he is God. He really wants us to know that he is a 'fruit inspector' - he looks for us to bear fruit! Yes, it will be over time because no fruit is instantaneous, but he still looks for signs of a harvest! Jesus points out the 'connection' that results in fruit-bearing without which we will be barren - something he refers to as 'deadwood'. I don't know about you, but if someone labeled me as 'deadwood' I would be pretty offended because I know it carries the connotation of being useless or a burden. In terms of writing, deadwood refers to those words that are added, but that may not always be necessary. For example, if I were to say, "The lamp on that table that is brown with a white shade", there is some 'deadwood' in that sentence. I could say, "The brown lamp with the white shade on the table", eliminating the 'deadwood' entirely. Deadwood serves very little purpose - it just 'takes space'. In God's kingdom, he doesn't need 'space occupiers' - he needs vital participants.

The relation we have with God is described as 'intimate' and 'organic'. When we hear the word 'intimate' today, it probably conjures up different meanings as it is used in different settings, but Jesus uses this to describe the closeness of the union necessary for growth to occur. A branch of a tree may be able to sprout roots and grow in a totally different location, but when the connection is lost there is a danger of death occurring. Closeness to the 'life source' is essential. Organic may simply refer to us being 'living' beings - participating in a close family relationship in God's kingdom. Both describe evidence of growth - of being alive. Separate we cannot produce a thing - that is pretty telling as to the necessity of maintaining a living (vital) connection with Jesus on a daily basis. Lose that connection and you lose the capacity to 'produce' - we become 'deadwood' - useless. How do we maintain this close union with Christ? We get to know the one we are in relationship with!

How is it we get to know each other on this earth? Don't we spend time with each other, listening to stories we each tell, recalling events of our lives so that we learn more and more about what went into who we are today? Don't we observe the movement of the other person - observing if they are hunched over and displaying fatigue or worry, or perhaps bouncy and giddy as though their world was about to explode with fireworks all around? We 'take note' because we want to understand what makes them 'tick'. We hope they do the same in getting to know us - so the 'union' or 'relationship' grows and has permanent roots that hold us through thick or thin, good or bad times. Why would it be any different in getting to know Jesus? It isn't! We need to take time to get to know him just as we do getting to know each other. In time, we won't even need to ask what he is thinking we should do right now because we will just sense it and move when he moves. 

Make God's Word at home in your heart. This isn't just us doing a little bit of reading every day and then expecting the short passage we take in will somehow change us. It is continual contemplation of the Word we are provided as 'intake' each day. Honestly, this is why I journal - writing this blog is a form of me journaling what God is speaking to my heart. In contemplating the passage, I am allowing it to impact those areas of my life where I need to have God's attention focused more intentionally. It is 'pruning' me so that I am readied for the production of the fruit in the right season! How about it? You up to a little 'pruning' today? Get close enough to Jesus, allowing his Word to be at home in your heart, and you might just be surprised what fruit you see produced over the next year in your life. Just sayin!

In Season

Fruit in season - it is just about time for some of my favorite fruits to hit the market. I love cherries, sweet watermelon, and cool honeydew. When fruit comes in season, I snatch it up, as I am a big fruit eater. During the 'leaner' fruit season of winter, I only have a select few fruits to choose from, such as bananas, apples, and oranges. Now, as summer is approaching, the markets are beginning to fill with fresh berries, melons, peaches, pears, and the list goes on. The bountiful harvest of fruit is something I look forward to, while the 'leaner' times are something I endure.

The wicked envy what the evil plunder, but the root of the right-living produces fruit for all. (Proverbs 12:12)

Fruit isn't just 'there' - it has to be produced in season. We don't find watermelon grows very well when the ground is covered with snowy ice, nor trees laden with peaches or plums when there is an absence of leaves in the frightful cold of winter. There is a season to the 'production' of fruit - complete with all the right 'conditions' being met. In our lives, there are seasons of growth - times when the 'conditions' are just right for the fruit to be produced. During these seasons, it is time to allow for the production of fruit in full abundance, not just one little bit!

Fruit is produced because there is a good root system established. If you think about it, we don't 'put down roots' easily, do we? We kind of resist growth sometimes, like when we encounter hard places that make our roots a little more difficult to 'put down'. It isn't that we don't want to grow, but the effort to overcome the 'hard places' is most demanding. We must have some spiritual substance to endure those 'leaner times' where growth is the hardest and the challenges to grow put obstacles in our way. This 'substance' comes in the weirdest of ways sometimes - but it is what will keep us on the path that moves us into the seasons of fruit production.

Perhaps the 'substance' we need to grow right now is that which will help to spur us on, even helping us to move the obstacle, or find a path that embraces it and sets roots that encompass the obstacle. If you have ever had a root system break a pipe in your yard, you know just how 'encompassing' those roots can be. They don't allow the obstacle of the pipe to get in their way - they embrace that obstacle and allow it to give them even greater 'anchorage'. That 'substance' may be found in times of prayer, reading of the Word, or just in contemplative silence before God. We don't know how to overcome the obstacles until we seek his wisdom in doing so.

If roots were easily set, we'd see all kinds of growth in our lives, without measure. Roots are set in some of the toughest of seasons - when our lives are said to be the 'driest', and the season seems to be the 'bleakest'. We don't know the obstacles in our path, but we can embrace them and see them become the foundation for even greater growth in our lives. What we choose to do with the things that push against our spiritual 'root system' will determine the fruit that is produced in season in our lives! Just sayin!

Let him at it!

As a parent, we all have those moments when we are less than patient with our children. As caregivers to the elderly, we can experience those similar moments. Regardless of our 'age' in Jesus, he never seems to become impatient with us. God is immensely patient with his children. He gives us space - to make our own choices. He gives us time - to come to our own conclusions. He gives us these things because he knows that in order to have our heart, he must have it yielded willingly - we must 'want to' yield our hearts to him. God is infinitely patient in his waiting for us to turn from our sin - but he will not wait forever. Sometimes, he gives us gentle, but quite firm nudges to cause us to see our sin. When he does, remember that it is out of his immense love for us that he has done so.

You didn't think, did you, that just by pointing your finger at others you would distract God from seeing all your misdoings and from coming down on you hard? Or did you think that because he's such a nice God, he'd let you off the hook? Better think this one through from the beginning. God is kind, but he's not soft. In kindness he takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life-change. (Romans 2:3-4)

We often want to take the "focus" off of us by putting it on someone else - pointing out their faults. It is like we believe that by pointing out the other person's faults, no one will ever see ours, including God! Silly us! In fact, look at what another criticizes in another on a frequent basis and you will usually have a good idea of what the one doing the criticizing is struggling with, too! That includes me! It is not a subtle walk with God that we are called to live out. It is a "radical" life-change. These three words say it all! Radical means getting at the root of things. This word carries the idea of getting at the fundamental stuff - what's really at the core of our being. 

When God goes for the "root", he is expecting something to be extremely different in the end. The "root" of something gives it both the stability and the system for being nurtured. If the "root" is wrong - the fruit will be, as well. Life really focuses us on looking at what is produced. This word carries the idea of growth - the ability to adapt when moved upon by a force greater than ourselves. God focuses on the root because he hopes to affect the fruit. He is concerned with our growth. His desire is that we no longer "adapt" to the world around us, but that we "adapt" to his will, his direction, and his love for us. In so doing, he really is "transplanting" us from infertile, diseased soil into the nutrient rich soil of his grace. There is no better place to take root.

Change signifies us moving (sometimes at a snail's pace) from what we were to what we would become if we were left to our own devices. God is not as concerned about what we have the "ability" to do as in helping us realize that ability in him. His greatest goal is to make our "form" or "nature" just like his son's. To do this, he removes the covering we place over our sin in an attempt to hide it from him and others. In so doing, the exposure allows him to transform what has been hidden into something that can actually be a display of his grace. So, it is to this radical life-change that God calls us. We can probably all agree, it is easier to cover up our sin than it is to face it - but no amount of cover-up will change what is produced in the end. The "cover-up" needs to be over in our lives! It is time to allow the Lord to see the "true" us! He has something divine he desires to produce...so let him at it! Just sayin!

Thorns or no thorns?

My grandson and I built a deck on my workshop this past weekend. It was an undertaking - each of us learning something along the way. As we were working, I heard him ask if I had enjoyed any grapes from my vines this year. I told him I had not because it takes at least two years for them to begin to produce. I did not expect any this year - in fact, if I see them next year, that will probably be about as soon as fruit would be predicted. As a child, we had a home surrounded by citrus trees - 13 of them in our yard. Grapefruit and oranges abounded this time of the year, but in order to enjoy their sweetness, we had to do more than just stand under the trees and hope a fruit would fall off into our waiting hands. We could pick the low hanging stuff pretty easily, but we had to climb ladders and branches to get to the rest of it! Oftentimes the most prized fruit was up higher and more hidden from immediate view. That made the discovery of the fruit much more enjoyable indeed. It was Thomas Fuller who reminded us, "One that would have the fruit must climb the tree." I don't know about you, but there are times I would just like something to be as easy as the low hanging fruit!

But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good—crucified. (Galatians 5:22-24 MSG)

When we live according to the plans and purposes of God, we can be assured of a couple of things. First, we will enjoy his company. While that in and of itself should be our ultimate satisfaction, his presence is certain to bring forth some fruit that we didn't even know was possible to stem from within us. It is kind of like that hidden fruit that has had the potential of developing all along, but it took the right season, the right tending, and the right 'discovering' to reveal it! Fruit can be both low hanging and then it can also be pretty well-hidden until there is a movement toward discovering it is there. Before the days of us owning one of those long handled citrus pickers with a little basket like device on the end, dad would gently nudge those fruit down with a broom handle into my waiting hands. Sometimes more than one would fall at a time - making it harder to catch them. Regardless of where they landed, we'd gather them all up - for their were our 'bounty' of harvest. At some point in the season, we'd believe we had harvested all the fruit that had been produced. You know what? Almost every tree had at least one more piece of fruit we overlooked - well hidden, covered with leaves, still developing in its hidden spot. 

There are times our 'life fruit' is like low-hanging goodness - it is just there, ready for all to see, and pretty easily enjoyed. There are also times when the fruit in our lives takes just a little bit more effort to see it produced, much less enjoyed. I imagine it comes as no surprise to most of us that there remains some fruit which must be sought out - discovered because we were actively looking for it. We wanted to get at it, but it was concealed by other growth in our lives - making it harder to see, but not negating its presence! In the 'climbing of the tree', we discover it. The revelation can be amazing, because it is that freshly discovered fruit that can be the most luscious of all! To climb the tree, one must be certain they want to make the discovery. If we climb the tree without attending to where we are placing ourselves, we can hazard a fall or even break a limb from the tree. 

My memories of the citrus trees is that they have an occasional thorn along the way. You may not realize it, but citrus trees have thorns! Today's citrus trees have been 'bred' to be thorn-free - at least those we buy from our local nursery. If you plant a citrus seed and await the growth that will be produced, you will likely find the tree produced will revert to its original state of being thorn-bearing. We are also kind of 'thorn-bearing' - we have a tendency to revert to our original state if not 'bred' correctly at the hand of someone who knows how to produce the branches of our lives 'thorn free'. Encounter one of those thorns and you might just realize not only the sharpness, but the lasting 'burn' of having been stuck. The purpose of the thorns is to protect the fruit from 'fruit-stealing' intruders. We might not realize it, but God doesn't always discourage the 'thorns' in our lives - because they actually give sufficient time for the fruit to be developed without being stolen away by intruding forces in our lives.

Did you know the thorns on the citrus tree are the most prevalent when the tree is youngest? This is because the tree needs a chance to develop without intrusion and the fruit needs a chance to set on the branches. In much the same way, we might be allowed a few thorns as the growth begins to occur in our lives in a spiritual sense, but as it comes time for the fruit to be fully developed and harvested, are those thorns still there? As the tree ages, the thorns are less and less necessary - because the tree has enough growth to conceal the fruit until it is developed. It is strong enough to resist intrusion. The younger tree is more vulnerable - the fruit is at risk. The thorns serve to afford time for growth. While none of us likes to think of ourselves as 'thorny', it is quite possible God has allowed a few thorns until the strength of our faith is increased - allowing for the fruit to grow without the need for those thorns. If the thorns seem to be his focus these days, it may just be a sign we are ready to produce the fruit 'thorn free'. Just sayin!

Let's avoid this catastrophe

We find reminders within scripture of the promise that those whom God calls, he also equips or enables to do the work they are called to do. One of the various ways we are "equipped" is with the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The Spirit of Truth in our lives is resident within us as a result of our inviting Christ into our lives as our Savior - saying "yes" to Jesus. It isn't a complicated invitation - but sometimes we make the acceptance of that invitation way more complicated than it needs to really be!

If you love me, show it by doing what I've told you. I will talk to the Father, and he'll provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world can't take him in because it doesn't have eyes to see him, doesn't know what to look for. But you know him already because he has been staying with you, and will even be in you! (John 14:15-17)

What does it mean to have the Spirit of God resident within us? How does this equip us for the calling on our lives? We never walk alone - we always have someone with us. The Spirit of Truth walks where we walk, there with us each step of the way. No path we take is without his careful attention. We are enabled to love God - where the Spirit of God dwells, there is a love for the Father that is deeply rooted in heartfelt service to him. We have his presence with us enabling us to keep his commandments - no steps of obedience are harder than those attempted without his guidance and care.

The Holy Spirit resident within us also produces the evidence of a life change. We hear this referred to as the "fruit of the Spirit". Galatians 5:22-23 tell us, "But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely." Break that down and you will see there is much 'fruit' that is just not for us to enjoy, but for us to fill the lives of others us with as we share bits and pieces of it each day.

Affection for others - the ability to look outside of ourselves and see the needs of those around us.
Exuberance about life - eagerness to live, no hesitation in our walk, freedom to embrace life.
Serenity - the ability to keep our cool, peacefulness, composure even in dark or intimidating circumstances. A willingness to stick with things - we call this commitment - the attitude and drive to complete what we begin, regardless of the cost. A sense of compassion in the heart - moved by the needs of those around us to the point that there is action behind the recognition of that need. A conviction that a basic holiness permeates things/people.

Loyal commitments - this work of the Holy Spirit in our lives gives us focus, keeping us on track with Christ, and centers our every movement on him. Not needing to force our way in life - where the Spirit of God is, there is a freedom to enter, the very words to speak when we are asked to give an accounting, and an open door. Sufficient energies for life's challenges - no excuses for us - the energies we need for the journey ahead have already been provided. Wise use of our energies - along with the energies for the task at hand comes the ability to choose wisely how to devote our time, talent and energies.

As you can see, the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives is indeed an enabling presence. Those called are enabled - not halfway, but entirely. There is sufficiency in all God does, all he provides, and all he prepares us for. The next time you want to talk God out of "calling" you, you might want to consider just how much he does to provide all you will need for that calling. The cost of rejecting his calling would definitely be catastrophic! Just sayin!

Climb - go ahead - climb

One that would have the fruit must climb the tree. 

(Thomas Fuller)

When was the last time you climbed a tree? It has been years since I have actually climbed a tree in a literal sense! I consider it good these days to just scale a ladder! In a spiritual sense, I am constantly being asked to climb trees and reminded of the advantage of getting that different perspective! Not to mention - access to fruit I'd otherwise never be able to reach!

Godly men are growing a tree that bears life-giving fruit, and all who win souls are wise. (Proverbs 11:30 TLB)

A tree is made up of all manner of branches - some large and quite broad spreading; others wispy-like, but capable of holding lots and lots of weight beyond their imagined capacity. We'd think nothing of taking hold of that one with the broad expanse and firmness evident just by its size, right? We'd be silly to expect that wispy one to hold our weight, but it holds something very good if we can shimmy our way out to it on the more "substantial" one - fruit!

We rely upon the sturdy things in our lives to help the fruit grow to full proportion, but also to help us realize the benefits of that fruit. We look for fruit, not on the bigger branches, but on the smaller ones all covered with leaves. Why? This is where fruit grows! It grows at the furthest points in life - as far removed from the roots as possible, but still vitally connected to the roots as the source of all it needs!

The fruit we produce isn't just going to grow because we want it to. It grows because the tree is nurtured. That means the sturdy branches are pruned so they become sturdier and the roots are constantly making contact with that which the tree needs in order to grow and produce that fruit. In Arizona, we have lots of citrus, but those trees needs lots of regular attention in order to produce the most luscious of fruit from their branches.

God isn't going to ask us to look for fruit where there is none - so don't stand under the tree and expect it to fall into your hands! If we are to have the enjoyment of fruit, we have to climb the tree - but in order to do so, the tree has to grow strong enough to not only support the weight of the fruit, but ours, as well! Just sayin!