Month: September 2022

I am not one to read special meanings into natural things, but sometimes I am surprised by them. Earlier this month I noticed the cloud with a heart shaped opening. I was reminded how much God loves me and I also thought of my many friends who care about me and love me. Sometimes when one lives alone, it is easy to fall into a puddle of self-pity. That’s not where God’s child belongs.

A few days ago, I noticed the top of one of my lilacs had blooms and fresh leaves!  Lilacs bloom in the Spring, April or May. These three bushes had lost nearly all their leaves due to weeks of drought. So those green leaves caught my attention. Thank you, God, for this unexpected beauty and sweet scent to brighten my day!

King David says in Psalm 17:7-9:

“Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes. Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings from the wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies who surround me.”

I am distressed when I see the turmoil our world is in these days. I fear what kind of life my grandchildren or even my children will experience. David’s words can apply to today’s situation just as they did to his. His enemies were different from ours, but we who wear the Name of Jesus Christ face Satan’s attacks. His fiery darts come from many directions such as moral and ethical situations, false teachers who want to lead us astray, and even from our own government. Let us never forget Who saves us and where our refuge is found!

Thank you, God, for reminding me of your great love even in September Surprises!

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17).

Be encouraged, my friend!

Yesterday, I attended Sunday worship via the Internet, thanks to Covid. (Don’t get me started down that “rabbit hole”!) Whenever I must be home on Sunday, I usually listen in to more than one message, and yesterday was no different. I heard two.  The first sermon was by a young preacher from my older daughter’s home church. He was beginning a series on “The Vine” from John 15. Jesus is the Vine and we, His people, are the branches. Branches bearing no fruit are cut off and branches bearing fruit are pruned to bear more fruit. Also, the branch must remain with the vine, it cannot bear fruit by itself.

“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me” (John 15:4).

The second message was from a guest preacher at my home church who compared a tree growing by streams of water that flourishes to a shrub trying to grow in a desert with little water.

“He (v. 1 the one who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked) is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers” (Psalms 1:3).

“He (v.5 the one whose heart tuns away from the Lord) will be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives” (Jeremiah 17:6).

For a tree to be prosperous and bear fruit it needs a good root system. Roots help a tree to grow by allowing nutrients to reach all parts of the tree. Roots give it stability and of course when the roots are connected to the tree it has the nourishment it needs to bear fruit.

The speaker pointed out the importance of stability when the storms of life come our way. If our roots are well grounded in the soil of God’s Word, we are less apt to be uprooted when we face the difficulties of life. He also illustrated the connectedness we need with each other by reminding us how the mighty redwood trees can grow so tall and strong by interconnecting their roots with the trees around them.

I think God must want me to get this message about staying connected to Jesus and others to be strong and bear fruit for the Kingdom. He gave it to me twice! I better listen. What does God want me to do? It’s a question I ask frequently. He wants me to bring Him glory in everything I do. He wants me to concentrate more on the eternal things than on the temporary things. He wants me to see the urgency in evangelism.

Reading the Bible and praying is very important, but we must do more. That’s where we soak up the living water and nutrients for growth, but I must put actions with the prayers. Write that note, make that call or visit, extend that invitation, spend time with the lonely, or write that check.

And look for opportunities to speak about Jesus to others. There are only two destinations for our souls: heaven, or hell. That decision must be made now, before we die. Am I sharing the Good News of salvation? Am I bearing fruit for the Kingdom?

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” (2 Peter 3:18).