Dead But Destined To Be Fruitful

They will be fruitful

"And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." (Rom 5:3-5 KJV)

 

A couple of years ago I was given the banana trees in the photo as a Mother’s Day gift. Almost two years and still no bananas. They have died twice. 

During the first summer after I planted them it rained and rained and rained. Unfortunately I had planted them in a low spot in the yard and they drowned. But, I had hope. So I planted them in a higher spot when we came home from an extended vacation with hope that they would live again.  They did. 

I watch the weather forecast daily for all kinds of possible events including frost. A few weeks ago, as should be expected from experience, the weather forecast was not correct and I woke up to a major frost covering everything. The buds on my orange and grapefruit trees were dead. Thankfully, the trees themselves were not. But, the banana trees had major damage to them. That is what we are looking at dead or dying trees. I still have hope because you see banana trees reproduce themselves. Their roots put out outreach roots and grow new plants called pups. I learned this from the experience with their first death by drowning. Kind of like the Christian who is drowned in the waters of baptism and then given new life. Even though these little trees look pretty bad and they look dead I have hope that they will still live and produce fruit. 

Like the banana tree, the faithful Christian reach out with underground offshoots that produce new growth. By the abiding presence of Jesus the Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit we reach out sharing the Good News of eternal life in the Kingdom of God for all who believe and the Body of Christ continues to grow. 

Even though we die, we shall live. Have patience, it may look devastating at times; but, the truth will never die no matter what kind of enemy comes up against it. .I have hope that the truth will live for all of eternity. In fact it is more than hope. I know that because the truth is Jesus Christ who is the tree of life and he himself likened us to the branches of a magnificent tree. We are not so unlike the runners off of a banana tree that reproduces itself.

Two years and no fruit from the banana trees. But, I have patience and I have hope that one day they will produce fruit. The ones you see here may not produce the fruit directly; but, they will through their offspring; through their pups I will see fruit one day. We may not also always get to see the fruit produced when we share the Word of God. But, fruit will be produced whether we get to see it or not. It will happen so don’t give up. Have patience and hope. Just because you can’t see or experience the fruitfulness of something doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened. After all, God did tell us through Isaiah the prophet: "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11)

Have patience; have hope, and share the word of God so that it might produce fruit for the glory of God! God’s Peace and hope be with you all. Amen!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Think On Good Things Not Bad

Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

                                                                                (Phil 4:4-8 KJV)

I was walking around the yard checking out the buds on the magnolia trees early the other morning. I could not hear the frogs or the crickets. I heard no birds chirping. I did hear screaming though. I heard people screaming at each other from three homes from north, south, and east of my home. I cannot see any other houses from my home; yet, they were all screaming at each other so loud that I could hear them all. I felt bad for them. I can't imagine starting a day with a screaming match.

God did and does not intend for us to be so distraught over daily living that we treat loved ones (or anyone else) with such disrespect. I cannot believe that he would have us start our days with such unrest. But, it happens. It happens all too often.  We think on the bad things and forget all the blessings in our lives. We forget that we do have people who love us. Most of us have all that we need to live by as well as many additional comforts. We have life and above all we have a God who loves us and is there for us always. When we forget the good things; the blessings, and think on the things that bother us we make our own lives and the lives of others miserable. 

One of my granddaughters tells me that when she was upset as a little girl I would tell her "This too shall pass." I don't remember saying that to her. But, she does. When we look back at our lives we will see many times we felt much despair and not we wonder why we were in such turmoil for that time surely did pass and life went on. Life does go on. Make the best of it. Rejoice and live in peace so that you do not bring trouble where there would be no trouble.

Talk with God. Tell Him your what is on your heart and mind and rejoice for the peace of God which he will give to all whose hearts and minds are on Christ Jesus.  Praise the Lord and thank Him for the blessings that he has given you and thank him for the opportunity to love others and to love him. 

Think on the good things; the blessings of God, and not the bad things which seem to interfere with your days and know a peace that surpasses all understanding in good times and bad. 

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Rejoice And Sing Praises

 PSALM 96 (KJV)

O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth.

Sing unto the Lord, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day.

Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.

For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.

For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the Lord made the heavens.

Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

Give unto the Lord, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the Lord glory and strength.

Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts.

O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.

Say among the heathen that the Lord reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.

Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.

Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice

Before the Lord: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.

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There is only one God worthy to be praised. All of creation knows this; except maybe humankind. May the Almighty God, Creator of heaven and earth open all ears to hear; our eyes to see; and our hearts to love and worship Him.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Praise Ye The Lord

Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise him in the heights.

Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.

Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.

Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.

Let them praise the name of the Lord: for he commanded, and they were created.

He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.

Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps:

Fire, and hail; snow, and vapours; stormy wind fulfilling his word:

Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars:

Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl:

Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth:

Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children:

Let them praise the name of the Lord: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.

He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the Lord.

Psalm 148 KJV

Who or What Abides In You?

"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples." (John 15:5,8 KJV)

It is only in Christ that the Father is glorified. All power and authority resides in him. His disciples are those who abide in him, that they might bear much fruit. The works of Christ's disciples will always glorify our Father in heaven and not themselves. 

There are three tall (about 100 feet tall), beautiful pine trees in my backyard. At least, last summer they were beautiful. Something bad abides in them. They are called tree beetles. The trees are dying. There is nothing left to do. They are so huge that there is no pesticide that can heal them. They will one day fall to the ground unless we have them removed before then. We have protected the other trees in the yard with pesticides that will protect them from the beetles. The three though were noticed after the beetles had already invaded them and began abiding in them.

Be careful then what you allow to abide in you. May Christ abide in you and you in him that you might have life!

"Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."

                                                                                   (Matt 7:19-21)

May the fruit that is produced be produced by the abiding presence of Christ for it is by him that the Father is glorified. 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Praise the Lord for Life!

Psalm 148:7-12

Praise the Lord from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
stormy winds that do his bidding,
you mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars,
wild animals and all cattle,

small creatures and flying birds,

kings of the earth and all nations,

you princes and all rulers on earth,
young men and women,
old men and children.

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Every breathing creature upon this earth lives because of the very breath of God. He said: Let there be... and, there it was. 

How much do we appreciate the gift of life that He has given us? Do we spend more time lamenting our lot in life and drowning our sorrows, rather than thanking and praising God for the gifts that we have been given?

Live life! God gave us life for a reason and it was not to destroy it. Live life in relationship with God and enjoy the precious gifts that He has given you. Live life in a good relationship with all of God's creation and enjoy the life that you have received.

May all of God's creatures give thanks and praise the life that He has given us here on earth and in the Kingdom that has no end.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Shout for Joy!

Say among the nations, “The Lord is king!
    The world is firmly established;
     it shall never be moved.
    He will judge the peoples with equity.”Let the heavens be glad and let the earth rejoice;
    let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
    let the field exult, and everything in it.
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
    before the Lord; for he is coming,
    for he is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
    and the peoples with his truth.
                                       Psalm 96:10-13 NRSV

The Lord is King! Like a strong tree firmly rooted in the ground are the children of God. There is not a thing that can cut us down. There may be attempts and there are; but, we will not be moved. We shall stand firmly on the Word of God who is Jesus the Christ. 

Many shall try! But, no axe can harm us. There is no wind or storm that can take us down for we have been rooted in Jesus Christ our Lord. (Col 2:6-7) What a relief that day will bring to God's children; no more unjust persecution, no more tears or sorrow, just joy in God's presence.

So, even as the fields exult; let all God's children sing for joy with the trees of the forest as we wait for his coming to judge the earth with his righteousness and truth.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

The Trees Sing For Joy!

Let the trees of the forest sing, 
let them sing for joy before the Lord,
    for he comes to judge the earth.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    his love endures forever.

1 Chronicles 16:33-34 NIV

It is no secret that I love wooded areas and the water! Their majestic nature reminds me that God created all things beautiful. We have so much to be thankful for. Let us rejoice in those things rather than dwell on the things that we may not appreciate so much. We give thanks not just for the beauty of His creation; but, for the gift of His most beautiful Son, who gave his life for us. Through his blood we have been promised the gift of eternal life in His Kingdom; in His glorious presence!

Let not just the trees sing for joy; but, let us all rejoice before the Lord! Give thanks to Him, for he is good; his love endures forever.

God's Peace - Pr. J