Lately, I have felt certain phrases come to my mind in the midst of challenges. I share the declarations the Holy Spirit laid on my heart, mind and soul.
Opie our senior horse and his buddy by MM
Mary’s paraphrase of scripture:
Just like a horse needs relationship with its rider/owner to be a team, we need Jesus to guide us by His Word. Jesus is our best friend.
Intimacy with God is sustenance for life.
1 Corinthians 8:3 AMPC But if one loves God truly [with affectionate reverence, prompt obedience, and grateful recognition of His blessing], he is known by God [recognized as worthy of His intimacy and love, and he is owned by Him].
I have wordless awe for the work of God in my life when I let Him guide my steps.
Psalm 37:23-24 NLT The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. [24] Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand.
We need Jesus, on our own we would act by feeling not wisdom beyond our understanding, as He promises in scripture.
Psalm 139:23-24 NLT Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. [24] Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
He is faithful and just, we need to trust Him even in the hardest circumstances.
Jeremiah 17:7 AMP Blessed [with spiritual security] is the man who believes and trusts in and relies on the LORD And whose hope and confident expectation is the LORD.
The Bible is filled with pearls of wisdom, it rewards you with amazing hope. This is one of my favorite scriptures:
Ephesians 2:8-10 NLT God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. [9] Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. [10] For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
God loves you! He wants the best for you. He believes in your capacity to fulfill the purposes He ordained before you were born.
Life can be a challenge, being a follower of Jesus Christ does not mean it’s easy. However, when we are being challenged, whether it’s personal, physical, emotional, there’s is one thing that is true and will never change.
Those who call on Jesus Christ and ask Him to be their Savior will never be alone.
Jesus promises to be with us in challenging and joyful times. He reminds us that in this world there will be trouble but He has overcome this world.
John 16:33 AMP I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]
Allowing Jesus to be the authority ( meaning the one we turn to for wisdom above the world culture) gives us the ability to have supernatural peace, instructions for every day and the power and authority to be warriors in victory for His Kingdom.
Romans 10:8-13 AMP But what does it say? “THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART”—that is, the word [the message, the basis] of faith which we preach— [9] because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For with the heart a person believes [in Christ as Savior] resulting in his justification [that is, being made righteous—being freed of the guilt of sin and made acceptable to God]; and with the mouth he acknowledges and confesses [his faith openly], resulting in and confirming [his] salvation. [11] For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM [whoever adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED [in his expectations].” [12] For there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile; for the same Lord is Lord over all [of us], and [He is] abounding in riches (blessings) for all who call on Him [in faith and prayer]. [13] For “WHOEVER CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD [in prayer] WILL BE SAVED.”
It is not an easy process to let Jesus direct our lives through the Holy Spirit (one of the three parts of the Father God, Son and Holy Spirit).
Because we want to direct our own path. I admit it, I am selfish. However, I am learning trusting the Holy Spirit brings the best steps. His wisdom is free and His love unconditional.
His scripture is my template, the more I read and seek Him the greater my insight from Him not my emotions.
Micah 6:8 AMPC He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, and to love kindness and mercy, and to humble yourself and walk humbly with your God?
This song, Still Waters, is a powerful declaration by a gifted trio of musical artists, Leanna, Ben and David, who are great humble witnesses with their personal stories of Gods goodness and faithfulness.
Hold onto Jesus! Or if you need to make a change call out to Him today and He will amaze you.
Lately, I find myself reading a chapter of the Bible called Job. A little background on Job. He was a follower of Adonai (The LORD God) who had many blessings in the standards of the world. God gave Job the blessings, family, land, material things.
However, one day, the Adversary (devil) asked Adonai if Job really was a follower of Him, and in challenging trials, would Job be able to stand up under the pressure?
I chose the Complete Jewish Bible as the resource for today. Iyov is the Hebrew word for Job.
Job 1:6-12 It happened one day that the sons of God came to serve Adonai, and among them came the Adversary. Adonai asked the Adversary, “Where are you coming from?” The Adversary answered Adonai, “From roaming through the earth, wandering here and there.” Adonai asked the Adversary, “Did you notice my servant Iyov, that there’s no one like him on earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and shuns evil?” The Adversary answered Adonai, “Is it for nothing that Iyov fears God? You’ve put a protective hedge around him, his house and everything he has. You’ve prospered his work, and his livestock are spread out all over the land. But if you reach out your hand and touch whatever he has, without doubt he’ll curse you to your face!” Adonai said to the Adversary, “Here! Everything he has is in your hands, except that you are not to lay a finger on his person.” Then the Adversary went out from the presence of Adonai.” Iyov (Job) 1:6-12 CJB
So God allowed trials and challenges to be a part of Jobs’ life. I challenge you to read the Book of Job!! Job ended up losing family members to death, his wealth in livestock and property diminished, losing prosperity by world standards and his friends questioned whether God was really with him anymore.
In chapters 38 and 39, the LORD ( our personal Creator God named in Genesis) speaks to Job. The Lord asks Job who made all things on earth, in the skies and heavens? The LORD reminds Job who He is as Creator God.
“Then Adonai answered Iyov out of the storm: “Who is this, darkening my plans with his ignorant words? Stand up like a man, and brace yourself; I will ask questions; and you, give the answers! “Where were you when I founded the earth? Tell me, if you know so much. Do you know who determined its dimensions or who stretched the measuring line across it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” Iyov (Job) 38:1-7 CJB
I love when I read scripture and find a new insight or instruction in new ways. I found the following description on horses, hawks and eagles.
Job 39:19-30 The Lord said, “Did you give the horse its strength? Did you clothe its neck with a mane? Did you make him able to leap like a locust? Its majestic snorting is frightening! It paws with force and exults with vigor, then charges into the battle; mocking at fear, unafraid, it does not shy away from the sword. The [rider’s] quiver rattles over it, [his] gleaming spear and javelin. Frenzied and eager, it devours the ground, scarcely believing the shofar has sounded. At the sound of the shofar it whinnies; as from afar it scents the battle, the roar of the chiefs and the shouting. “Is it your wisdom that sets the hawk soaring, spreading its wings toward the south? Does the eagle fly up when you say so, to build its nest in the heights? It lives and spends its nights on the cliffs; a rocky crag is its fortress. From there it spots its prey, its eyes see it far off. Its young ones suck up blood; wherever the slain are, there it is.”” Iyov (Job) 39:19-30 CJB
What I am trying to express in this post today? Just like Job, when we are going through trials it can seem our Adonai ( personal Lord God) has left us. Perhaps a better reflection would be remembering our LORD may be teaching us something about His promises and there can be deeper relationship with our Father Creator God, our Adonai, our Jesus and listening to the Holy Spiritdeveloped when we are open to growth.
Spending time to rediscover and grow our faith in a God who sees all things, created all things, knows the future and loves unconditionally is powerful, life changing and eternal.
Jamie MacDonald has a great song, Desperate that describes well the need to be restored by the Lord. Praise Him in the trial.
Prayer: Father God, Adonai, please forgive our human desire to be independent and falsely believe we can do life alone. All things are possible through You LORD. Show us through the trials what You want us to learn about Your love and promises. Just like Job, the sifting of our trials can be a place of deepening faith in You. Thank you for loving unconditionally and being our personal LORD. We need You, in Jesus mighty Name, Amen!
His goodness is at hand, do not become weary, He will provide, we are His daughters ( from the Complete Jewish Bible).
No matter what it looks like with our eyes, God is faithful! And this scripture, Psalm 68:10-12 was such a blessing to me today.
Between the hurricanes of North Carolina, and the fires of California, distractions, a bound of earthly tragedy.
Our hope must come from God alone. No matter what our eyes may see, I am a daughter of the King and so are you. Or perhaps you are a son of the King. The king is Jesus!
James 5:16 NLT Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.
So pray for our nation, and for those who are in the midst of tragedy. In this world, we have trouble, but Jesus has overcome the world, and it gives us the ability to rise above any tragedy when we are His child and walking as His children.
Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. [6] Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
Are you tired? Do you need rest? Are you striving for peace but feel like an ADHD human, unable to be still? Is your task list overwhelming each day?
Hebrews 4:1-7,11-16 NLT God’s promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it.
You can access the only One who can prepare your rest. That was Gods plan, in the beginning, to have an amazing loving relationship with His son and daughter, Adam and Eve. But the sin of pride, took both humans created in His image from the garden of Eden, there was a consequence. They didn’t listen to God to stay away from the tree of knowledge.
2] For this good news-that God has prepared this rest-has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn’t share the faith of those who listened to God. [3] For only we who believe can enter his rest. As for the others, God said, “In my anger I took an oath: ‘They will never enter my place of rest,'” even though this rest has been ready since he made the world.
4] We know it is ready because of the place in the Scriptures where it mentions the seventh day: “On the seventh day God rested from all his work.” [5] But in the other passage God said, “They will never enter my place of rest.” [6] So God’s rest is there for people to enter, but those who first heard this good news failed to enter because they disobeyed God.
God gave another chance through David, but even though he was a man after Gods own heart, he sinned in an adulterous relationship and murdered a man.
Hardened hearts make it hard to follow God. Unfortunately, this is the same problem in our lives.
7] So God set another time for entering his rest, and that time is today. God announced this through David much later in the words already quoted: “Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts.”
God wants to give us rest, we must follow His ways, because He knows what is best for us, He loves us.David did not have the luxury of a Bible to follow the wisdom of God. I’m grateful we can learn from the lives before us. Choices, mistakes, consequences, unconditional love, Grace, mercy, forgiveness are shown in the stories written in scripture.
11] So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall.
We all fall from perfection as humans, but God gives us His Word which is all powerful, it cuts between soul and spirit and exposes our fleshy nature.
12] For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. [13] Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.
Even knowing we are created in the Image of God and with sinful potential, God sent His Son, Jesus as the bridge for our relationship with our Father God. What an amazing gift of grace, freely given to us, His children. Jesus is the High Priest of heaven.
14] So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. [15] This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.
Don’t be afraid to bend your knee and ask Jesus to be the authority in your life. He loves you so much that He died a sinners death on the cross. We need Him.
16] So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
So are you weary, tired of doing life alone? Call out to Jesus, allow Him to transform your life.
Jesus talked to His Father in scripture about being willing to help His children. Our burdens can be so exhausting, but Jesus wants to help you carry the load and bring you wisdom from God.
Matthew 11:27-30 NLT “My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” [28] Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
When my kids were little someone exposed me to Scripture Lullabies, a wonderful musical artist that combines scripture and music. “I will never leave you” is one of my favorites. You don’t need to be an infant to enjoy this song and the truth of God’s love that is unconditional for each of us.
I will never leave you Scripture Lullabies
We truly can’t do life alone. Being self sufficient has an endpoint. Let Jesus carry you!
Coming soon to the heavens and nighttime skies near you, cosmic connection of planets in a row. I can’t wait to see this amazing light show.
According to earthsky.org , “in January 2025 there are four bright planets – and two faint planets – in the evening sky. Yup. They’re arrayed in a line across the sky”. Many other astronomy experts including NASA, support this premise.
I’m not sure about you, but I sure hope in my state, the clouds will not obscure an opportunity to view this amazing site of planets and stars.
The Creator God, Himself spoke all things into existence, scripture supports this truth.
Psalm 33:4-9 NLT For the word of the LORD holds true, and we can trust everything he does. [5] He loves whatever is just and good; the unfailing love of the LORD fills the earth. [6] The LORD merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born.
Even Genesis, the first book of the Bible describes, God made the lands and the seas.
Psalm 33: [7] He assigned the sea its boundaries and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs. [8] Let the whole world fear the LORD, and let everyone stand in awe of him. [9] For when he spoke, the world began! It appeared at his command.
Just as God made the heavens and earth, the skies and the stars, God made you, Perfect in His image for great purpose.
As we begin the year 2025, meditate on the fact a new year brings great new possibilities. Forget 2024 , looking back at the mistakes or challenges, but look forward in 2025. God will be working in your life if you let Him guide.
Ephesians 2:8-10 NLT God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. [9] Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. [10] For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
It is not where you start, but where you finish that matters the most. You are His Masterpiece. Trust Him ( God, Jesus, Holy Spirit) by receiving His free gift of grace and mercy.
Change the trajectory of your life. Stop listening to the lies of the enemy.
James 4:6-10 NLT And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” [7] So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. [8] Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.
What is described in James 4: 8 -10, is an explanation of repentance and surrendering your life to God.
9] Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. [10] Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.
God has good plans, a hope and a future. But we must seek Him wholly for He is holy!
Jeremiah 29:11-13 NLT For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. [12] In those days when you pray, I will listen. [13] If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.
Welcome in a new life 2025. Time is wasting. Time is now!
Do you need a moment to just breathe? Did you know so did Jesus?
Our fast-paced world with all its distractions can truly drain us, heart, mind, and soul. We must take time to rest, but not in loneliness, but in Him.
I’ve heard it said recently that even Jesus took time to rest before he spoke wisdom or guided the growing crowd of people.
Matthew 13:1 NLT Later that same day Jesus left the house and sat beside the lake.
What is your place of peace? Is it in nature? Is it taking a hike in the mountains? Is it walking down the dirt road listening to the birds? Is it finding a water source lake or a river to sit by? Is it just listening to the sounds of nature?? Is it listening to the laughter of a child?
Whether you are single, married, a parent or not, we all need to take time for rest and renewal.
We all have a place that fills our senses with God‘s creation. Nature is a place of peace for me.
If we don’t take the time to spend with the one who created nature, we will never be ready for the crowds of people.
Some people may be sent for us to help and others may just be very draining. We need to ask for the Lords discernment on when to speak and connect with others and when to give the experience and relationship to God.
Matthew 13:2 NLT A large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat there and taught as the people stood on the shore.
Our souls need filling by the Holy Spirit! Our minds need wisdom from our Father God. And reading the Word of God, brings a little slice of heaven for us to share with others. Reading about how Jesus communicated in relationship can bring us so many pearls of wisdom.
Find your place in nature that fills your soul and all five senses. See with your eyes, the beauty around you, hear with your ears the sounds of a hawk or a horse whinny or the sounds of a river. Feel the cool, crisp wintry air on your skin. If you have snow, taste of snowflake on your tongue. Share aloud with God your gratitude for good things.
Meditate on the goodness of God as Jesus did. Reread aloud this Scripture:
Matthew 13:1 NLT Later that same day Jesus left the house and sat beside the lake.
Rest in the Living water and be filled with His Presence. Then go where He sends you knowing you do not walk alone.
We have an eight year old gelding and a 25-year-old gelding, observing their relationship over the past six weeks has brought me amazing insights into many things emotional and spiritual.
Horses are the most amazing animals. They’re huge and could be scary to some people. Yet they are able to calm humans who have had trauma or need emotional support.
Horses are mentioned throughout scripture. God must have loved horses, He made them with a sense of understanding human emotion. I have experienced this personally and I know many therapeutic horse riding facilities exist because of the horse/ human connection which calms people.
Horses are animals who love relationship and yet they also love time alone. When one horse is tired and chooses to lay down the other horse stands at attention and is on duty against predators.They have each other‘s back basically.
On duty senior horse by MM
It reminds me of our relationship with God, our Jesus! Jesus wants to be in relationship with us as people created in His image. He, Jesus, at times, would step aside and be with God ( as at Gethsamane) and yet Jesus, also loved community. Jesus is our protector and our comfort.
Just as a horse doesn’t prefer being alone we don’t prefer being alone. There needs to be a herd leader in a horses pasture. There needs to be a leader in our walk with Jesus, and it can’t be us.
Psalm 59:16-17 NLT But as for me, I will sing about your power. Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love. For you have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress. [17] O my Strength, to you I sing praises, for you, O God, are my refuge, the God who shows me unfailing love.
The leader of the herd is the one that the others follow for safety and for survival. The leader of the herd provides a wall of protection against others who may want to hurt.
Is Jesus not an amazing refuge, our leader and shelter for us in stormy and challenging times? Yet our relationship with Jesus can bring peace and happiness when we spend time in His presence. Horses are no different, they bring similar calming emotion.
As I watched our gelding horses share a drink of fresh water, I thought how much more happiness I have in sharing life with Jesus. His living water brings refreshment, restoration and fills me with liquid joy.
Psalm 16:11 AMP You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.
Just as horses need a herd, we need a community of faith to sharpen us in truth and bring His wisdom.
Proverbs 27:17 NLT As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.
My fellow Christian’s friends in life, in community and on this blog community bring a joy and love that reflects the love of Jesus to me!
I am grateful to all the amazing interconnections by my God that encourage and nurture daily life.
Psalm 20:7 AMP Some trust in chariots and some in horses, But we will remember and trust in the name of the LORD our God.
Did you know your broken pieces can be used to bring glory to God? Did you know that Jesus came to set you free?
2 Corinthians 4:5-10 NLT You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake. [6] For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. [7] We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.
Did you know none of us has it all together? Did you know you don’t have to walk alone? Did you know the One who created you is your Father God? Did you know even if a human father has not been the best example you still have a Creator Father whose spark was at your conception? He longs to have relationship with you, however, He will not force this relationship, He gives you free will to choose Him.
Did you know our broken pieces can be used for amazing things? Each of us has a story to tell of our life and the faithfulness of God. The devil would want us to give up. But God wants us to trust in Him.
Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. [6] Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
We can experience the joy of a relationship with Jesus. His peace happens when we reach out to our Creator God.
Did you know there is a triune God? The triune God : our Creator; God the Father, His Son, Jesus and the Holy Spirit!
We get to experience Him when we ask Jesus to be our Lord and Savior! When we repent of our stupid human sins and let Him direct our lives, our broken pieces are put back together for His glory to shine through our lives.
[8] We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. [9] We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. [10] Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.
His amazing grace is available, and His mercy requires your submission; heart, mind and soul to His plans.
Do you want to be set free of the brokenness and be used for His God given purpose? We are not promised a smooth life after we ask Jesus into it, however, we are promised He will not abandon us. Our faith in Him brings endurance and hope regardless of the trial.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NLT That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. [17] For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! [18] So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
The song “Broken vessels” by Taya and Hillsong powerfully impacted me today!
Broken Vessels Hillsong Worship
What are you holding onto that has become an idol but cannot save you? Material things will not last. But faith in Jesus is eternal and can change the trajectory of not only your life but the lives of generations to come.
His grace saved the wretch in me. He comes to bring you a new life with Him. Don’t let the enemy take what God has planned for you. He will use the broken places and seal the cracks into an amazing masterpiece of His creation; you are loved, chosen, made in His image.
God wants to be your everything. Call out His Name, Jesus!
“Jesus, I need you, please forgive me of my sins, I repent and turn from anything that has blocked my relationship with you. I want to know You,Jesus! I fix my eyes on You and teach me Your ways. Thank you for loving me! I give you permission to direct my life. Thank you for giving me a new life with you! I choose you, Jesus, in You Name, Amen!”
He has better plans for you, let Him direct your life. Seek your Creator Today!!
Fall harvest brings an abundant crop of grapes soon to be crushed and processed to wine. This photograph is breathtaking and shows a vineyard ready to be harvested. Solid soil, abundant rain and water through irrigation, delicate care and time produce an earthly blessing.
John 15:1-10 MSG “I am the Real Vine and my Father is the Farmer. He cuts off every branch of me that doesn’t bear grapes. And every branch that is grape-bearing he prunes back so it will bear even more. You are already pruned back by the message I have spoken. [4] “Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me.
We are created in the Image of God for great purposes. At our conception, the spark of light shows God is there. He is the Vine, we are the branches as in a vineyard. We need Him to guide our lives.
John 15:5-8 “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. [9-10] “I’ve loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you’ll remain intimately at home in my love. That’s what I’ve done-kept my Father’s commands and made myself at home in his love.
Protecting the grapes by PC
God wants to be an integral part of our life. He loves you, period! He wants to fill us with His wisdom to guide and protect His precious child. In the case of this photo of grapes ready to harvest, my dear friend explained that when the grapes are ripened, birds, coyotes, fox and rabbits will steal the finished product before wine can be produced. ( It is not much different for each of us, there are distractions and others who don’t want you to achieve God’s purposes). The white pouches in the photo of grapes are a protection from the potential loss of this valued crop.
We are no different to our Vinedresser, Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit. He gives us free will to take the umbrella protection of His love and use the wisdom to bring a productive purpose filled life. We have the potential for great things, however, we must bend our knee and turn our will over to the One who made us, God.
I love the simplicity in His love. I have been reading an awesome book, Finding God’s Life for my will. Here is an excerpt:
I love how Mike Donehey, Author of “Finding God’s life for My will” and musical artist with Tenth Ave. North explained this concept. We need to find God’s Life for our will.
We need to let God transform the broken parts of our life, we need Him. He moves toward us in love.
The power to transform us is in Him!
He is the Vine and we must allow Him to tend our lives as a farmer tends the grapes in a vineyard. You are His treasure. Let Him bring His solid ground wisdom ( He is the Rock), may you allow Him to pour His Living Water into the cracked places. The time is today to make an eternal change. May you find peace and purpose as you let Him transform your life today.
Inspiring Light Through the Cracks 