Spring Forward!!

Spring is approaching quickly!  It has been unseasonably warm in our part of the country.  I have seen Buttercup flowers sprouting up all over the place.  Last night we even experienced spring-like storms move across our area. Before we know it, we will be mowing the lawn, planting flowers, and turning our clocks forward.  The season is in the process of changing.

My favorite part of spring is watching as everything comes to life.  New buds begin to form and flowers sprout their beautiful colors! The things that seemed dead were only dormant.

Unfortunately, there are times in our life when we feel like we are dead spiritually.  We allow sickness and stress, among many other things, to distract us from feeding ourselves spiritually.  Our prayer life dwindles.  Our Bible reading dries up.  Before we know it, we find it hard to find the initiative to do much of anything.  We are not bearing fruit.  In fact, we appear on the outside, just as dead as we feel on the inside.

Thankfully, all hope is not lost.  We see it every year as a tree will lose its leaves and become bare.  There is not any fruit.  There are not any beautiful green leaves that catch the breeze.  It appears dead.  Then as soon as the conditions are right, the life that was hidden deep within its trunk begins to push out to the branches. It has been revived!

We see the same thing in Christians today.  Although we may feel dead, there is still something deep within us that will not dry up.  The very moment that we place ourselves in the proper conditions that produce growth, we begin to feel something bubble up within us.  You begin to feel alive!  Your attitude changes.  There is joy inside of you again.  Before you know it, there is visible fruit being produced!! 

Whatever you are going through and whatever season you find yourself in today, just remember there is always that life inside of you.  It is waiting to come out.  Put yourself in conditions favorable for growth.  Your priorities will change and you will not rest until you see fruit being produced for the Kingdom of God!

John 15:5-8 (The Message)

 ^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.


Stay connected and spring forward!!!

The Secret Place

We are in the middle of an incredible revival at our home church.  Last night's word was timely and has reminded me about the importance of the secret place.

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1

What a powerful verse!  Could there be a better place to abide than under the shadow of God?  Definitely not!  What would happen if we grasped the idea that God wants to have time with us when no one is looking?  What if we had a daily conversation with him in a room with the door closed? 

God gave me a revelation several years ago that I have shared with my youth groups.  We think prayer is one sided but God not only listens.....He speaks!!  Some of my favorite times have been when I have kept my mouth closed and just listened to the voice of God.  I am thankful that our Evangelist reminded us about the importance of time spent alone with God.

When we seek him in secret, we are rewarded openly.  I have a renewed desire to get alone with God.  The comment was made last night that "you have not worshipped Him until you have worshipped in the secret place".  What a concept!!  No one around to impress.  No one around to even think about. No distractions.  Just you and God.

Find a secret place and make it a priority to be alone with Him.  Then watch as your world is flipped upside down.

Why Question God?

Why question the Lord? Does it change your circumstances? Why worry about things you cannot change? What about faith? Faith can change the circumstances, right? Where is God and why is he not helping?

I do not understand why these things are happening to me!!!!

Have you ever asked one or more of these questions? I know that I have. It is hard to wrap our minds around some things that we go through. I do not pretend to have the answers to these questions. God is sovereign. He has a plan: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)

I know that God has blessed me beyond measure. There have been many tests and trials and times where I did not know if I could take any more, but I also know that God has a plan for me. What if you throw in the towel? What if you give up? Your circumstances will still be the same!

There are times when we are strong and times where we are weak. When you do not know if you can take one more step or go through one more battle remember where your strength comes from: "My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken." (Psalm 62:1-2)

Over the course of history, there have been mighty men and women of God. I do not know of one of them that did not go through seasons of testing and trials. God did not turn his back on them and He has not turned His back on you. Tests make us stronger and wiser. When you are weak and weary, “lift up thine eyes” toward the Creator of Heaven and Earth!!

He will not fail us!!!

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging." (Psalm 46:1-3)