Find the Path to Passion Fruit

I've never had passion fruit. It looks like it’s full of seeds with very little pulp. But this little girl sure seems to love it.

Passion might be the name of a fruit but it’s also a deep desire in our hearts that guides our thoughts and actions.

Passion is a big buzz word these days, especially among artists, but it can apply to everyone. Your passion might be to raise godly children. To pursue happiness or fulfillment. To just plain have a good time.

As a Christian author, you would expect my passion to be summed up in one word: God. 

• To love Him, 
• To walk with Him, 
• To obey Him.

Sadly, until recently, that wasn't my passion. If you were to ask me, my passion was:

To share the richness of God’s Word and to 

encourage others to let it shine through them.

Sound’s pretty good, doesn't it?

So, why aren't I bearing any passion fruit?

Simple, that one word again: God.

None of us can reflect God or share the beauty of His Word unless we love Him and walk with Him. We can’t bear fruit apart from Him

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5

Get that? First step: be intimately connected to Jesus. Allow His life to flow through us and to enable us to bear fruit.

I lost my focus.

I didn't focus on God, 

I focused on the fruit I wanted to bear for Him.

And it showed!                                                                                                 

Too often, we confuse the path others recommend for bearing fruit with the One who bears fruit through us. As my wise sister-in-law, Jean, said last week, “We go off on a tangent thinking this has to be God because it is about Him.” Why do we try to accomplish God’s work by our methods?

How do we bring our focus back to God and allow Him to direct our paths?

God brought me to these verses and, over the next few weeks, I’ll ask Him to open them to me and I’ll share with you what He teaches me.

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. Psalm 42:1

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

Together, let’s get excited about the fruit God can bear through us when our focus is on Him.

Photo credits: 1, 2

Do You Need God's Restoring Rain?

 

 

 

 

Let my teaching drop as the rain,

my speech distill as the dew,

as raindrops on the tender herb,

as shower on the grass. Deuteronomy 32: 2

 

For several years, the land in west Texas has been parched.

We prayed, even begged for rain.

 

The past few weeks, God’s blessed us – and the transformation has been remarkable.

 

Overnight, the bare, dusty fields exploded in green of every shade.

 

Life returns, seemingly out of nowhere.  

 

Many times in the past, my life has seemed parched.

• The loss of the Columbia crew with whom I had worked for three years 
• The deaths of my mother and father-in-law within a few months
• The loss of my job
• The move from my long-time home to a new area

During these times, I prayed

• For rain to soothe my heart
• For dew to refresh my spirit
• For a shower to wash away the stubbornness that created a dry, dusty life

God answered my prayers, when I opened my heart to Him.

 

Let me repeat that: when I opened my heart.

 

God never forces His healing on us – but, because of His great love, He enables us to desire healing.

 

He flooded my heart with mercy – undeserved but given freely to me

 

He refreshed my spirit with grace – the riches of a relationship with Jesus, my Savior

 

He showered my life with the truth of His Word – restoring my faith and joy

 

Was it overnight?

 

No.

 

It was a slow process; with every step I hungered for more.

 

He became my

• Companion,
• Guide,
• and Friend

 Every day with Him is sweeter than the day before.

 

Does your heart feel parched?

Pray for His rain of mercy

Is your spirit aching with grief, anger, or bitterness?

Pray for His love and grace to cleanse you and fill you with joy

Is your life dry and hopeless?

Pray for His Spirit to fill you with the truth of His Word and to restore your faith.

 

 

 

How God has ministered to you when you were desperate for His rain?

If you know someone who might be encouraged by this post, please share.

On the QT: The 5 W's

 

 My desire in all I write and teach is to encourage others to bring God's Word off the page into their lives.

• Apply it.
• Live it.

But how do we do that if we can't set aside time with Him and His word?
 

Who has time?

 

How do we have a successful QT?
 

If you’re a nurse, you know it’s dangerous to use the Q word (quiet).
 

As soon as someone says that word, patient alarms go off everywhere, the emergency room fills up, and you’re on the run until you collapse.
 

It’s the same at every job, including working at home. Speak that horrible word and suddenly
 

your teenager has a crisis,

 

your toddler flushes a toy down the toilet,

 

hubby calls to say he’s working til midnight.

 

I don't know about you but, as soon as I settle down for prayer time,

 

that neighbor who talks without taking a breath calls,

 

the washer goes off-balance over and over,

 

someone drops by for coffee.

 

The phrase “Quiet Time” is an oxymoron.

 

Time and Quiet can't co-exist..

 

Yet our desire is to have undisturbed time with God.

 

I wish I could give you a magic formula but that ain’t happenin’.

 

I don’t have one.

 

But there are some myth’s that make QT a burden rather than a joy.

 

Hopefully debunking them will help you find your way to a meaningful QT.

 

Over the next few posts, we'll tackle the 5 W’s of QT:

• Who?
• Why?
• What?
• When?
• Where?

Time with God.

 

So precious, so needed, so hard to do.

 

Come along with me and we'll find the freedom to meet with Him in the way that's best for us.

 

Come along and we'll learn together!

 

 

Have you struggled to maintain a quiet time?

I have!

If you've been able to establish one, we'd love for you to share your ideas over the next several posts.

 

Photo Credit: Clogged Toilet 

Photo Credit:Gabbing woman

Afraid of the Dark?

 

 

It's dark!

 

There are monsters in the closet, I know there are.

 

My Dad looked inside and told me the closet was empty.

 

But I know they're there. They're magical and their invisible to grown-ups.

 

When I was a child, I hid under the covers on my bed and clinched a flashlight in my hands, trusting its weak glow to keep evil at bay.

I'm all grown-up now, but I'm still afraid of the dark: fear, anger, frustration, all lurk in the shadows.  Childhood flashlights don't work...but what will?

Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105



That's easy, I thought.

So I sat in the mornings with my Bible in my lap; my eyes rolled over words my brain didn't see. I mentally raced through a few verses I remembered from Bible Drill. Then I leaped up and headed out the door.

 

But darkness still came:  disappointment, insecurity, impatience. Perplexed, I read those words again. My eyes focused on the word lamp. A lamp sits on a table and you turn it on and off, right?

 

Wait, turn it on and off. For a lamp to shine light on my fear and anger, I have to chose to turn it on.

http:/karnscoc.org caption

Chose to read God's Word,
not just scan it.

Chose to store it's truths

in my mind.

Chose to call on His truth  

to shed light on my thoughts and dispel disappointment and insecurity. 

 

Your Word is a lamp... If I want light to shine around my feet as I walk, I have carry His Word with me.  If I hold onto His truths, my feet won't stumble on the rocks in my path.

 

 

How has God's Word brightened your path? 

Look Out Your Window

Photo by Sherry Carter 2014

 

Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. Song of Solomon 2:12

As we look around our world, we see so many evidences of God's glory. Near my house, these Bradford pear trees are in full bloom, announcing that spring is just around the corner.

You might be enjoying spring or you might be covered in snow but, all around you, God's glory is proclaimed.



What do you see outside your window that proclaims God's majesty?

Need Directions?

How many of you remember these?
You young'uns might have never seen one.

We don’t see weather vanes much anymore.

I sure could use one of these on my car. It has one of those new-fangled GPS things but I haven’t figured it out.  

I have zero sense of direction. No, really, I mean it! North, south, east, west – forget it. I can get lost before I drive out of my driveway.

So I guess you could say I’m directionless. 

As I watched this arrow turn with the wind, I realized that sometimes I’m lost in my life.

• I face a hard decision and I don’t know which way to go.
• Situations challenge my beliefs and I waver in the wind.
• I’m tripped up by temptations because I’m not watching where I’m going.

There is a remedy – a Person – to point me in the right direction.

The Lord is a whisper away.
How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. Isaiah 30:19b

The Lord is here we need to make a decision.
This is what the LORD says-- your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. Isaiah 48:17

The Lord is here to lean on when we need to stand strong.
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. John 16:13a

The Lord protects us when a temptation looms before us.
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
1 Corinthians 10:13

 This is the kind of guidance we all need!

Recently, I have needed God's guidance to make difficult decisions.
What help do you need from Him right now?

6 Verses to Sleep By!

http://depositphotos.com/

I’ve been battling insomnia the past couple weeks.

Lie awake until 2 a.m. or so, get up for a while, go back to bed and sleep 2-3 hours.

Bummer.

I finally rummaged around and found the list of Scripture verses I use in times like this. They reassure me and help me relax.

I thought that someone out there might need these too. Most of them are in Psalms but there are a few from other places.

1.  He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,  he restores my soul. Psalm 23:2-3

What a peaceful image. Green pastures, still waters. Can you imagine the feel of the cool green grass and the sound of the water? Close your eyes and relax. God's there to restore you.

2. I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8

Sometimes our minds just won’t slow down or we’re caught in the fear of “what-ifs.” To sleep in peace is just what we need.

 

3. I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me. Psalm 3:5

When we struggle with worries about finances or health, this verse reminds us that He’s there to take care of us and sustain us, no matter what tomorrow brings.

 

4. My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.  Isaiah 32:18

Worried about a leaky roof or an AC that can’t cool the house? Be assured that God is in control of our homes. He will provide. We can be secure in His provision and our sleep can be peaceful and undisturbed.

 

5. For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation. Let the saints rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their beds. Psalm 145:4-5

When I’m on edge, this reminds me that I am the Lord’s delight and He has given me grace and mercy. It’s wonderful to fall asleep humming praise songs of joy and gratitude

 

6. The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17

One of my favorites. When we're tossing and turning, we can be assured that God is with me, that He surrounds us with His love and sings over us. I often ask Him to put me to sleep with His lullabies.

 

And most important:

Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. Psalm 121:4

Whatever’s going on in our lives, nothing catches God by surprise! He doesn’t fall asleep and miss something. His eyes are on us 24/7.

Praise the Lord!

 

Sweet dreams!

 

 

Grandson, Rafael



Tumblin' Along

Blown here and there by every wind of teaching. Ephesians 4:14

A couple days ago, I saw this poor tumbleweed roll down the street and come to rest against the curb.

Now, out here in west Texas, it's windy. When we first moved here, the meteorologist on the local news said, "Tomorrow will be breezy."

I'm not sure what breezy means to you, but here it means 10-15 miles per hour. When they say it's windy, you better hold onto something so you're not blown away.

In our churches, too, we sometimes need to hold onto something so we're not blown away.

• Blown away by prosperity doctrines.
• Blown away by "don't offend anyone" doctrines.
• Blown away by "you just have to be a good person to go to heaven" doctrines.

There are lots of "tickle your ears" teachings out there.

Those churches are probably the largest ones in your area. Everyone wants to leave the service on
Sunday morning feeling good about themselves.

• No challenges
• No convicting sermons
• Just fluff

All of us wish Christianity was that easy - but God's version isn't.

God offers forgiveness - we must admit our sinfulness.
God offers salvation - we must believe in Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection.
God offers relationship - we must draw near.
God offers wisdom and guidance - we must follow Him.

So...what can we hold onto when the winds blow?

His Word

In the pages of Scripture, we find God revealed.

• We find peace and joy
• We find strength and protection.
• We find wisdom and guidance

Without His Word in our hearts and minds, we are adrift, blown by the winds of the world's changing truth.

As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless.

He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. Psalm 18:30

 

For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. Psalm 33:4

 

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11

 

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105

What does God's Word mean to you?
How has it provided stability in a wind-blown world?


If this post blesses you, please share.

Learning from a Vacuum Cleaner?

My husband’s wanted one of these for years. What can I say? He’s an engineer and he wants every new toy that comes along.

During the year-end sales, he found one at a price that was almost reasonable.
Guess what he got for Christmas?

I must admit, it’s a fun little thing to watch.

It sits with its nose snuggled up against the base, waiting for someone to turn it on.

When you press START, it’s little screen says, “House cleaning,” and off it goes.

It roams all over the room in what seems like an erratic path.

After a while, it’s little screen says, “Finished!  I'm return-  ing to my base station.”
 

 If it’s in a large room, it displays “I'm return
ing to my base station for char-
ging.”

Off it goes, making a bee-line for its place.

That fascinates me! No matter how random its path seems, it never loses track of home.

My life usually feels kind of erratic. Hectic and out of control. 

I roam around here and there, doing my own thing. Every once in a while, I run into a wall, back up, and ask God for direction. 

And do goes my day: Roaming. Bumping. Asking. 

God and His Word are my base. I’m not as smart as the little vacuum. I can’t always make a bee-line for my Base when I get lost. But I can trust God to lead me there. 

At day’s end, I usually fall into bed, exhausted, without a thought of God’s protection during that day.

I should go to Him and say, “My day is finished. I’m coming to You, to thank you for your love and guidance.”

Every morning comes with its new hectic-ness (if that’s a word) and more stress. So often, I get out of bed and race off without a second thought.

I should pick up my Bible and pray, “I need charging to face the day. I’m coming to you for strength and wisdom to serve you today.”

Our Base is always there, calling us to share our days with Him and to come to Him for the energy we need to face each new day.

What are you grateful for at the end of the day?
What do you need from Him as you face each new day?

Feed the Fire!

Ps 119:105 says God’s Word is a light for our paths. I made the mistake of assuming the light was something God provided—I just walked along, taking advantage of it.

I missed the “God’s Word” part.

God’s Word can’t light my path by osmosis. What happens to a campfire if no one adds a log or some twigs to it? What happens to your gas stove if the gas is shut off? What happens to God’s light in our lives if it’s never fed?



We have to read it, learn it, and apply it. Spend time in it.

That’s the problem, isn’t it? Time: We all run out of it. We all need more of it

I’ve always struggled to have a consistent time set aside for God. I’ve struggled having any time at all!

 My days are so random, how can I ever have a set time?

        I only managed to sit with God three times this week. Why can’t I do better?

Every year I say, “I’m going to read through the Bible this year.” So I start in Genesis—I’ve read Genesis so many times I can quote it. I get bogged down and bored and quit. Do I always have to start at the beginning?

         How can I get my mind to slow down and to be still so I can hear God’s small, still voice?

Over the years, I’ve learned lots of lessons about how to build the discipline of a quiet time. Most important, I’ve learned that this time is so much more than discipline. It’s building a friendship with my Father. It’s finding joy and resting in Him.

Over the next few posts, I’ll share some of the lessons God’s taught me along the way. I pray they will light a spark within you to get to know your Father.

But first, I need some input from you...

Do you desire to spend time with God? What obstacles stand in your way?

When you do spend time with Him, what blessings do you receive?