So Close

I have been driving past this scene for weeks, and God just won't let its truth leave my mind. Looking closely, you can see 3 potted plants that are almost completely dead and a sprinkler only a few feet away. The truth that God implanted (get the wordplay? :) ) on my heart is that there are times when our heart's desire is to grow in Him. We desire to learn more about Him, but at times are at a loss as where to start. Sometimes the answers lie only a few feet away! These plants desperately need water, just as our lives desperately need the Living Water that only Jesus can provide. Won't you turn on the water?

"For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water." (Revelation 7:17)

Fishing Truths

The next few posts are coming from a delightful, relaxing, chigger biting, canoe tipping, fish catching day at a dear friend's stocked pond. God was pouring His truth into my head so fast that I had to use my voice recorder on my phone to capture them all so I wouldn't forget. Satan likes to laugh in my face often when God gives me a word and then by the end of the day I forget it. Not this time!!!

Truth #1 So many times when we are setting out to catch "fish of the faith", we go to a place or a foreign land where there seem to be a bunch of fish to catch. And when we don't catch them, as in this picture where my husband and son have moved to another dock in hopes of more fish being there, we get discouraged and go to another place. I feel like a lot of times, God is just calling to catch fish on our own dock. It's hard to fish a sea when you don't have experience in your own pond.

"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." (Matthew 4:19)

Real or Artificial?

The choices for bait were plentiful. I have no idea what they are all called, but all I know is this...Some were alive and some were rubber. I started out with a larvae looking white wormy thing that was completely rubber. I will give it this...it's fake tail wiggled as you reeled in which seemingly made it look alive, but NOPE, it wasn't. The girls and my son, on the other hand, fished with sweet, sacrificial worms. Something about worms and being sacrificed to catch something else reminds me of Jesus. The girls and my son alike had a great fish catching day because of their authentic, real bait.

As we seek, with Jesus' guidance to lead the lost to a saving relationship with Him, I'm praying that our lives are real and authentic like the worms, and not fake like the ugly larvae. The fish were only attracted to the real bait. They sniffed (well, not sniffed, but I don't know the word) the larvae, only to move on. Is that what the world does to us as Christians? Do they come close enough to "sniff" our faith only to move on because it doesn't seem "real" or authentic?

"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing." (2Cor. 2:14-15)

Just Waiting to Be Caught

There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. (Ezekiel 47:9)

As we sat on the dock, preparing our fishing poles with bait, Mike's pole with the bobber hung slightly over the side of the dock. I looked down, and there were at least 5 fish underneath the pole. It was as if the fish were just waiting to be caught! It blew me away!

How many people cross our paths each and every day, just waiting to be drawn into the hope that we have? God purposes every heart that He creates to have a yearning to worship something. Unfortunately, in this life we have bought into the temporary cravings of this world that leave us discontent each and every time. Draw others toward your "pole" by putting off the "fragrance of Christ"! They will be so drawn, whether they understand what/WHO is drawing them, that they will want what you have on your pole!

Where the "Living Water" flows everything LIVES!

Growth Where You Least Expect It

"The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. (Isaiah 35:1-2)

A popular saying goes, "Bloom where you are planted", but the problem here is that I didn't plant these! (not this year anyway) The red geraniums in the background were planted this Spring, but the white flowers, Vincas I think, were planted, and thought to be pulled up more than 5 years ago.

God showed me through this picture that it is Him who plants the seeds, and it's His timing as to when they will bloom. There have been areas in my life where I thought God had bloomed me all He could, and that He was ready to plant a new "bloomer" because the old had had it's season. Just like the added summer rain resurrected this beautiful flower, I know that any flower that He has planted in me He can bring back at any time as it fits into His purposes for my life.

Rest in Your Fill

"She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:39;42)

It's been awhile since I have filled my bird feeders. I try not to much in the summer so the birds can naturally take advantage of summer treats. I filled my feeders up earlier in the week, and the birds have gone nuts over it! Birds have been swarming all over my backyard, much to my delight!

This is the crazy sight I saw today...a goofy bird asleep right in the feeder! I imagine that he ate til he couldn't eat anymore, then he just decided to take a nap where he was!

This picture was a sweet reminder of Mary as she sat at Jesus' feet. She sat there, taking in His words like they were food to her, and then after he spoke and she got her fill, she just sat in the fullness of it all and rested.

We unfortunately live in a world that screams that you're lazy if you rest, but much like the bird, we would benefit from getting filled up by Jesus and then just resting in Him.

No Weapon...

"No weapon formed against me will prosper."(Isaiah 54:17)

I love being outside, but this summer has been unusually mosquito infested. Mosquitos love me. Every time I venture outdoors, they have their forks and knives ready to chow down on my skin! I always have to have tiki torches flamin', Off sprayed, or my new Off Clip On Fan nearby to ward off the mosquitos.

It was a beautiful morning today, so I was bound and determined to sit outside to have some time with Jesus. As I was sitting under my carport with all of my ammunition ready for the mosquitos, this picture caught my eye next to me. It was a sweet reminder from God to persevere. A reminder that He's got this life under control, and that nothing, not even mosquitos, should keep me from seeking hard after Him.

"With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies." Psalm 108:13

I know that I will have more mosquito bites, but Jesus is always the healing salve.