Too often Christians will over think and stress on doing what they think is needed and then will miss out on the joy of being with God. Randy’s message Sunday about stress was reflected again in my devotion tonight about this self-imposed stress. The devotion mentions how we get so stress over doing the right thing for the kingdom so we can “bear fruit” that we miss the point. Bearing fruit is a term in the scriptures to show we are following Christ and sharing His love for the kingdom. But bearing fruit has very little to do with how hard we are working and everything to do with how well we are connected with Jesus. The devotion book “Jesus Speaks” by Steven Scott, reminds us that for any branch to have life that will produce fruit, it must first have sap. The life-giving sap flows up through the vine, then out to the branches. Scripture reminds us that Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. If we are not connected to the branch, we will not gain the life-giving sap.
The only way out spiritual life can bear fruit is to stay connected to Christ and His words. Our purpose is to bear fruit for the kingdom, with some being planters, and some being waterers but none of it will be able to be done if we are not connected to the vine. The scriptures are our connecting tissue to the vine where His Spirit flows. And as long as we stay connected to His words we will receive the life-giving sap from above.
When we do not have the life-giving sap, we can not plant or water…or share His love and that is our goal. And eventually our connection may harden and be of little use.
For when we are able to share His love, by sharing His truths, and bearing fruit, then God will be glorified. It doesn’t matter if we were the sower, the waterer, the encourager, the friend, or the total stranger that is sharing God’s love, we will all get to rejoice with those who reap the benefits of that shared love. So stay connected and watch God work.
Have a safe and blessed week and be kind in all that you do.
Technically for me its still the 27th but…We are tying in with Cee’s challenge for the 28th to showcase the beauty of flowers regardless of the day.
Since mine are not up yet, I give you archives of last summer as the hopes of this summers sunflowers are just now breaking ground.
My neighbors loved my sunflowers so much last year, we are planting them again this year. They are just beginning to break ground in their little cups. Hopefully it will warm up soon before they get too big. LOL.
And with all things spring in mind, lets warm up our kindness as well.
Spring in the midwest can be beautiful, maddening and extremely temperamental.
For example: One one hand we have flowers coming up…
Daffodils beginning to show their greenery
Then on the other hand…we have ice.
The (dirty) bird bath is a block of ice
We got way less than expected snow fall this winter for our area but the polar air from Canada gave us TOO much cold for longer periods of time. Ready for April!!
Three buds showing
Four days until April…Come on flower time.
And remember, as flowers begin to show their beauty that make us smile, share your beauty in the form of kindness and help others smile.
This weekend, SueW and GC have challenged us with perhaps a loving memory or maybe a current love in talking of mothers, even plants have a mother. I repotted several baby spider plants yesterday at my office as the mother plant is doing very well. My one at home is just getting started.
Mothers, we all had one. Some were good, some not so good. My mother, while she had issues (as we all do), it was her mother that taught me the most about courage, faith and surviving this life. She was a school teacher so it is not surprising that she always taught.
Miss Lottie, as others called her, and her love, Brownie
But I did write a poem about my mother and gave it as a frames gift in 1986 for Mothers Day, a lifetime ago. While is may not be a great poem, its value far outweighed it errors because it came from the heart – which is where all family love should come from. And she loved it.
Like A Rose
Like a rose’s sweet fragrance that floats through the air,
So does a mother’s love as it flows through her home.
Like a rose that reflects its rich vibrant color,
So does a mother when she is loving her children.
Like a rose’s thorns that beckon you to beware,
So does a mother who safely guides her children.
Like the velvety softness of the rose’s soft petals,
So soothes a mother’s hand and voice calms a fear.
Like the beauty of a gentle swaying rose,
So the beauty of mother forever will glow.
And as always, I close with a reminder of kindness. We can never be too kind as somewhere, someone will be watching and be encouraged.
Typical with most passing storms, the appearance of a spectacular sunset. I just wanted to pass along that this sunset meets that criteria after all of the menacing gray clouds that seemed to just hang around forever today.
“They” say that behind every gray cloud is a silver lining but todays lining is orangey gold and quite beautiful. I know my photography skills are not as good as some but this needed sharing. May your weekend turn out just as beautiful.
Today we have more fun with Hammad Rais and Weekend Sky #60. I just had to play along as the sky today has been tumultuous, from rain to spiting snow and now the wind is crazy. We are under a wind advisory. BUT, it makes for great pictures. Even though I am no professional, it is fun to join in. So come show us your beautiful sky.
The Red Tailed Hawks are not even having to do anything but stretch out their wings and float on the currents of the wind. But the contrasting gray colors with the occasional blue patches of sky is what makes it so beautiful.
Since we are talking about weekend skies, I leave you with a sunset image of kindness for you to reflect on.
Always Be Kind enough so that the deaf may hear your kindness and the blind can see it.
Hammad Rais creates a fun and interesting way for us to share the beauty in the sky around us. Come join in with Weekend Sky and share your world.
This is a most special weekend sky for us in the Midwest…it’s the clearing out of winter’s hold as promised temperatures for Sunday bring in the start of spring.
Winter’s hold will soon break
After the two inches we got we got Thursday, winter is not going out easily. The thin wispy white you see is snow still trying to rain on us. But alas, tomorrow will be the last of the stronghold…and it will be done with a vengeance of single digits.
Beautiful sky
But Sunday brings in 40s – 50s. And all next week in the 50s. Yay!! Come on spring. And as we get into more tolerable temps, remember the value of Kindness as you go about your day.
What a crazy week we have had…50 degrees, no 60s, no 30s and now more snow. Welcome to the Midwest in March. I long for my sunflowers again this year, so I give you remembered photos and a poem of hope.
It’s Coming
Alas its coming, I can smell it on the air
The bursting of spring, a damsel so fair
I can feel the ground, it hasturn to mush
But we must wait, the new storm’s a rush
It will cover the ground in a layer of white
It doesn’t matter, our hopes are still bright
For spring is coming, the buds are showing
Flowers will be blooming, the sky glowing
For spring is coming
Come join in with Cee and her Flower of the Day. Flowers make us smile and we all need more of that. Even though we still may be masked, smiles of kindness can still come through your eyes. Smile and be kind often.
For the Love of 