Rooted, BUILT UP and ESTABLISHED!

Do you know that there is a BIG difference between claiming to be a Christian and knowing Christ and actually living as a maturing believer?

2 Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Christians are brand new people on the inside. The Holy Spirit gives them new life, and they are not the same anymore. We are not reformed, rehabilitated, or reeducated-we are new creatures, living in vital union with Christ (Colossians 2:6-7). We are not merely turning over a new leaf; we are beginning a new life under a new Master.
Colossians 2:6-7
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Accepting Christ as Lord of our life is the beginning of life with Christ. But we must continue to follow His leadership by being rooted, built up, and established in the faith. Every day He desires to guide us and help us with our daily problems in the faith.

FRUITFUL OBSERVATION: Paul used the illustration of our being rooted in or connected to Christ. As plants draw nourishment from the soil through their roots, so we draw our life-giving strength from Christ.

Let’s draw our life from Christ, and not be fooled by those who falsely claim to have life’s answers (2:8).

LUKEWARM…EWWW NO THANKS!!

We are starting a five week Bible study this evening on the WAR ROOM movie.

The primary focus is how PRAYER IS A POWERFUL WEAPON!

Jesus invites us into a closer and more intimate fellowship with Him. Prayer is our ultimate conversation with Him, and He wants us to be on fire for Him.

The first lesson addresses LUKEWARMNESS
Revelation 3:14-22
Laodicea was the wealthiest of the seven cities, known for its banking industry, manufacture of wool, and a medical school that produced eye salve. But the city always had a problem with its water supply. At one time an aqueduct was built to bring water to the city from hot springs. But by the time the water reached the city, it was neither hot nor refreshingly cool-only lukewarm. The church had become as bland as the tepid water that came into the city.
Lukewarm water makes a disgusting drink. The church in Laodicea had become lukewarm and thus distasteful and repugnant. The believers didn’t stand for anything; indifference had led them to idleness. By neglecting to do anything for Christ, the church had become hardened and self-satisfied, and it was destroying itself.
FRUITFUL OBSERVATION: God does not want us to be cold, but there is more hope for a rebel to repent than for a halfhearted, in-name-only Christian who is self-sufficient. Don’t settle for following God half way.

Let Christ fire up our faith and get us into the action today and every day!  :))

It’s NOT about today…It’s about eternity:)))

After a week of vacation,

and a POWERFUL Easter Sunday, I’d say that I’m a tad behind on blogging and reading others blogs…

I must admit that I feel very blessed that a good number of you have said that you look forward to reading my post for encouragement.
My purpose is exactly for that reason which also glorifies Christ:)))

2 CORINTHIANS 4:16-18
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Today, a good friend and I met to walk and catch up. We discussed our physical limitations, family situations, and had a wonderful time of encouraging each other in the Lord. Oh, how we will continue to face obstacles in this life on earth, but we must keep our commitment to serving Christ.
Rather than giving up when persecution wore him down, Paul concentrated on experiencing the inner strength from the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 3:16).

FRUITFUL OBSERVATION: Don’t let fatigue, pain, or criticism force you off the job for Christ. Our ultimate hope in terrible illness, persecution, or pain is realizing that this life is not all there is-there is life after death!
Let’s remember that we will live forever with God in a place without sin and suffering! 🙂

Get a hold on your thinking:)

TRY IT because ALL we have to lose is our negative attitudes:))

*FRUIT BITE* Life Wisdom 3/26/16

Can I get an AMEN?

A Guarded HEART condition produces PEACE :))

Do you believe that positive thinking plays a BIG part in how we live our daily lives?
It does, but what’s more important is focusing on God’s Word and keeping IT in our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

PHILIPPIANS 4:7-9

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

God’s peace is different from the world’s peace (John 14:27). It is not found in positive thinking, in absence of conflict, or in good feelings Real peace comes from knowing that because God is in control, our citizenship in Christ’s Kingdom is sure, our destiny is set and our victory over sin in certain.
What we put into our minds determines what comes out in our words and actions. Paul tells us to program our minds with thoughts that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy

FRUITFUL OBSERVATION: Examine what we are putting into our mind through television, books, movies, and magazines. Replace harmful input with wholesome material.

Let’s read God’s Word and pray. Ask Him to help us focus our mind on what is good and pure TODAY AND EVERY DAY!

Fixed eyes produce less veering :)

Do you know that NOT getting distracted and veering off the track is crucial whether referring to Christians or Locomotive Trains?
In both instances, once off course massive chaos is inevitable.

PSALMS 119:1-8 (ESV)
1 Blessed are those whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the Lord!
2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies,
who seek him with their whole heart,
3 who also do no wrong,
but walk in his ways!
4 You have commanded your precepts
to be kept diligently.
5 Oh that my ways may be steadfast
in keeping your statutes!
6 Then I shall not be put to shame
having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
7 I will praise you with an upright heart,
when I learn your righteous rules.
8 I will keep your statutes;
do not utterly forsake me.

 

 

 

FRUITFUL OBSERVATION: God’s Word tells us exactly what we must do as His children to live the best life possible

Let’s stay on track with God today and every day!! 🙂

IT’S SIMPLY a MATTER of SURRENDER:))

Have you ever thought about the word surrender? As Christians, we read and hear a lot about how we are to ‘surrender‘ our lives to Christ. I believe sometimes we think that we have until another obstacle arises and we find ourselves in the middle of yet another growth spurt.
Surrender means giving up possession of or power over; yield to another on demand or compulsion.

JOB 11:13-15 Contemporary English Version (CEV)

13 Surrender your heart to God, turn to Him in prayer,
14 and give up your sins- even those you do in secret,
15 Then you won’t be ashamed; you will be confident and fearless.

In a sense, surrender and faith go hand and hand. Christ meant for the Gospel to be straightforward and easily understood. The word surrender can be misunderstood as being to difficult for us actually to live as we should for Christ, but as believers in God’s Holy Word, we are to trust what Scripture tells us to do and obey how He wants  us to live in obedience to Him.
To surrender ourselves is just as simple as taking God’s Word at face value as to what it implies. We aren’t going to be perfect; we can expect to make mistakes daily, but knowing that God knows all things that we do and say can lead us to pray and ask for forgiveness to be forgiven.
By staying in a right condition with Christ causes us to be usable for Him, and keeps us in a ‘surrendered’ state.
It’s a matter of obeying His Word and nothing more. Now isn’t that simpler than you thought?
FRUITFUL OBSERVATION: We can sometimes make the Christian life harder than it’s meant to be, it’s a matter of applying our faith and fully obeying.

Let’s do our best today and every day to apply God’s Word to our daily lives and be fully surrendered for His use! 🙂

2 min Fruit Bite 3/17/16

This is about encouraging others because I sure wouldn’t post such a picture of the ‘captured pose’ in  this frame…all about encouraging others:))) LOL Y’ALL BETTER GET ENCOURAGED:))