Can I get an AMEN?

No matter how BIG the glasses,IT won’t be any clearer:)

How often is it difficult for us not to look back on our past?

             And even more difficult to look forward to our future?

 

 

 

 

This question comes after several encounters this week with other believers.

We can feel as if we are in a place that seems so unfamiliar to us. At times,

we may even long to go back to the familiarity of when life was comfortable for us!

PHILIPPIANS 3:12-14

12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Paul said his goal was to know Christ, to be like Christ, and to be all Christ has in mind for him. This goal absorbed all his energy. This is an example for us. We should not let anything take our eyes off our goal-Christ.
Paul had reason to feel sorrow about the past-he held the coats of those who stoned Stephen, the first Christian martyr (Acts 7:57, 58), he is called Saul here). Most of us do not have the type of guilt that Paul had due to his past when he was a persecutor of Christians. We all have done things for which we are ashamed. Because our hope is in Christ, however, we can let go of the past guilt, as well as the comforts of familiarity and look forward to what He will help us become. We should not dwell on what we had (that which we thought was so good), instead, grow in the knowledge of God by concentrating on our relationship with Him now.

FRUITFUL OBSERVATION: We know that we are forgiven, and then we move on to a life of faith and obedience. We need to look forward to a fuller and more meaningful life because of our hope in Christ. He has the BEST PLAN FOR US!

Let’s start living the life that Christ wants us to have today and every day! 🙂 No looking back…only FORWARD FOR HIM:) Take the first step!

Scoffers, READERS and HAPPY ROOTS:))))

Do you ever feel challenged or a little-disappointed when trying to share God’s Word with others? It can seem as though they think that you may be too excited about studying a boring history book of days long ago. I want to encourage you not to get discouraged for one moment:))))))) God is working in our heart and mind! I feel a real sadness for people who don’t show any concern or excitement about our God that they profess to ‘believe’ in for their eternal salvation.

PSALMS 1:1-3
1 Blessed is the man
that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly,
nor standeth in the way of sinners,
nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord;
and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water,
that bringeth forth his fruit in his season;
his leaf also shall not wither;
and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

God doesn’t judge people by race, sex, or national origin. He Judges them by their faith in Him and their response to His revealed Will. Those who diligently try to obey God’s Will are like healthy, fruit-bearing trees with strong roots (Jeremiah 17:5-8) And God promises to watch over them. God’s wisdom guides their lives. In contrast, those who don’t obey God have meaningless lives that blow like dust.

FRUITFUL OBSERVATION: As a tree soaks up water and bears luscious fruit, we also are to soak up God’s Word, producing actions and attitudes that honor God. To achieve anything worthwhile, we must have God’s Word in our heart.

Let’s soak up God’s Word today and every day! Man-made sources are temporary…But salvation is FOREVER:)) We NEED the correct WATER SOURCE:)

We shall be like trees planted by a river NOT like an overflowed puddle that leaves our roots compromised

Are you distressed with your thorn today? DON’T BE :))

Did you expect NOT to learn the hard way? As I look back over the past nine years since accepting Christ into my heart, I realize just how much I didn’t know when making my profession of faith. I understood and trusted that Christ died for my sins, forgave my sins once I repented, and my salvation was secure in Him. The Holy Spirit indwelled and filled me with a willingness and hunger that’s always been hard to explain, in fact, my family sometimes thought I may have been just a little over the top at times :))!!
I’ve recently begun to understand that it truly is trials in life that cause us to grow in our trust in Christ. I’m talking about situations that cause you to know what it means to say “I’m a sinner saved by GRACE.” It’s only after repeated attempts to get out of where we currently are trapped in our situations that we have no control over, That we are finally aware that He is entirely in control and will give us all that we stand in need of this day and every day.

2 CORINTHIANS 12:8-10
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ sakes: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
We don’t know what Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” was because he doesn’t tell us. Some have suggested that it was Malaria, epilepsy, or a disease of the eyes (Galatians 4:13-15). Whatever it was, it was a chronic and debilitating physical problem, which at times kept him from working.
This thorn was a hindrance to his ministry, and he prayed for its removal, but God refused. Paul was a very self-sufficient person, so this thorn was difficult for him. It kept Paul humble, reminded him of his need for constant contact with God and benefited those around him as they saw God at work in his life.

 

 

FRUITFUL OBSERVATION: Although God did not remove Paul’s affliction, He promised to demonstrate His power in Paul. God’s power shows up in weak people and should give us courage.

Let us recognize our limitations, admit our weaknesses and affirm God’s strength today and every day!

**PLEASE READ**

Hello blogging family:)

I hope that you all are well and busy encouraging others in Christ!! You all are a blessing to me and encouraging as well:))

I want to tell you about ‘FRUIT BITES’ !!

A FRUIT BITE is a 2 minute video segment for encouragement. I hope to upload on M W F.

I hope it will encourage others. Sometimes it’s easier to watch than to read, so maybe on the days that you are running short on reading time, you can just listen to the 2 minute FRUIT BITE and get a BIG BITE of encouragement to help you along in your day!

God Bless you ALL and please continue to keep up the GREAT EFFORTS that you all put forth with encouraging others in Christ!!

I’m stepping out of my comfort zone with creating FRUIT BITES. We must be fruitful for Him! 🙂

 

Sincerely,

Kim Mefford

Godsfruitful.net

SOMETHING MORE HARMFUL THAN A PINECONE!

Our WORDS, like  a pine cone can do GREAT HARM to OTHERS... LET’S LEARN HOW TO DROP THEM QUICKLY before they can do damage!

Hello Readers and HAPPY Monday! 🙂
I have been successful for seven days on Weight Watchers. It can be difficult keeping track of everything that goes into our mouths. Better yet, the REAL challenge for us as Christians, may be what escapes out of our mouth due to what we are holding in our heart.
JAMES 3:2-6
2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
3 Behold, we put bits in the horses ‘mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. (wherever the pilot desires)
5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
What you say and what you don’t say are both important. Proper speech is not only saying the right words at the right time but controlling your desire to say what you shouldn’t.
James compares the damage the tongue can do to a raging fire-the tongue’s wickedness has its source in hell itself. The uncontrolled tongue can do terrible harm. satan uses the tongue to divide people and pit them against one another. Idle words are damaging because they spread destruction quickly, and no one can stop the results once they are spoken.
A few words spoken in anger can destroy a relationship that took years to build. Before we speak, remember that words are like fire-you can neither control nor reverse the damage they can do.
We can still learn enough control to reduce the damage “it” (gossiping, putting others down, bragging, manipulating, false teaching, exaggerating, complaining, flattering, and lying) can do. It is better to fight a fire than to go around setting new ones!

FRUITFUL OBSERVATION: Before we speak, ask, “Is what I want to say true? Is it necessary? Is it kind? Keeping track of everything that comes out of mouth is far more challenging to me than my Weight Watchers after all, and MORE important to the Father.

Let’s remember to ask ourselves the three questions listed above- today and every day! 🙂

Don’t let your GOAL become “almost used up”…

“ALMOST” USED UP GOALS STILL HAVE POTENTIAL!

Good Wednesday Morning 🙂

Some days are harder than others when it comes to keeping our focus on the “GOALS” that we have set for ourselves toward Christ.
I believe that we can all agree that the stresses of life can cause distractions. We must remember that God is always with us and that He has the best plan for our lives. We must trust that whatever the day brings, He knows about it and is guiding it.
Our responsibility is to acknowledge Him in all that we do, and ask for the strength that is needed to conduct ourselves in a manner that is pleasing to Him.

Hebrew 12:1,2
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

A FRUITFUL NOTE:
We are aware that Scripture is referring to a runner or athlete, but when I saw this “almost” used up goal, it reminded me that our Spiritual goals for Christ can sometimes become “almost” used up if we take our eyes off of Him.

When we face hardship and discouragement, it is easy to lose sight of the big picture, But we’re not alone, there is help.
Many have already made it through life enduring far more difficult circumstances than we have experienced. Suffering is the training ground for Christian maturity. It develops our patience and makes our final victory sweet.

FRUITFUL OBSERVATION:
The “great cloud of witnesses” is composed of the people described in Hebrews chapter 11. Their faithfulness is a constant encouragement to us, just as we are to be to others.
Let us keep our eyes focused on the GOAL today and every day!