Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Gal 6:7-8 NIV
I have been thinking about reaping and sowing for a few days now. I have pondered the question, “who reaps, what I sow?” and the obvious answer is me…but I truly think there’s more.
I believe that it’s foolish to even think that I am the only person affected by the seeds I sow. I remember in my addiction I had this same self-centered mindset, “I’m not hurting anyone. I’m just living my life!” But the truth was my actions affected those closest to me; my family.
Today as I ponder this question, I can’t help but conclude that more often than not, my family reaps what I sow. If I sow finances my entire household is blessed. If I invest time & love into my City my whole family reaps the harvest. But if I sow gossip & discord, how foolish is it of me to think my loved ones would not reap that as well. This is a sobering revelation, I can hardly handle it when my son falls down and hurts himself–I can’t imagine harming him with my own selfish actions.
Anger and rage ignite wars that kill…but peace and long suffering quiets the storms. Jealousy and envy are a cancer that spreads to infect the hearts of all it touches…but charity and compassion heals the souls of the broken. Gossip and rumors becomes a monster that grows bigger and becomes more and more destructive as it consumes all who will listen…but God’s Word is the Truth that saves people from eternal death. Hate and discord produce a poisonous harvest that’s deadly to every heart it pierces….but love is the seed that never fails, it never harms, it always blesses, and it brings life to those who receive it.
Examine the seeds that that you’re scattering throughout your life and the lives of others. If you don’t want your loved ones eating the fruit it WILL produce DO NOT SOW IT!
Pastor Brandiilyne
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. Gal 5:22-26 NIV
Friday, August 19, 2011
A lament--
It's your heart, not the dictionary, that gives meaning to your words. A good person produces good deeds and words season after season. An evil person is a blight on the orchard. Let me tell you something: Every one of these careless words is going to come back to haunt you. There will be a time of Reckoning. Words are powerful; take them seriously. Words can be your salvation. Words can also be your damnation." Matt 12:35-37 The Message
Words...we use them so frequently and carelessly. We forget what we are really saying, and use powerful words to explain a minimal thing. In this day and age the word awesome is used to describe everything from God to the outfit that your BFF is wearing. You can't honestly tell me that your friends shoes cause you to stand in awe...
These days a resolution is made by most everyone at least once a year! The word resolution means to be resolute--marked by FIRM determination. Resolve is dealing with something SUCCESSFULLY!!! Now when we hear the word resolution we think temporary, it means to "try" to do something, but...The truth is, when you resolve within yourself to do something, you decide to ACCOMPLISH IT at any cost...not "try" to.
Last but certainly not least let's talk about the one word that is grossly misused; love. How many times a day do you say this POWERFUL and MEANINGFUL word? Do you 'love' the steak that is cooked perfectly that you had for lunch, or maybe you just 'love' the restaurant in which it was prepared. Do you 'love' your friend's 'awesome' shoes?
How often do our children hear us use this wonderful word out of context? They must hear us say, "I 'love' chocolate cake it's my favorite desert!!" Then they hear us say, "sweetie I 'love' you!" It makes it difficult to express to them TRUE LOVE, because they know how we feel about that cake we had for desert.
Words are powerful and somehow we have disarmed their effectiveness and meaning. We have used them carelessly and have become desensitized to their worth.
I challenge you to stop saying these words (and others) out of context. This next week just pay attention to how many times in a day you say, "I love____" or "that _______is awesome" STOP and THINK before you SPEAK...
Say what you mean...and MEAN what you say!
Just Bb
The tongue can bring death or life;those who love to talk will reap the consequences.-Prov 18:21 NLT
Monday, August 15, 2011
How will you deal with your enemy?
...Saul took three thousand able young men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats.He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. The men said, “This is the day the LORD spoke of when he said to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish'.....--1 Sam 24:2-4 NIV
David was Saul's armor bearer and faithful servant but Saul quickly became jealous of him when his victories captured the attention of the ladies. (1Sam 18:7) Saul's jealousy soon turned to a murderous hatred that was driving his mission to destroy David.
David and his men were on the the run, hiding from what appeared to be a certain death as 3,000 of Saul's men who had orders to kill David on sight. They found themselves in the depths of this dark cave seeking refuge, and by some miracle their enemy walks in, vulnerable and alone.
David's men recognized The Lord's hand in the situation as they said, "This is the day the LORD spoke of when He said to you, 'I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish."... The Lord had delivered his enemy right into his hand, to do with as he saw fit.
God often brings our enemy to us and He gives us the choice as to what we will do with them. Will we defend ourselves and raise our hands in retaliation or will we offer forgiveness and prayer?
How will you deal with your enemy?
Pastor Brandiilyne
Don't repay evil for evil. Don't retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it.--1 Pet 3:9 NLT
Thursday, August 11, 2011
What are you doing here Elijah?
There he went in a cave and spent the night. [The Lord appears to Elijah] and the word of the Lord came to him: "What are you doing here Elijah?" 1 Kings 19:9 AMP
"What are you doing here?" I heard the Lord speak to my spirit..."Why are you in this cave? There's an empty spot by my feet where you used to be."
The realization that I was in this cave shocked me! How did I end up in this dark, cold, empty cave? I am always at the church, always working for God, always serving, always______________ the blank was filled with whatever needed to be done.
As I stand outside of this cave, I realize that I had changed from Mary who could always be found at the feet of Jesus, to Martha the sister that was too busy and concerned with what needed to be done to stop and BE STILL in His presence....WHAT?!!! Be still? Are you crazy? DO YOU KNOW WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?!
When God asked me "What are you doing here?" I had no excuse to offer, no explanation to give. The truth is I have just wandered into this place...Led by religion and works...I walked right in without realizing what God was doing and where I was heading. I just assumed that because I was at the church every day that I was in God's presence...We all know what happens when one assumes... (good thing God has a history of anointing donkeys--Num 22:28--)
I have come to the realization that being in church and working tirelessly for the Kingdom is NOT what it's all about--There is so much more!! Of course work for God is IMPORTANT and I will never stop doing that-- but my intimate relationship with Christ is VITAL!
My personal relationship with Him is really ALL that matters...If I keep Him close then everything else will line up. First of all I will have the strength that I need to get through anything and second I will have the LOVE that I am commanded to give away freely. THERE's NO LOVE in the cave of religion...heck there's not even any light in there!
Are you stuck in a place that seems dark? Have you found yourself unsatisfied or exhausted? Ask yourself...What am I doing here?...what do I need to do to get back to that place?...how do I rekindle my relationship with Christ? MY relationship--MY PERSONAL relationship... Not yours...not anyone else's... MINE... it's unique...Don't allow anyone to dictate or even script the details of your personal relationship with Christ, it's yours, it's personal, it's intimate, and it's unique to you!
Don't allow religious ideas and theology to lead you into a cave. You should ENJOY your Christianity...He died so that you could come into the holy of holies and REST....not so you could go WORK yourself to death in a dark cave, trying to impress Him and your religious co-workers.
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”--Matt 11:28-30
"What are you doing here?" I heard the Lord speak to my spirit..."Why are you in this cave? There's an empty spot by my feet where you used to be."
The realization that I was in this cave shocked me! How did I end up in this dark, cold, empty cave? I am always at the church, always working for God, always serving, always______________ the blank was filled with whatever needed to be done.
As I stand outside of this cave, I realize that I had changed from Mary who could always be found at the feet of Jesus, to Martha the sister that was too busy and concerned with what needed to be done to stop and BE STILL in His presence....WHAT?!!! Be still? Are you crazy? DO YOU KNOW WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?!
When God asked me "What are you doing here?" I had no excuse to offer, no explanation to give. The truth is I have just wandered into this place...Led by religion and works...I walked right in without realizing what God was doing and where I was heading. I just assumed that because I was at the church every day that I was in God's presence...We all know what happens when one assumes... (good thing God has a history of anointing donkeys--Num 22:28--)
I have come to the realization that being in church and working tirelessly for the Kingdom is NOT what it's all about--There is so much more!! Of course work for God is IMPORTANT and I will never stop doing that-- but my intimate relationship with Christ is VITAL!
My personal relationship with Him is really ALL that matters...If I keep Him close then everything else will line up. First of all I will have the strength that I need to get through anything and second I will have the LOVE that I am commanded to give away freely. THERE's NO LOVE in the cave of religion...heck there's not even any light in there!
Are you stuck in a place that seems dark? Have you found yourself unsatisfied or exhausted? Ask yourself...What am I doing here?...what do I need to do to get back to that place?...how do I rekindle my relationship with Christ? MY relationship--MY PERSONAL relationship... Not yours...not anyone else's... MINE... it's unique...Don't allow anyone to dictate or even script the details of your personal relationship with Christ, it's yours, it's personal, it's intimate, and it's unique to you!
Don't allow religious ideas and theology to lead you into a cave. You should ENJOY your Christianity...He died so that you could come into the holy of holies and REST....not so you could go WORK yourself to death in a dark cave, trying to impress Him and your religious co-workers.
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”--Matt 11:28-30
IF YOU'RE EXHAUSTED something is wrong....Come out of that cave--Go to the mountaintop & find your first love
Just Bb
Just Bb
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Fact or Fiction?
“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning. John 15:26-27 NIV
Rumors-rumors everywhere...is it fact or is it fiction? the very definition of a rumor exposes them for what they really are----
ru·mor/ˈro͞omər/
Rumors-rumors everywhere...is it fact or is it fiction? the very definition of a rumor exposes them for what they really are----
ru·mor/ˈro͞omər/
Noun: A currently circulating story or report of uncertain or doubtful truth
How do we discern between the facts and the very deceptive and often well disguised rumors?
The Spirit of Truth-- The Holy Spirit will let you know very quickly the difference between fact and fiction. The Truth will feed your spirit, it will ring true in your heart. The Word does say that Jesus is the Way the Truth and the Life (John 14:6)
A rumor, however, is a lie that will feed your flesh.. So when you hear things ask yourself does this build and feed my spirit, or it is stimulating my flesh? It's simple really. Would Christ tell me this?
Will this fruit nourish my spirit or corrupt my soul? Choose carefully from which tree you eat--
Pastor Brandiilyne
By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. Matt 7:16-20 NIV
Fact or Fiction?
“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning. John 15:26-27 NIV
Rumors-rumors everywhere...is it fact or is it fiction? the very definition of a rumor exposes them for what they really are----
ru·mor/ˈro͞omər/
Rumors-rumors everywhere...is it fact or is it fiction? the very definition of a rumor exposes them for what they really are----
ru·mor/ˈro͞omər/
Noun: A currently circulating story or report of uncertain or doubtful truth
How do we discern between the facts and the very deceptive and often well disguised rumors?
The Spirit of Truth-- The Holy Spirit will let you know very quickly the difference between fact and fiction. The Truth will feed your spirit, it will ring true in your heart. The Word does say that Jesus is the Way the Truth and the Life (John 14:6)
A rumor, however, is a lie that will feed your flesh.. So when you hear things ask yourself does this build and feed my spirit, or it is stimulating my flesh? It's simple really. Would Christ tell me this?
Will this fruit nourish my spirit or corrupt my soul? Choose carefully from which tree you eat--
Pastor Brandiilyne
By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. Matt 7:16-20 NIV
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