Who Am I? I Am Talking Life.

“I am freezing to death.” “My poor child….”  “I am coming down with a cold.”  "I'm dying to go to the concert."

Most of us do not think about the phrases we say daily.  What words came out of your mouth today?  Do they speak into your life, or do they speak you out of life? 

My own pastor says, 

“You have 

today 

what you said 

yesterday.”

The words that come out of your mouth determine what is established in your life. 

  Job 22:28 reads, “Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee.”  The original Hebrew reads more like this, “…and it shall be a frequent occurrence unto thee.” 

What is in my heart determines what frequently comes out of my mouth, and therefore the course of my life.  

“For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”  Matthew 12:34

How to change the words that come from the abundance of the heart?  

Change what is going into the heart.  Change what you are feeding your spirit man and you will change the thought-life, and furthermore, change your words.  Ultimately you will change your life.

Street Musician

I periodically take walks with my camera as I travel.  On this busy street, I met this young man attracting quite a crowd with his musical talent.  Not only could he play the guitar, but he could sing and play upside down quite well.

When asked why he was on the street playing, he said he was making money to help his brother go to a University and earn a degree.  

I was not sure to believe him or not, until later when I saw him on TV giving an interview with a news station.  

It is my understanding that he had not told his brother how he was making the money to pay for the education his brother was receiving.  

Creating a Flower Garden

Creating A Flower Garden

Sounds like a simple task, right?

Not in a foreign country!  The language barrier creates quite a few problems with everyday tasks.

Have you every tried to give specific flower names in a foreign language.  These names are not in our everyday vocabulary, so my interpreter just kept looking at me confused saying, "I am sorry.  I do not know what you say."   I had 3G on my phone (we do not have 4G in this country yet), and went through each flower I wanted to purchase seeds for and showed the merchant pictures.  With lots of patience among all involved, the seeds were purchased.

A Mini Zinnia from the new garden.

After I dug the garden, planted the seeds, and began to see the fruit of my labor, weed killer was put on the grass near the flower garden (by a native gardener who helps with the yard sometimes).  I explained to the native gardener (through an interpreter) that I planted seeds in the garden, and these little seedlings were not weeds to kill.  Somewhere along the way, he did not understand and the weed killer killed a third of the garden.  

All said and done, the garden is beginning to grow. It only took a little more effort (just like in most daily tasks we take for granted when we all speak the same language) in a foreign country.  

What does Joy do?

Have you wondered what it is like to be a missionary in a country like Asia?
Tales of a Modern-Day Missionary is a blog being written to give insights to missions work in countries that prohibit the spread of the Gospel Message to it's people.  This blog is designed specifically for those who support in various ways to Joy's ministry.  It began as a pass-coded blog.  However, Joy has decided to share this blog publicly, making it easier for partners to read on a regular basis.  Rather, it will be written with fake names, and kept fairly anonymous.  The places, events, and people are real.  Yet, the names and any other material that would give way to where the events take place or the people involved will be changed to prevent security problems, providing protection to Joy's ministry, other ministries Joy works together with, and the Christians within China. Regular posting will vary throughout the month, so stay tuned to keep up-to-date with the latest news from Behind the Wall.  

Who Am I? I Am Honoring with My Best.

Why are some Christians not experiencing the abundant life?*  

"I tithe.  I give offerings.  I help those I see in need.  Why am I not seeing my life changing?"  Is this how you feel?  Are you frustrated at the seemingly never ending challenges before you?  

There is an account of a man who gave to God, but did not see increase from His giving in the bible.  

By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.  Hebrews 11:4  

There is a key here....BY FAITH Able gave his offering, and it was an excellent sacrifice.  (Genesis 4:1-6) While Cain brought an offering to the Lord, an offering of the ground, is this what God wanted?  Did Cain follow God's instructions he was given?  Able not only brought an offering to God, he brought the best of his flock.  (This account can get very deep if you understand animal sacrifices under the Old Covenant) 

Honor God with your substance, with your best.  Present to Him your best, and you are honoring God.  If you honor God, He will honor you.  

If you are not experiencing the abundant life, examine if your offering is an honor to God.  Possibly it is the heart condition behind the offering.

The account of the widow who gave her all in Luke 21:1-4 is an example of honoring God.  It was not  about how much she put into the offering, but the percentage and her heart condition behind the offering that honored God.  

Photo credit:  UberBetty
http://chroniclesofdania.wordpress.com/2013/02/12/grudgingly-yours/

Examine every area of your life in which you sow to God, not just finances.  Are you sowing your time with an attitude that honors God?  Do you teach Sunday school with a heart that is giving unto God? Do you play the keyboard with respect that it is unto God?  Do you greet the people as they enter the church with an attitude of thanksgiving unto the Father?  What is the heart condition behind your service to God, your giving in every area?  

God LOVES a cheerful giver (in every area, not just finances).  

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7    

*Today's DailyDevo is inspired from a message given by Pastor Dale Durant of DDMI and WOL.  

Who Am I? I Am a Testimony.

"...tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee....."  Mark 5:19, 20

The word "testimony" paints a picture of a person standing in front of the church telling a long, unfocused, and boring story of how they became a Christian at the front of the church.

Are GREAT THINGS boring?  
Are GREAT THINGS long-winded? 
Are GREAT THINGS unfocused?  

My daughter came running in the front door shouting one afternoon.  She had found a $20.00 bill on the ground as she walked home from a friends house down the street.  Excited, she rushed in the house to share her good news.  Bright-eyed and a smile on her face, she exploded, "Mom, look what I found, $20.00."  In a matter of minutes, everyone in the house was notified of her find with excitement and joy.

We all have GREAT THINGS in our daily lives to share with others, even in the little things of our lives.  

There are times a testimony is the story of how we came to Christ.  A testimony is an account of the GREAT THINGS God has done.  A testimony is giving God the glory.  A testimony is sharing what God has done in your own life, so others can expect and receive the same in their own lives.

When a person is excited about the things of God, they shout and jump, and cannot wait to share it with others, looking as if they are about to burst at the seems if they do not tell what has them so excited.

Photo Credit:
www.msunderconstruction.com 

What has God done for you?  Look in the small things, and find something to share.  The more you look the easier it will be to see Him actively working in your life.

But in your hearts set Christ apart as holy [and acknowledge Him] as Lord. Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you, but do it courteously and respectfully. 1 Peter 3:15 Amplified

Who Am I? I Am a Dreamer.

A favorite past time of mine is drawing.  I love to just sit and get lost in the strokes, the shadows, the high lights, and creating of a realistic three dimensional illusion out of a two dimensional drawing.  God gave us all the ability to envision and create inner images of His plan for us.  

Here are a few ways God gave inner images of His plans:

 Abraham's direct image:  And He brought him outside [his tent into the starlight] and said, Look now toward the heavens and count the stars--if you are able to number them. Then He said to him, So shall your descendants be.  Genesis 15:5

Joseph's image in a dream:  And he said to them, Listen now and hear, I pray you, this dream that I have dreamed:  (7)  We [brothers] were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright, and behold, your sheaves stood round about my sheaf and bowed down!  Genesis 37:6,7

Peter's image in a trance:  The next day as they were still on their way and were approaching the town, Peter went up to the roof of the house to pray, about the sixth hour (noon).  (10)  But he became very hungry, and wanted something to eat; and while the meal was being prepared a trance came over him,  (11)  And he saw the sky opened and something like a great sheet lowered by the four corners, descending to the earth.  (12)  It contained all kinds of quadrupeds and wild beasts and creeping things of the earth and birds of the air.  (13)  And there came a voice to him, saying, Rise up, Peter, kill and eat.  (14)  But Peter said, No, by no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common and unhallowed or [ceremonially] unclean.  (15)  And the voice came to him again a second time, What God has cleansed and pronounced clean, do not you defile and profane by regarding and calling common and unhallowed or unclean.  (16)  This occurred three times; then immediately the sheet was taken up to heaven.  Act 10:9-16 

 How does God primarily reveal and imprint images of His plans with us?  

You:   Your inner image (your vision, plan and purpose) comes through His Word.  (2 Timothy 3:16, 17).  As we read and meditate upon His Word, God equips us for every good work.  He shows us and directs us in every area of our lives.  

Searching for purpose in your life?

Turn to Ephesians 1:17-19 Amplified 

 Verse 17:  [For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him, 

We are created in His image.  We are saved, healed, redeemed, delivered and much more as a result of what He did.  Ask Him daily for the next month or more for the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.  Let Him reveal who He is to you.  Learn who you are in Him.

Verse 18:  By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones), 

In the process of praying these verses daily, you will begin to see the plans He has for your life.  Your life will change forever.

Verse 19:  And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength, 

We will come to realize not only His plans for us, but also the HIS immeasurable, unlimited, and surpassing GREAT POWER that is IN each of us who believe.

His great power is for ME!  His great Power is for YOU!  His great power IS IN EVERY believer!  His great power is how we accomplish all the dreams, visions, plans, and inner images He plants within us for our lives.

Getting the picture, the inner image, is the first step in gaining direction in your life, opening you to opportunities beyond your own abilities and dreams.  

Who Am I? I Am CALLED to be a DOER of the Word of God, EXPECTING SUCCESS!

CALLED to be DOERS of the Word of God, EXPECTING SUCCESS!

This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success.  Joshua 1:8 AMP

Success in what we are called to do God's way starts with meditating on His Word.  

What am I called to do?  How do I find out?  

Meditate on the Word of God.  Read the Word of God and begin to understand your calling as it is revealed to you.  

As the Spirit-filled, Living Word of God nourishes your spirit, it develops an expectancy.

"When you spend time meditating on the promises of God found in His Word, then the Holy Spirit is going to take those promises and paint an image on the canvas of your heart of how God sees you, The diving expectations He wants you to have, and how with His help you can achieve those expectations.  And when the image that has been painted inside you becomes greater than your circumstances, get ready--things are about to change."  Jerry Savelle (from his book Every Day A Blessing Day)

Be DOERS of the Word of God.  Expect SUCCESS.  Experience increase in our lives as His Word begins to manifest in your life!  

Who Am I? I Am Rooted and Growing.

For the largest part of my adult life, I lived in a military community and quickly learned early on the difficulties that come with locating a new church to attend with every new duty station.  Christian military families live a lifestyle that requires them to move from base to base, often country to country making it difficult to root themselves into a home church.

Often it takes months to locate a good local church to attend on a regular basis.  Once the family becomes comfortable with the church and begins to settle in, it is time to move again.  Many military families do not even continue to try to look for a church home at the next duty station.  

Our society as a whole has become mobile.  Think about it.  My father worked for one company most of his adult life before retiring.  Today, jobs change and career paths change regularly.  The average person will work for many companies in several fields before reaching the age of retirement.  These job changes often require changes in location, uprooting the family, changing schools and churches.    

It is important that believers plant themselves in a local church family.  

Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.  (14)  They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;  (15)  To shew that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.  Psalms 92:13-15

Why belong to a local church? 

"Because it gives us a purpose to live for, people to live with, principles to live by, a profession to live out, and power to live on.  There's no other place on earth where you can find all these benefits in one place.  --(unknown)

Most importantly, it means that we are plugged in, we have a shepherd to guide us, we have regular nourishment for our spiritual growth, and we have fellowship with other believers.  Our lives increase in every area when we are actively committed to the local church body.  

Gardening in South China Spring 2013

This little guy decided to watch me weed the garden today.  He even posed for a photo shoot.

The first flower of the season in the garden beginning to bloom--Miniature Zinnia.

Who am I? I Am A Chosen Race, A Royal Priesthood, A Holy Nation, A Peculiar People.

What is our position in Christ?

"But ye are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light:" (1 Peter 2:9).  

What a favored position we possess!  

Why?  So we may celebrate and testify of what God has done for us!  After all, we did not save ourselves.  We did not do anything to even deserve the mercy He has extended to us.  

"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,  (5)  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)  (6)  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:  (7)  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.  (8)  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  (9)  Not of works, lest any man should boast.  (10)  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."  Ephesians 2:4-10  

Photo Credit:  Unknown

Our position in Christ sets us apart from the world (John 17:14-16).  

We are favored and chosen by God.  We are kingly, of a royal priesthood. We are sacred, pure, blameless, and holy.  We are His people.

We are His eternal family.  As such, we are the object of His love. 

We are not like other people in this world.  We are different, we are unique.  Our lives can reflect our position in Christ.  (Romans 12:2) God's perfect will for our lives is to live in all that He has provided for us.  

Who Am I? I Am a Fit, Not a Misfit.

A perfectly prepared position in the Body of Christ awaits for every believer.  

Yesterday's post compared each position to that of a jigsaw puzzle piece.  

A jig saw puzzle piece fits perfectly into one space in the puzzle.  That space is cut and prepared ahead of time by the creator of the puzzle, who sees (has a vision of) the finished puzzle before it is even created.  Every piece of a jig saw puzzle is cut specifically to fit in its slot only.   Another piece cannot be forced into this position.  

Every puzzle piece contains a small portion of the finished picture, and if it is out of place, the finished puzzle will not reflect the image it was created to produce as a whole.  


The Body of Christ is likened to the human body.  

"For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.  (13)  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.  (14)  For the body is not one member, but many.  (15)  If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?  (16)  And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?  (17)  If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?  (18)  But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.  (19)  And if they were all one member, where were the body?  (20)  But now are they many members, yet but one body.  (21)  And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.  (22)  Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:  (23)  And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.  (24)  For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:  (25)  That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.  (26)  And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it."  1Corinthians 12:12-26

What is the definition of a misfit?  Something of the wrong size or shape for its purpose.  

Ask yourself, "Am I a misfit?" 
Often, the grass looks greener in another pasture.  However, the pasture you are assigned will turn green if you feed it, water it, and take care of it.  

You may see the Praise and Worship leader and want to lead, but your pasture (position) may be that of a back up singer, or the one who runs the presentation with the lyrics for all to worship.  You may see the Preschool children's teacher and want to teach the children, but your position is as an aid, or the registration person assigned to notify the parents when there is a problem with the child.  You may want to get up that stage and begin preaching to the congregation on Sunday morning, but your position may be to come in on Monday and clean the bathrooms or the whole church. 

Every position is important in the Body of Christ. Misfits are rarely happy and content.  They tend to struggle with pride and jealousy, and are immature in their spiritual growth.  

Once a person locates where they belong in the Body and step into it, they place themselves in a position for God to use them.  They find they have peace and an anointing to fulfill their duties beyond their natural ability (making it appear very easy to onlookers).  

Who Am I? I Am Synergetic.

The Body of Christ was created to function as one.  

How do I know this?  Read 1 Corinthians Chapter 12.  Gifts are distributed through out the Body (the Church), and every person has a specific position of importance.

Photo credit:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/82995349@N00/227028853/

"But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.  (12)  For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ."  1 Corinthians 12:11-12

As mentioned in yesterday's post, we call this 'synergy' in today's terminology.  Synergy defined is The interaction of two or more agents or forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects.

This requires locating your position in the Body.  

Do you remember jigsaw puzzles (before the computer age)?  Every piece fits perfectly into its place or position.  It must fit in a particular way.  Each piece of the puzzle fits in its own prepared place and must be positioned in the right direction. Without even one piece, the puzzle is incomplete.   

The same is true of the Body of Christ.  

Together, with every one in their prepared and proper position, the Body is complete, creating a force greater than the sum of each one's own individual efforts.  

What are your gifts and talents?  

Where is your prepared fit?  

Are you planted in a local church, rooted into your position, or is the puzzle incomplete and missing a piece?

Unforgiveness Hinders Spiritual Growth

After setting my gardening goals, I began researching which types of flowers produce brightly colored and very aromatic flowers to attract butterflies and birds into the yard for gardening.

All flowering plants do not grow just anywhere you would like to put them.  In our tropical environment, I soon discovered most of the flowers fitting the criteria to attract birds and butterflies required direct sunlight.  This was great because the garden area was in the sun most of the day.

It is important while sowing seed to ensure that the light conditions of the environment is conducive to the seed being sown.  A fern loves the shade of a dense forest.  A hosta loves shade, but much less dense than a fern.  Sunflowers need full-sun to create the big beautiful blooms we love.  Changing the lighting conditions of any one of these specific plants either kills the plants, or hinders them creating spindly little things with few or no blooms.

Unforgiveness hinders spiritual growth.  

Photo credit:  Maize   

"Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;  (24)  Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift."  Matthew 5:23, 24

When we fail to forgive and allow hard feelings (bitterness) to develop we can become resentful and allow thoughts (lies) from the enemy to harden our hearts.  

"Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled." Hebrews 12:15

This strains our relationship with our Heavenly Father and we begin to pull away from Him.  Bitterness produces bitter fruit, We soon begin to feel as if everything we think or do seems wrong, and discontent moves into our lives.

This excerpt is taken from Corrie Ten Boom's book "The Hiding Place":

     It was a church service in Munich that I saw him, the former S.S. man who had stood guard at the shower room door in the  processing center at Ravensbruck.  He was the first of our actual  jailers that I had seen since that time.  And suddenly it was all  there - the roomful of mocking men, the heaps of clothing,  Betsie's pain-blanched face.     He came up to me as the church was emptying, beaming and  bowing.  "How grateful I am for your message, Fraulein," he said.  "To think that, as you say, He has washed my sins away!"
     His hand was thrust out to shake mine.  And I, who had preached so often to the people in Bloemendaal the need to  forgive, kept my hand at my side.
     Even as the angry, vengeful thoughts boiled through me, I saw the sin of them.  Jesus Christ had died for this man; was I going  to ask for more?  Lord Jesus, I prayed, forgive me and help me to  forgive him.
     I tried to smile, I struggled to raise my hand.  I could not. I felt nothing, not the slightest spark of warmth or charity.  And so again I breathed a silent prayer.  Jesus, I cannot forgive him.  Give me Your forgiveness.
     She then took his hand and the most incredible thing happened.  From my shoulder along my arm and through my hand a current seemed to pass from me to him, while into my heart sprang a love for this stranger that almost overwhelmed me.    And so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that the world's healing hinges, but on His.   When He tells us to love our enemies, He gives, along with the command, the love itself.

God gave His only son so that we might have everlasting life (John 3:16).  He wants that life to be an abundant life (John 10:10).  It is Jesus who is the Light in our life (John 12:46).  He keeps us out of darkness, and it is in His Him that we grow (Ephesians 1:17-19).  

Who Am I? I Am As the Ant, the Badger, the Locust, and the Spider!

Ants, badgers, locusts, and spiders!  Oh my!

"There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:  (25)  The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;  (26)  The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;  (27)  The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;  (28)  The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces."  Proverbs 30:24-28  

Each of these little creatures were created by God's hand.  Each has a place and purpose.  

• The ants wisely prepare in the right season, at the proper time, for their future.  They, also, seem to always be in constant motion.  The Word warns the "sluggard" to learn from the ant,"Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest." (Proverbs 6:6-8)

• The badger makes his home firm and strong in the rocks. The King James Version calls this little guy a conie.  The original Hebrew translates as "rock rabbit".  The New American Standard Version translates it as a badger.  These little guys are wise to make their home strong, firm, and secure in the rocks.   The Lord is our Rock, and it is in Him that we find our spiritual needs met (Psalm 18:2, 1 Cor 10:4).

• The locusts display unity and teamwork as they go forth without a king.  One, single, locust is harmless and insignificant.  Yet, when they band together, everyone notices (Exodus 10:15).  Today, we call this kind of teamwork, synergy (the sum of the parts is greater than the individual parts alone.)  Synergy in the body of Christ is found in Ephesians 4:16, "From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love."

• And, the spider works diligently and skillfully with its hands from chemicals it has available within its own body, building an intricate and strong web enabling her to catch her prey.  She is small, yet powerful, and prevailing.  

Each of these examples provided in the Word of God are 'exceeding' wise, and are examples for believers to follow.   

Wisdom is something God will provide for us, when we find it lacking in an area of our lives.  All we have to do is ask:  "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." James 1:5

Who Am I? I Am Praying.

P-R-A-Y-E-R...intimidating?


Prayer seems intimidating to many because we are approaching God.
What if we say something wrong? 

• "But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows." Luke 12:7
• "The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity."  Psalm 94:11
• "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations."  Jeremiah 1:5 

"Out of sight, out of mind," tends to be the attitude we take with God and our daily lives.  

God cares about us enough to know the number of hairs on our heads.  He knows our thoughts, which take place before we utter words in prayer.  God knew us before we were even formed in our mother's womb.  

Prayer is communicating, talking, with God.  Of course, we should honor and respect God, but talking with Him is as normal as talking with a spouse, or parent.  

Many fear God because of sinfulness.  This fear is common, but unnecessary.  He is a merciful God, and we are forgiven if we confess our sin to Him and ask for forgiveness. 

God does not need us to pray.  We need to pray with God.

God created us with a need to have a personal relationship with Him. In Genesis God walked with Adam and Eve.  It was not until sin entered into the picture that man became ashamed to talk with God (Genesis 3:8,9).  We were created to have a relationship with our Heavenly Father.  Prayer (talking to God) is one way to build that relationship. 

Who Am I? I Am a Sower.

Sowing can reap the harvest you desire.  

Sowing tulips harvests tulips.  Sowing okra harvests okra.  You get the idea.


This spring I decided to plant a small garden.  Before the actual gardening began, I purchased a journal - my garden journal for 2013.  In this journal, I began planning the garden.

What kind of garden did I desire?  Formal and ornamental, vegetable, rose, .....  

I realized, I needed to know the goal for my harvest. The desired harvest determines what kind of garden I would plant.  After some thought, I decided I would love to invite more birds and butterflies into the yard for photography.  

Great I had a goal!  My harvest needed to fall within this goal.  

Sowing spiritually, is the same as sowing naturally.  We can see the parallels in the Bible between natural and spiritual sowing and reaping.  

What are your goals?  Do they fall in line with the Word of God?  What kind of harvest do you need to fulfill these goals?  

The summer in between my two years of attending Rhema Bible Training College, I traveled back to Tennessee for my teenage children who really wanted to spend the summer with their friends they had missed all school year.  A woman at the local church we attended came to me and said, I want to fill up your gas tank for you when you leave services today.  

Of course, I said, "Great."  At the time, I really needed that tank of gas, and I followed her to the gas station across from the church, and she filled it all the way up.  

As we prepared to leave, she said, "Joy, I want to fill up your gas tank every week after service."  It was a prayer answered for me.  I was very thankful.  She faithfully looked for me after every service to make sure I stopped with her by the gas station.  

Later that summer, before returning to RBTC I let her know how much I appreciated what she did for me over the summer, and I asked her why she wanted to fill up my tank each week.  

She replied, "Our finances were low, and I did not want to run out of gas before getting paid.  So I sowed into your gas tank.  Then, I realized I could do this every week."

"Did it work?  Did you get the money you needed for gas?"  I asked. 

She smiled and said, "My gas tank has been full all summer.  And, even my husbands tank has been full all summer  We have had plenty to fill both our tanks and yours."  

We do not always see the results of our sowing exactly as we would like.  There are many other things that effect the results our a harvest (which I will discuss in future postings).

However, we always reap the harvest.  

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. Luke 6:38

Plan what you sow, if you want to specifically 

reap.  


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Today's Blog is taken from "Discovered Treasure Bible Study" by Joy.  Both blogs are part of a

new website for JoyfulWorks International Ministries .

Planning a Garden: What are your goals?

Sowing that reaps the harvest you desire requires planning.  

Sowing tulips harvests tulips.  Sowing okra harvests okra.  You get the idea.


This spring I decided to plant a small garden.  Before the actual gardening began, I purchased a journal - my garden journal for 2013.  In this journal, I began planning the garden.

What kind of garden did I desire?  Formal and ornamental, vegetable, rose, .....  

I realized, I needed to know the goal for my harvest. The desired harvest determines what kind of garden I would plant.  After some thought, I decided I would love to invite more birds and butterflies into the yard for photography.  

Great I had a goal!  My harvest needed to fall within this goal.  

Sowing spiritually, is the same as sowing naturally.  We can see the parallels in the Bible between natural and spiritual sowing and reaping.  

What are your goals?  Do they fall in line with the Word of God?  What kind of harvest do you need to fulfill these goals?  

The summer in between my two years of attending Rhema Bible Training College, I traveled back to Tennessee for my teenage children who really wanted to spend the summer with their friends they had missed all school year.  A woman at the local church we attended came to me and said, I want to fill up your gas tank for you when you leave services today.  

Of course, I said, "Great."  At the time, I really needed that tank of gas, and I followed her to the gas station across from the church, and she filled it all the way up.  

As we prepared to leave, she said, "Joy, I want to fill up your gas tank every week after service."  It was a prayer answered for me.  I was very thankful.  She faithfully looked for me after every service to make sure I stopped with her by the gas station.  

Later that summer, before returning to RBTC I let her know how much I appreciated what she did for me over the summer, and I asked her why she wanted to fill up my tank each week.  

She replied, "Our finances were low, and I did not want to run out of gas before getting paid.  So I sowed into your gas tank.  Then, I realized I could do this every week."

"Did it work?  Did you get the money you needed for gas?"  I asked. 

She smiled and said, "My gas tank has been full all summer.  And, even my husbands tank has been full all summer  We have had plenty to fill both our tanks and yours."  

We do not always see the results of our sowing exactly as we would like.  There are many other things that effect the results our a harvest (which I will discuss in future postings).

However, we always reap the harvest.  

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. Luke 6:38



Plan what you sow, if you want to specifically reap.

Who Am I? I Am Constant.

Life like a rollercoaster?

One day up, the next day down....and so on, and so on?

As believers there is one constant in our lives, that does not change--God's Word.

We have a  phrase around this ministry (coined from another ministry)  that says, "I can have what the Word says I can have.  I can do what the Word says I can do.  I can be what the Word says I can be."

We allow the Word of God to be the constant in our lives.  It is our final authority in every circumstance.

Photo credit:
  http://www.euclidlibrary.org/kids/tickle-your-brain/rollercoasters

When our emotions and the circumstances surrounding our daily living speak contrary to the Word of God, we stand firm knowing His Word is the Truth in our lives--everything else is a lie from the enemy.  If God's Word says it, then we know it is our reality.

Our circumstances are in a constant state of change.  God's Word remains stable and constant. 




"I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved."  Psalm 16:8

Who Am I? I Am Steppin'.

Paths are walked one step at a time.  "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

Yesterday's steps determine, TODAY.  Today's steps determine TOMORROW.

Are you in a place in your life or going in a direction you do not want to be TODAY?

Life is changed by walking (stepping) in a different direction today.

How to change the direction of your steps or take a different path?

Proverbs gives us three steps to take....

Photo origin unknown.

1. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart."  Trusting someone requires getting to know them.  Spend time with God in His Word.  
2. "Lean not unto thine own understanding."  Walk with enlightened eyes of understanding, and in a Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. (Ephesians 1:17-19, Rom 8:4)  
3. "In all thy ways acknowledge him."  In Luke 17:12-18 Jesus healed ten lepers, but only one returned to give thanks.  As the one leper who returned, give God thanks.  Acknowledge that He is the One directing and providing along the way.   

At the start of a path the end is out of sight and discouragement has an opportunity to manifest, unless eyes focus straight ahead and feet keep taking steps.  Do not be discouraged and turn around or stop.  After enough steps taken in the right direction, you will see the end--the finish line.  You will arrive at your destination.  You will change your tomorrow!