Treasure Hunt

Who doesn’t get excited about a treasure hunt? We all want to find that treasure “at the end of the rainbow.” Finding it makes us jump up and down in joy, pride, success, and anticipation with what we will do with it. However, a treasure is not just about money. A treasure is discernment in our hearts and minds. Proverbs 2 tells us how to find it. We need to search for it as if we are on a treasure hunt.

     “Receive God’s words. Treasure God’s commands. Make your ear attentive. Incline your heart to understanding. Seek as seeking for silver. Search as for searching for hidden treasure. Then you will discern the fear of the Lord. You will discover the knowledge of God.”

In Summary: Read, study, and treasure God's word.

     

Change the Course

I watched one of those games where you are supposed to connect the dots without crossing the lines. It sure did not happen by using the shortest distance between 2 points. It took twists and turns, as well as some thought.

     Isn’t that what happens in life? The shortest distance does not always get us there. God directs in us in different ways. We just have to be willing to take the turns and change direction. Sometimes, we even need to backtrack and start all over. 

What If

What if...? What if...?

I second guess myself quite often-

More often than not.

What if I don’t like what I bought?

What if I this is not what it ought? 

What if this does not turn out?

I am filled with doubt.

What if...? What if...?

To know for sure would certainly be a gift.

There’s always a ‘what if’ in everyday life.

Yet, ‘what if’ does not have to be with God in it-

He sees. He knows.

Where I am, He goes.

I just need trust to turn my doubt to gold dust.

‘What if’ does not have to be,

for God’s presence -

His omniscience gives me glee.

 

Making the Mark

We are born and we die. 

In-between we strive to make our mark in history. 

No matter how rich or poor, there is a story.

No matter how hard we work, how much we do, how we run the race,

there’s only one thing that really counts,

and that is to have an encounter with the Lord. 

Most of Jesus’s disciples encountered Him at the Sea of Galilee, 

and they followed Him.

Peter encountered Him on the Damascus Road, and he followed Him.

These are only a few examples of how simple it is to do.

God does not ask a lot. 

Just believe in His Son-

Do you believe?

Have you accepted?

Fruit of the Spirit -continued

I think the fruit of the Spirit comes with being righteous with God. I love my peace, love, and joy. When I slip up and sin, “for all have sinned,’ that is when I lose it- my peace and joy. At that point, what I have is regret. I am so thankful for forgiveness and restoration. 

     When I think about some examples of guilt and how they were restored, I think about Peter who denied Jesus and then went out and wept. He was forgiven and regained his fruit of the Spirit. However, I have to remember Jonah who ran. He wasn’t regretful until he was in the belly of the fish. After being spit out, he then went and did God’s calling but he still didn’t want to. He pouted, but he was pleased when God sent a shade. Then Jonah pouted again when God took it away. Now, that was a stubborn man! It took some doing to get him to enjoy his fruit of the Spirit. God had to give him a real taking to. 

     Which category are you. Do you carry your guilt around? Or do you wisely ask forgiveness and let your guilt easily be removed? Do you really love gaining the fruit of the Spirit and willingly and quickly go after it. 

Fruit of the Spirit

It has been a very long, hot August and September. The area where I live has gone the longest that I can ever remember without rain. And, Lord, I pray for rain. I pray You dump a full portion upon us. 

     That being said, I have decided I will not be planting my usually turnip green patch this fall. It is past time for planting, and I do not desire to water a garden as I cannot even water my yard. My grass is dead and I certainly have no need to mow.

     However, I can water my fruit. There is no expense required. I go back to the golden rule I learned in childhood. “Treat Others as you want to be treated.” This leads also into nourishing my Fruit of the Spirit - the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and goodwill toward others. It takes so little effort. All I need to help me is the Living Holy Spirit residing within me. 

     My prayer today is, Lord, I not only pray for rain, but I pray You help me grow my Fruit of the Spirit. 

Meditate

My Scripture for today is Psalm 1:2, “But his delight is in the law of the Lord; And in His law he meditates day and night.”

 

I’ve never tried to meditate. I looked up how. It said to: Find a quiet spot-Set my position -Close my eyes -Focus on my breath- Return or start over if I lose focus or get off-track 

 

Yet, how do I mediate on the Lord all day? I came up with: 

 

M ake time

E nter into communication with the Lord

D o it minute by minute, day and night

I gnite my love for Christ

T alk to God

A lter my fleshly desire

T ake the initiative to put God first

E mbrace the Lord and His Word

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