The Apple Tree

THE APPLE TREE

There is an apple tree in my back yard.  When the conditions are right, it yields a bounty of apples.  They are delicious and have no preservatives or pesticides of any kind on them.  This year there was enough rain to help it produce over 100 apples.  I also have a grape vine in my yard.  It’s out of control and untrained.  This year the grape vine spread out all over the apple tree and sucked all the moisture out of it’s leaves and branches.  Almost every apple fell to the ground and was unsalvageable.  All too soon the apple tree was bare.  There were no apples on it, and strangely enough it had no leaves.  The branches were bare and brown.  As I sat staring at the apple tree pondering its plight, it occurred to me that we are sometimes like that apple tree.  We have been given everything that we need in order to produce fruit.  God has prepared us, trained us, led us, and blessed us with gifts and talents to use, and then we allow the words of doubt to creep all over us like the grape vine did to the apple tree.  Fear, doubt, disbelief and poor self image creep all through us and suck out all the nurturing that God placed in us leaving us dry, barren and without fruit.  All our blessings lay scattered on the ground.  The good thing is that we can pick up our blessings and begin again.  Rip the vines of fear, self-doubt, unbelief and insufficiency off of you and go get your blessing!  Open your business!  Write your books!  Ask for that raise! Create that organization! Bring your invention to life!  You can do it, I know you can!  God has placed within you everything that you need to succeed.  It’s your time.  Jeremiah 29:11  “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

Being content

Today, look up and enjoy the place God has you in right now.  Smile and rejoice in Him. You're breathing,  you have friends and family,  you can eat food today,  someone does love you,  embrace where you are without looking for more today.  Take a deep breath and exhale life. Philippians 4:12  "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content no matter the situation. Whether well fed or hungry,  whether living in plenty or in want."

You've got a testimony!

If you have a testimony, but you don't share it, you're like the Chard House stocked to the top, preparations made, places set, food plated, but you don't serve the food to the waiting customers.  They are seated at their tables waiting for something that will be life changingly good, but it never comes.  They get very hungry because they can smell the aroma of the food that the chef has prepared, but none is served.  Soon they leave.  

     When you have a testimony, and we all do, you have a fully stocked restaurant, (your experiences) food prepared( testimony) by the top chef, (Jesus)   plated beautifully -  (completed story of how you came up the rough side of the mountain with the help of the Lord)  the restaurant is full, ( there are people you meet, and people who know you are wondering how you can always smile and give God praise through it all), and now, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SERVE IT.  

YOU have a testimony! You know you do.  Serve it up!  

Revelation 12:11 (NKJV) reads: "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death." 

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Our nursery

The sun is shining today. It gives us warmth and light. The moon gives guidance to let us know that we're not alone.  The stars twinkle so that we can wonder -  All because God spoke. 
Genesis 1:1 in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. "
Genesis 1:3 "and God said, let there be light, and there was light and He called the light day."
Genesis 1:14. "And God said let there be stars in the sky to separate the day and the night.  They will serve as signs for seasons and for days and for years. "
God prepared the earth for us the same way we prepare a nursery for a joyfully anticipated baby.  He then gave us control over our environment.  God loves us. Let's show Him how much we appreciate His work. Let's  love the environment that He created for us.  We can do it!😀 🙌🏾 👏🏽 👍🏽 🙏🏾 ☝🏽 😇

For the brothers and sisters, for the least of these

“Our lives begin to end, the day we become silent about things that matter.”  Dr. Martin Luther King

PEACE    HEALTH    SAFETY    MERCY     HELP    COMPASSION    PURITY    FAITHFULNESS    LOVE   

Feed the hungry

Clothe the naked

 Shelter the homeless

Offer water to the thirsty

Hug the hopeless

Dry the tears of the elderly

Hold the hands of the suffering

Matthew 25:40 “The King will reply, truly I say to you that as you do to the least of these brother and sisters of mine, you did it for me.” 

Become the solution.

Step out in faith

"Take the first step in faith.  You don't have to see the whole staircase.  Just take the first step."  Dr. Martin Luther King.
Hebrews 11.  "Faith is actually possessing what you have hoped for.  It is absolute proof of what is yours even if you don't see it." 
If you own a car, a home, clothing, books....they are yours even if you are in an office building and don't see them.  You trust that when you return, you will be able to see and touch them. Believe and follow Christ. He  hears your prayers AND he answers them. Hold on to the answer to your need. Have faith. 

Begin your day with grace

Today as you walk into your new day, you may face a person you just do not like or trust.  Maybe that person hurt or betrayed you in some way.  This is when your faith is tested.  Can we walk our talk?  Are we loving and kind only when it suits us?  What if Jesus were that way? What a terrifying thought!  We'd all BE DOOMED 😱😨.  No, let us walk the way he calls us to walk, especially when it's tough to do.  After all, isn't that when it counts?  We must remember on today as we return to work that vengeance AND forgiveness belong to the Lord.  Glory to God!🙌🏾
** Matthew 5:46-47**
"For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don't the tax collectors do the same thing? If you only greet your friends,  what extraordinary thing are you doing? Don't the people of the world do the same thing?  You must therefore be holy because your Heavenly Father is holy."  Love one another. Pray for your enemies.  🛐

Lift Every Voice and Sing with Lyrics

Forgive

Love you guys!😍 😍 😘 😘 🤗 🤗
Scripture for the day is
Colossians 3:13. " Bear with one another and forgive one another if anyone has a grievance against another person. Forgive, as the Lord has forgiven you. "