I just spent a weekend at a small lake in Indiana  on a wave runner with my husband.  The sky was blue and was laced with only a few pristine white clouds.  The air was clear the sun was warm.  The clear and cool water was teeming with fish and the rolling hills were covered in green.  I saw God in all my surroundings.

 

Nature reflects Spiritual Truths:

Isaiah 58:11 ( NIV ) The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame.  You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

 

Now that spring has sprung, you may be preparing your flower and vegetable gardens for the new growing season.  Our God is so amazing that he created the world and all that is in it to help reveal his spiritual truths to us and to constantly remind us of his presence and our need for Him. 

To get the best results from your gardens you first have to prepare the soil to receive the seeds or seedlings.  Jesus tells the parable of the growing seed in 3 of the 4 gospels where he compares Gods word to seeds scattered on the ground.  Some wither and die, some produce immature plants that eventually die and others sprout and go on to produce a generous harvest.  Read Matthew 13:1-9, Mark 4:  1-9, Luke 8:4-8 for the entire parable

Pruning can make trees bear more fruit.   Luke 3:9 warns us that trees that do not produce good fruit will be cut down and burned.  A Christian life is supposed to bear good fruits.  Difficulties and struggles may be part of Life’s way of pruning our existence so we are better able to produce good fruit. 

Trees with shallow roots aren’t able to find water when there is drought.  Eventually, those trees die because they are not being properly fed.  Likewise, when we are not deeply rooted in God’s word the harsh conditions of life can make us weak and susceptible to spiritual death.  What is neglected eventually dies.  Hosea 14-7 reminds us People will dwell again in his shade; they will flourish like the grain, they will blossom like the vine— Israel’s fame will be like the wine of Lebanon.

What is planted and nurtured grows.   Anything we put our thoughts, time or money into will grow stronger.  It is true about or spiritual nature as well as our sinful nature.  You probably remember that saying:

“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”

 

Occasionally, Weeds spring up even in the most beautiful gardens and Satan is the master gardener when it comes to planting seeds of discontentment, business, strife, pride, arrogance, greed, envy, lust and gluttony.  Weeds are easier to pull when they are small-so make every effort to remove sin from your life as soon as it appears.  Matthew 13:25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 

It is time to prepare the Garden, water it with the Word and bask in the Glory of the Son while we wait for his return to gather the Harvest. 

Recall Notice (CASEd from ???)

RECALL NOTICE:

The Maker of all human beings (GOD) is recalling all units manufactured, regardless of make or year, due to a serious defect in the primary and central component of the heart.

 

This is due to a malfunction in the original prototype units’ code named Adam and Eve, resulting in the reproduction of the same defect in all subsequent units.

 

This defect has been identified as "Sub-sequential Internal Non-morality," more commonly known as S.I.N., as it is primarily expressed.

Some of the symptoms include:
1. Loss of direction
2. Foul vocal emissions
3. Amnesia of origin
4. Lack of peace and joy
5. Selfish or violent behavior
6. Depression or confusion
7. Fearfulness
8. Idolatry
9. Rebellion

 

The Manufacturer, who is neither liable nor at fault for this defect, is providing factory-authorized repair and service free of charge to correct this defect.

 

The Repair Technician, JESUS, has most generously offered to bear the entire burden of the staggering cost of these repairs. There is no additional fee required.

 

The number to call for repair in all areas is: P-R-A-Y-E-R.

 

Once connected, please upload your burden of SIN through the REPENTANCE procedure.

 

Next, download ATONEMENT from the Repair Technician, Jesus, into the heart component.
 
No matter how big or small the SIN defect is, Jesus will replace it with:
1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Patience
5. Kindness
6. Goodness
7. Faithfulness
8. Gentleness
9. Self control
 
Please see the operating manual, the B.I.B.L.E. (BEST Instructions Before Leaving Earth) for further details on the use of these fixes.

WARNING: Continuing to operate the human being unit without correction voids any manufacturer  warranties, exposing the unit to dangers and problems too numerous to list, and will result in the human unit being permanently impounded. For free emergency service, call on Jesus.
 
DANGER: The human being units not responding to this recall action will have to be scrapped in the furnace. The SIN defect will not be permitted to enter Heaven so as to prevent contamination of that facility. Thank you for your attention!
 
- GOD 

A Little Encouragement

Here are some clever ideas to brighten a cancer (or any patients) patients day

Hat off to Cancer:  For a cancer patient just starting treatment which includes the possibility of hair loss:  Throw a "Hats off to (their name here)" and have everyone attending bring a hat the patient can wear.  Expand on this theme with a hat shaped cake.

Find a Penny pick it up:  Place a penny where the patient can find it and include a note that says "When you see a penny, know I am praying for you".  Then, find opportunities to scatter pennies around on a regular basis (works great for a co-worker or family member)

Chemo Care Packages:  Put together a small basket of items a patient might take with them to treatment.  Include things like tissues, lip balm, hard candies, a puzzle book (or coloring book and crayons), thank you cards, bible verses, rubics cube or other puzzle, notebook or journal and pens, joke book or other treats to help the time pass or to bring a smile or start a conversation.  Some of these items can be shared with other patients or used by the care give who accompanies the patient.

Caring Cards:  It never ceases to amaze me how something as simple as a card can brighten a patients day.  Send many and send often.  Solicit your children, girl scout troop, Sunday school class or co-workers to write a card.  I often provide cards for a small group and encourage them to STOP everything and write a note.  Patients are so encouraged when they receive just the right message from a friend or stranger!

Deal a Meal:  have your friends prepare an extra serving of a meal and freeze it.  Arrange to have them delivered to the patients home (call first or arrange with another family member).  Nothing say loving like something from your oven!

Hug:  When words fail you, just reach our and give a hug!

Group Work Camp Princess Power Hour

I just returned from a Group Work camp trip to Racine Wisconsin where  I spent 6 nights with 472 of my closest high school friends (and their adult chaperone's) in Jerome L. Case High School.  We had 64 projects (of which 55 were completed) and worked a total of 14,768 man hours. 

Every night we enjoyed a short devotional prayer tine we call Princess Power Hour (Because our father is the King of Kings!) and our theme was "Spiritual Truths you can learn from the Disney Princesses". 
We "studied" Snow White, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Mulan and Cinderella. 

Stay Tuned for what lesson each Princess has to teach us.

110/0 principle

100/0 principle

What is the most effective way to create and sustain great relationships with others? It's The 100/0 Principle: You take full responsibility (the 100) for the relationship, expecting nothing (the 0) in return.

Implementing The 100/0 Principle is not natural for most of us. It takes real commitment to the relationship and a good dose of self-discipline to think, act and give 100 percent.

The 100/0 Principle applies to those people in your life where the relationships are too important to react automatically or judgmentally. Each of us must determine the relationships to which this principle should apply. For most of us, it applies to work associates, customers, suppliers, family and friends.

STEP 1 - Determine what you can do to make the relationship work...then do it. Demonstrate respect and kindness to the other person, whether he/she deserves it or not.

STEP 2 - Do not expect anything in return. Zero, zip, nada.

STEP 3 - Do not allow anything the other person says or does (no matter how annoying!) to affect you. In other words, don't take the bait.

STEP 4 - Be persistent with your graciousness and kindness. Often we give up too soon, especially when others don't respond in kind. Remember to expect nothing in return.

At times (usually few), the relationship can remain challenging, even toxic, despite your 100 percent commitment and self-discipline. When this occurs, you need to avoid being the "Knower" and shift to being the "Learner." Avoid Knower statements/ thoughts like "that won't work," "I'm right, you are wrong," "I know it and you don't," "I'll teach you," "that's just the way it is," "I need to tell you what I know," etc.

Instead use Learner statements/thoughts like "Let me find out what is going on and try to understand the situation," "I could be wrong," "I wonder if there is anything of value here," "I wonder if..." etc. In other words, as a Learner, be curious!

Principle Paradox

This may strike you as strange, but here's the paradox: When you take authentic responsibility for a relationship, more often than not the other person quickly chooses to take responsibility as well. Consequently, the 100/0 relationship quickly transforms into something approaching 100/100. When that occurs, true breakthroughs happen for the individuals involved, their teams, their organizations and their families.

Must Watch Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLj4akmncsA&feature=share

Come Holy Spirit

http://relevantmagazine.com/basicholyspirit
a must watch video
Live like you believe it
Pray like you Believe it
Come Holy Spirit, empower your people