Posts Tagged ‘circumstances’

FOUR PRINCIPLES OF SOWING FOR THE HARVEST

Sunday, October 27th, 2013

Galatians 6:9

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up”.

A wonderful friend of mine for almost 20 years who has been a faithful man of God for over 50 years owns a blessed and productive apple orchard. This apple orchard still supplies thousands of apples to an area business which makes up to 500 gallons of cider daily – pure, cool, refreshing tasty local cider! I don’t think there is anything better in this world, except iced water, to sip on a beautiful fall day!

My friend planted those apple trees and nurtured them from the ground up for decades…and he still takes care of them as he did when he was in his thirties. Recently I was given a huge box of a variety lovely apples from his crop (which will become apple sauce by the way), and it got me thinking of reaping and sowing. I also contemplated thea legacy my brother in Christ and fellow warrior is leaving to the next generation.

Those who have built a booming business using his five-decade-old crop as a foundation are now providing employment for local men and women. Their store sells caramel apples, apple sauce, apple butter, apple cider, apple cider donuts and other local produce and meats from other local business. Anything from apples you can think off  – they have it. Even cold yummy apple slushies from $1 up so the smallest kid can afford it. This is the essence of America. So much came from one man who planted an apple tree and opened a small shop for his wife to sell apple cider! The real life example here, has provided the impetus for this teaching from God’s word to enable common folks like you and I, to leave a legacy which is just as rich as the soil my friend’s apple trees stand on.

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WHAT IS YOUR WORTH? – TO GOD, I MEAN….

Friday, April 19th, 2013

A short message I did at a retirement home this past weekend shocked several people. I mentioned that the highest US dollar denomination out there today – a $10,000 bill – was still around but then I took out a crisp $1 bill and proceeded to illustrate.

The thing about US tender, or most other currencies, is no matter what physical shape the item is in, that is what it is worth.  I crumpled up the dollar bill. It was still worth – a dollar. I stomped on the crumpled bill. It was still worth – a dollar. Then I shocked some and ripped it loudly and boldly in half. Even so, it was still worth – a dollar….because I can tape those two half a dollar together with masking tape, even duct tape and/or clear scotch tape – and still use it to buy me a cup of coffee off the McDonald’s value menu!
Any and ALL of these acts were a metaphor for our own lives.  Father…our Heavenly Father, Abba, does not see view our worth in our present condition. He sees us as having value – the same value He imputed to us when He breathed life into us at birth. We are worth so much to Him.
Life can beat us up.
Life can throw us down.
Life can tear us apart.
People can trample all over us.
Circumstances can do us in.
We can inflict all kinds of damage unto ourselves…..and on and on…., YET, the moment we get to the end of all of that….the moment we get to the end of ourselves, come to our senses and cry out to Him….THAT VERY MOMENT – He takes some supernatural Scotch tape and puts our lives back together. He takes the stomped on; beat up; burnt out; crumpled up mess of our lives and holds us in His Almighty, Loving, Compassionate, Wonderful, Healing Hands.