Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned. (Hebrews 6:7-8)
What are you cultivating? One definition for cultivating is: to promote or improve the growth of (a plant, crop, etc.) by labor and attention. So what are you working hard at? Who or what commands your attention? Our habits are often good indicators of things that we have been cultivating.
The act of cultivating is not limited to good things. Whatever we nurture--positive or negative--will eventually crop up in our lives.
Prayerfully, we are cultivating useful things--things that are a blessing to us and others. However, if we are promoting or giving attention to things based on a play now and pay later system, "later" just might come a little sooner than we expected.
God makes it clear that a crop of "thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned." This is a serious warning. We do not have the luxury of feigning ignorance or pretending like God doesn't see what we are sowing in our secret fields.
Whatever or whomever is the priority in our lives needs to be examined for thorns and thistles. If we pride ourselves on being tough, rough and quick to pierce anyone who rubs us the wrong way, that just might be an indication that we are cultivating thorns.
If we are rigid and set in our ways, prickly and unapproachable, proudly sticking out like a sore thumb--and unapologetically causing "sore thumbs" for others by what we say and do--perhaps it's time to explore what it is we really expect to gain from impersonating a cactus.
Come on in from the desert and allow God's presence to rain on you and reign over you. Soak it up. Soften up. Lighten up. Fill up those dry, prickly places with the loving and empowering presence of God's Holy Spirit and watch what begins to grow.
God's plan for us includes a wonderful future and a hope. We must be determined to find out exactly what that means for each of us. I don't know what God has in store for you, but I'm pretty sure that running in circles, ranting and raving, or holding on to things and people we should have outgrown or let go of long ago is not God's idea of a future and a hope.
We must not allow the troubles of this world to cause us to forfeit our abundant field of dreams in exchange for a little crop of horrors. Let's seize the day and cease investing in worthless works. For, as Jesus says, we "must work the works of Him who sent [us] while it is day; [the] night is coming when no one can work." (John 9:4)
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
A weekly posting of encouraging and challenging thoughts about life from Rev. Karen W. Curry, a pastor's wife and mother of two who is also --in her "spare time"-- a dynamic preacher, teacher, motivational speaker, facilitator, writer, reviewer, poet, MC, liturgical dance/drama consultant and storyteller. Contact Rev. Karen at BNcouraged247@msn.com to speak at your next service or retreat.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
A Permanent Fix for a Temporary Itch
This summer, the mosquitos must have placed me on the top of their "best bites" list because they dined on my legs and arms as if they were eating at a scrumptious buffet! As soon as one bite stopped itching, another would flare up.
Thankfully, no matter how uncomfortable the itching has been, it is only temporary. An itch, by its very nature is a temporary thing. Even persons living with chronic skin conditions like eczema get relief sometime, especially if they use the necessary creams and medications.
Even in the most severe cases of itching, the solution would never be to completely remove all of the skin on the entire body just to relieve the itch. That would be an extreme and permanent fix for a temporary problem.
We must be careful not to employ permanent fixes for the temporary itches that flare up in our lives.
Some of us may be itching for affection. We must be mindful that we don't latch on to just any old back scratcher that is eager to scratch us just where we think we need scratching. If we're not careful, we could trade a minor itch for a major, more contagious one-- something more difficult to reach than the one we started with.
Whether we are itching for affection, acceptance, fame or fortune, as long as we live on this side of glory we are going to be itching for one thing or another. We must always remember that Jesus understands our struggle, "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all [points] tempted as [we are, yet] without sin." (Hebrews 4:15)
Whatever our desires are, we must submit them to God, for those that are in line with God's divine will and those that emanate from our delight in Him, we will receive:
"Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him." (1 John 5:14-15); "Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37:4).
Any itch or desire that we satisfy by leaning on our own understanding puts us at risk of moving away from God and away from our divine purpose and destiny. In fact, some of the so-called fixes for our itches can leave us permanently scarred, marred, labeled or disabled--and THEN we decide to run to God for help!
Let's not panic every time we have a flare up that it seems we just can't satisfy. Some of what we're itching for will never be satisfied in this life. That's fine with me, because I am finally beginning to accept that all of what we experience in life is ultimately temporary anyway. The only thing truly permanent is our eternal home in glory, and that is where we will find the ultimate, permanent fix for our temporary itch:
"Even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body." (Romans 8:23)
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
Thankfully, no matter how uncomfortable the itching has been, it is only temporary. An itch, by its very nature is a temporary thing. Even persons living with chronic skin conditions like eczema get relief sometime, especially if they use the necessary creams and medications.
Even in the most severe cases of itching, the solution would never be to completely remove all of the skin on the entire body just to relieve the itch. That would be an extreme and permanent fix for a temporary problem.
We must be careful not to employ permanent fixes for the temporary itches that flare up in our lives.
Some of us may be itching for affection. We must be mindful that we don't latch on to just any old back scratcher that is eager to scratch us just where we think we need scratching. If we're not careful, we could trade a minor itch for a major, more contagious one-- something more difficult to reach than the one we started with.
Whether we are itching for affection, acceptance, fame or fortune, as long as we live on this side of glory we are going to be itching for one thing or another. We must always remember that Jesus understands our struggle, "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all [points] tempted as [we are, yet] without sin." (Hebrews 4:15)
Whatever our desires are, we must submit them to God, for those that are in line with God's divine will and those that emanate from our delight in Him, we will receive:
"Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him." (1 John 5:14-15); "Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37:4).
Any itch or desire that we satisfy by leaning on our own understanding puts us at risk of moving away from God and away from our divine purpose and destiny. In fact, some of the so-called fixes for our itches can leave us permanently scarred, marred, labeled or disabled--and THEN we decide to run to God for help!
Let's not panic every time we have a flare up that it seems we just can't satisfy. Some of what we're itching for will never be satisfied in this life. That's fine with me, because I am finally beginning to accept that all of what we experience in life is ultimately temporary anyway. The only thing truly permanent is our eternal home in glory, and that is where we will find the ultimate, permanent fix for our temporary itch:
"Even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body." (Romans 8:23)
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
I Heard It Through the Great Vine
"I Heard it Through the Grapevine" is a classic song from the 1950s that also became popular in the 1980s and 90s through the California Raisins commercials.
As I was taking a morning walk recently, I noticed a group of vines stretching up and out over a fence. There was nothing nearby for them to cling to beyond the fence, so each vine just suspended itself firmly and straight out into the open air. They were slightly curved at the end as if they had fingertips grasping upward.
It was truly an interesting site, especially because I had recently noticed a vine clinging to the railing on my front steps and I began wondering about what vines do when there's nothing for them to cling to.
There was my answer, live and in 4-D, right in front of me. When there is nothing to hold on to, vines will just keep reaching onward and upward--because that's what they are designed to do.
If those vines could talk, it seemed as if they were saying to themselves, "I know there is SOMEthing out there for us to hold on to. Let's just keep strrretching and reaching until we find it!"
The Apostle Paul said, "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:13-14)
Paul's words are inspiring, but some of us complain that we can't see the prize anywhere in sight--reach for it anyway! Some of us have come a long way but are tempted to turn back to the comforts of what we have actually outgrown--stretch forth into new territory anyway!
Others of us don't think we have the strength to stretch out and stand on our own--stand firm anyway through Christ who gives you strength! Some of us are stuck on the fence, entangled with things that have been clinging to us and making us believe we have to use our bodies as sex objects, art canvases, or pin cushions to feel accepted--get off the fence and reach for a higher love!
We are designed to bear much fruit, and fruit that remains. Some of our lives haven't been fruitful, because we have been disconnected from the true vine, which is Jesus Christ. How do I know this, well, let's just say, I heard it through the Great Vine, Jesus Christ:
"I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." (John 15:5)
Stay true to your diVINE design!
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
As I was taking a morning walk recently, I noticed a group of vines stretching up and out over a fence. There was nothing nearby for them to cling to beyond the fence, so each vine just suspended itself firmly and straight out into the open air. They were slightly curved at the end as if they had fingertips grasping upward.
It was truly an interesting site, especially because I had recently noticed a vine clinging to the railing on my front steps and I began wondering about what vines do when there's nothing for them to cling to.
There was my answer, live and in 4-D, right in front of me. When there is nothing to hold on to, vines will just keep reaching onward and upward--because that's what they are designed to do.
If those vines could talk, it seemed as if they were saying to themselves, "I know there is SOMEthing out there for us to hold on to. Let's just keep strrretching and reaching until we find it!"
The Apostle Paul said, "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:13-14)
Paul's words are inspiring, but some of us complain that we can't see the prize anywhere in sight--reach for it anyway! Some of us have come a long way but are tempted to turn back to the comforts of what we have actually outgrown--stretch forth into new territory anyway!
Others of us don't think we have the strength to stretch out and stand on our own--stand firm anyway through Christ who gives you strength! Some of us are stuck on the fence, entangled with things that have been clinging to us and making us believe we have to use our bodies as sex objects, art canvases, or pin cushions to feel accepted--get off the fence and reach for a higher love!
We are designed to bear much fruit, and fruit that remains. Some of our lives haven't been fruitful, because we have been disconnected from the true vine, which is Jesus Christ. How do I know this, well, let's just say, I heard it through the Great Vine, Jesus Christ:
"I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." (John 15:5)
Stay true to your diVINE design!
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
What Are You Expecting?
"Seek and ye shall find...."
Sometimes, the things we "find" in life stem from what we set out to find, or expect to find. It's the basic principle of reaping and sowing, and it holds true whether we find ourselves in troublesome situations or in triumphant ones.
If we sow apple seeds, we expect to find an apple tree growing in that spot, not a fig tree or any other tree. Why is it then, that we act so surprised when certain things turn out the way they do? If we sow bitterness, anger, rage, jealousy, impatience, etc., why are we surprised when we reap trouble and confusion? What are we expecting?
When a woman is pregnant, she is said to be "expecting." Everyone already knows that what she is expecting will be a baby, because that's what comes to life as a result of the union of sperm and egg. The only questions about what the mother is expecting concern the gender of the baby, the estimated delivery date, and the number of babies growing inside.
So, the question is, what are you pregnant with? What is growing inside of you and preparing to be birthed in due season? What are you expecting? Whatever you are expecting will be determined by what you have allowed to enter into your life.
If we lay down with someone who clearly wanted to be with us "only for one night" as Luther Vandross would say, why would we expect them to stay around and parent a child they were never interested in having? In fact, why are we ever really surprised when a child is conceived as the result of sexual intercourse--isn't that what God designed it to do? Hello? What are we expecting?
When we allow God's Holy Spirit to enter into union with our spirit, we can expect the fruit of the Spirit to begin growing inside of us--love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness and self control. We may not know exactly which fruit we are preparing to birth and how much fruit is growing, but we know that we will have a live, fruitful birth.
On the contrary, when we lust after the things in the world that are contrary to the fruit of the Spirit, we are preparing to give life to death. It's as if we have birthed a stillborn baby. James explains it this way "...after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death" (James 1:15).
When a woman delivers a stillborn baby, it is immediately evident that the child is dead. Sin, however, is deceptive. When we allow sin to be birthed through us, it appears as though we have delivered a live, healthy baby. But, that which appears to have life is nothing more than a dastardly double agent that will ruthlessly turn on its host and deliver a slow, torturous death. So, why do we keep playing around with sin and getting disappointed when we end up burned instead of blessed?
We know that God continually does exceedingly, abundantly above all we could ask or imagine. We also know that Jesus came to give life-- and life more abundantly-- and, that the Holy Spirit leads us and guides us into all truth. So, when we truly desire God, in all of His trinitarian splendor, He enters into our lives and fills us with joy unspeakable--in spite of life's trials and tribulations.
When we allow the Father, Son and Holy Ghost to fully indwell our mind, body and spirit, we give life to life--a powerful, productive and purposeful life-- that eventually leads to eternal life.
Life or death. It's our choice and we will have whatsoever we choose. If we look closely at who and what we have embraced and welcomed into our lives, our expectations will become evident.
Look around you.... Look inside of you.... What are you expecting?
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
Sometimes, the things we "find" in life stem from what we set out to find, or expect to find. It's the basic principle of reaping and sowing, and it holds true whether we find ourselves in troublesome situations or in triumphant ones.
If we sow apple seeds, we expect to find an apple tree growing in that spot, not a fig tree or any other tree. Why is it then, that we act so surprised when certain things turn out the way they do? If we sow bitterness, anger, rage, jealousy, impatience, etc., why are we surprised when we reap trouble and confusion? What are we expecting?
When a woman is pregnant, she is said to be "expecting." Everyone already knows that what she is expecting will be a baby, because that's what comes to life as a result of the union of sperm and egg. The only questions about what the mother is expecting concern the gender of the baby, the estimated delivery date, and the number of babies growing inside.
So, the question is, what are you pregnant with? What is growing inside of you and preparing to be birthed in due season? What are you expecting? Whatever you are expecting will be determined by what you have allowed to enter into your life.
If we lay down with someone who clearly wanted to be with us "only for one night" as Luther Vandross would say, why would we expect them to stay around and parent a child they were never interested in having? In fact, why are we ever really surprised when a child is conceived as the result of sexual intercourse--isn't that what God designed it to do? Hello? What are we expecting?
When we allow God's Holy Spirit to enter into union with our spirit, we can expect the fruit of the Spirit to begin growing inside of us--love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness and self control. We may not know exactly which fruit we are preparing to birth and how much fruit is growing, but we know that we will have a live, fruitful birth.
On the contrary, when we lust after the things in the world that are contrary to the fruit of the Spirit, we are preparing to give life to death. It's as if we have birthed a stillborn baby. James explains it this way "...after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death" (James 1:15).
When a woman delivers a stillborn baby, it is immediately evident that the child is dead. Sin, however, is deceptive. When we allow sin to be birthed through us, it appears as though we have delivered a live, healthy baby. But, that which appears to have life is nothing more than a dastardly double agent that will ruthlessly turn on its host and deliver a slow, torturous death. So, why do we keep playing around with sin and getting disappointed when we end up burned instead of blessed?
We know that God continually does exceedingly, abundantly above all we could ask or imagine. We also know that Jesus came to give life-- and life more abundantly-- and, that the Holy Spirit leads us and guides us into all truth. So, when we truly desire God, in all of His trinitarian splendor, He enters into our lives and fills us with joy unspeakable--in spite of life's trials and tribulations.
When we allow the Father, Son and Holy Ghost to fully indwell our mind, body and spirit, we give life to life--a powerful, productive and purposeful life-- that eventually leads to eternal life.
Life or death. It's our choice and we will have whatsoever we choose. If we look closely at who and what we have embraced and welcomed into our lives, our expectations will become evident.
Look around you.... Look inside of you.... What are you expecting?
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
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