PURE

All of the versions of the bible that I looked at used the same word, pure in Philippians 4:8. It means just what you think it does, clean, without spot or blemish.

 At times I think that the world has so invaded my life that even my thoughts that should be pure are no longer that. I know that the more I try to not think impurely the harder it gets. Satan wants my thoughts to stay in the gutter. I want them to stay on God or to be Godly. How can I battle these bombardments of impurity that come to my mind... I have to get into the word of God, to meditate on it, to memorize it, and to live it. That doesn't mean that I will always keep my mind on pure things, I am human, I will fail, I do fail. It means I will have the words to shoot back at Satan just like Jesus did when Satan tempted him.

The Quote:

"We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves." ~Buddha

The Drawing:

JUST

"Whatever things are just..." (NKJ: Philippians 4:8)  right, reputable, pure. These are some of the others words used from other translations of the bible. 

Of course this word also means a lot more in our language. It has to do with legality, things that can be based on fact, things that are faithful to the original, or stand up to a standard of correctness. What does that mean to me? Since, as a person thinks in their heart so are they; then, what I think should be able to stand up to the laws, be faithful to my God, be based on fact, and be correct so that I can be a witness to someone else. The words that come out of my mouth are a reflection of what I think, so I need to think justly. I do not do this, I find myself getting caught up in thoughts that color the way I speak and am ashamed. Lord, please help me to meditate on your word more and keep my thoughts just so I can be a witness for you. 

The Quote: Had to search for justly instead of just. 

"All virtue is summed up in dealing justly." ~Aristotle

The Drawing:

NOBLE

If you haven't noticed by now, I am drawing words from Philippians 4:8-9. I looked at many translation of these verse to get a good idea of what this word was meaning. The New King James says noble, the J.B. Phillips says right, and The King James says honest, just to name a few. The Merriam Webster Dictionary has many definitions for this word, like possessing outstanding qualities and very good or excellent.

The verse say to think on noble things, excellent things, honest things, right things. Noble is a repeat of the word true then. God wants us to be sure our hearts and minds are on things that are worthy of thought, that bring glory to Him through our lives. It is so important that truth and honesty be part of our lives that he said it twice! Lord please help me to keep my thoughts on true and noble things.

The Quote:

"He never is alone that is accompanied with noble thoughts." ~John Fletcher

The Drawing:

TRUE

Yesterday, I wrote about Meditate, Philippians 4:8-9 tell use some things to meditate or think on. The first of these is things that are true. What are these true things? Are they the things we believe are true, the things God says are true? Can the things other people tell us be true?

I believe Paul was telling us that we need to believe in the Truth in God's word, and in the truth we know. I know that the sun is going to come up morning, even if it is raining, the sun is there. I know that in order to live I need oxygen, food, and water. God's word also says in order to live I need the Bread of Life, Jesus. I know when I see a rainbow that God has promised never to destroy the whole earth by water again. I know that God loves me enough to give me new life and will let me live with Him in glory. These things I know are true and there are many more. Some may think, I am crazy for saying this or writing the things I do, I know what I believe and I am trying to think on things that are TRUE.

The Quote:

"Today you are you! That is truer than true! There is no one alive who is you-er than you!" ~Dr. Seuss

The Drawing:

MEDITATE

Meditate:

: to engage in contemplation or reflection

: to engage in mental exercise (as concentration on one's breathing or repetition of a mantra) for the purpose of reaching a heightened level of spiritual awareness

: to focus one's thoughts on : reflect on or ponder over

: to plan or project in the mind 

Many times when I think of meditating I think about the second definition, someone in a Yoga Position humming or chanting. That form of meditation is very helpful at times, I used to do the Sun Salutation (Beginning Yoga) every morning and as I moved through the positions I would pray. I need to start doing that again even if I have to get up earlier.  That is not the meditation that is mentioned in the quote. This meditate means to think, to reflect, to keep at the front of your mind. 

God wants us to be safe from the arrows and darts of Satan. He wants us to be unspotted by the world and to stand out as a light to those around us. In order to do that we need to meditate on his word and all the things listed in the verses. He wants us to remember Him throughout the day, not just when we are studying. I need to learn to think more about His word all day, maybe then I will learn to be less of a darkened light.

The Quote:

"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.  The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you." ~Philippians 4:8-9

The Drawing:

 

CLEAN

Laundry day again, time to get my clothes clean. As i sit here waiting through this chore I am thinking about the word clean and what that means to my life.

When I was in college I sang in our school choir. We sang a song by John Michael Talbot called "Create in Me". It is from Psalms 51 and other scriptures. I think it was my favorite song we sang, I love to sing scripture.

What does this song say? 

Create in me a clean heart (Psalms 51:10); to me this means the heart we have is not already clean and since David was a man after God's own heart it must not stay that way. David was asking for it to be done again. 

Let me be like you in all my ways (I John 2:6); To me this means that I should be like Christ, having compassion and mercy, love and forgiveness for all people.

Give me you strength (Psalm 18:1); Oh how I need strength, I think we all do. We need to rely on God to give us the strength to live the life he wants us to live.

Teach me your song (Psalms 40:3); God has a beautiful song for us, and he wants us to learn to sing it joyfully, to remember it in the good times and in our times of distress.

Shelter me in the shadow of your wing (Psalms 17:8);  Like a bird hides her babies under her wind for protection, so God places his wings of protection around us. Because he loves us. 

For we are your righteousness, if we die to ourselves and live through your death (Galatians 2:20); This says it like it is, we can't be righteous without first dying to our self, and letting Christ live through us.

Then we shall be born again to be blessed in your love (2 Corinthians 5:17); If we die to our self we will be a new creation loved and blessed by our God and Father. 

The Quote: 

"Create in Me, a clean heart Oh God, let me be like You in all my ways.

Give me Your strength, teach me Your Song, shelter me in the shadow of Your wings.

For we are Your righteousness, if we die to ourselves and live through Your death.

The we shall be born again to be blessed in Your love."   ~ John Michael Talbot

 The Drawing:

SLEEP

Or lack of....

I woke at 2:30 this morning and could not get back to sleep. Usually, when this happens I can start praying and I think the devil knocks me out thinking it will stop my praying at least for the night. That didn't happen this time. I was praying about a ministry opportunity. Now, I am wondering if God really wants me to do it? Then again, that was probably why the devil didn't knock me out he wants me to doubt my faith to step out. Which ever it is I know if I keep praying the doors will open or they will close as God sees fit. Those of you who read my blog, please pray that the right decisions will be made. And as the time gets closer and I can I may tell you more about it :)

The Quote:

"If you can't sleep, then get up and do something instead of lying there worrying. It's the worry that gets you, not the lack of sleep." ~Dale Carnegie

The Drawing:

SERVING

Serving, how many ways are there to serve others, to be like Christ. His whole life here on earth and for all eternity, was, is, and will be about serving. I want to be able to serve others in any way I can. What does that look like?

Does service always have to be physical; giving something, helping someone, or talking and listening? Can serving be a silent prayer said for a homeless person you see as you are driving down the street. Is praying for someone serving them? I think so, Jesus prayed all the time for those around him. He helped many physically, some I believe he never saw. Like the Centurion's servant in Matthew 8, Jesus was willing to go to the man's house and heal his servant, but the centurion felt unworthy to have Jesus there so Jesus prayed and the servant was healed. I need to follow God's leading on how to serve others, it my be only a prayer, or it could be I need to offer tangible help. Lord, lead me in my serving please.

The Quote:

"Faithful servants never retire. You can retire from your career, but you will never retire from serving God." ~Rick Warren

The Drawing:

BEHOLD

Our church choir is getting ready for our Easter Sunday Service, we are preparing a cantata entitled "It is Finished". For the past few mornings when I have woken up one of the songs it playing in my head. Probably because it is my favorite of all of them and because it is the one I think I need to be reminded of the most. The Title of the song is "Behold How He Loves". The part that I hear is my Quote for the day, I am not sure who wrote it because I don't have the book here at home.

The things that Jesus went through for us, for me; showed how much He loves us, me. I have to add the me because there is my problem. I can't understand why He loved me. Other people, I can see why they should receive His love. I always think I have done nothing that should give me a part, any part of His love. Then I remember NO ONE should have received it! We all are not worthy, yet He gives His love anyway. My job is to except that love and to love others like He loved me, willing to give it all to Him and them. The key and the hardest thing is being willing!

The Quote:

"Our only hope, God's perfect plan, behold the Lamb." ~Sue C. Smith and Lee Black

The Drawing:

TOUGH-LOVE

I found a verse in my reading today that probably has a lot to do with tough-love instead of enabling. I know I have read it before since I read Proverbs everyday, today it spoke. Proverbs 19:19 "A man of great wrath will suffer punishment; For if you rescue him, you will have to do it again."

So many times we come to the rescue of our friends and family over and over. They may not be full of wrath, or even be in "big" trouble, and we still rescue. I have been on the receiving end of the rescuing and on the giving. If we keep rescuing the person from the "punishment" they should receive it is not doing either of us any good. Punishment serves a purpose, it teaches. I know it is hard to watch someone suffer and I for one do not like to suffer, it is needed sometimes for us to grow.

God practices tough-love all the time. I do not believe He wants us to have to be punished or to suffer. He is a loving God who wishes we could all be perfect and never get in trouble. He is also all knowing, He knows that will not happen until we have crossed over to the life here after. So, when we fall the first time He may help us, after that He may love us enough to let us suffer the consequences of our actions, He loves us toughly.

The Quote:

"The greatest gift a parent can give a child is unconditional love. As a child wanders and strays, finding his bearings, he needs a sense of absolute love from a parent. There's nothing wrong with tough love, as long as the love is unconditional." ~George W. Bush

The Drawing:

FORGIVE

It's the hardest thing to give away
And the last thing on your mind today
It always goes to those that don't deserve

It's the opposite of how you feel
When the pain they caused is just to real
It takes everything you have just to say the word...

Forgiveness
Forgiveness

It flies in the face of all your pride
It moves away the mad inside
It's always anger's own worst enemy
Even when the jury and the judge
Say you gotta right to hold a grudge
It's the whisper in your ear saying 'Set It Free'

Forgiveness, Forgiveness
Forgiveness, Forgiveness

Show me how to love the unlovable
Show me how to reach the unreachable
Help me now to do the impossible

Forgiveness, Forgiveness

Help me now to do the impossible
Forgiveness

It'll clear the bitterness away
It can even set a prisoner free
There is no end to what it's power can do
So, let it go and be amazed
By what you see through eyes of grace
The prisoner that it really frees is you

Forgiveness, Forgiveness
Forgiveness, Forgiveness

Show me how to love the unlovable
Show me how to reach the unreachable
Help me now to do the impossible
Forgiveness

I want to finally set it free
So show me how to see what Your mercy sees
Help me now to give what You gave to me
Forgiveness, Forgiveness     ~Matthew West

This song is on my mind this morning and it speaks volumes. All I have to say is God forgave me and I need to forgive those who I feel have wronged me. It is not easy but it has to be done. I pray God will give me the heart I need to always be able to forgive. 

The Quote:

“Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” ~John 6:37-38

 The Drawing:

SUNSHINE

It has been really wet and dreary looking for  long while around here and today there is Sunshine! It is so beautiful, God really knows how to start a day. Even when is cloudy and dreary, even pouring down rain, the days are beautiful because God made them. Sunshine seems to get the attention more.

I started think when I saw all the sun this morning about a song.

O there’s sunshine, blessed sunshine,
While the peaceful, happy moments roll;
When Jesus shows His smiling face
 There is sunshine in my soul.

The thing is the sunshine should be all the time, not just when that peaceful and happy moments roll.  Jesus is with us all the time so even in bad weather or the storms of life He is there and sunshine should be there too. It is hard to keep a sunny disposition when bad things are occurring, I know that but I want to strive to do a better job at being "sunny" all the time. If we have SONSHINE in our lives then we should always have sunshine in our souls.

The Quote:

"Keep your face always toward the sunshine - and shadows will fall behind you." ~Walt Whitman

The Drawing:

ASK

Ask is one of those little words that can have a huge impact on our lives. I don't know about you but it is hard for me to ask for things. I often go without because I am too proud to ask for help or too scared the person will say, no. I am even the way with God. 

God says we have to ask Him for the things we want and if we ask correctly we will have it. That doesn't mean if we ask for a new Lexus we will get it although it could happen. God does want us to have all we need and even some things we think we need; we have to ask and ask right. I think the right way would be not with pride, or seeking our own glory. If I ask God for a car what do I need it for, am I going to use it to show off or look good to the world, or do I want it to serve Him in some way. God wants us to ask for anything, He wants us to be willing to use what we ask for in service to Him. We have to ask the right way, then He will give us the desires of our heart!

The Quote:

"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you." John 15:7

The Drawing:

 

WATCHING

Proverbs 15 was one of my readings today. I read a chapter of Proverbs daily, there are just enough to read it through 12 times a year. I glean new or fresh things from it everyday. Today was one of the days I was reminded of a truth.

I know that God is always watching. He sees everything, and I am sure hears everything. I have stated that before in this blog. His is faithfully on guard. He is in every place, in the heart of every believer and right beside those who do not believe, longing to be in their heart also. He is keeping watch on every aspect of this world. He could put an end to it at anytime, the pain, the sorrow, the evil, and also all the good. It may be that we have to remember He has a plan and knows when the time will be right to step in. He is faithfully on guard, He has our backs, He is always right there!

The Quote:

"The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good." ~Proverbs 15:3

The Drawing:

HEART

Today is Valentine's Day. I hope everyone has a great one.

I want to tell you about my Valentine. She is 24 years old and  beautiful. She has a sweet spirit and a wonderful smile. We have had differences many times and life for us was not always easy, she is a great person. She is many miles away from me now, that does not keep us apart. She has a part of my heart with her and she will always be my baby! My daughter is very very special to me! I love her dearly!

The Quote:

"I gave you life because I loved you. You were my child and I held you close. Now you are a young woman beautiful and strong trying to find your place in this world. I love you, Mom"  ~Me

 The Drawing: (I drew this a while back)

PRECIOUS

What do you find precious in this world? There are so many things it is hard to list them all. A sleeping baby is precious or a babies first smile. When a baby takes its first steps to their parent or giggles happily. A little puppy when it is playing, or a kitten when it is curled up in a little ball asleep. A child saying his prayers and a dad spending quality time with their child. All these are very precious sights and there are so many more.

One of the most precious things in my life is the Love of my Savior. The day that he reached down and touched my heart for the first time is also precious. Sometimes I forget just how much that should mean to me, that he loved me enough to give me his precious life. Lord thanks for all you have done for me and help me to remember how precious that is.

The Quote:

"There's something about knowing life is finite that makes it so precious." ~Ethan Hawke

The Drawing:

ABIDE

Today as I was reading John 15 I noticed the word abide. I have read this before many times and I knew the word was there it just stood out today. There are a few ways it is used and that is what caught my attention.

"Abide in Me" (vs 4)  Jesus was telling his disciples that they must abide in Him to produce fruit. and if they didn't they would be cut off. Now I believe that doesn't mean they would lose their salvation, it means they would not be used by God any more and they would have fewer rewards in Heaven. Bearing fruit can not be done without Christ, "for without Me you can do nothing."

It goes on to say that His words should abide in us. (vs.7) If His words abide in us we can ask what we desire and it shall be done for us. I believe if we quote promises from the word to God in prayer that they will be given to us. We need His word to abide in us to do that, we need to know it.

Next, it says to abide in His Love. (vs 9) If we keep His commandments we will abide in His Love. Jesus taught that the commandments basically came down to two, Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind. And Love your neighbor as yourself. If we do these two then we are abiding in His love.

He said all this about abiding in Him and in His word and in His love to let us know if we do this our joy will be full. Because we are full of Him. Does that mean we won't have troubles, No! the chapter goes on to speak about persecution. If we abide in Him the way we should then we can expect persecution! I would rather abide in Him and be persecuted than to be without Him in my life.

The Quote:

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." ~John 15:5

 The Drawing:

 

NEIGHBORS

Who is my neighbor?  A lawyer asked the Lord this question? Jesus the told the parable of the Good Samaritan.

In this world we live in today it isn't hard to find a neighbor like the one in the parable. There are hurting souls all around us. Many of us pass them by everyday. We are supposed to love our neighbor as ourselves. Does that mean that every homeless person we see or every beggar on the corner we should give money to, I don't think so. The Spirit will lead us to help them in the way they need to be helped. Maybe just a prayer and a kind word.

We have other neighbors that like the man who fell among thieves in the parable are broken, tired, and hurting; they do not show it. Their outward appearance is just like ours, they smile, laugh, joke, and on the inside they are all torn up. The Spirit can guide us to those people also. We have to be willing to help them also, even if we think, they can't possible need help they look so happy. There are people out there who can put on a good face, and secretly be in need.

Are neighbors only those who have problems? No! Do they all have to be friendly toward me? No! I look at it like this, I love everyone and I serve the ones God's Spirit tells me to serve. It may be a smile, a kind word, a prayer, a cup of coffee (tea for me now) or any other thing that is needed. The world is filled with about 6,973,738,433 neighbors.  I can't know or help them all, but I can love them. I pray God will help me have a loving spirit toward my neighbors and help them when I can. 

The Quote:

"When strangers start acting like neighbors... communities are reinvigorated." ~Ralph Nader

The Drawing:

  

FAULT

Last night Chuck Crain performed at our church. He is a very good singer, I enjoyed the show a lot. He sang a favorite of mine by Dottie Rambo, "He Looked Beyond my Fault". I had not heard that song in a long time, it speaks to me.

God in his infinite wisdom, love, and mercy looked out across eternity before time was started and saw us here on this earth at this time. He looked past all our faults, our bad judgements, our sin, and he saw our need. His compassion for us was so strong that He sent His only Son to meet the need we had. His plan is perfect and His grace is unmeasurable. I am so glad He looked beyond all my FAULTS and saw my NEED!

The Quote:

"I shall forever lift mine eyes to Calvary,
To view the cross, where Jesus died for me
How marvelous, His grace that caught my falling soul
He Looked beyond my faults and saw my need"   ~Dottie Rambo

The Drawing:

CROSS

I have a Cross tattooed on my right hand. I had it done shortly after my first heart attack. It is small with a heart you can't really see in the intersection. I told myself back then it would be a witnessing tool and it has just not in the way I thought it would.

I thought when I would shake hands with someone that it might spark a conversation that would lead to my Lord Jesus. That has not happened but once, mostly because I don't shake hands very often with people and because I think people don't notice it, they have become accustom to seeing tattoos.

The kids in my class ask why I have an X on my hand. I tell them it isn't an X it is a Cross. Most of the time they say oh you have it because you love Jesus and I say yes.... Witnessing tool, Yay!

I have found that it is more of a witnessing tool for myself. Every time I see it I am reminded of all God has done for me. I think of His only Son dying for my life to be spared. I think of His Spirit that dwells in me, guiding me, if I let Him. I remember how many times I have forgotten to share his story when I had a chance and am ashamed. I pray that this Cross will become more of a tool that God can use through me. 

The Quote:

"Love always involves responsibility, and love always involves sacrifice. And we do not really love Christ unless we are prepared to face His task and to take up His Cross." ~William Barclay

The Drawing:

SICK

If there us anything I dislike it is being sick. Especially when I have no sick days left. I am glad that at this point I am not running a fever. I have some extra days off for Mardi Gras that is good because maybe I can recuperate, I just won't really get to do anything outside my house. Oh well, I must need to stay home and God is seeing to it.

There are many ways to be sick, being physically sick is the common way. You can be sick and tired of something. You can be love sick and many, many more. One way to be sick that many don't think about is being sin sick. It causes my walk with God to be fractured and distant feeling. Instead of trying to live a life that is pleasing to God I try to "hide" from him my sickness. I can't hide, I should know that by now. So what needs to happen is I need to stop being sin sick, and start being sick of sin! I pray for forgiveness for my sin sickness Lord, help me be sick of sin instead!

The Quote:

"'Tis healthy to be sick sometimes." ~Henry David Thoreau

The Drawing:

JUDGE

I am participating in a Bible study called "Mercy Triumphs". I can say it has not always been or will be a joyful journey. It is about the book of James (my favorite book) and he can really stomp on your toes. One lesson in particular this week was a doozie.

"Who are you to judge another?" James 4:12b  I am guilty of judging others I admit that. It is not verbalized usually, I do so in my heart and thoughts. I need to stop and judge myself before I judge another. Why should I complain about the speck on one person's eye when I have a 2x4 in mine. The thing is that when we judge someone or find fault in them we usually have the same issue in our own lives. (Romans 2:1-2)  I pray today that I will stop and judge my own life before I judge another, Lord please give me the understanding and compassion I need to accomplish this.

The Quote:

 ^"Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?" ~ James 4:11-12

The Drawing:

CREATIVE

It is hard to come up with a word everyday. There are a lot of words to choose from, I just don't always have anything meaningful to say about them. I am the type of person who has to be in a certain mood to be creative, or it just fills wrong. That is why often my drawings end up looking childish and not very good. I want to be more creative maybe I need to pray about it more. Anyway, today is one of those days when I am having a hard time with this process. So this is a short one today, and not very creative.

The Quote:

"The creative process is a process of surrender, not control." ~Julia Cameron

The Drawing:

EYES

Today I am getting my eyes examined and I am actually going to get new glasses. I have needed some for a very long time, I just can't always afford them. My lenses tend to be fairly expensive. It will be nice to be able to see better, I am not sure I will know how to act.

There are eyes all around us. People watching young and old alike. I was telling some students the other day about being watched. They had been miss behaving and thought no one saw them. I did, and let them know. I made the point to tell them they never know who is watch and even if the "get away" with something there is some one ALWAYS watching. Their eyes got big as they realized I was talking about God. Then they hung their heads.

Children aren't the only ones that need to be reminded that someone is always watching. I forget on occasion also. Not so much forget, sadly, it is more choosing not to worry about it. When I come to my senses I have to hang my head in shame also. As adults, God's eyes are watching us, and that is very important. I think remembering that there are little eyes watching us is just as important. We will be examples for those little eyes, whether good or bad. I want God to see me being what I should be for the little eyes that are watching me.

The Quote:

"Oh be careful little eyes what see
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above is looking down in love
Oh be careful little eyes what you see" ~Unknown

\The Drawing:

SAVED

On Sunday nights we have been talking about being saved. This word means many different things. The Merriam-Webster dictionary says it means; 1. to deliver from sin; 2. to rescue from harm, 3. to preserve or guard from injury, 4. to store as on a computer, 5. to put aside or store or reserve, and there are more. In the bible this word has been used in all these ways.

Last night, as I was listening to the ideas being brought forth in the service and a thought occurred to me about daily salvation (sanctification). This is the salvation that keeps us from sinning over and over again, not eternal salvation (justification). John 3:16 says we have everlasting life if we believe all God has done for us. The thing is we are human and we forget, we need to be reminded daily that we are children of God and pray that we are kept from sin so we can please God. All that to say, I think this kind of salvation has more to do with being saved for something, set aside, reserved, stored. I thought of a safe, with valuables in it, saved for another time. God is saving me daily for something, He knows for what and why, and he will let me in on that secret in His good time. Today, I am saved, set apart for His use. I pray that the Lord uses me today and everyday for His honor and glory.

The Quote:

"who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began," ~II Timothy 1:9

The Drawing:

CAUGHT

Yesterday, I wrote about God's pursuit of humans and our pursuit of Him once He was allowed to catch us. I am caught so what does that mean to me.

I marvel at the fact that God wanted me in the first place. I was pretty young when I gave my life to Him way back in 1972. I have grown as a person since that time and I have grown spiritual also, maybe not as much as physically. I am caught none the less, even when my walk along life's path has taken me "way" from God. There has never been a day when He has not come to my mind. I may have been in full rebellion, trying desperately not to have anything to do with Him and there He comes, He is always in pursuit and I am always caught.

To be caught all I had to do was believe that Jesus lived, died on the cross for my sins, and rose from the dead to secure my salvation. All I had to do was believe! I could not do anything else to get caught. I only had to believe! And even if I fall away I am still His, I am still caught. God is awesome! I am so glad He caught me!

The Quote: From The Message

"I was caught up at once in deep worship and, oh!" ~Revelation 4:2a

The Drawing:

PURSUIT

I just started reading a book called "The Pursuit of God" by A.W. Tozer. I am not sure exactly all that I will glean from the book, I downloaded it for my kindle for two reasons, first the title, second it was free.
 
God has since the beginning of time as we know it pursued a relationship with mankind. He has longed to love and help us in all matters of life.H e wants to continue to do so into eternity. He wants a intimate relationship with all people. Humans in turn have shunned Him over and over, He still pursues. Humans fear God, I am sure the reason is they do not want to have to follow strict rules. The thing is that if we stop and let God "catch" us we will want to be right there. His love, mercy, and grace will be a drawing factor. Then we also will be in pursuit of a relationship that is greater than all we have ever had before, more intimate and full. We will pursue the one who pursues us!

The Quote:
"My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me." ~Psalms 63:8

The Drawing: 

 

FRUIT

There are so many different kinds of fruit. Many I like, some I don't, and there are some I have never tried. I remember one year when I was teaching Physical Education, to Kindergarten through 1st grade students, we were studying ways to have healthy lives. I had a fruit tasting day. They were to bring a fruit they had never tasted before to school and we ate them during class. Everyone could get a little taste. We had many different kinds. In the stores there was a large variety, and it helped we were on a military post. The kids had fun and so did I.

It is the same with the fruit of the Spirit. There are many different kinds, love, joy, peace, long-suffering (patience), faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, goodness, righteousness, and truth just to name a few. The question is do I produce any of these? None of the fruits we tasted in my class were not produced on the same kinds of trees unless they were the same kind of fruit, bananas don't grow on grapevines, grapes don't grow on fig trees and so on. There is not one tree that grows every kind of fruit we eat, there is one tree that produces every kind of fruit of the Spirit or it should. My life as a Christian should be like a tree of the fruit of the Spirit. I should have all of them apparent in my life. If I don't then something is wrong. Does that mean that I am always joyful, or patient, kind or self-controlled? No it doesn't, I am human, and because I am human I make mistakes and do not always act as I should. I want to strive to be a tree of the fruit of the Spirit, to bring forth all the fruits that I am capable of producing through the Spirit of God.

The Quote:

" But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law."  ~Galatians 5:22-23

The Drawing: Not good...I could not get into it today :(