Blessed are those who trust in the Lord,whose trust is the Lord. They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes,and its leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit. Jeremiah 17:7-8


We are the trees, when we live in God's ways we drink from his love, that flows constantly for those who seek him. Jeremiah knew this, he knew that God is the life giving water. When we follow God's ways we not only drink from his life giving water, we produce abundant fruit for his Glory.

At times when we often feel a dry spell in ourselves, especially when we pray, we do not fret, for then we know God is all the more nearer to us. How we continue and not give up, this is how we keep producing fruit. It is because we don't turn away at those times of drought, that we produce some of the most fruit.

When I was a kid I used to think of actual fruit with this verse, but I know more than anything now that the true meaning is faith. Faith in God, in ourselves to be more faithful to a loving God who continues to give us his love daily. That when we seek him with our hearts we drink deeply, never to thirst again.

But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, "You are my God." My times are in your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors. Psalm 31:14-15

Last Wednesday, I was thinking of the Rain Forest and how it is slowly being developed, and many other places where there are so many poor people, and the land they live off of is being taken from them, yet no help is offered to change their circumstances. Yesterday, this again kept coming to me, how these people struggle daily, yet they "trust in a God to get them through each day." Most of the time we bring destruction upon others by making it difficult to survive. For those who happen to be on the end where they owe more than they have, know the struggle and faith it takes to put both feet on the floor and walk with your head held high. Where they see how people turn from them because of their situation. Where they become stigmatized, and backs become their view. In today's Psalm, they trust in God more than those who have, they trust in the Miracle of Time, that they will be delivered from those who persecute them.

The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted. Matthew 23:11-12

 The best example is the very one whom we condemn daily. Jesus was the greatest among us, he became our servant, to bring us healing, love and salvation. Only difference he never exalted himself, he gave so much more of himself, even up to the point of death. Because he humbled himself for our belief, he was then exalted, his love and mercy was beyond what we can ever imagine. Jesus is one role model that we all should strive to imitate.

Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Luke 6:37

 

How amazing God's word is, when Jesus relates to us to not judge or condemn, so we will not also be judged or condemned in return. I find this amazing because we do judge and we do condemn, whether it's intentional or not, it is done.

Recently a healer came to our area, I heard about this person from someone I met while attending  classes for teaching. So I went out of curiosity, I was given a number to line up with the rest of those who attended. I have some issues such as diabetes that , yep like every one else would love more than anything not to have, and be healed. Except when I went up I never asked for a healing for myself, I asked for one for my Mom instead. How did this come about, well I prayed to God to know what I should ask, I was given this at the time I went up, it just came out. This is love for our neighbor when we do not judge or condemn but give selflessly from our hearts for another to be healed. Maybe it's not a good example, but I'll tell you something, the love that fills me from our Father is beautiful. It is what we strive for this love that reaches every part of our being. God Bless

If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Romans 8:31-32

We are the ones who are against us more than anything. That and the one who causes so much mischief and evil. We happen to be against ourselves that we do not believe God is for us. Each year we relive the Passion, to remind us that God gave us His Son, yet we soon forget afterward.

Really think about this for a moment, God gave us his son, his only son! To show us that it is love that is the way to live. Can we give up our own for the salvation of souls. Probably not, since its even harder to give up material possessions, but then again, getting rid of a child wouldn't be that difficult, since it would remove the back talk, and disrespect the child shows us. In my class, the women all would like to rid themselves of their children, because they are such a handfull. Unfortunately that is a selfish attitude because children are a blessing to anyone who is given them. Like anything else we do not see how we are.

God is ready to give us everything, but how can he when we do not even seek him, when we do not even realize the depth of his love.