sweet treats

Four peeled Clementine oranges sat in bowl at the center of our dinner table. Passing over tenderloin and noodles, my little Zach reached for his orange with great anticipation. The sweet, juicy treat was more than he could resist, but I quickly reminded him it was intended to follow his meal, a way of cleansing his palate.

After explaining the art of eating to him along with finishing my own meal, I too stretched across the table for my orange. Thumbs diving in, I broke into the small orange pulling apart segments, revealing a single white seed.

At this sight, my mind chewed on the meat of God's word.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. Galatians 5:22

Consider now His fruit. It too is irresistible. It is sweet. It satisfies. And yes, it has seed hidden inside.

When the fruit of the Spirit is offered to others, it is deposited with a seed that is sure to germinate and produce like fruit if there be any good soil hidden inside and yet another comes along to offer a bit of living water.


O Lord, help me crucify this flesh with its affections and lusts and live, yes, walk in the Spirit where there is life...life more abundant, not only for me, but also for others. Thank you for your life-giving fruit and your Spirit manifested in so many wonderful ways.

perspective

Driving in car with Flydaddy:

"That's a pretty little area," I point to an offroad spot along the countryside.

"Yes it is, but it looks nothing down here as it does from above. I've flown over this very spot many times by helicopter. Amazing how differently it appears from above," he answers.

~~~~~~

From above...how must things appear? I'm remarkably familiar with this earthly perspective which is full of limitations. Obstacles occlude my view. People get in the way. Mountains are difficult to scale.

From above...He says He hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Eph 2:6).

From above...O to have His heavenly perspective! Yet, His word says that he MADE US SIT together in heavenly places. This faith flight, which causes us to rise above a temporal existence has already been performed. I/we only need to appropriate what has been done.

So then, how do things look from above? Perhaps this helps us understand better...

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory...therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him (Col 3).

walk and talk

I often instruct my children (who come to me multiple times a day for questions and discussion) to "walk and talk". Many times I am on my way to do a task or we are headed to fulfill something in our schedule, so we simply walk along as we talk. Don't get me wrong, we do have our moments of intimacy...sitting on daughter's bed, brushing hair, with love whispers or test flying folded airplanes with son sharing sweet nothings all the while.

But what about this idea...walk and talk. Isn't that the concept behind our relationship with Abba Father? Consider Noah. Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God (Gen 6:9).

Think. Did Noah have tasks to complete along with a busy schedule? Ahem, 120 years to build an ark, animals to gather, all the while preaching to a mocking crowd of gawkers. Yes, surely He needed to walk and talk with his Father. Not only that, but he required specifics to build this never before built ark.

Are there specifics in your life that you need answered by God? I sure do. We have another potential move on the horizon and need to know the where, the how, and the when. Look at Noah's undertaking. As he walked and talked with God, he was instructed on which materials to use, how many cubits, stories, windows, and where/which animals to bring on the ark along with the necessary food and supplies for his long voyage.

God is the same yesterday, today, and forevermore. I am so glad He is concerned with the details of our lives. We need only walk and talk...and listen.