BATTERED and TORN

Ezra 9:8The Message
"Now for a brief time God, our God, has allowed us, this battered band, to get a firm foothold in His holy place so that our God may brighten our eyes and lighten our burdens as we serve out this hard sentence. We were slaves; yet even as slaves, our God didn't abandon us. He has put us in the good graces of the kings of Persia and given us the heart to build The Temple of our God, restore its ruins, and construct a defensive wall in Judah and Jerusalem. [emphasis added]

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Ever met Christians who just shine the light of Jesus when you are with them? They seem to have it all together, they're sitting on top of the world, praising God with all that is within them, looking all together [so you think]. Everything that you can see - looks like it's wonderful.

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I found her among the weeds.
She was barely breathing.

My heart stirred with her pain.

I felt compassion on this beauty - so frail - so broken.

Her wings were tattered and torn.

Her colorful dust had seen the day of struggle.

Someone, something... had attacked her body, her soul, her spirit, her emotions. She was so weak she could not eat. I lifted her delicate body up and placed it on the flower to see if she could

draw some nourishment. It was getting dark. I had no idea if when morning came - she would make it.

The next day while walking through the yard near where she had been, a butterfly [like her] flew by me. Was it her? Did she make it? Or was that another one who took her place?

Do you know someone who needs to be lifted with a compassionate hand? Someone broken? Someone hurting, frail or grieving? Will you pray? Will you help? Will you lift your hand?

Psalm 102:13
You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show favor to her; the appointed time has come.

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Colossians 3:12

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Micah 4:6 [The Message]
"On that great day," God says, "I will round up all the hurt and homeless, everyone I have bruised or banished. I will transform the battered into a company of the elite. [emphasis added]

Choosing JOY,

Stephanie

[JESUS - the One I THIRST For]

FRUIT for THOUGHT = PART II

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Deuteronomy 29:17-19 (New Living Translation)
17 You have seen their detestable practices and their idols made of wood, stone, silver, and gold. 18 I am making this covenant with you so that no one among you—no man, woman, clan, or tribe—will turn away from the Lord our God to worship these gods of other nations, and so that no root among you bears bitter and poisonous fruit.
19 “Those who hear the warnings of this curse should not congratulate themselves, thinking, ‘I am safe, even though I am following the desires of my own stubborn heart.’ This would lead to utter ruin!

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Matthew 7:19-21 (Amplified Bible)
19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire.
20 Therefore, you will fully know them by their fruits.
21 Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven. [underline, Italic, bold added]

As I was cutting up the fruit for my delicious lunch I came to the last melon - a beautiful green honey melon - perfectly formed on the outside. But when I raised the knife and cut into it - it actually exploded and blew out fumes of gas from the rottenness inside. Now there is some 'fuel' for more intense thought. Whew!

FRUIT can take us on a long journey of thought...
What thoughts does God bring to your mind when you see this picture of the rotten fruit [compared to the bowl from the last post]? What does God's Word say [speak to you] here? Can you grasp it? It's deep.

Choosing JOY,
Stephanie
[JESUS - The One I THIRST For]

FRUIT for THOUGHT

This was my lunch yesterday. I've been doing a "fruit cleansing" for three days. The bowl looked so colorful - so inviting - so delicious and so nutritious - so luscious - so mouth watering - and the taste buds go on and on! And it WAS that GOOD going down!
It made me ponder about bearing [much] fruit.

I asked myself:
Do I bear fruit that is colorful and inviting?
Do I bear fruit that is delicious and nutritious?
Do I bear fruit that is luscious and mouth watering?
Is my the fruit I bear "in season"?
Is it fresh and ready picked?
Do I offer it to others freely?

We are all familiar with this passage from Galatians in one of the more common translations here:
Galatians 5:22-23 [NIV]
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

but just ponder for a while this paraphrase - just how those fruit of the Spirit play out in our lives [or should]:

Galatians 5:22-23 [The Message]
22-23But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.

What is your 'fruit for thought'?
How does bearing fruit play out in your life?
What has God been teaching you about it?
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Choosing JOY,
Stephanie
[JESUS - the One I THIRST For]

FAVOR, LORD?

Who may ask favor, Lord?

Exodus 32:11 [Moses DID]

But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God. "O LORD," he said, "why should Your anger burn against Your people, whom You brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand?

2 Chronicles 33:12-13 [Manasseh DID]
12 In his distress he sought the favor of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. 13 And when he prayed to him, the LORD was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so He brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God.

Who was favor granted to?

Genesis 6:7-9 [NOAH WAS]
7 So the LORD said, "I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air—for I am grieved that I have made them." 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.
9 This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless [upright] among the people of his time, and he walked with God.


Genesis 4:3-5 [ABEL WAS] 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. 4 But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering He did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

Luke 2:13-14 [Those God chooses to give it... are]
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests."

Over and over this week the LORD has brought the word 'favor' into my conversations, my Scripture readings, books I'm presently reading and a newsletter which has caused me to continue to ponder about seeking the Lord's 'favor' in prayer over my family, my friends those on my prayer list.

A few days ago I had a conversation with my son-in-law. He and my oldest daughter [Becky] will be serving in Haiti as full-time missionaries [on the field] with RMI in Jan 2010, once they reach their full support status. In our conversation Rob told me that he had been in a meeting earlier with several mission board members when one man prayed for the Lord's 'favor' over Rob and Becky - that God would "show 'favor' in raising their additional needed support". Within a short time that same day - Rob received an e-mail and a phone call from two different 'regular' supporters who desired to 'RAISE their support' [they did this on their own]. Rob was blown away. It made a huge impact on him about prayer - and having someone pray 'favor' over him.

Last night I opened a newsletter 'monthly update' from a friend of mine named Susan Newall who is serving as a missionary in Galway, Ireland. Her letter [2 pages] was filled with the word 'favor'. Because of the changes in Visa status she has to come home from the field in Oct. and is not sure if she will be allowed to come back after that. She writes: "Please ask for our God, who directs the king's heart wherever He pleases (Proverbs 21:1), to grant me favor with the one who will process my request."

This week I have begun praying - asking the Lord to show 'His favor' over many different people on my prayer list. ALREADY I have seen amazing things happen in just a few short days.

I asked my Bible study group on Tuesday night, "Have you ever prayed "the favor of the Lord" over another person? Why? and how? Now I'm asking you that same question. Can you share any specifics about the results?

We are missionaries raising support to serve with Reciprocal Ministries International in Les Cayes, Haiti. http://www.robandbecky.com/

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For Susan Newall - Galway Ireland: her e-Mail address is: mailto:isionanewells@juno.com

Choosing JOY,

Stephanie

[JESUS - the One I Thirst For]