Unbolt The Door To Your Heart

Category: Uncategorized

  • Idleness

    The Devil Rides on an Idle Horse.

    “Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good”. Ezekiel 16: 49-50 AKJV

    In the Bible, the phrase “growing fat” is a warning about forgetting God. When people get rich, full, and comfortable, they often forget God. They become proud and stop listening to His voice. They think their bank account, big house, boat and luxuries were because of their hard work, and they deserve to rest up and take it easy. They deserve to go on extended vacations and forget about doing God’s work in the church. They wasted the blessings that God gave them and took credit for it all themselves. They say to themselves and to others, “Look what I have done”.  

    Growing “fat” in biblical terms is not about waist size.  Even though that is a problem and a sin also spoken about in the bible. “Fat” here is about getting comfortable, content, and a sense of peace in your daily life that makes you forget about needing God. 

    Satan loves this stage of anyone’s life.  This led the men of Sodom to doing detestable things that were an abomination before the Lord. The Devil will ride in on that idol, content and happy horse.  He knows just what to tempt you with that will make you feel good in the present moment. Lust for another partner, lust for too much alcohol, lust for a drug, lust for pornography, lust for a TV program or news show that will distract you from God. Satan will use anything to get you addicted to that feeling of contentment and happiness. The devil knows that if he gives you an adrenaline surge and short-term enjoyment for doing something, you will be back for more. The men of Sodom started to enjoy the feeling of doing the detestable thing. This feeling made them forget that the action was detestable.  They soon forgot the Lord.

    Key Warning Passages

    Deuteronomy 31:20: God warns that once He brings Israel into a rich land and they eat well and grow fat, they will turn away to serve other gods. They will break His covenant.

    Deuteronomy 32:15: Israel (called Jeshurun here) grew fat, thick, and gorged. They abandoned God and turned away from the Rock of their salvation.

    Hosea 13:6: When they had pasture, they were satisfied. When they were satisfied, they became proud. Because of this pride, God says He forgot them.

    This is the main reason that there are so many bible verses and instructions from God to consider it pure joy when you face trials, pain, suffering, depression, death.  Why does God cause or allow any trials to come your way? Why should you be praising God when these things happen?

    Because He loves you!

    He knows that you are in danger of forgetting about Him. He needs to wake you up so that you will return to Him.

    God Loves you too much just to let you go down the wrong pathway. 

    Turn to God and ask Him what He is trying to teach you when trials of many kinds come your way. God is always faithful and true and always has plans for you. 

    You must be born again and completely transformed. Which may require pain and suffering to let go of control and surrender it all to Him.

    Remember it is not a religion, it is a relationship.

    Prayers and Love to all.

    Larry

  • Working on the Inside

    God forms my heart to get ready for any circumstance.

    God changes us from the inside out by renewing our hearts and minds first, so our outward actions naturally follow.

    Ezekiel 36:26: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”

    Romans 12:2: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

    Psalm 51:10: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

    “2 Corinthians 4:16: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

    “2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

    If you want your circumstances to change, let God change your heart.

    God only promised to be with you when you are in the valley of the shadow of death.  He never promised to change the valley of the shadow of death.

    Jesus knew the storm was coming over the Sea of Galilee, but he sent His disciples out in the boat anyway. He could have told them to wait until morning or the next day.

    He knows what storms or temptations are coming your way. What family tragedy or health event is coming your way. What addiction that will you be afflicted with. What pain, suffering and depression you will be going through. How hard it will be for you to give up control and surrender fully.

    God worked on the hearts of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and then He was with them in the fiery furnace. God did not remove the furnace or lower the heat inside the furnace. He did not change anything about the situation. God had already changed the hearts of those three men so that they could utter the words, “But if not”.  Their hearts were fully prepared to endure death to follow their God.

    God is attempting to build a strong spiritual strength within you. A deeper trust in Him. He is trying to refine your character. He is getting you ready for trials and hardships ahead.

    Stop praying for your circumstances to change and start thanking God for what you are going through and the work He is doing inside you.  Accept the change and be born again.

    “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose”. Romans 8:28 NIV

    All things, good or bad, painful or enjoyable work for your good.  God has a purpose for you, and He knows how to get you there.

    Remember it is not a religion, it is a relationship.

    Prayers and Love for all.

    Larry

  • Smile

    I remember the way your smile rewrote every tragedy in my bones. Short poem by Allie Michelle

    “They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; and they did not love their lives so as to shy away from death”. Revelation 12:11 KJV

    This verse describes believers’ victory over Satan, the accuser, during a cosmic spiritual battle. The “blood of the Lamb” signifies Christ’s atoning sacrifice, while “the word of their testimony” emphasizes the believer’s active role in declaring and living out their faith

    The great significance of this verse is that there are two characteristics of the believers that will be called unto eternity with God.

    The first characteristic is that the believers that have relied upon the blood of Jesus to save them.  They did not believe that church doctrine, rituals and rules or their own hard work, at being good or perfect, earned them any salvation benefit.

    The second characteristic is their testimony. This testimony is not recounting personal experiences in detail. It is not to bring any attention to the person giving the testimony. Your testimony is strictly sharing what God has done for you and how it has changed you.  Your testimony is how you came to know God through the work of the Holy Spirit. How God is presently working in your life today. 

    The best testimony you can give is not to start off with any words.  SMILE.  Always in every situation or circumstance have a smile on your face.

    A Smile builds trust, lowers stress, and triggers emotional contagion, making people around you feel instantly safer, happier, and more willing to connect with you.

    One smiling person can change the mood of a room full of people. Why? Because when people see a smile, “mirror neurons” fire in their brains and evoke a similar neural response that makes them feel like they are smiling themselves and before they know it they are smiling. And that smile makes them feel happier and they are likely to have a more positive attitude toward you.

    Is there such a thing as a “fake” smile?  Yes! People will recognize that smile immediately and your testimony is wasted. Fake smiles show that you have not let the Holy Spirit change you from the inside and you just want to look like you are changed. You are whitewashed.

    You need what is called a Duchenne Smile. This is a genuine, heartfelt smile that engages both the mouth and the eyes. It signals true happiness and at peace with God. Fake smiles only move the mouth while a true deep smile of the Holy Spirit reaches the eyes. It raises your whole face to reflect God without saying a word.

    Smiling, from the heart, is singing while in prison with your feet shackled to the floor. 

    Smile everywhere you go. As you walk through the door, consciously put a smile on your face, and as you walk down the aisles or stand in line. You’ll be amazed at how often you’ll get a look of surprise when they see you smiling.  You just changed their mood, and their day is instantly better, and you have not said a word.

    A smile is the very first, silent expression of an inner peace. It acts as the opening note of your personal testimony because it shows God’s joy, grace, and transforming power at work in your heart before you even speak a single word.

    You are smiling because you have accepted the Father’s sacrifice of His Son as the only way to be saved for eternity.  Once you allow the Holy Spirit to convince you of that saving grace and stop working at being good and believing that doctrines will save you. The weight will be lifted off your shoulders, and your face will show genuine love with your smile.

    Negativity or condemnation about circumstances, government, politics, sins and problems in this world will not bring people to God.  God did not send His Son to condemn so why would you do it in person or online with any post? A person does not want to see or experience the god of a negative or condemning person.

    The moon does not have any light in and of itself.  You only see it because it reflects the light of the sun.

    You can be a moon that reflects the light of God this morning with a Duchenne Smile on your face.

    Your Testimony is the bridge to God’s ministry.

    Remember it is not a religion, it is a relationship.

    Prayers for all.

    Larry

  • Representing

    Is there such a thing as too much worship, praise, and sacrifice to God?

    In 2nd Samuel chapter 6 we read of King David taking the Ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the city of David.  In verse thirteen we read that when they had taken six steps they stopped and He sacrificed a bull and a fatted calf.  Did he stop and sacrifice these animals every six steps or just once?   If he had done it every six steps he would have made over 5000 sacrifices on the journey.  Most commentaries weigh in on the subject and choose that King David sacrificed every six steps.

    This would mean that King David sacrificed over 10,000 bulls and fattened calves on this journey.

    We find that this sacrifice is small compared to King Solomon when he dedicated the temple. 

    “Solomon offered a sacrifice of fellowship offerings to the Lord: twenty-two thousand cattle and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep and goats. So the king and all the Israelites dedicated the temple of the Lord”. 1 Kings 8:63 NIV

    I do not think we can comprehend the logistics of sacrificing, on altars, 120,000 sheep and 22,000 bulls. The Effort and time taken to say thanks to God.

    They observed this festival for 14 days. We are told in verse 66 that they were “joyful and glad in heart for all the good things the Lord had done for his servant David and his people.”

    How do you show your praise and excitement over what the Lord did for you today?  A simple thanks, maybe a little longer prayer?

    “Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might”. 2 Samuel 6: 14 NIV

    “Let the people of Sela sing for joy; let them shout from the mountaintops”. Isaiah 42:11 NIV

    “You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, Here is your God!” Isaiah 40:9 NIV

    Do you not think that praising God for His many blessings and Miracles is worth more than a simple “thank-you”.

    Why from the mountain top?  It is a perfect place for the sound of your praise to be carried to all the people.  Sound Carries a lot farther from the mountain top than from the bottom of the Grand Canyon.

    “Let your joy lift up people around you just like a song carrying across the hills”. Let it be seen on your face and in your walk.  Your presence in a room should bring in God’s presence.  Without asking people should see, hear and feel the wonderful blessings of your Savior.  

    Are you embarrassed to praise God to others?  What would be some reasons that we are hesitant to praise God from the mountain tops?

    Fear of judgment: Worrying that others will think you are strange, fanatical, or out of touch.

    Social pressure: Wanting to avoid awkward silence, arguments, or being mocked by peers and coworkers.

    Private habit: Feeling that faith is a personal matter meant only for home or church walls rather than public spaces.

    Self-consciousness: Worrying about how you look or sound to the people standing right next to you

    How to Overcome Hesitation.

    Focus upward: Shift your attention away from the people around you and onto God, just as King David did when he danced unashamedly.

    Live authentically: Let your daily actions, kindness, and peace speak first so that when people ask, sharing your faith feels natural.

    Start small: Share simple expressions of gratitude in everyday conversation rather than feeling pressured to give a grand speech.

    Let them see and experience your God before you ever speak a word!

    I had finally arrived at the checkout register at Costco. When I handed my card to be scanned the cashier looked at me and spoke.  “I saw you way back in the line and I could see the smile and peace on your face”.  I just smiled even brighter and responded that I was smiling because I was blessed by God this morning. She looked up and responded that she was blessed to have me in her checkout line this morning. We had a wonderful, very short conversation about God’s blessing, and I went on my way. 

    God introduced His presence to her before the Holy Spirit ever put a word on my lips.

    Dance every step you take today. Let God shine forth from you.

    Remember it is not a religion it is a relationship.

    Let God shine through you.

    Larry 

  • Worshiping for the right reasons.

    “And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.  And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. Acts 16:22-24 KJV

    These verses set the atmosphere for the most important aspect of worship any of us can begin to learn.

    What is true worship? Worship meant to change us not our circumstances?

    I am not going to attempt to completely answer the first question. I will attempt to give you things to think about when you talk to the Holy Spirit.

    Worship is not about us or what we get out of it. You should not worship, or go to a worship service so that we feel good or get a blessing out of it. Many times I hear people say, “I did not get anything out of that worship service”.  That is proof you came to worship for the wrong reasons.  Worship is what you are offering God. Every single instance of any worship in heaven around the throne is about the elders and angels singing and shouting the blessings and the greatness of God. They did not come to get blessed, they are there to be a blessing to God. You should not come to be blessed. You are to worship to show God and show others about the saving grace of your Savior. You are there to bless others with your praise and thanksgiving of the wonderful blessings of God. You are not at worship or church for your benefit. That may sound harsh, but the elders and angels were not surrounding God for their benefit.  They were only there to worship and praise the God that had already blessed them. Worship is for you to return to God your praise for those blessings.

    Paul and Silas had been beaten badly, unjustly and did not deserve any of what we would consider punishment. They were bleeding with open wounds.  They were cast down into the darkest depths, an inner room.  The light from the sun has never entered. The only light that ever entered was when the Jailer used a torch to enter so he could see.  Foul, smelling worse than anything you can imagine.  The cleaning crew does not go down there. To make matters worse they were put in stocks. They were setting in foul and filth. They were not there alone. There were many other prisoners chained in the darkness.

    And now the wake-up call that all of us need!

    “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed. And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Acts 16: 25-30 KJV

    This set of verses are so important for what you read and what you do not read in these verses. 

    You do not read about complaints, or negativity directed toward the government or authorities. You do not read about any negativity toward anything that has happened to them. Justly or unjustly. They were not praying for their release from the darkness and shackles. They are not crying out to the Lord for any benefit for themselves.

    What are they doing?  They are singing and praying out loud, not silently.  Why? So that the other prisoners would be blessed by their worship.  The other prisoners did not need to hear about any pain and suffering that Paul and Silas were going through. The people around you do not need to hear about any troubles, pain, that you are going through. They only need to hear your praising God. The people coming to your worship service should see you singing, praising God with hands held high, swaying and moving like no one else is watching but God. Not standing with hands in pockets and barely moving your lips in a whisper.  You are Praising God. You are not there for your benefit. You are there for their benefit. 

    Then God caused a great earthquake that broke open the chains and doors and walls. Many of you may think this was for the benefit of Paul and Silas. To break them out of the dungeon. God had already blessed Paul and Silas by keeping them alive and not dead after the beatings. They were praising God for that and not requesting or expecting deliverance. They were content with the circumstances.  How do we know they were content?  They did not run when given the opportunity. The other prisoners understood this too.  They could have run and been running from the law for many years.  But they understood that standing and staying with men that can praise God in their troubles is better than freedom in the world.

    The earthquake was only to get the attention of the Jailer and the other prisoners. It was not meant for the benefit of Paul and Silas. They knew they were in God’s hands.  Others needed to see that and experience they also were in the presence of God.

    This is one of the most important things for any of us to learn and remember.  “Deliverence” no matter what shape it comes in, is not for your benefit.  It is there for you to be a witness to others about God’s great saving power.

    God promises you to be with you in the shadow of death. He may allow you to go into the shadow of death. You need to be content with those circumstances. He is allowing you to be beaten and thrown into shackles for His Glory. God has a bigger picture than any of us can understand or comprehend.

    “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God”. Romans 8:28 KJV

    The words “all things” mean just that. All things, good or bad, painful or joyful, just or unjust, work for your benefit.  You are in God’s hand. Your name is written on His palms.  Now stand up and shout the praises of the one you planned your salvation even before the creation of this world. That is LOVE!

    You are not called to just sit still and listen to a sermon and go home and have a potluck.  You are called to let the whole world know what God has done for you this week.  Go to worship God and sing His praises.  Do not go to a worship service to be blessed.  You will not be blessed  and you will only hear the words of dread when Jesus comes. “I do not know you”.

    You are meant to be a blessing to others.

    Remember it is not a religion, it is a relationship.

    Prayers and Love for all.

    Larry 

  • NEW

    All things will be made NEW!

    “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. Isaiah 65:17 NIV

    “Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea”. Revelation 21:1 NIV

    These verses are such a profound promise.   The Promise in the Revelation verse is so important to understand. The word “sea” is not talking about water or ocean.  It is the word for separation.  God is promising that there will be no separation between heaven and earth. No separation between Him and His true followers. The complete destruction of Sin. Everything in the universe will be recreated and made again. 

    And in what form will it be made again? 

    “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived the things God has prepared for those who love him”. 1 Corinthians 2:9 NIV

    If you thought the Garden of Eden was beautiful. It will not even be close to the wonders of the Universe that God is going to recreate.  The Second Creation will be of a level that we simply cannot understand or contemplate.  In simple language God is telling us that the whole universe needs to be recreated to be able to comprehend that God is true and faithful and He is bringing His faithful home. Recreated at a level that is above all imagination of everything in the universe. The greatness of God can not be comprehended.

    God promises to completely remake the universe. The “former things” refer to everything that is in existence when Jesus returns in the second coming.  This is not just talking about this world, the pain, sin, and suffering of the current world. It is talking about the whole universe, and God is even going to remake His house into a new house where He will reside with the faithful and true.  

    God is not just inviting you to come and live with him in the exciting heaven for eternity.  He has a plan that is far beyond anything we can imagine. This plan will create a new me and you to live in a new heaven and in a new world with a God.

    Everything must be created again. You must be born again to be able to reside in the new heaven and earth.

    “Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again”. John 3:3 NIV

    Rev. Billy Graham said being “born again” refers to a spiritual transformation. It means undergoing an inward renewal by the Holy Spirit, turning from sin, and receiving new spiritual life and a personal relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ.

    “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”. John 14:6 NIV

    You want to be included in the faithful? Then you must have a relationship with Jesus. A relationship that changes you. Being born again with the Holy Spirit.

    Obeying all the commandments is not going to save you. Your church membership is not going to save you. Only those that have allowed the Holy Spirit to take total control of their lives are the ones that Jesus will find to be in a relationship with Him and He will come and pick them up and take them to meet His Father.

    I cannot wait to meet the Father.  Are you longing to meet the Father?  Jesus says He is the way.  Give everything over to the Holy Spirit and experience a new birth.

    Remember it is not a Religion, it is a Relationship.

    Prayers and Love for all.

    Larry

  • Are You in a Hurry

    Being in a Hurry isn’t a time problem, It is a spiritual problem.

    Has Satan declared War on you and you are not aware of the battle?

    The World and most people are rushed and in a hurry. Being in a hurry comes in many forms and manifestations.  None of them are a blessing from God.  There are no words in the bible where God blesses believers with a lifestyle of hurriedness. There are numerous words in the bible on slowing down, being still, being in silence, patience and most of all waiting on the Lord.

    When God asks you to be in the world but not of the world, this is one of the areas He thinks is most important.  Therefore, it is an area that Satan feels the need to attack the most.

    Hurry steals the very thing love needs most: time. Rushing creates a barrier that disconnects us from God’s presence and keeps us from being truly present with others. When you are consumed by hurry, it can blind you to the needs of the people God loves.

    Hurry changes how I treat the people that God loves.

    Hurry steals the time we need to show genuine care. When we rush, we lose the ability to be truly present, causing us to treat others—whom God loves deeply—as obstacles, interruptions, or tasks rather than as people.

    Ask yourself how many times you became irritated at the cashier for moving too slowly. The clerk behind the counter at the post office, or any employee at DMV. The person in the car ahead of you that did not move the second the light turned green.  A family member that just seems not to understand. Impatient with any situation that was not going your way and at the speed you wanted it to happen.

    God loves each of these people that you are irritated at, and He never runs out of patience.  We do not know what is happening in that person’s life today. Why do they seem distracted?  Yet God has asked us to show love, compassion, empathy, and long suffering.  The very same things he showed you on your walk with Him. 

    God asks you to have His character when dealing with all people.

    What happens when the pace of life becomes frantic, it fundamentally alters our behavior toward others in several destructive ways:

    Loss of Patience: We snap, speak harshly, or grow frustrated when others do not meet our schedule.

    Reduced Empathy: Because love and compassion require time to sit and listen, hurry prevents us from seeing and sharing in the struggles of those around us.

    Shallow Interactions: We don’t take the time to listen and care with Love. We just say “I will pray for you” and then we hurry up and leave the conversation.

    Self-Centeredness: When we are in a hurry, we view the demands of others as burdens rather than opportunities to serve.

    God does not treat us this way and He reminds us that He said they will know you are my disciples because of your Love.

    The World may teach and tell you that you can multitask, handle it all, run a business, family and many more things.  There is nothing wrong with any of that and all of it may be good.  But not if you mistreat the very people God loves and He came to save.

    God reminds us that it is not about how much we obtain, in wealth, status, standing in the community, size of house, or the car we drive.  God reminds me that everyone is his son or daughter and we need to treat them as such.

    Today, make sure you are living your life with God’s definition of success and not the world’s idea of wealth and success.

    Remember it is not about religion; it is about a relationship.

    Love and Prayers for All.

    Larry

  • I AM

    Seven “I AM” in the bible.  Seven different descriptions of what Jesus meant when he said  “I AM” .

    The Gospel of John records this repeated phrase “I am” seven times. Each repetition adds another layer of understanding of His character until we see dimly His character and form.

    The Bread of Life

    And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” -John 6:35

    Light of the World

    Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” -John 8:12

    The Door

    “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” -John 10:9

    Good Shepherd

    “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” -John 10:11

    The Resurrection and Life

    Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” -John 11:25, 26

    The Way, the Truth and the Life

    Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” -John 14:6

    The Vine

    “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

    If you are struggling to find out who Jesus is to you. Read repeatedly these seven “I AM’s” and one, if not all of them will speak to your heart today. Print them out and put them on your refrigerator.  The real beauty is that tomorrow it will be a different “I AM” that guides you that day in your walk with Him.

    Every Morning Donna and I experience a different “I AM” in our individual walks in the garden. 

    We have never felt more blessed and closer to God than we have ever been, and we know beyond a shadow of a doubt there is so much more to learn on our early morning walks with Him.  Every evening we go to sleep in excitement to experience God all anew in the Garden in the morning. 

    We cannot wait to share what the Holy Spirit is doing inside us.  God is and will bring those into your life that need to hear and experience what God has done for you.

    They do not need to hear your doctrine or condemnation.  They just need to hear the good news about the “I AM” in your life today.

    We can not wait to wake up every morning and experience God and His path today.

    Remember it is not a religion, it is a relationship.

    Prayers and Love for all.

    Larry

  • Pruning

    Over the course of the last few years God has taught Donna and I the importance of Pruning in the garden.  I struggled with the concept of pinching off a beautiful bud, or completely removing branches, thinning fruit and basically removing growth from a plant.  The bud was going to be a beautiful flower and now we just pinched it off and put it into the compost pile.

    We have learned that pruning encourages new growth because it allows more light to enter the interior of the plant. You want more fruit, more flowers, more vegetables, then you must prune or thin the first buds or shoots.

    We have come to learn that pruning is how we show Love for the plant and the garden. Pruning is an act of Love. 

    “He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful”. John 15:1-2 NIV

    God wants more light to enter your heart and the way to do that is through His pruning.

    There are two actions being performed by God in the above verse.  One is total removal of a branch, “Cuts off” and the other is pruning.  He prunes the good branches even though they are producing good fruit for the Glory of Him. The pruning makes the branch even more fruitful.

    One of the greatest stories of pruning is the story of Joseph.  He was a spoiled, very handsome young boy.  Treasured by his father and he knew he was special in the way he treated his brothers. God had plans for Joseph, but Joseph in his present frame of mind and attitude could never become what God wanted him to be. 

    It was 13 years between when Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers until he became second in charge of all of Egypt.  That is the position God wanted him in to be able to save his family and to help the nation of Israel grow.

    Joseph produced a lot of good fruit during his time as Potiphar’s assistant, and other positions he held.  But he still needed pruning.  He then was falsely accused of attempted rape and thrown into prison.  God knew what was needed to make Joseph into the man that was needed to represent God to the family and nation. It just took thirteen years of pruning.

    We do not read if Joseph understood that he was being pruned.  Yet, we do not read any verses of him complaining to God.  He went through the pruning in full trust of God even if he did not understand or if he felt he was being unjustly treated.

    Pruning is what makes you a better reflection of God.

    God’s pruning is not related to any form of punishment.  It is the one of the greatest acts of Love that God relishes to do for you.

    The Branch cannot prune itself and the branch never realizes it needs pruning and has no say in how it is going to be pruned.  It thinks it is a great branch that is producing great tasting fruit.  The branch believes it is doing God’s work and doing it well. There is nothing wrong with the fruit that it is producing. But God had bigger and greater plans for the branch.

    The need for pruning in our garden never ends. We never reach a point and say it is all done and finished.

    The greatest love of God is that He is never done pruning the ones He loves. God’s pruning is a loving act of edits and adjustments, not punishment. He cuts away what is dead to make space for your next season of growth. It removes obstacles like pride, control and selfish habits to bring forth more fruitfulness and to let new light inside so that there will be further growth.

    “When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives my brothers, don’t resent them as intruders, but welcome them as friends!” James 1:2 JB Phillips New Testament

    Stop asking God to bless and walk with you.  Start walking in the garden of life with God and let Him completely transform you into a new and living branch for Him. God Loves You!

    Remember it is not a religion, it is a relationship.

    Prayers and Love for all.

    Larry

  • Fulfillment

    The world provides pleasure, Jesus provides fulfillment.

     “Jesus answered and said unto her, whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life”. John 4: 13-14 KJV

    This is the very heart of the problem that started with Eve.  She was deceived into believing that there was more than just a walk with God in the Garden.  She was told that God was hiding something from her and she would be happy, content and fulfilled if she would only take a bite of the fruit that the serpent was suggesting.

    The Marlboro man suggested that if only I would smoke his brand of cigarettes I could ride off into the sunset content and be fulfilled. My life would be smooth sailing.

    And so, it has been going on since Eve.  Everywhere I turn it is suggested that I will find contentment and fulfillment and be full of peace and happiness if only I do it the world’s way. I just need to work harder, or smarter and acquire more possessions. I just need to drink more of the world’s water.

    We are being consumed by influencers on every social media about what brings happiness and joy.

    “Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions”.  Luke 12:15 NIV

    In Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 Solomon is telling you that he had everything money, wisdom, beauty could obtain and yet he said, “Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun”. Ecclesiastes 2:11 NIV

    “Food gained by fraud tastes sweet, but one ends up with a mouth full of gravel”. Proverbs 20: 17 NIV

    The Serpent pointed out that the fruit from the tree was pleasing to the eye. How could something so beautiful not be good for you? And so, the pull of the world’s pleasures took mankind in.

    The prodigal son drank heavily from this lie and woke up to find himself covered in pig dung and eating rotten food. What life he thought was wonderful and pleasing turned very sour.

    Jesus says you will always be empty and unsatisfied with anything the world has to offer.

    Spiritual fulfillment is a state of inner peace, lasting satisfaction that occurs when your life aligns with God’s will.  It transcends material success, offering a sustained feeling of purpose, wholeness, and connection to something larger than yourself.

    You should never desire contentment and fulfillment in this world.  It is not your home!

    I only need to keep my eyes on what is above. What brings true fulfillment.

    St. Teresa of Avila said: “Whoever has God lacks nothing; God alone suffices”.

    “Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity. 1 John 2 15-17 The Message

    Today, go stand and look into a mirror, ask yourself where is your treasure?  Am I putting all my effort into what the world considers a healthy, contented, life or am I focused on putting my treasures where they can never be destroyed?

    “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances”. Philippians 4:11 NIV. Rather than depending on material wealth or comfortable living, Paul found deep, unshakeable peace through his faith in Jesus Christ.

    Paul knew where to find true fulfillment and happiness for eternity. Are you drawn to short term water that will never quench your thirst or are you drinking from the everlasting cup of Jesus?

    Remember it is not about religion; it is about a relationship.

    Prayers and love for all.

    Larry