Nine Gallons Of Fruit

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“If you want it, come and get it. For crying out loud. Because the love that He has given you, was never in doubt….Ohhh, I love, I love, I love Your presence”

 

Definition: 

those gracious dispositions and habits which the Spirit produces in those in whom he dwells and works. (dictionary.com)

  

     “Ester Ahn Kim’s biography is among the most powerful testimonies I have ever read. It was during WWII, and the Japanese occupation of Korea, that Ester’s journey of faith really began. She refused to bow down at the shrines set up in every corner of her country and was eventually imprisoned for six years, from 1939 until 1945. 

    Knowing she was destined for prison for refusing to bow to idols, Ester spent time training herself both physically and spiritually. Each day she would find and eat food that was decaying, knowing that was what she would be served in prison. The discipline she demonstrated is humbling; how many of us would choose to eat rotten foods?

    While preparing for prison, she memorized more than one hundred chapters of the Bible and many hymns because she knew she would not be allowed to keep her Bible. She spent countless hours seeking God through fasting and prayer. These times when she read the Scriptures led to greater clarity, and she was able to surrender her fear of being tortured.

     Reading her story left me wanting more. More intimacy with Christ. More love for people. More of God in my life. And to be honest, more discipline. She was a well-disciplined believer but there was nothing self-righteous about her. Her obedience to Christ only increased her ability to hear the voice of the Spirit, and consequently filed her with overwhelming love for people she came in contact with. When she eventually was taken to prison, God used her in countless way. One night a young Chinese woman convicted of killing her husband was brought in. She moaned incessantly and beat on the doors until guards tied her hands behind her back. It was this woman that God called Ester to love and reach out to. Ester held the woman’s feet at night to warm them, even though the woman was covered in her own excrement. Though food rations were small, Ester gave up her portions for three days to this woman.

    Over time, the Chinese woman began to respond, carrying on conversation and eventually accepting the good news of the gospel. The woman was later executed for her crime, but she went to her death alive in Christ.

    This is one of many people God used Ester to minister to, Murderers and swindlers who were utter outcasts were changed before all who watched as the love of Christ, through Ester, healed their hearts and gave them hope. Even the jailers and government officials noticed how Ester shone in that dark place. She could have endured her suffering like a good Christian, and we would have applauded her for it. But she was not content to merely endure. She was ready every day and every moment, asking God, “Who do You want me to love for You today?” 

 (page 97-99; from Forgotten God, by Francis Chan)

I was sitting in the library at school, and tears seeped out onto my cheeks while I read this!! 

I’ve kinda been stressed the past couple of weeks. And I tend to be one of those people “who sweeps it under the rug.” The method of allowing things to be tucked, pinned away, and only works for short-term circumstances. For after a long period of time, the stuff starts to ooze out, and one can no longer shove anything else there…so what happens? The stuff has to be dealt with all at once! Not to worry, I am fine. Only, “dealing with things in the moment” is going to be a process.

After I read Francis Chan’s Crazy Love, a year or so ago, a sneak peak to his next book was offered in the last pages. I knew I had to read that one next. There’s just something about the way he writes, and speaks; something very heart-like. Very real. He tells it like it is. Well, I am just now getting to that book (Forgotten God). My small group started a video series on the book three weeks ago, and along with a few other conformational urges, I picked up the book this past Sunday. And wow. 

What’s funny, is for the past several months, I’ve been looking into Holy Spirit, and His nature in a deeper/different way. Pursuing Him in a new dynamic almost. The beginning of last week, I felt that I lost my “love, joy, peace, and patience.” I asked God for my desire, and compassionate heart back. Ha, it’s almost funny looking back on it now! I am naturally a very caring person, and easily sympathize with others. Whenever I don’t “feel it”, I start to wonder if I’ve lost apart of myself!

What I realize, is almost a lack of reliance and acknowledgement on the Spirit. The one way I’ve come to know this, has been through several times recently when I have had to rely on the Spirit, and not my own feelings. Granted, I am sure in the past I have done just that, but I honestly am not sure if I saw it clearly. One afternoon last week, for instance, I felt that my thoughts were too overwhelming to deal with. I stepped up and interceded for my heart. While doing so, a piece of scripture, I have not read in a while came to me. I declared over myself, “I do not receive crazy, fearful, absurd thoughts! I am of a sound mind.” After praying this, something new came over me, and I instantly searched for the verse! 

II Timothy 1, For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control (AMP). 

He is the greatest counselor. We rely on Him through the Word, and in our confrontations with the world. Francis Chan’s description of Ester Ahn Kim, displays a profound meaning. My heart is so warmed by this: …she memorized more than one hundred chapters of the Bible and many hymns because she knew she would not be allowed to keep her Bible. She spent countless hours seeking God through fasting and prayer. These times when she read the Scriptures led to greater clarity, and she was able to surrender her fear of being tortured.

We have been asked to be here to love, and He who has asked us lives within us. Simply ask Him back. Simply rely on Him. I can tell you, honestly, that I need to engage and focus on the Spirit. Stop fretting about my own agenda. Instead, I really need to come clean and realize that it is God who has my heart FIRST – long before I reflected His heart. I need to stop just getting by and pulling through, but actually being…and the way to do that is allowing Him (coming to Him and GETTING it; going and RECEIVING the Promised Gift) to work on my being – because, He doesn’t work on our flawlessness, but rather our righteousness. 

My desire and prayer is to work toward this concept daily! Instead of grumbling through a task, I want to ask the Spirit. Instead of avoiding a one-on-one moment with a dear person, I want to dig deep into my core and just ask. I want to not only listen to others without distancing myself, but actually take bites of His Fruit.

The presence of the Spirit remains within us. By simply being open to Him we receive such luscious fruits. We have been empowered to partner with such a Companion as He. We are able to stand and be self disciplined enough to meditate in His presence, to refuse foods that will not benefit our future, to choose foods that will benefit our future, to memorize scriptures, and choose not be in a place of fear; we are able to be in a position where our hearts cry out “Who do you want me to love today.”

Eight Grams Of Fiber

Oh fiber. It’s rough and gritty, hard and sappy. I’ve mostly understood how fiber comes in to play in our path of recipes, but a little more insight has just been established in my brain....I GET IT now.

It’s difficult to guard your heart; difficult to guide your diet. It’s is an undertaking when you grasp the importance of controlling the stuff that you intake! Not everyone has the faith to swallow the fiber. A choice is voluntary after all! Come on now, no one should swallow waste – why would anyone want to swallow used food? Or rotten fruit? We all want the GOOD STUFF right?? Then we should want nothing BUT the real food!

Most importantly, we need to want fiber.

Why? Because fiber is a challenge. We have the will to take hold of the stuff that cleans, purifies mends, heals, restores, beatifies, renews, energizes. It’s a challenge to choose the healthy way: a life of organic. We can only live off a personal relationship with God. We cannot feed upon experiences of others. Though, it is encouragement from others is an important aspect in life...we must not be sheep and try to mimic another person’s walk when our individual walk has been destined for us already!!

A stomach full of impurities – is only going to ingest impurities. What a stinky way to live! We need pure nutrients. Even though we may have those “hard to swallow” days - in the long run - everything is worth it!! There are days when it is really really really hard to choose the Way. Times are out there in life when we don’t feel like standing in intercession, or soaking in scriptures consistently.

Fiber is the thick and gooey matters in life. Taking your fiber goes beyond doing good deeds when one feels like doing them. Fiber is, when it all comes down to it, true colors revealed. I’ve had a few days, recently, in which I do not feel like taking my fiber (both spiritually and physically), all I really want is a few nibbles of chocolate. Why can’t we just leave it at that for all of our meals?!

Well, let me refer to a statement I jotted down a while back in some conference notes from a few months ago: “poop happens - even with the most godly life, stuff happens. But you don’t sit in your poop, you flush. You are going to have stuff in your life that is not pretty. And not only are you supposed to take it to the Lord, but to each other as well. We need people to say ‘gee, you smell funny’. We have got to build our sisterhood and be in a place in each other’s lives where we have to be more than just an encouragement. It’s called tough love. I love you, so if you are going through something in your life - I know you so I can tell – I am going to help you with that.”

   

I tell you, it is THIS simple!

Truly, I've gotten to thinking of a few things I do throughout the week, to keep my surroundings managed. Some of my duties in the family home are taking out the trash, and shoveling little gifts left in the lawn from our dog. Have you ever noticed that junk doesn’t fade away on its own (unless you’re building a compost pile).  I, myself, at least, have to use tools to discard the product(s). I know from experience that it’s best not to put things off for later. I guess I am still learning because there’s a small waste-basket in my room. I only use it for odds and ends (clothing tags, tissue, etc.) I’ve gotten into the habit of letting the basket get full, and then slowly piling tissues on top – it’s more of an inefficient balancing act!

My point is, we have to use fiber in our own life!! Our bodies involuntarily clean our insides with fiber – in the same way, we need to allow discipline, structure, and grit from our accountability partners, to show us that we need seasonal cleaning. We need tough situations to challenge us, so we can choose to walk in His favor. O the Lord is the Perfect Parent! Face the facts. We are growing up, being prepared to be a Bride – there are seasons when we are two year olds being potty trained. We are children being taught how to clean up our messes, and learning to turn to our mature pure identity!

Take care. And GET your fiber intake today!

 

PS AND BY THE WAY: 

be reminded of the Who in which all glory goes to.

check out this song.

Seven Tons of Faith

I am most excited about this post! God has so been stirring stuff within in me (very recently) and just so happens to have a lot to do with faith. Just to remind the both of us: there are so many directions I can go with this recipe - however, I truly wish for this to be honest happenings of the moment, and not just random blabber. Take this post for what you may….but let me know what you think of it eh?

Firstly, may also note here: I am working toward being motivated for the return of school routine, after a week vacation. I’ve hoped and prayed that this break would allow me to dig deep and pull out desires to do well in studies. That previous week of school was a stretch for me! I’ve never been so annoyed with certain circumstances, even with people I barely know. High School isn’t the end of the world, but it sure isn’t on the top of my list of great places to be in! Well, this is senior year, I’ll pull through…...wait!! I don’t want to pull through, I wanna WALK through. I will not sit passively as the days pass by. I will fix my eyes on the goal and pursue the works (great or small) the Lord has set out for me! 

I state all this right away, and now, because I am going to have days when I could care less about WALKING, and feel more like crawling, and barely crossing the finish line.

Several moments, within the past week or so that I have huffed: “ugh. I feel like I don’t know what God has for me right NOW. AH. This area is where I freeze up and lose my brain!! I hold passions, desires and hopes for the future – but what about NOW?” Another huff that I’ve managed to ignore: “what if I sink? Or when will I go off-roading and get stuck in a ditch of depression?”

In my prayer life, I’ve had this tendency to somehow avoid saying this particular irritation directly to Jesus. Yeah, we have our chats throughout the day, and so my soul assumes that He knows (which He does), but He needs to know that I know He knows. My spirit must have that connection addressed properly.

The big idea for this post is: I don’t know if nor when, but I KNOW the hope. As followers of Christ, we will always go through getting to know Him. He has to be where our eyes are fixed upon.

Faith.

Standing in a grace that doesn’t make sense. Strengthening knees to stand up tall. Turning away from silence to speak. Lifting one’s head to focus on The One

This is faith.

Over the weekend, I prayed with God about my recent questions, current doubts, and my troubled heart. I’ve switched from writing everything down in silence, to speaking out loud in my room. I try to whisper, but I honestly don’t care if my family catches a few “Thank You God!” and “I love you Jesus!” slip between my walls every now and then. I’ve been able to really draw forth my expressions of His glory – more so facial expressions (excitement, awe, sorrow, etc.)

My output for this weekend consisted of sorting out my minor huffs. As I went through a process of trying to express my concern, I lifted up my hands and said: “I am lost! There are no words! Ha, I feel like the ant in Bug’s Life. A simple character, he is doing a daily route, suddenly a leaf came in the way, and he had no idea what to do…..”

Ohh well. There goes yet another childhood movie that impacted my heart for Jesus. Out of habit, I started to jot down the hint from the scene. Then I looked up the clip on YouTube. Naturally, I just had to find the exact clip, the exact time for every bit I wanted captured. After searching, I found it! Then it all hits me at once! And now I am typing it all up in this post!

VIDEO:

The imagery is a little fuzzy, not the best quality I was desperate for…yet in terms of our usage, it does fine for now :)

Let me just break it down

1. First Ant: “Oh, Oh, no. Oh no. Oh no…..I’M LOST! Where’s the line?! What do I do??!”

2. Second Ant: “We’ll be stuck here forever!”

3. Leader Ant: “Do not panic. Do not panic. We are trained professionals. Just stay calm. We are going around the leaf.”

4. First Ant: “Around the leaf!? I, I don’t think we can do that..”

5. Leader Ant: “Oh nonsense, this is nothing compared to the twig of ‘93” ants take a step. “That’s it, that’s it. Good. You’re doing great! There you go, there you go!! Watch my eyes don’t look away. And here’s the line again!”

6. First Ant: (leaping, skipping with excitement):“HeheHa! Thank you, thank you..”

7. Leader Ant: “Haha, good job everybody!”

Does this get to you? Did you notice the video edit???? “Let God into your heart and let Him be your Leader Ant to help you through life’s curve balls.”

 HA. Gee, our Father God has a sense of humor, for sure! I love the irony of it all. Truly love it. Clearly I am not just off on the deep end here, just assuming I understand the meaning of this…clearly some random person was impacted by God in such a way, that they too caught along with me!! Exciting. 

Along with my adventure in childhood films, I’ve also gone into Daniel (STRONGLY recommend reading that book in Scripture. ESPECIALLY chapter 10. Speaking of Chapter Ten, check out Hebrews chapter 10 and while your at it try 11 :)

Let’s break it down some more……

*Clearly the unknown cannot be ignored – just because we do not know.…but because it exists, and Father knows – You can guess that He will so use what we do not fathom to prove Him higher {Matthew 24:36;}

* At times, some walkers are revealed to insight…we know this because they start tremble {Daniel 10:7-9}

* Common sense and encouragement is planted in, we are reminded to not panic, and to not fear {Daniel 10:12-14}

* And, this area of unknown is nothing compared to our victory of our previous accomplishment on the cross We may have doubt...but that doesn't mean we cannot have courage! God has poured strength within us to do the unthinkable! {Daniel 10:19}

*To CONTINUE to the PATH they had to act and go around {Acts 2:28}

* “Look at my eyes, don’t look away.” – God {Psalm 121:1; Psalm 123:1; Song of Songs 5:12; Isaiah 40:26; Isaiah 49:18;}

* "Good work!" {Matthew 25:21}

What do we do with an obstacle that we cannot cause to fade away? Perhaps we could move it? Often times the obstacles are indeed obstacles because we cannot move them. Therefore, we must move. 

So, what does God have in for me RIGHT NOW? Have faith.

Six Boxes of Consequence

After we make a choice…there is a result; after we act there is a reaction, a response.

Continuing out my comparison to Aladdin:

(This is a ten min clip. But only need to watch about 5 minuets, due to the ending credits)

Now, what I find most valuable in this movie, is not within the idea that I feel the directors were trying to make it look: biblically symbolic. Perhaps they did, I don’t know their thoughts…but the movie was made by Disney, and it takes some clear insight to know the deep morals in this film! I believe, as I’ve stated in a previous post something like: “not all love stories are revealed in one movie”. Aladdin only gives a small prism into the paradigm of our life. I am not saying that you can pull anything out and make it biblical, or right, I’m just going into a little “life-comparison.” There are many stories that reflect our story. Everything we do is because God created a desire to do within us. Also, we may not find the quench to our desires in the right way every time, but that doesn’t take away the intended longing for God.

In addition to my little explanation, Aladdin isn’t Jesus. Granted, you may ask: ‘well, gee Lilly, ya never said he was.” I just want to clarify here; I’m using the movie in this instance, as a symbol. Symbolic things do not mean the literal, simply a reflection.

Okay, so on with the actual juice:

Aladdin is a poor regular citizen. By chance, he ends up in a situation where he finds Jeanie in the lamp. Aladdin is given three wishes. His first wish was spent on becoming a prince to see the love of his life: Princess Jasmine. Then evil seeps into the palace and steals the lamp away from Aladdin. So the entire land is poisoned and terrible. However, Aladdin uses wisdom to defeat the sorcerer. Everything goes back to the way it was. Good wins over all. Aladdin lives happily ever after with the girl of his dreams, and Jeanie wished free!

Now, just as a side note: Aladdin did choose to lie and pretend to be a prince – this bothers his conscience. He realizes, in a way, that he’s a lie. Shortly after he attempts to tell Jasmine, the evil sorcerer takes the lamp, and becomes pretty nasty. The bad guy reveals his self-absorbed ways, and spoils everything. He criticizes the “truths”, and reveals Aladdin’s identity as a poor regular citizen. -- THIS point, I would say is the condemnation that the enemy wants us to feel after we have made a choice for our life.

 I admire how Aladdin doesn’t just sit in the wasteland that the sorcerer put him on, but rather pushes on to go back and set things right. What really gets me is that Aladdin is in a position where he has no authority and no power, yet he goes back anyhow. Then, like I said, good wins overall.

I feel that in our relationship with God, we have a similar aspect. We choose to go in a direction, and a reaction comes. No matter what life situation; whatever the enemy puts between us and the goodness of God…God wins every time. We may not see the result right away, but the Lord is always at work no matter what.

No matter what choice we choose, the consequence will always be grace.

It’s strange to conclude that, but if you were to go to the aftermath of not being faithful in brushing your teeth for a whole year – the consequence will probably a lot of cavities. Your dentist will probably be upset with you. But he/she will also instruct you some discipline habits, and then treat you if needed, and give you a chance to do better the next brushing year!

Or say, you choose to eat a healthy diet for a season (you are what you eat) you’ll be healthy!

It’s as simple as that!

No matter what path you choose to follow, God will show up in the aftermath. Obviously, keep in mind our Choice Proportion: always go by the Holy Spirit: He is your guide and counselor!

Five Ounces of Choice

Definition: The opportunity or power of choosing; selection. In philosophy: a corollary of the proposition of free will-i.e., the ability voluntarily to decide to perform one of several possible acts or to avoid action entirely. An ethical choice involves ascribing qualities such as right or wrong, good or bad, better or worse to alternatives.

Each day we are faced with a choice; to choose one way or the other way. We go through a mass amount of options throughout our life. Actually we most likely go through a million choices within every minute! Consider the reaction time of our nervous system, let alone the quick process the brain makes a decision to just respond! Our choices can be new or old. Responses can be out of desire to discover, or our desire to hide behind our walls.

Something that my dad spoke to me this past spring, it has become a major life-lesson. Something among the lines of: “the actual option, circumstance, or thing we select, doesn’t matter. What is truly important is the fact that we do.” Even if we decide that we “do not make a choice” by simply sitting back – is a choice! Then there’s that fact that has really impressed me about the God I serve, is that He is so immensely great. The Lord God comes in and takes our selections and uses them! He will even take our faulty, poor decisions and use them for His glory.

I am a deep thinker and an over contemplator, so you can imagine that I have been in places where I have been concerned with not picking the right way. Hmm, I look back on last spring and my fear of making a decision. You see, anything that involves the future, bothers me. I tend to look at everything, and become overwhelmed. I am also a planner, so when The Holy Spirit’s future plan interferes with my current agenda, I become bewildered.

I’ve narrowed down a few selected options for what to do with my life after high school. I’m pretty excited, but like I said, I am a deep thinker. I haven’t always been this excited about the future. I know that freshman year, I was filled with panic. I so wanted to just leap for college and life, thought I would make one mistake and “blow it”. I look back on myself, just a few years ago, and wish I could reassure the past me, that it’s all okay. But then, I suppose, I wouldn’t be able to do this little flash back right now, if I didn’t choose to seek out wise counsel, and mentoring. Because I had the revelation, that we cannot live in the future in the present; because I discovered, that there was such a gift as a life of loving and not a story that ended with death from worrying.

Video Intro: The classic movie, Aladdin, is most inspiring. This song brings me to a place where anything is possible. In a way I picture it as Jesus coming and showing us wonder by wonder. Munching on His selected fruits. Taking us to a whole new world with Him. This is just the first part of choice...the consequence, is to be continued...but for now, take in a change of perspective, and consider the choice of going away with our Beloved........

 

Four Cups of Challenge

Definition:  difficulty in a job, demand, or undertaking that is stimulating to one engaged in it. 

Multiple choice question:

What do you do when you’re faced with a challenge?

     a. take it all in smoothly, admire it from all angles

     b. look it straight in the eye, tackle it head on

     c. release a panic expression, and scream

     d. stare at it, and grow a beard in the process

     e. all of the above

Perhaps our method of dealing with a challenge, would depend on the specifics?

Well, how about a mountain, what do you do….

1)      Eat – a well nutritious meal beforehand, pack some fruit, and an extra few bags of gorp

2)      Check your physical capabilities – ask yourself, “Can my body hike upward?”

3)      Gather your gear – supported shoes, water bottle, snack sack, layered clothing

4)      Climb – go for it, give it all you’ve got, make it to the top

Okay, so how about some mountains that we face in our walk of faith…..

• EAT – God’s Word
• CHECK – "where does my strength come from?”
• GATHER – find your support in God, drink from His cup, satchel of prayers, layer up in the Armor
• CLIMB – go for it, persevere  through the trial, and bring all the glory to God!

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