The Harvest

Galatians 6:9-10
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not

give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Yesterday I gathered from my garden beautiful cherry tomatoes in red and orange. Along with cucumbers and fresh basil, my salad was scrumptious!

There was such an excitement to have on my dinner table literally fresh produce that emerged from tiny seeds. A little water nightly, plenty of sun and good dirt produced such joy in my heart!

I leaned over to my husband and said, "now I understand the joy of the farmer". What satisfaction!

The process at times seemed tiring. You can even call it a ritual. Night after night doing the same thing.

There is a joy the first time you see the seed sprout. Then there is additional excitement when the flowers bloom promising fruit.

If I were to give up then, I would not see the fruit of my labor.

Truly apart from the Lord who showers us with rain and sunshine there would not be a harvest.

The Word of God always has practical reminders of every day life to encourage us to remain and stand firm even in the midst of difficulty lest we miss the flower and thus the fruit.

If I tired and gave up when it seemed that the sprout was taking too long to bring forth the flower, I would have missed the fruit.

The joy is coming to the Table and sitting around those you love and share the blessings.

The disciples enjoyed their time with the Lord. They did not see what was coming. It seemed that all was lost.

But as the seed went into the good soil, through challenges and disappointments, they remained and yielded fruit; even us that now serve the Lord.

Oh what JOY! Wait for the Harvest!

Galatians 6:9-10
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

God bless you!~Liz

Roaring Lion

A recent video that was circulated in the news caused me to rethink the verse that says,

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

According to the report, the attendants of the vehicle were bickering. Over what, we don't know. 

As they lowered their guard their real enemy was lurking where they could not see it, but it surely saw them.

That graphic video was horrifying. He pounced with a vengeance to their demise. And the two were no more.

We have one enemy that looks to destroy, divide and diminish the effects of the Kingdom of God. 

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

God bless you!~Liz

Emotions

"A righteous man has regard for the life of his animal, But even the compassion of the wicked is cruel." Proverbs 12:10

Today is one of those days where my physical body is a mess. I’m swollen, achy, blood sugars through the ceiling. Therefore my emotions are a little on edge. A warning to all :)

My phone reminded me today that five years ago I lost my kitty cat Bunny. She lived with me for 22 years.
Yes, I’m one of those who remember these kind of dates.

So, I flip through my digital photo library and of course I break out in a sob at the remembrance of the last week she was with me.

My emotional sentiments triggered other memories.

I probably have written this before –I HATE death!

Death, an event that rips hearts, devastates families, causes us to second guess our existence –shall I continue?

I HATE death!

I think of my family members that I have lost.  Life goes by pretty quickly.

I HATE death!

Jesus too hates death. So much so that he was willing to bring an end to the separation between me and the Father.

Who will go? Who will rescue those that I have made in my image? Who will humble themselves? Who?

I wonder if all creation stopped until the answer came.

Was God asking for a volunteer? Who is worthy?

Wait, why does anyone have to go?

I HATE death!

Death already had entered the Garden.

Death already had disrupted the relationship between God Almighty and me.

I imagine myself watching. God spoke and all creation is amazed. He will go. He will send his only begotten Son Jesus to walk among men.

I HATE death.

Jesus died on a cross to restore LIFE to those who had died to sin.

In the midst of my emotional recollections today, I also remember the joy I experienced when I heard my mom say yes to Jesus! I heard the same echo from my father-in-law Avelino, my cousin Hector, my cousin Jason, my uncle Chiro, my uncle Victor! Hallelujah!

Oh, yes I HATE DEATH!

The gift of eternal life is available to ALL! Where do you stand with Jesus? Have you received the free gift of eternal life? Have you repented of your sins? Have you?

I HATE death! But I LOVE LIFE!

I want the whole world to know, Jesus SAVES! He rescues us from darkness and brings us near to him.

For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.  For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:6-8


Wow, ok. Maybe my pen was taken over by my emotions. I warned you. :) Well so be it, Amen!!

A righteous man has regard for his animal; I love my Bunny.

Cats don’t need a savior, but people do.

A Righteous Man loved me! He died that I would have eternal life. I love what Jesus has done for me! Yes, I won’t second guess my existence. I’ve been redeemed. I’ve been made to worship the Lord on High!

Interested in knowing more about Jesus? Write me.

Already know Jesus—forward to a friend!

I worship the Lord weekly at the Orange County Gospel Fellowship! Stop by and visit. www.orangecountyfellowship.org

God bless you~Liz

The Cup

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life. (Revelation 22:17)

“And they lived happily ever after” – the ending to a great story.

Just like that he appeared and in a quick glance He won her over. 

There was nothing special that she could see but the attraction was undeniable.

After exposing her heart and letting it be drawn to him she found herself unable to resist his Voice.

"Come to the garden and sit for a while."

“Are you thirsty my love?” Time elapsed and their relationship grew stronger.

“Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” (John 7:38)

In many parts of the world when two become one in marriage, the bridal cup is shared. The cup and its various meanings point to a time shared between two. It’s the “toast", the language derived from Britain. Known as “brindar” in Spain and Italy; “trinquer” in France or “ich bring dir’s” in German meaning “I bring it to you”

So the groom brings the cup to his bride. It’s the loving cup shared by the two.

“And they lived happily ever after.”

Always lurking in the garden are hidden forces that try to bring destruction to the marriage. “Did God really say?” This is the beginning of the dangerous dialogue that brought the demise of mankind. It’s the Groom that offers the cup. It’s the Groom after giving thanks that says, “Drink from it, all of you.” (Matthew 26:27)

“To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part” – a snippet from vows made by two who promise to love and be together as they walk through life's journey.

“In sickness and in health, till death do us part”, says the Bride.

Troubles comes.
Sickness invades.
Dissolution sets in.

The Groom reminds us, “In sickness and in health – till death do us part.”

Unfaithfulness slithers in.
Betrayal becomes our friend.
Shame lingers.

The Groom reminds us, – “Till death do us part.”

The one that invites us to share the cup is the one that also promises “rivers of living water”

Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:14b)

He is the one that sticks closer than a brother. He doesn’t plan on leaving us. (Proverbs 18:24b)

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

Trouble is coming, my Bride; actually it has arrived!

So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. (John 18:3)

Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.” (John 18:8-9)

Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”(John 18:36)

“Till death do us part.”

My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. (John 14:2-3)

"Till death do us part."

“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” (Luke 24:5b-7)

Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. (John 20:21-22)

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life. (Revelation 22:17)

So many shadows of God’s love for us are everywhere.

He doesn’t leave us. 
He doesn’t condemn us.

He is the Loving Groom who chases after his Bride, the Church.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

“And they lived happily ever after” – the ending to a great story.

God bless you!~Liz

“The History of Toasting” http://www.weddingzone.net/px-tr011.htm

A Very Small Member

“The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.” (James 3:6)

It can happen at any time.  In a quick swift move the vocal cords are taken over and you are no longer speaking of your own accord. 

Sounds like a sci-fi movie! 

Ever found yourself saying something you regretted?  Perhaps we’ve spoken a little too quickly, when a few more seconds of silence would have kept our mouth from sinning.

Yep, this is real stuff.

Well, it was a long tentacle that moved swiftly and almost choked its victim.  It swiftly took control of the human and began to speak through him.  The tongue and vocal chords now at the disposal of this alien creature; every word at its command!

Yep, I was watching a movie again and the Lord ministered to me.  This time on the big screen was no other than Independence Day and all its creatures.

The Bible says that the tongue is a very small member of our bodies but can spew great deadly boasts and sin.  “The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.” (James 3:6)

Even Peter was corrected for the sinful use of his tongue.  “Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” (Matthew 16:33)  Wow, his mind and his tongue.

Sometimes we even say, “The devil made me do it.”  But, that is not true!  We are in control of our own tongues.  Even deeper, is the heart that fills up and then speaks.  “For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” (Matthew 12:34b)

At a gathering earlier today, my friend gave me some good council.  She said that sometimes we allow Satan to interject thoughts and I would have to say words too, that bring harm not to those we are speaking to—but to us!  We align ourselves with fallen and faltered thinking and then react. 

I am not one who is under the tentacle of an alien.  Better still, I do not have to succumb to the way the world operates.  The Bible says that I can take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5)  Submitted to Christ —so that I won’t sin again him.

Cat’s got your tongue? Well, sometimes silence is good.  “Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.” (Proverbs 17:28)

When I turn over every member of my body to the Lord Jesus and wait on Him, I am able to overcome! 

At the moment when my tongue and thoughts are submitted; when I am lead by the Holy Spirit and obey—it truly is an independence day; a day of freedom from every demonic tentacle that is trying to bring me down.  

Freedom is here—and I receive it!

“And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”  (Colossians 2:15)

God bless you!~Liz

Training Day

When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine

country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle. Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the Israelites swear an oath. He had said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place.” After leaving Sukkoth they camped at Etham on the edge of the desert.  By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people. (Exodus 13:17-22)


Stuck is what we call it. The everyday humdrum or lack of excitement. I get up, perhaps try to find purpose in my work, return home, sleep and it seems to begin again. At times it feels like I'm in a rerun of GroundHog Day.

Now add conflict, disillusion and we invoke stress to join us in our journey. Why Lord?

What if in what seems a long and windy road the Lord is actually preparing us for the conquest?

I always question why the Lord took Israel all around the desert when it was easier to go North. Geographically.  It jars my thinking. I have a compass in my mind and North was definitely better.

Or was it?

A laborious journey, but the fruit is coming.

Why stay at this job? Why keep this raggedy car? Why keep silent when I should retaliate?

Why give?

Why stay?

Why go?

Why, why, why? 

It seems to me my way is better, Lord. Or is it?

The Word of God is incredible! It actually tells us why the people of God had to travel so long and take a road that seemed to lengthen their journey.

"If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt". (Verse 16) 

IF? This world is at war! Perhaps our hearts are like the psalmist?

How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me? (Psalm 13:1-2)

Prepare me Lord. I want to obey and be ready to see the promise unfold.

Years before Moses would exit out of Egypt, Joseph told his children, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place.” The promise echoing through dead bones.

What is your promise? STOP and think about it now. 

As this journey unfolds, focus on the promise from God. Meditate.

"For as he thinks in his heart, so is he." Proverbs 23:7 

I want to remember the promises of God.

I can't allow them to be pushed so back in the recesses of my mind that I forget who and whose I am!

Born and rescued. Redeemed with a purpose. Born again to live out and walk the road less traveled.

A road compressed and narrow. Not everyone walks there. It almost seems like a single file line. Jesus is leading.

Yesterday I sat outside under a perfectly blue sky with pretty scorching temperatures. My eyes were fixed on the bright cotton-like cumulus clouds that seemed to be on a journey of their own; slightly moving in circles above my head.

I have a garden on my deck and the need for water was evident. The vegetation under the extreme sun yesterday cried out to be refreshed. Actually they needed to survive! I quickly brought out the garden hose and began to bring a heart beat back to the tomatoes, cucumber, peppers, basil, snap peas and of course the lettuce. After all, I want to be satisfied with the fruit of my labor.

It got me thinking. Those same clouds later will produce rain that supply the very water they need to survive. It's a cover for shade and a hovering blessing of rain over me! 

"By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light." (Verse 21) Was this not a reminder of God's blessing? People of God, I am with you!

This is not just some ordinary day. This is the day that the Lord has made. REJOICE!

Putting our goals in front of us actually motivates us to do them. It reminds us of the promises God has made. If we are living with an eternal perspective then our goals will line up with what God has for us.

I'm moving toward the promise land! I have a promise, God's blessing and direction. It seems like it is taking long but actually I'm in training.

My God does not want me to be defeated, discouraged or default back to Egypt. This laborious journey will bring fruit!

I'm moving forward! It may seem slow, or a round-about way but victory and conquest are coming. I'm just in training right now.

This is not an ordinary day. Today is part of my training.

Small passage of Scripture with compressed packed promises in it. Read it again. 

Exodus from bondage, training for war, provision & the leading by his very Spirit. Bones of a dead man speaking of the promise.

A promise that is coming!

And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” So I answered, “O Lord God, You know.” Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! Thus says the Lord God to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.”’” (Ezekiel 37:3-6)

God bless you!~Liz

Carousel of Life

Psalm 16:11
You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Ever feel like an outsider?  I don't necessarily mean lonely but more like wandering if your life is making an impact in this carousel of life; feeling like a stranger in a foreign land.

Often we're surrounded by people, perhaps at a family gathering, maybe at our job or whatever place we find ourselves and yet there is a sense of separation.

We wonder what kind of impact our life is making. 

God has built us to love people; I love to talk and engage people, interact and enjoy life together.

But there are parts of my life that create a PUSH for me.  
Certain environments and situations create distances that can almost be measured; space that separates, and there is not much I can do about it.

I embrace this with a sense of sadness.  
This PUSH has caused me to "Pray Until Something Happens."

Today on my lunch hour I went to a restaurant I often visit.  
I had not been there in about 4 weeks and when I arrived two different waitresses came to me and said "where have you been?"  They mentioned, "we were just talking about you today; we haven't seen you in a while." 

I'm thinking to myself, you missed me?

My usual waitress had inquired about me and the other two waitress delivered the message to me. 

I know it was the Lord making sure I knew he hears me.

Why tell you this trivial personal story?

Sometimes we whisper prayers to the Lord and then forget what we've asked him.  
We might even get used to the "everyday round and round we go"; no specific direction.

Within the last 48 hours the Lord has made it clear to me that he hears my prayers.  
He allowed me to meet a believer that encouraged my heart and my very own waitress at the place where I dine said she missed me.

I'm not insignificant, but created with a purpose!  Sometimes it feels like I'm not making any progress but today the "merry-go-round" stopped so I can see that life is exciting.  Like an amusement park, there are other exciting thrill rides all around me.

There is a lot of great stuff out there!

Time for thrills and times to just relax in the "lazy pool experience." 

But get ready!! 

The ride that brings the most thrills, takes us upside down, then right side up, down, up, even twists that leave us disoriented; might even make me "give up my lunch".  But when it's all done we jump off and exclaim, "wow, that was great!"  We'd do it again and often do.  This is Life and it is good!

The Holy Spirit is with us, often sending messages through everyday folk.  Are we listening? 

Let's stay encouraged.

I might seem small and insignificant to some but in the eyes of my Father I was worth dying for. 

Jesus the Son of God was betrayed, felt isolated had no place to sleep.  He was wrongly accused, mistreated, spit on, crucified and died. 

The Bible tells me through it all he thought of me and then was resurrected, left this Earth to sit at the right hand of the Father.  He became my Intercessor pleading my cause before the Father. He sent the promise, the Holy Spirit to be with me in this world.

Prayer changes us, changes lives, and allows me to see the Hand of Almighty intertwined in my life.

I'm ready Lord! Let's go!

God bless you!~Liz