First Fruits

First Fruits

Honor the LORD from your wealth and from the first of all your produce; So your barns will be filled with plenty And your vats will overflow with new wine. Proverbs 3:9-10 NIV

“Hey Pam, our first strawberry of the season is ripe, it is time to pick it. Wait, why don’t you let Samantha pick it with you?”  I told Pam. Samantha, our 3 year old granddaughter, would be coming over later that night with her brother and dad.

“Great idea”, said Pam.  She and Samantha had been working in the garden recently planting flowers.  They have their own little plant that Samantha helps keep watered.

We took a couple of pictures as Samantha bent down to pick the berry.  Pam showed her how to twist the berry to keep the stem intact so not to damage the top of the berry.  Samantha grabbed the berry and then started to put it directly into her mouth.  She instinctively knew that the best taste sometimes comes straight from the plant.  Pam stopped her quickly and told her that we needed to wash it off first.

We went into the kitchen and washed it, then Pam returned the berry to Samantha.  She did not hesitate, but quickly put the whole berry including the stem into her mouth and began eating. A big smile came across her face as the sweet flavor of a fresh berry swirled around her mouth.  “Can we go outside and pick just ONE… more?”  She looked at her Pammaw with an innocence of belief that Pammaw could make this happen…but that was the only berry ripe at that moment. What to do? What to do?

God loves the intentionality of sharing our first fruits with him.  It’s a reminder to us that he really owns it all anyway.  He gives us the privilege of stewarding His possessions. Sharing opens our heart to the joys of generosity.  Generosity forms a shield against worry because it is an action of trust.  God loves a cheerful giver.  Is the grip of your hand over your “stuff” closed or open?  Freely receive, freely give.  

Shot from the Shadows

Shot from the Shadows

For look, the wicked bend their bows;  they set their arrows against the strings
to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart.³ When the foundations are being destroyed,  what can the righteous do?”Psalms 11:2-3

Our enemy, Satan, does not fight fairly.  If he came to us in a direct assault, we would easily identify his tactics and make some attempts to resist him.  Yet, he shoots us from the shadows.  I offer this poem as a point of identification of both our reaction and our hope.

In the shadows he hides each day

Waiting for the open shot

Unaware what comes my way

My thoughts, he finds the spot

My first response is fear

I wasn’t ready for the attack

Armor was not in gear

Readiness was in lack

He reminded me of failures in my past

There are many too account

Why would God choose me

He shouldn’t, I surmount

Confusion follows next in line

A good direction is lost to me

I remember a simpler time

When I knew just where to be

Somebody stop this merry-go-round

My mind needs a firm place to stand

At last a promise from God I found

A Rock far from the shifting sand

In his refuge is the firm foundation

Fear and confusion must leave

His presence creates the formation

The hope to which I cleave

Take captive every thought

Take it to the cross to see

With His sacrifice He bought

A new creation for us to be

Although there is much in this world to fear and problems are all around us.  Our only hope is found when we center our thoughts back toward Jesus. He promises to never leave us nor forsake us.  Though we will walk through many trials and problems.  Some from our own making and some because we live in a broken world.

Speak His promises OUT LOUD until your faith in the promise is restored.  He will come to you when you seek Him.  He ALWAYS does.  The prince of Peace comes and brings rest.  Rest that comes when we know He is in control of all things…including our mess

Because Jesus Lives

Because He Lives - Bill Gather

God sent His son, they called Him, Jesus;
He came to love, heal and forgive;
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!

Chorus
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!

Because Jesus is alive...everything is under his feet.  Our view of live is totally transformed when we remember that He rose again from the grave.  Hope arose with Him.

Have a Blessed Easter Day!