The Way He Wants You to Live

I've been meditating on a scripture a lot these last two weeks and it has come up in conversation a couple of times. I need to hear "Well, done... good and faithful servant," and I'm sure that other people in leadership need to hear it as well. However, a lot of the time we seem to only tell them about the bad stuff they are doing. This scripture spoke volumes to me and as I meditate on a few of the points of interest I hope it speaks to you as well.

And now, friends, we ask you to honor those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience. Overwhelm them with appreciation and love!

Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your part. Our counsel is
that you warn the freeloaders to get a move on. Gently encourage the stragglers,
and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be patient with
each person, attentive to individual needs. And be careful that when you get on
each other's nerves you don't snap at each other. Look for the best in each
other, and always do your best to bring it out.

Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.

Don't suppress the Spirit, and don't stifle those who have a word from the Master. On the other hand, don't be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what's
good. Throw out anything tainted with evil.

May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together—spirit, soul, and body—and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ. The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he'll do it!

Friends, keep up your prayers for us. Greet all the followers of Jesus there with a holy embrace. And make sure this letter gets read to all the brothers and sisters. Don't leave anyone out.

The amazing grace of Jesus Christ be with you! 1 Thessalonians 12-28

How do you overwhelm someone with appreciation and love? Is it just telling them you appreciate them or is it writing a note?

How do you get along with others? How do you do your part? These are serious questions that need to be answered as we each try to spur the others along in the Christian walk and faith.

Thank God for everything... even the people that get on your nerves. Always praying for others and asking God for guidance. Completely surrender to the Lord in every path you walk on. Knowing that you don't have to fix anything or that you aren't in control of anything. Just be thankful, prayerful and cheerful.

This next part is the part that I'm meditating on... How do you know if something is good or not? How can you discern the good from the bad? The spirit is alive within us and it speaks to us and it protects us and it tells us things we could not possibly know on our own. So don't quench that spirit... Don't put out the spark of fire that ignites within us when there are red flags flying around.. test everything and see what is good... It says to throw out all the evil. If you have a red flag then address it... test it, ask questions... seek the answer then dig it out and throw it out...Not the person, but the thing that is evil. Sometimes we have answers from people who are gifted in discerning right from wrong... seek out good counsel. Don't try to be an island and do things on your own. Ask for help from others who walk with the Lord and seek his counsel.

This book of Thessalonians was a letter written to the church of Thessalonica... It was asked that the letter be read and passed along to the members of the church... It was passed down for 2 thousand years...

Test and approve everthing and keep only what is good... Ask the spirit to help you discern what is good today.

Lea Anne

A little bit of a pity party...

I have to say that I was in a bit of a pit last week... doing a little self-pitying... and I allowed myself to go there for a day or so before I pulled myself out of it. The whole time I was in it, I kept saying that I know better... I kept telling myself to get over it... I knew better... But I can't deny that I was in it.

Well, I have to say that when I began to feel my emotions and feelings trying to control me, that I go to the source of all my strength. I went to the Bible to hear what God had to say about it and I found him to be faithful, as He always is. I recognized that He cares about our feelings and I know that even if it's a self-imposed feeling of pit dwelling, not necessarily something someone does to you, He can pull us out of it if we let him.

I came across the passage from Jeremiah where he is lamenting that he was ever born. He spoke about how everyone was against him, how he didn't have any friends, how he should never have been born, and it made me realize that I felt somewhat similar. The passage I'm referring to is Jeremiah 20:7-18.

What stands out the most to me in this passage is the way that Jeremiah flips between the reason why he is the way he is and the feelings that he feels because of the way he is. What he knows to be true contradicts how he feels about it. This was a little confusing to me and the fact that the Lord didn't respond to him says a lot too. He basically overcame the issue of self-pity by realizing he was responsible for what he was called to do and by giving voice to how he felt about it, didn't change his feelings, but he understood that the Lord would take care of him.

So when we find ourselves in a bit of a pity party, do we sit around and complain about it?

Or do we withdraw into isolation and mope about it?

What should we do to overcome it?

How do we get over it?

These are just a few of the questions I have for you. I know that for myself, I allowed myself to feel a little pity, but then I pulled myself up by the bootstraps and got over it. I can honestly say that I am over it and I hope to have a better understanding of who I am for having gone through it. I hope that I can always go to the source of all knowledge when faced with honest feelings of self-loathing or self-pity.

I know who I am in Christ and will continue along the path that is laid out for me. I will be faithful to stay the course. I will press on. In the process, I hope to encounter little things about myself that will make me a better person when I incorporate them into my behavior modification plan. The only evidence that we are a living, walking-in-relationship-with-Jesus person, is a changed life.

Is my life different than it was a year ago?

Am I seeing things a little differently?

We must always be evolving in our relationships, growing in our spiritual development, and loving just a little bit deeper as we allow Christ to work in our lives.

So don't be embarrassed about having gone on a pity party trip. Embrace it and allow the Lord to heal you and grow you up.

Love to you all,
Lea Anne

Stop speaking worthless words and start speaking Good ones

Have you ever felt like you were treated badly and because of all the work you've done for the Lord, that it shouldn't have happened to you the way it did. Did your feelings get hurt so bad that you wanted to quit what you know God has called you to do? Maybe you have quit but the pain of the insult is so bitter in your mouth that you spew forth poison every time you have the opportunity to "tell" someone what happened to you... Well this is an interesting passage from my study in Jeremiah where God honestly tells Jeremiah to stop his whining and complaining and just get about doing what He told him to do. If this is you and you are currently stuck in an offense, I pray that you receive this as it is meant. As a way out of the depression and insult and into forgiveness and full living.

Jeremiah 15:15-18
You know where I am, God! Remember what I'm doing here!
Take my side against my detractors.
Don't stand back while they ruin me.
Just look at the abuse I'm taking!
When your words showed up, I ate
them—
swallowed them whole. What a feast!
What delight I took in being
yours,
O God, God-of-the-Angel-Armies!
I never joined the party crowd
in their laughter and their fun.
Led by you, I went off by myself.
You'd filled me with indignation. Their sin had me seething.
But why,
why this chronic pain,
this ever worsening wound and no healing in sight?
You're nothing, God, but a mirage,
a lovely oasis in the distance—and
then nothing!

19-21This is how God answered me:

"Take back those
words, and I'll take you back.
Then you'll stand tall before me.
Use
words truly and well. Don't stoop to cheap whining.
Then, but only then,
you'll speak for me.
Let your words change them.
Don't change your words
to suit them.
I'll turn you into a steel wall,
a thick steel wall,
impregnable.
They'll attack you but won't put a dent in you
because I'm
at your side, defending and delivering."
God's Decree.
"I'll deliver you
from the grip of the wicked.
I'll get you out of the clutch of the
ruthless."

The NLT version says:

“If you return to me, I will restore you
so you can continue to serve me.
If you speak good words rather than worthless ones,
you will be my spokesman.
You must influence them;
do not let them influence you!

God doesn't mean to discount your feelings or to make light of your offense. He just wants you to continue serving him whatever happens. Even if no one ever receives. Even if no one ever changes. He can't use you when you live in unforgiveness. He just can't.

God gives us an important responsibility in the ministry and that is to keep on keeping on even when it gets hard. Even when there is an offense...

Be the one to share about what Christ went through... How he suffered and was beaten, and how he was crucified and how he died that we may all have life. He did it willingly... he knew when he came to this earth that he would suffer injustice and that he would lay down his life for all of us who are so imperfect, but he put aside his rights to not be hurt. So why can't you. This is all about bringing glory and honor to the Lord... Not about your hurt feelings...

I hope that this speaks to someone today that is holding on to a little injustice and offense today. Just lay it down and Get over it... God says to put away all that worthless talk and start talking good things today.

Lea Anne

A Blessed Life

I wanted to stop and take a minute to offer a little gratitude to the Lord for where I am in life. I have been very blessed and I want to express my joy for life out loud.

Lord,

I wanted to stop and say "Thank You" for all that You have brought about in my life and allowed to happen.

I wanted to give credit where credit is due...

I wanted to inspire hope in someone today that is feeling a little depressed or is waiting for an answered prayer.

I wanted to remind myself and others that our hope is in the You, Lord.

Rejoice and Be glad...
Lea Anne

A Special Form of Communication

Do you have a special form of communication between you and the Lord?

Do you have a certain something that brings you instant peace and joy that you recognize as a sign of God's presence?

Some people see a rainbow and are filled with peace.

Some people see a star and find comfort.

Others may see a feather or a leaf that floats in front of them and it reminds them of a promise that was spoken over them a long time ago.

I have always found a sense of peace when I see a Bluejay or a Red bird. It's always made me stop and take notice of my surroundings and pause and give God some GLORY because I feel him near. That happened last Friday morning when I pulled out of my driveway. I saw a bluebird chasing a redbird and it instantly brought comfort to my soul.

I felt the arms of the Lord wrap around me and say "Peace, Child, I am with you."

I still feel that peace. That unexplainable peace that surpasses all understanding from the only source that can fill you with joy and comfort.

Today I can say that God was establishing His peace with me where the decision of making an offer on a house was concerned. He said... "I've got this... you don't have to worry." And even though it turned out a little differently than I expected, I'm happy all the same. The Lord truly does know best! Trust him today for your decisions.

I hope you have a special form of communication between you and the Lord. It's those moments of sight that give an infusion to your faith that is mostly unseen but oh so neccessary in how you deal with the everyday stresses of life.

Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him!
Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you're on their side,
working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is
about to arrive. He could show up any minute!

Don't fret or worry.

Instead of worrying, pray.

Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down.

It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. Philippians 4:4-8 (Message)

I pray you can hear the whisper of the Lord in your life today.
Love,
Lea Anne

Just Make a Choice...No Guesswork involved...

Have you ever watched the game "Let's make a deal?" Have you ever thought about decisions in life and what would happen if you had picked another path in life? How do we know what God's BEST plan is for us?

This is God's Word on the subject:

"As soon as Babylon's seventy years are up and not a day before (translated as "At just the right time, not a second before"), I'll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans (not just plan... but PLANS) to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. "When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen. "When you come looking for me, you'll find me. "Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed." God's Decree. "I'll turn things around for you. I'll bring you back from all the countries into which I drove you"—God's Decree—"bring you home to the place from which I sent you off into exile. You can count on it. Jeremiah 29:11-13

You see, I've been meditating on this thought for a few weeks now. It's not that we have choices or opportunities that we get to pick from... You see our paths are already laid out for us... As we walk, we learn things about ourselves and about God that make us into the person he wants us to be.

But here is the gist of all the seeking and the path walking and the direction guidance we ask for... We must seek GOD, then all these other things will be added unto us. Seek Him first, seek Him and not direction... Seek God and you will find His will for you.

You don't have to wonder what's behind all the other doors... just pick one and walk through it. Walk and seek the Lord and He will fill you with his glory and he will direct your steps. You don't have to know where you are going, you just have to walk along. Praying and seeking as you go, trusting and believing that what he's bringing you to is something good... something you are hoping for...

Just wanted to share what I've been meditating on the past few weeks. What peace there is in not having to know where the path is leading, just knowing who's leading me...

In Christ,

Lea Anne

Walking in Forgiveness

I was taken aback the other day when a thought came to my mind about something I did about 23 years ago that was not quite reputable. A fleeting thought about a mistake I made even though I knew better. And something that I had already asked forgiveness for and from which I was walking in complete freedom. I hadn't even thought about it in 15 years, much less dwelt on it, so when the memory came to my mind, I felt an instant grip of regret... of guilt... of unworthiness to teach and witness and speak of the glory of God.

I was preparing for my Bible Study class when this happened and it was a great lesson on advancing the Kingdom inspite of circumstances... inspite of limitations.... inspite of selfish motives... inspite of fears... inspite of dissatisfaction in other people... It was as if the enemy spoke this to my mind " who do you think you are? You have made so many mistakes... You aren't worthy to talk about "Godly" living... You aren't good at all... remember when you _________...

And I did remember... I remembered when I said I was sorry... I remembered when I asked forgiveness... I remembered when I turned in repentance (and didn't do it again)... I remembered that I was forgiven and walking in grace... Even after I remembered all this, I needed to be comforted by Jesus and I went to his word in the little book of promises that I keep by my bedside table and looked up "regret" and this is what I found...

The high and lofty one who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this:
“I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite
and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble
and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts.

Isaiah 57:15

God spoke so clearly to my soul... the part of me that was sorry for the wrong that I had done... and told me very gently that HE had forgiven me and that HE knew I was forgiven because I had a repentant heart... I wasn't STILL walking in that sin or attitude of before... I had a changed heart that was healed and free and forgiven and that I had his COURAGE in me to boldly proclaim HIS GLORY to others. To teach others with the authority of one that was walking in freedom and forgiveness and to always know that I was WORTHY to be called a child of his.

This is the attack and the path that the enemy tries to take a person down. He tries to keep you from walking in forgiveness and freedom by reminding you of the bad things you've done. The sins that you've committed and the utter lostness of your past lives...

We are all sinful people and do things we're not proud of. But we have a righteous Father who convicts us of a wrong when we do it and when we come into agreement with Him that it is wrong he will forgive those sins if we ask him to. We then have to turn from the way we were doing things and choose not to do them again if we are in agreement with God that it is wrong for us.

The first part is confession and the second part is repentance... You can have confession without repentance, but God's word clearly spoke to me that I was FREE because of my repentance... Because I wasn't doing it anymore. That I don't even want to do it anymore. That I hadn't even thought about it in 15 years or longer... That's WALKING IN FORGIVENESS... That's Freedom... that's Abundant living and pleasing to God and it's stuff that the enemy hates... He has no power over a person that chooses to walk in Forgiveness... of yourself and of others... We have power to forgive because we have been forgiven...

Does this make sense?

I just wanted to share my experience of what happened to me and the way I chose to overcome it. I choose to walk in forgiveness and boldly profess the name of my savior, JESUS...

I hope you can walk in forgiveness too.

Lea Anne

Sifted as Wheat

"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat." (Luke 22:31)

I've never seen this verse before tonight and I came across it in my study of Jesus the One and Only. It stopped me in my reading of the Passover Supper when Jesus is about to be betrayed by Judas. He has just shared the last meal with the disciples, announced that he would be betrayed, and washed the disciples feet. Then Jesus spoke those words to Peter... Satan has ASKED to sift you as wheat...

This was an answer to my prayer of the last 11 days in my life as I wondered why I was faced with a couple of seemingly bad circumstances. As I have learned in my walk with the Lord, if I seem to be under a little oppression or trouble seems to be brewing around me, I stop and check my fellowship with the Lord, then I go through a mental list of confessions as I seek the Lord for an answer in response to my unfortunate situations.
Here's a little of my confessional list that I sift through my mind and heart

• I first humble myself and realize that "who am I" that something bad SHOULDN'T happen to me.
• Then I give my concerns and discernments to the Lord and ask HIM to bear them for me.
• Then I watch! I stay alert!!! (Satan is the great enemy... not the people around me who I might feel the attack is coming from... It's ALWAYS Satan...He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.
• Then I stand firm and Wait... Waiting isn't a passive thing for me... Waiting is SEEKING the Lord for comfort and understanding... I read the Bible to seek God's grace to deal with the unfortunate cirumstance... then I wait a little longer.
• Then I stand firm on my belief that GOD IS ABLE TO DELIVER ME... whatever the issue may be... I STAND FIRM in my faith...
• Then I praise God for keeping me safe... even when I don't understand...
• AND I ALWAYS THANK GOD for His GRACE to overcome the whatever... if it's a dishonor, or a slander, or a financial shortfall, or whatever it is... I KNOW GOD'S GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR ME.
• I then Wait some more because I know that after I've suffered a little while that God will restore me, support me, and strengthen me and bring me back into a firm foundation... HE IS ALL POWERFUL and nothing happens without HIS PERMISSION...

So with all that check list being checked off, I have peace...that surpasses all understanding... so that I can pass the test that I am called to take. This is what I KNOW and what I've walked out through the years with the Lord. So when I had a bit of a shake up last week, I immediately recognized it as a test and I have had several scriptures that have brought me comfort.

Hosea 10:12 Plant the good seeds of righteousness and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord that he may come and shower righteousness upon you...

I read that verse on Saturday and I felt healed. But when I read the verse from Luke 22:31 tonight... It actually stopped me in my reading and I had to write this to give praise to the Lord. I'll try to explain what I mean but it's still fresh...

I actually felt honored... Honored to be ASKED by satan to be sifted... My checklist is right out of scripture if you'd like to read it yourself... 1 Peter 5:6-14

This sifting is allowed by God because in his kindness he has called me to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. Because I am a follower of Christ, I can bring glory and honor to the Lord through my suffering and sifting. GLORY TO YOU, FATHER.

The very next thing Jesus said to Peter was this... But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again...Strenghten your brothers...

This is what is so amazing about this story...Jesus knew Peter would deny him...BUT he also knew that he would repent and be even STRONGER because of his faith and go on to do GREAT things for Christ...

WHAT JOY!!! To know that we can be restored to fullness of faith with the simplest form of repentance and obedience to do what God calls us to do... Just Trust and Obey...

Again, I just say Thank you Lord. For revealing the purpose behind the bump in my path. That I stayed on your path for me and "after a little suffering, you will restore me, support and strengthen me... OH what a story to tell... Satan will be sorry he messed with me...

Please know that nothing happens without God's knowledge and permission... if we just humble ourselves and seek HIM instead of focus on the problem, HE WILL RESTORE US...

In Christ,

Lea Anne

A Life of Harvest

I woke up this morning with this thought on my heart...God blesses obedience... I couldn't lay there in bed I had to get up and write this note. I knew that I had to put it on paper in order to bless someone today. It sure blessed me. I realize that I talk about God in almost every one of my status updates. I kind of think I'm a little fanatical. I'm sure most of you think that I am. But I just can't help myself. I'm living a life of HARVEST. My life is full and abundant and overflowing and I want that so much for all of you who care to read this. And all of those who don't take time to read this. I don't know who reads this and when I write it's certainly not to receive a popular "LIKES" to be clicked, but I write in order to share with you the harvest in my life.

It got me to thinking about Harvest... What does harvest mean. I looked it up. Here's what the dictionary said...

HARVEST
1. The act or process of gathering a crop.
a.The crop that ripens or is gathered in a season.
b. The amount or measure of the crop gathered in a season.
c. The time or season of such gathering.
2. The result or consequence of an activity.

I like the #2 definition in relation to my life. I am harvesting what I have already planted. The activity that is evident in my life is in direct relationship to the activity that I do on a consistent basis... It is the law of reaping what you sow...

And I harvest in spring, summer, fall and winter because I am sowing in spring, summer, fall, and winter.

I wanted to write this note to offer a little encouragement to those who are harvesting a "bad Season". You can change and start harvesting a good season by the things you choose to do daily. Today you can start choosing to live a life that is in DIRECT OBEDIENCE to the Lord. You may not even know what that consists of. You may never have read a word of the Bible in your life and haven't because some "Christian" turned you off to Jesus a long time ago. You may have to have proof that Jesus exists before you will even try to read the Bible. I don't know what stage of life you are in, I don't know what struggles you may currently be under. I just know that without God's word as a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path, then we WILL take the path that looks right but ends in death...

These last few sentences were all scripture, and because I have hid it in my heart, I live it... day after day after day...

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end
it leads to death.

Acts 17:31 For he has set a day when he will judge
the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this
to everyone by raising him from the dead.”

I've had many conversations with people who are turned off by the words that I speak. Some have even said, "Stop quoting scripture. Just tell me what you think." and I honestly can't do that. It doesn't matter what I think... Really it doesn't... It only matters what God thinks... And he has told us what he thinks on EVERY subject that is common to man...(another scripture)

I Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has seized you that isn’t common for people.
But God is faithful. He won’t allow you to be tempted beyond your abilities.
Instead, with the temptation, God will also supply a way out so that you will be
able to endure it.

I just wanted to emphasize how real and true and vocal God is. His word is active, living, breathing, alive...

But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the
sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and
marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. 13 Nothing in all
creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes,
and he is the one to whom we are accountable.

Take a chance and try God for yourself. I want so much for you to walk in the fullness of his love and mercy. To receive the blessings for your obedience. God will not be mocked. He may not punish disobedience on this side of heaven, but he ALWAYS blesses obedience with a fruitful harvest on this side of Heaven. And to think of what our heavenly rewards will be is almost incomprehensible. I CAN'T WAIT...

This may be long, but I wanted to end with an example of sowing and harvesting that God has revealed to me just last week.

I've written before about my job and the way I felt God was leading me toward promotion.

IE... Heb 5:4 No one can be promoted to the position on his own, he must be called by God.

Ps 109:8 Let his years be few, let someone else take his position.

The fact that corporate was talking about promotions and looking for those within the company who might be up for promotion...

The fact that another person was put in a position that I was currently working and the same day Cecile announcing she was getting married and moving to New York and her position would be open...

The fact that my bosses didn't post the job because they felt I could do it and they moved me right up...

All these things happened in a way that God directed them. I just listened to him and followed him and stayed faithful throughout all of last year.

Then in September when Life Action came... I was at the alter every night and I struggled with God about my job. I didn't want to give up my new position... I really liked it... And I felt God asking me to give it up... For a week I struggled with it. Then finally, on the 8th night of the revival, I surrendered it. I said... FINE GOD... you can HAVE MY JOB!!

And I told him that HE was more important to me than my job and that I would go wherever he told me to...

You see... He didn't want me to GO ANYWHERE ELSE... he just wanted to know if I was WILLING to go if he asked me to. My faithfulness was rewarded...

Little did I know that at that same time, things were happening in the spiritual realm that I couldn't have orchestrated. God was arranging my favor with MEN because he was pleased with my surrender and obedience. All this to say that I was awarded MVP for third quarter sales in the ENTIRE Raycom company... 48 TV Stations... And all this because of three things...

1... I sowed the seed of good work, EVERY DAY...

2... I stayed faithful and faith filled EVERY DAY...

3... I surrender COMPLETELY to the Lord my life and my work

He blessed my obedience... and he hasn't asked me to give up my job. And I'm still sowing good seed... And I'm still staying faithful... And I am completely surrendered to the Spirit... Wherever he Leads, I'll go...

I just wanted to share my faith with you today and give you a little look into my life's exceeding greatness...



I love you and wish a fruit-filled day!!!

Lea Anne

Object Lesson from a KumKwat Tree

This morning as Dana and I were cleaning the yard, he called me over to the backyard where he showed me this HUGE thorny bush growing in the Kumkwat tree. From a distance, you really can't tell the thorn bush is there. You can see the kumkwat are full and the tree looks healthy.

Taking a step closer, you can see the sprout at the top of the tree is bare of fruit.

But as you look closer, you see that the fruit is almost smothered by the thorn tree. This is the lesson that Dana received from this thorn bush.

The thorns represent the junk in our lives. This junk may not seem like it would hurt us, as you can see there is still fruit on this tree. But the junk is stuff that we allow to grow in us and can hinder our witness. It is thick and thorny and can cause us to become prickly and stubborn and smother the good stuff in our lives. The thornbushes are usually more sturdy than the fruit limbs and are very difficult to get rid of. We sometimes don't even notice the thornbushes that crop up in our lives because they sort of blend in. But they aren't healthy. They poke other people. It's a little irritation at first, then it becomes self-defense and it will usually result in a wall of bristly thorns that nobody wants to be around.

The only way you can deal with the thornbushes in our lives is to cut them out completely. We can't just prune them back and hope that they stay under control. We must uproot them until there is no thornbush enbedded in our lives.

Once we removed the thornbush from the kumkwat tree, I couldn't believe how BIG it was. It was over 10 feet tall and the thorns were over 2 inches long... This is how the junk in our lives begins to take over. Little by little. The only way we can keep the thornbushes from growing is with daily maintenance. We have to stop and take inventory of what our lives represent.

• What is filling up our day to day existence?

• Is it full of godly behaviors?

• Are you filling yourself up with the spirit through daily Bible study, worship and prayer?

• Do you surround yourself with Godly people and things?

Taking inventory every day is the only way to recognize and maintain your godly life. If you see a stalk of sin like the thornbush below, then immediately CUT it out of your life. Don't let it take another day away from you. Start living in the Fruit of the Spirit.

I wish I had a better picture to show you how pretty the kumkwat tree looks with the thornbush removed. I hope this demonstration of the object lesson of the kumkwat tree spoke to you like it did Dana and me.

I love you and I love when the Lord reveals himself in nature. He is the creator and the maker of all things. He is LOVE and the fruit of the spirit is just waiting to grow in you like this tree.

Love,

Lea Anne

Words are Mindsets...What is your mindset today?

This collage spoke volumes to me this morning. I printed it out and framed it where I will set it beside my bed. If I ever feel depressed, or discouraged or a little blue, I can look at this and be reminded of who I am. These words are more than just words, they are attitudes... they are actions... they are emotions... and they can change my disposition by claiming them out loud. I hope that you will take the time to look over the words and claim one of them today.

Happy New Year!
Lea Anne