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

Reality Check... Take 1 and 2...

I had a pretty extraordinary week where I had the privilege of hearing from two people about what they thought our church should be doing, but wasn't doing. Each situation was an honest assessment of how they were basically let down by their fellow christian brothers and sisters. Our family of believers, who I believe really do love each other, sometimes just doesn't express that love through any particular action. I know that we are not saved by works. I know that we have eternal salvation through Jesus Christ when we place our faith in him. But the Bible also says in James 2:18-26 that "Faith without works is DEAD."

So how do we put on Christ for those in need? How do we work as Christians to fulfil God's law of kindness...gentleness... tenderness...

Colossians 3 spoke volumes to me this week as I tried to work through this devasting reality of how sad the situations of these two individuals were. Let us be reminded of what it really means to live out the Christian Life...

You are God's people, Holy and loved.

So put on tender mercy and kindness as if they were your clothes.

Don't be proud.

Be gentle and patient.

Put up with each other.

Forgive the things you are holding against one another.

Forgive, just as the Lord forgave you.

And above all those good things, put on love.

Love holds them all together perfectly as if they were one.

Let the peace that Christ gives rule in your heart.

As parts of one body you were appointed to live in peace.

And be THANKFUL.

Let the message about Christ, in all it's richness, fill your lives.

Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives.

And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks through him to God the Father.

The fact that we are more socially connected now, with the invention of Facebook and texting and other social media networks, than ever before DOES NOT give us an excuse to not get physically involved when we see someone hurting or in need. We must do the Christ thing and extend the hand of fellowship, or meet the financial need, or offer a helping hand, or cook a meal, or pick up kids, or send birthday wishes... We MUST get involved.

The Christian life is about sacrifice

The Christian life is about service.

The Christian life is about self-less-ness (thinking of yourself LESS and others MORE)

No wonder the world thinks it doesn't need a savior... The Christians aren't acting any different than the lost. We are as self-absorbed and self-serving, and selfish as everybody else.

PLEASE... I'm begging the church to take notice of those that are hurting, that need a friend's shoulder to cry on... that just need to be remembered... Look for ways you can meet a need today.

I'm Looking...

Lea Anne

Merry Christmas!

The Wood's

Merry Christmas!

Glory to God in the Highest,

and on earth peace,

Goodwill,

to men

I am so thankful for what the Lord has done for me this year. One of the great mysteries of the Lord is how He can take the horrible, the tragic, the painful, the devastating, the embarrassing, and the ruinous experiences and memories of our lives and not only heal them, but use them for good. It's not that He will make you unable to recall them, but He will heal you so thoroughly from their effects that you no longer think about them with any pain.

He did just that with me this past year. I did a lot of Waiting on the Lord... A lot of praying for direction... A lot of self-reflection in hopes that I become more like Christ and less like the old me. I want to be right with the Lord. I want to be right with others.

God will never allow anything to happen to us that He doesn't already have a way to use it if we will let him. I just hope that whatever has happened to you this year, you will let God heal and use it for His glory. Don't hold on to the hurt or the pain... Let it go... Let GOD bring restoration and healing to your life... your marriage... your job... your children... your health... your ministry... your friendships... your "whatever" the enemy might have tried to steal from you this year. He can if you let him.

In Christ,

Lea Anne

A little Dream (and a little faith) goes a long way...

I have had a pretty emotional couple of weeks and as I sort through my thoughts I wanted to bring you along this crazy little world that I live in.

It started around January of this year.

I was invited to a corporate meeting for the Internet Sales Directors of all of Raycom's TV stations, on January 24-26th. I met a lot of the people responsible for overseeing the budgets for the internet and how the website content helps the actual on-air element at KPLC. It was interesting and of course I never just listen, I talked and shared ideas and got to know a couple of the head dudes at Raycom Media. Never in my wildest imaginations did I think at that time that I was being prepared to take over the Internet Sales Director position... but that's just how God works...

Anyway, when I came back from the seminar my boss told me that I had made a good impression on the corporate guys and that he thought about me as far as a general sales managers' position opening in another market. I was flattered by the suggestion and I hadn't thought of moving out of the market, but then I know how God works and I didn't discount the idea. I took it to the Lord and this is what I want to share with you that has been revealed to me over a period of 7 months.

Dana was doing a lesson for the college department for the 5th Sunday Gathering on the 31st and he was reading out of Hebrews 4... where the word of God is alive and active... it cuts to the quick and speaks to us... I was meditating on those words and as I read a little further down in Hebrews 5:4 these words jumped off the page at me... No one can exalt himself to a position of honor... but it is the Lord who promotes you... (My paraphrase because this is what I interpreted from the Lord) Okay Lord, this is timely I thought. Even though I had not thought of the promotion on my own, I was listening to the still small voice that was guiding me down this path.

The next thing that happened is a meeting of the corporate dudes here in Lake Charles where we discussed the launching of KPLC Connections to some of the very guys that I had met in January. Another divine set up in my mind.

March offered another sign of God's guidance in a breakthrough for me with words from Psalm 109:8 ...May his days be few may another take his place of leadership...This came on a day that was very emotional for one of my managers. I didn't know what this meant at the time and I thought okay God, what are you doing here?

I'm feeling the pull of going into leadership, I just didn't know what direction God was leading me in. Now it's May and my general manager announced that someone else in the station would be the new Director of KPLC Connections, which is basically what I've been responsible for over the last 2 years so needless to say, I was a little shocked... I mean, what does that mean for me? Right?

But less than a hour later, Cecile announced that she and Bert were going to get married and she was going to leave Lake Charles and move to New York... this happened at the same time... Perfect timing... and needless to say... the job details for her job has been worked out with my management and they worked it out with Corporate that I didn't even have to compete for the job. They didn't have to post the position on the Raycom Media site that would allow other Internet Sales Directors to apply if they wanted to... It all worked out in perfect timing for me to be ready to step into this position. A position that would start on August 27th... which is also the same date as the closing on the house... Which is a whole 'nother story and thing that has been going on in my life since January...

Abundant living... not being afraid of change... inviting the unknown into your life to allow a little dreaming to occur... Dreams I didn't even know I was dreaming but God was placing in my heart. He brought it to pass... It just brings the passage back to mind that started me on this path... Hebrews 5:4... No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God...

When God brings you to it, he'll bring you through it...

I'll let you know how it goes with the transition... I'm just living in obedience to the word of God and letting him direct my steps... Hope this offers a little hope to someone today who is a little lost as far as what direction you are going. Just trust and obey...

Loving Life,
Lea Anne

Want to know why your Prayers won't get off the ground?

Isaiah 58

Wonder Why Your Prayers Won't Get Off the Ground?

1-3 "Shout! A full-throated shout! Hold nothing back—a trumpet-blast shout!
Tell my people what's wrong with their lives,
face my family Jacob with their sins!
They're busy, busy, busy at worship,
and love studying all about me.
To all appearances they're a nation of right-living people—
law-abiding, God-honoring.
They ask me, 'What's the right thing to do?'
and love having me on their side.
But they also complain,
'Why do we fast and you don't look our way?
Why do we humble ourselves and you don't even notice?'

The Bottom Line

3-5"Well, here's why:
"The bottom line on your 'fast days' is profit.
You drive your employees much too hard.
You fast, but at the same time you bicker and fight.
You fast, but you swing a mean fist.
The kind of fasting you do
won't get your prayers off the ground.
Do you think this is the kind of fast day I'm after:
a day to show off humility?
To put on a pious long face
and parade around solemnly in black?
Do you call that fasting,
a fast day that I, God, would like?

This is the kind of fast day I'm after:

6-9 to break the chains of injustice,
get rid of exploitation in the workplace,
free the oppressed,
cancel debts.
What I'm interested in seeing you do is:
sharing your food with the hungry,
inviting the homeless poor into your homes,
putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad,

being available to your own families.
(knock, knock, as I was hit upon the forehead)

Do this and the lights will turn on,

and your lives will turn around at once.

Your righteousness will pave your way.

The God of glory will secure your passage.

Then when you pray, God will answer.

You'll call out for help and I'll say, 'Here I am.'

A Full Life in the Emptiest of Places

9-12"If you get rid of unfair practices,
quit blaming victims,
quit gossiping about other people's sins,
If you are generous with the hungry
and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out,
Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness,
your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight.

I will always show you where to go.

I'll give you a full life in the emptiest of places—
firm muscles, strong bones.
You'll be like a well-watered garden,
a gurgling spring that never runs dry.

You will rebuild those houses
left in ruins for years;

You'll be known as those who can fix anything,

restore old ruins,

rebuild and renovate,

make the community livable again.

This is straight from scripture and I can't tell you how refreshed I feel as I read these words. I have a word from God after months of seeking his face. Of asking for answered prayer. Months of trusting and waiting and trying to remain faithful to his will. And he answered after I came to a place of brokenness in my life that I cried out to him in earnestness and with full surrender to the things that I had been trying to control in my life. He had the control the whole time and all he wanted was for me to let go of it.

MAN, what a relief to know I don't have to wonder. I have heard from God and now it is just a matter of time that He will bring it to pass. I can boldly proclaim the word I received and speak it as if it were already in existence. We will sell this house and the plans he has for us to renovate and rebuild one that has been in ruins for over 5 years, he will give us... I just have to wait on his perfect timing and for the people he has waiting to buy our house here. God's WILL will prevail. It just so happens to be my will as well because he placed the desire in my heart. I didn't have it before but because I truly wanted to walk in his path for me, I asked him to give me the desire that he wanted for me and that's what it was... Now I just have to move toward that gift...

More to come as this unfolds...

I love when I hear from the Lord and will gladly give him praise for it as long as I live... Thank you, Jesus...

LeaAnne

PS. As a reminder of what happened this day when I wrote this, we had a couple come see our house at 5pm this day, then come back for a second look on Friday, and they contracted our house that weekend. We closed on this Tuesday August 10th 3 weeks after the first look. Amazing Lord what you do in your perfect timing. Help me to always remember that you are always at work behind the scenes.

Be thankful for your spouse...

My heart is so tender right now and I've had such a time of self-reflection over the last few days. Being vulnerable is very uncomfortable. It can be scary because by baring my soul, it may open me up to circumspect. It could cast doubts on my character. It could cause someone to question my walk. But I know that if I don't look deep into myself and view me as God views me, that I will never truly grow. I don't want to stay the same in my Christian life. I want to go deeper and wider with Christ. But that stretching... that pulling at my guts... that growth spurt... It hurts...

Most of my pain has been as a result of major conviction from one sentence in Church on Sunday...

There should be no secrets in a marriage

Doesn't sound threatening... doesn't really seem to be scary at all when you speak it... but was. it. ever! the earthquake of emotion that I didn't see coming. A simple statement, but sometimes the most simplest of statement are the most convicting and life-changing. I have had a little bit of yuck in my past. And there is a limitation of opening up about the yuck that lies under the surface. I'm not needing confession therapy here, but I do have a few secrets in my past. Things that weren't beneficial to talk about. They wouldn't benefit anyone so I kept them to myself... But now I know that going deeper into where my heart is means digging out the yucky parts.

And that statement...

There should be no secrets in a marriage.

It shook me a little to say the least. I don't want to go into detail and maybe one day I will, but right now I'm too tender. I'll just say that we should always be thankful for our spouses. We should always treat them with the respect and honor due them. We shouldn't take them for granted because it could be so easy to lose them. Someone else could come in and steal them away without either one of you realizing it. It could happen so easily...

Breathe...

Pray...

Praise...

Be Thankful...

I am so in love with my husband and just want to shout it to the whole world. I want to encourage you to do the same with your spouse.

Love him... Laugh with him... spend time with him... have fun with him...invest in him... encourage him... dote on him... seduce him... woo him... praise him... cherish him... allow him to lead you... submit to him... don't ever give up on him... tell him how much he means to you and how thankful you are for him.

Only you can do that... that honor and privilege is yours to give... Don't waste the opportunity to share your life with him. Don't just live with him... abide in him... hold him close and never let him go...

Hearing things about ourselves that seem hurtful at the time can really be a good thing if we turn that pain into a self-reflection and learn from it and grow into a better, deeper person. Someone who will encourage those around them and build them up and become the person that we are created to be. But only if we dig a little deeper and unearth some of the yuck and face things about ourselves that aren't pleasant... Then we can truly be free...

I love you, Dana, and I'm thankful for the little reminder that you are my best friend... I look forward to a lifetime of tomorrow's with you.
Love,
your wife...