Do you have the patience for puzzles? 
The simple 10 piece children’s variety, even I can do those…
but the ones with a 1000 pieces…
can be challenging to say the least. 

Sometimes I also struggle at bringing all the pieces of a project together, 
just as I would a puzzle. 
A piece that appears to be the right one can turn out to be the wrong one 
even if you try to shove and squeeze it into place. 
                                                It needs to be a good fit.

What are you a part of? 
Are you on a team? 
Do you serve as an employee to a big firm? 
Are you a member of a family unit? 
Or do you feel more like the puzzle piece being shoved into a place that you do not belong?

I serve in many areas of leadership and it is not always simple to bring all the ingredients that will eventually result in a group that works in harmony for the common good of the goal; 
a “job well done”. 
But when a project or a puzzle comes together, 
with all the pieces joined together in prefect fit…now that is something to behold.

Matthew 25:21, “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’(NLT)

I want to hear those words! 
I want to be a piece that fits and helps to produce the end result, the final project…
the job well done because we worked together…
all fitted and joined together in prefect harmony. 
I want by soul to be stirred up to get the job completed and well done…
don’t you?

Don’t be the missing piece…

Romans 12:4-5,  “We have many parts in the one body, 
and all these parts have different functions. 
In the same way, though we are many, 
we are one body in union with Christ, 
and we are all joined to each other as different parts of one body.” (GNT)

I took on a project this winter…a really BIG project! 
Over the years what started as one or two Scottish broom bushes, became an invasion 
of a plant that is not native to our area. This bush is really pretty when it blooms, but that is about it. 
No other benefits, only a huge take-over! 
I have been working at removing it from a section of our ranch and believe me this is not an easy task! 
Oh how much simpler it would have been if I would have tended to it on a regular basis.

You see this noxious plant obstructs good growth in forests, meadows and fields. 
What starts as a little yellow color that is pleasant to the eye soon takes over, blocking out all other good growth. 
We, too, need to be aware of the things that choke out the good life. 
Anything that is noxious to us is harmful to our lives and health…
it can result in a moral, spiritual or social corruption.

Matthew 13: 3-7 “What do you make of this? A farmer planted seed…Some fell in the weeds; as it came up, it was strangled by the weeds.” (MSG)

Do you ever feel like you can’t see the light of day?

Those things that should have never been allowed to take root, have crowded your vision?

Matthew 13:22, “The seed cast in the weeds is the person who hears the kingdom news, 
but weeds of worry and illusions about getting more 
and wanting everything under the sun strangle what was heard, 
and nothing comes of it.” (MSG)

Why not start today and weed out the toxic growth in your life that blocks the “Son” from shinning his love into your heart. One weed at a time is a good beginning; 
before you know the beauty will return to your field! 

Caprice <><

Passion…a very strong enthusiasm that results in action.

When I think of the word Passion, I think of something that stirs emotion and devotion in the center of my heart, mind and soul.
 
Did you know that the word passion has its origin in the Latin pati; to suffer? 

“The Passion” is commonly referred to as the week from the Last Supper to the Crucifixion of Jesus.


Jesus was impassioned about his mission. He had a strong love for you and I, thus he stood in the gap by centering himself on the cross. The Father loves the Son; the Son loves you and I. Passion, a very strong enthusiasm that results in action.

What Love looks like?

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”

 “If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.”

   Love never gives up.

   Love cares more for others than for self.

   Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.

   Love doesn't strut,

   Doesn't have a swelled head,

   Doesn't force itself on others,

   Isn't always "me first,"

   Doesn't fly off the handle,

   Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,

   Doesn't revel when others grovel,

   Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,

   Puts up with anything,

   Trusts God always,

   Always looks for the best,

   Never looks back,

   But keeps going to the end.”

1 Corinthians 13:1-9 The Message (MSG)

If I love like this I am passionate, living with devotion towards, God, you and myself.

Dear Lord, Help me to love you and others with a passionate excitement 
that results in the act of loving others like you love us…
Amen. 

What matters to you?

What is worth your energy and time?

Do you care about what comprises the essence of “you”?

I mean what is swirling around in that head and heart of yours?

Do you base who you are, by what you do?

So what are you doing?

Do you spend time in things that will improve who you are? 
Help you to make improvements in the place you call home?

How about the impact you may have on friends and family? Or are you hanging in the gutter of this world? 
Only you can truly answer these questions...God already knows.

So why not trust how Jesus replied when asked, “What is the most important life principle?”

Matthew 22:37-40, "Jesus replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (NLT)

It really is simple, if I love God with a passionate intelligence that is bathed in prayer, I will then be able to love others as well as I love myself.

This means I will look to what God has to say and teach me through the bible. I then will take active steps to live by “His Standard”, treating others the way I want to be treated…with Godly love. A “God-love” that does what is right, kind, considerate, not causing anyone to stumble.

Be careful this week, what you do impacts others more than you may realize. I will try too...I agree it is not always easy, but I know the God who helps those that seek.

Caprice <><