“Anyone can count the seeds in an apple, but only God can count the number of apples in a seed.”
R. H. Schuller
R. H. Schuller
When we bought our ranch, we inherited an old orchard.
One of my favorite trees is a very old apple...guessing it is 50 years old or more.
There was a certain joy attached to bringing that orchard back to life. Providing it with the things it had been missing ...
a good pruning of the dead wood,
regular watering and
some organic sprays for protection from diseases.
Ah…the joy of spring when all the apple blossoms burst forth in a soft pink and white…
and the fresh fragrance would gently caress the air.
One of my favorite trees is a very old apple...guessing it is 50 years old or more.
There was a certain joy attached to bringing that orchard back to life. Providing it with the things it had been missing ...
a good pruning of the dead wood,
regular watering and
some organic sprays for protection from diseases.
Ah…the joy of spring when all the apple blossoms burst forth in a soft pink and white…
and the fresh fragrance would gently caress the air.
As the kids were growing up during the summer it was not unusual to find them up in that old tree
munching on an apple or crouched up in the canopy of leaves in a game of hide and go seek.
As the years marched on, life got busy and once again, this wonderful tree got neglected...
the lack of care has caused damage.
Out of control branches...
wood peckers and sap- suckers have damaged the branches...
the saddest is fire blight a disease that has caused the bark to peel off.
Neglect has taken a toll on that poor old tree.
munching on an apple or crouched up in the canopy of leaves in a game of hide and go seek.
As the years marched on, life got busy and once again, this wonderful tree got neglected...
the lack of care has caused damage.
Out of control branches...
wood peckers and sap- suckers have damaged the branches...
the saddest is fire blight a disease that has caused the bark to peel off.
Neglect has taken a toll on that poor old tree.
I have spent hours trying to unto the damage...
Oh...the regret of neglect.
We too can neglect the…
Dead wood
Damage
Disease
In our own daily lives.
These things also need to be pruned...watered and protected.
But how?
Pruned: Review the things that weight you down and get rid of them...
simply cut them out of your life. You know what they are…
They are the things that take you away from time spent in prayer and seeking the Lord in your life.
Isaiah 59:1-2,
”See, the Lord’s hand is not so short that it cannot save,
and His ear is not closed that it cannot hear.
But your wrong-doings have kept you away from your God.
Your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear.”
(NLV)
Watered: replenish and refreshment is found in staying in sync with God
Colossians 3:16,
“Christ's message in all its richness must live in your hearts.
Teach and instruct one another with all wisdom.
Sing psalms, hymns, and sacred songs; sing to God with thanksgiving in your hearts.”
(GNT)
Hebrews 4:12,
“The word of God, you see, is alive and moving;
sharper than a double-edged sword;
piercing the divide between soul and spirit, joints and marrow;
able to judge the thoughts and will of the heart.”
(VOICE)
Protected: Stay healthy by staying connected to your church and others who are believers.
Don't allow neglect to overcome you! I have heard too many people lately say they are
in a "funk"..."lazy"...or "lonely"
Seriously take the necessary steps and have no regrets!
Hebrews 10:25,
“We must not quit meeting together, as some are doing.
No, we need to keep on encouraging each other.
This becomes more and more important as you see the Day getting closer.”
(ERV)
Wormy…diseased apples??
Or those that have had the love of a dedicated gardener…
healthy…free from disease?
Won’t you allow a little
Pruning
Watering
And Protection from the Lord into your hearts?
Oh...the regret of neglect.
We too can neglect the…
Dead wood
Damage
Disease
In our own daily lives.
These things also need to be pruned...watered and protected.
But how?
Pruned: Review the things that weight you down and get rid of them...
simply cut them out of your life. You know what they are…
They are the things that take you away from time spent in prayer and seeking the Lord in your life.
Isaiah 59:1-2,
”See, the Lord’s hand is not so short that it cannot save,
and His ear is not closed that it cannot hear.
But your wrong-doings have kept you away from your God.
Your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear.”
(NLV)
Watered: replenish and refreshment is found in staying in sync with God
Colossians 3:16,
“Christ's message in all its richness must live in your hearts.
Teach and instruct one another with all wisdom.
Sing psalms, hymns, and sacred songs; sing to God with thanksgiving in your hearts.”
(GNT)
Hebrews 4:12,
“The word of God, you see, is alive and moving;
sharper than a double-edged sword;
piercing the divide between soul and spirit, joints and marrow;
able to judge the thoughts and will of the heart.”
(VOICE)
Protected: Stay healthy by staying connected to your church and others who are believers.
Don't allow neglect to overcome you! I have heard too many people lately say they are
in a "funk"..."lazy"...or "lonely"
Seriously take the necessary steps and have no regrets!
Hebrews 10:25,
“We must not quit meeting together, as some are doing.
No, we need to keep on encouraging each other.
This becomes more and more important as you see the Day getting closer.”
(ERV)
Wormy…diseased apples??
Or those that have had the love of a dedicated gardener…
healthy…free from disease?
Won’t you allow a little
Pruning
Watering
And Protection from the Lord into your hearts?
Galatians 6:7-9,
”If you think you can fool God, you are only fooling yourselves. You will harvest what you plant.
If you live to satisfy your sinful self, the harvest you will get from that will be eternal death.
But if you live to please the Spirit, your harvest from the Spirit will be eternal life.
We must not get tired of doing good.
We will receive our harvest of eternal life at the right time.
We must not give up.”
(ERV)
What is it you want to harvest???
Prayer:
Dear Lord be the gardener in my life...
Prune...water and protect me!
Amen
Caprice <><
”If you think you can fool God, you are only fooling yourselves. You will harvest what you plant.
If you live to satisfy your sinful self, the harvest you will get from that will be eternal death.
But if you live to please the Spirit, your harvest from the Spirit will be eternal life.
We must not get tired of doing good.
We will receive our harvest of eternal life at the right time.
We must not give up.”
(ERV)
What is it you want to harvest???
Prayer:
Dear Lord be the gardener in my life...
Prune...water and protect me!
Amen
Caprice <><
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