Tag: fruit

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Repent and Be

I read this quote a few weeks ago, and finally have returned to it to share on the Buffet.

As long as he doesn’t convert it into action, it does not matter how much a man thinks about his repentance. C.S. Lewis

It’s a good observation by a very observant man.  We can think about being different for years, but if we don’t take some actions – no matter how small, there will be no change in our behaviors.  The scriptures even point this out as they echo the repent and ‘action verb’ phrase quite often.  I am especially found of Repent and Live from Ezekiel and Repent and Do from Revelation.  But I guess I would be remiss if I did also mention Acts 2:38, as Peter calls to his listeners “Repent and Be Baptized”!

Today, take action, don’t just think about change, take a little step and begin to produce fruit.

8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance Matthew 3:8 New International Version (NIV)

 

 

 

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Producing and Consuming

One of the messages I heard this weekend was around simplicity.  Of course this is a pretty hot cultural topic these days, but even so it’s an important attribute and discipline to consider.

I am not usually a note taker, as I find that I learn better by just listening ( or maybe I am just lazy?) – but I did stop and write down this one catch phrase, as I thought it would be good to pass along to all of you guys out there.  It was a great summary of the talk, and it is a phrase that you can remember and mediate on.

Simply put

Produce more than you consume
That’s a pretty simple statement that points to huge changes in the way you think about things in life.  It could impact the way you interact with people, the way you purchase things, and what you hold first in your life.
And then, the Lord working the way he does, last night I received an email with a link to this short 60 second video which I thought was another good reminder about one aspect of living simple – and maybe the most visible – what we own.
Consider your life and think a little about how much you are producing, and how much you are consuming?

 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 New International Version (NIV)

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Presence and Praise, and Fruit

It’s Friday!  Yeah.

I have been thinking a lot this week about being present and oddly enough trying to understand God’s presence.  That’s a little deeper theology then this blog usually goes into. ( Not, saying that this is a shallow and touchy feeling blog – but is it?) It was these Psalm that led me there

Psalm 100 (NIV)

A psalm. For giving grateful praise.

1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Later in the week, I found this video from one of my favorite contemporary teachers – Francis Chan.  Take a look, i think it’s 4 minutes well spent and is pretty motivating, especially for me this week.

Catalyst Atlanta 2011 | Francis Chan from Catalyst on Vimeo.

The gist of the video – without our God, we can do nothing. Hm, I think having some connection there might just be a good thing.

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 English Standard Version (©2001)

Enjoy the weekend! and Stay in his presence.

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Wear Your Colors

Today is College Colors Day.  It’s obvious that this day is really about the start of college football this weekend. So I hope you have clothed yourself with the colors of your favorite college.

But as I wrote about last football season when the old Mountaineers had some new fancy suits to wear, lets make sure you are clothed with something else today as well.

You see the whole idea of this day is to get you to identify yourself with your team – whose colors are you wearing?  Who do you support?  It’s a fun day.  But look at this, these words from the Christ.

15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. Matthew 7:15-20 New International Version (NIV)

He says – “hey y’all,  you can tell who is on my team by what they do – how they act, by what legacy they leave”. And then later he says – “well boys, it’s like this, they will know you are my team because you love other people”.

34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35 New International Version (NIV)

So put on the old Gold and Blue, the Purple and Gold, the Orange, the Crimson, the Red and Black, and also put on the fruit of the spirit and the colors of the Christ!

Let us be known by our fruit!

 

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Figs- Being Found Fruitful

It’s the “Holy Week” and as I said on Friday it’s one of my favorite weeks. This year, I am trying to spend a little time each day taking a look at the things that Jesus the Christ did on these days between the time we was selected as the lamb and the events of the coming weekend.

So its Monday, and today he cursed a fig tree.

12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14 Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it. (Mark 11:12-14, New International Version, ©2011)

I have heard some people say this was a selfish action of the part of Christ. However, I believe he was making an example through the figs.  (This is getting a little bit theological here, but not real deep because I am not sure I am that deep of a scholar.)  Some others say this is a example of the religious leaders of the day– probably.  But I was thinking this morning while I was rushing about, and looking for a cat who was hiding very well ( he will be made an example this evening).  Anyway, I think this shows the burning desire of the Christ for us to produce fruit.  Not to earn anything, not to show our own greatness, but in return for his gift. He created the fig tree, he created us.  He burns for us to produce fruit – the fruit of the spirit – the outcome of good done in His name.

So, just like on Friday with the rocks, I think it’s our job to not be found out of season, but to be constantly working to produce fruit – fruit that brings glory to Him.