I pray you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!   We've enjoyed a very relaxing weekend and time together.   We genuinely have much to be thankful for.  Don't forget to be thankful EVERY DAY!  :)

Sometimes you see something in your everyday life that the Holy Spirit uses to speak to you.  Recently, I watched a video that a friend had posted on FB and it spoke volumes to me.   Thought I'd share a few things.   First, Take a look....

Girl Helps Horse Overcome Fear of Water


 Cute, huh?!!  Did you get more than cute?  :)

One thing that first came to me was that the horse was intrigued but unwilling at first.   How often are we the same way?   Ever intrigued at something new but not really willing to jump in?  It's sometimes scary trying something new but when God is telling you to do it, you can be assured that it WILL be worth overcoming your fears and the experience will be incredible and lasting!

When the girl first encourages the horse, it's from above.. riding it.  In the horses mind, it probably trusts it's owner but with her being in a position of not actually experiencing the water herself, the horse is hesitant.  This made me think of how we are with others too...  have you ever tried to get someone to try something new by pushing or 'riding' them?   Telling them it will be great but not really fully engaging yourself?   You may have experienced it yourself at some other time and know it will be great for them, but if they weren't there to witness it, it's just a new and terrifying experience to them.   Does God do this to us?   Force us to do something without fully participating in it Himself?  NEVER!!  God is always right there with us... not watching from above, not pushing us to do something while He rides along!  He is walking right along with us, enjoying every moment by our side!

How do you encourage others?   Have you ever wanted to show Christ to someone?   Did you hit them over the head with scriptures?   Tell them what to get rid of or change?   Push them to come to church with you?   How'd it work out?   On the other hand, how do people react when we come alongside, helping without an agenda, a smile in passing, a genuine compliment, buying a cup of coffee, etc...   Don't we have a much better reaction when we walk in their shoes and show them what having Christ in our lives really is like?

She gets it... she gets off his back and gets to his level.  She leads instead of pushes.  She shows him the way... starting slow and encouraging from the front.   He hesitates a little more but his trust in her is enough to overcome his fears!!  Is your trust in our loving Father enough to overcome quickly and enter into all the greatness He has for you??

Then not only does the horse enjoy.... he gets all in!!!  Fully enjoying the experience and soaking them both in the glory of the moment!!   Just as we do... when we enter into the best God has for us, letting go of all our inhibitions then we soak in His Glory!  and our act of trust and obedience then sends the Glory back to our Father and we soak Him as well!

Is your relationship with him one where it's give AND take?   Do you realize that your joy and obedience and trust and love gives Him as much pleasure as it does us?   God is not a Big Being sitting on His throne and commanding from above... He is our relative, desiring a real, constant, tangible relationship with us.   Walking alongside and welcoming us to join Him in some incredible things.   Don't be afraid... He will only ask us to do things that will bring about His best in us!

Please comment and share things the Spirit showed you....

Blessings,

Geordie

Do You Have Fruit Flies Hanging Around?

Hey!   It's been a crazy week here in WNY!  We've had many towns around get record snow falls in a 24hr period and many, many friends are VERY SLOWLY digging out!   More is on it's way over the next 24 hrs... please keep us in prayer!

Something else, not quite so crazy but very interesting, has been happening this week...  Fruit Flies keep coming up!  I've noticed a few comments on FB about them.  I talked to someone on the phone yesterday that was complaining about them.   And today I had one that kept flying right in my face!  Just one, and we have no fruit, or anything else that would attract them, around.   So I started thinking... what's with the fruit fly?   Why one?   Why now?   Why do they keep coming up?    Next question...   Lord, what's up with the fruit flies?    His answer...   Make sure you don't have any fruit flies in your life!    Okay....!??   

So what brings fruit flies around...  really ripe fruit, or anything sweet that is fermenting.   Um... Lord, I have no ripe fruit here or anything fermenting.   His reply...  Are you sure?   I also want you to make sure you don't have anything attracting them in the future.   Okay....!??

So I get my head out of earth and ascend to the clouds.  :)   Is there fruit in my spiritual life that is getting old, too ripe?   Perhaps even rotting and/or fermenting.   This is where fruit flies lay their eggs and become even more fruit flies!   I definitely don't want that!

So is there spiritual fruit that I am letting go to waste?    I'd like to say, no.  But truth is, yes.   There is definitely fruit that God has given that is not being used.

One scripture we are all familiar with...  Gal 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, self-control."

Do I have love I have left unshared?   Is the joy of the Lord always evident in me?   Did I practice ALL the patience I could have this week?  Was I as gentle as I needed to be when speaking to my family?   Did self-control rule the day when someone didn't listen to me?   and these are just a few of the kinds of fruit we have.   

Fruit also indicates any areas of harvesting/productivity in our lives.   Has God asked me to do something that I am not doing?   Was there someone I was supposed to pray for and didn't take the time?   Or call them to encourage and bring life and didn't bother?   Am I using my time wisely?   Am I leaving things undone that shouldn't be ignored?    Did my day produce ALL that God had for me or did I leave some fruit on the tree/vine and let it rot?

How about you?   Is there fruit you are leaving, letting it get too ripe and attracting fruit flies?

I pray we all strive to be ALL that God calls us to be and to use all our fruit wisely and timely!

Ephesians 5:11-16

Don’t waste your time on useless work, mere busywork, the barren pursuits of darkness. Expose these things for the sham they are. It’s a scandal when people waste their lives on things they must do in the darkness where no one will see. Rip the cover off those frauds and see how attractive they look in the light of Christ.

Wake up from your sleep,
Climb out of your coffins;
Christ will show you the light!

So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times!