Complete

"Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ." Philippians 1:6

So, He started a good work in you but do you feel like a failure? Do you feel like you allowed that great beginning of a new habit or attitude or change to fade away and you're right back at "square one"? I've been there a hundred times. But, as every promise in His Word, He will complete it in us. Tell the Lord "I can't do it, but You can and I believe You will complete it in me." Allow the Holy Spirit to do the work. How often do we claim this Scripture and then strive in our own efforts to do the work? This doesn't mean we should be lazy, it just means we realize how much power we can sanction the One who strengthens us. Will we ever be perfect? Not until the "day of Jesus Christ'", but we can grow in Him until then. Trust again today and lay your need of His change at His feet once more. Let go of your own independent efforts. Now, thank Him that it's complete!

Gratitude:

999. how counting gratitude has spread to friends, family, and a myriad of people who are being changed simply by being grateful for the countless blessings they're receiving minute by minute

*1000. that His work is complete in me!  

Who's Welcome Here?

Whom have you allowed to peek into your heart? Are you holding your friends at arm's length or are you drawing them into your "discomfort zone" by revealing who you truly are? Some of you have been burned. A friend has taken your vulnerability and gossiped to another... perhaps even a Christian friend. There's a friend who sticks closer than a brother, we read in Proverbs, and Jesus knows who we are and still loves us. He stands at our door and knocks, waiting for us to allow Him to come in.

But, He also wears skin. He left us with His Body; and His Spirit, as it resides in other Believers, becomes a comfort to us. God desired that we would lean on each other, bear one another's burdens, pray for one another. He desires that we dwell together in unity. If your little part of the Body has been severed, dare to trust again. It's God's will for you to open the door of your heart to His people. Pray that He would send you someone trustworthy to lean on. Pray for a mentor. These are His ideas for His children. That means when we pray for these things, we can know He'll answer in His timing. Be patient and lay down that wounded heart at Jesus' feet and begin again.

Day Thirteen (of 31 Days)

Sin. It's gotta get out of the way before you are able to have an intimate relationship with God. "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear." Psalm 66:18.

Ever wonder why you feel God is distant? Why your prayers aren't being answered? Perhaps this should have been a post for Day One. If you have a deep longing to draw near to God, (maybe you've even joined us this month) but it seems choppy and difficult, consider that you may have unconfessed sin. Every day, each believer sins simply because we're human, and those sins need to be continually brought before the Lord with the intention of change. But that's not what I mean. Unconfessed sin that separates us from intimacy with God (not His love, but His presence) is sin that is habitual or deeply rooted. This type of sin may need the Holy Spirit's revelation. Sometimes, it's an area of our lives we are unaware of but it's serious enough that it needs our attention. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (I John 1:9)

The Holy Spirit has been faithful to reveal to me any sin that was blocking my communication with the Father. If you're sensing this could be an issue for you, deal with it today.

Preparing For The Harvest

It all begins with fertile soil.

Hearts must be ready.

We assess the right time, obediently plant the seeds of His truth, and the Holy Spirit does the rest.

We have prepared our hearts to be witnesses of the Master Gardener but we continue to grow in His garden ourselves so we can know how to share how He cares for His seedlings.

Sometimes we're there to cultivate and other times, that's someone else's place.

Being grafted into the Vine and having our branches pruned are steps along the path of the ultimate gardening endeavour.

We must dust ourselves off and plant again when the Word falls on rocky or thorny soil.

There's joy in the planting, and fellow gardeners share the load.

The more seeds we plant, the greater the harvest.

May 2010 be a revival in the garden and the reaping of an overwhelmingly abundant harvest!

(most photos by Meghan)

Living Pentecost

How they can go un-missed--these celebrations. And this one, Pentecost, represents the very giving of His Holy Spirit, the One whom we could not live without. Yes, we do life. We go it alone and are sometimes even successful, but what if... what IF that day a couple thousand years ago had not taken place? What if the "Upper Room" had never occurred? What if His Spirit was only for the disciples and not for us, the future followers? Conviction that leads to beautiful change, comfort that leads to beautiful healing, and teaching that leads to beautiful wisdom are all occupations of the Holy Spirit. Let me tell you, change, healing and wisdom are the lifeblood of Christians. How could we function, live triumphantly, walk obediently, and draw others toward the Father without the third person of the Trinity? Praise God for giving His Spirit and not leaving us alone when His Son returned to His right hand. And so I want to celebrate and live Pentecost and pray for strength to walk in the Spirit day by day.