The Farm Life

What if life were like living on a farm? Things wouldn't be as difficult. If you needed anything of sustenance, all you would have to do is go out to the barn for the milk and eggs and any other food items would be right out in the middle of the field. What ever you planted, that's what you would live off of. People don't do it because they think it would be back breaking hard work. But if you knew that it is more beneficial for you and that it would improve your health, would it still be hard?

I was watching this reality show where this father and husband was in a financial and legal battle. He was at a quandary as to what to do. As he pondered over the matter, he thought about his childhood and went out to purchase chickens. He remembered how simple his life used to be. His wife didn't understand why he would do such a thing since they have been city folk most of their lives and their children really didn't understand it. Later in the episode, their German Shepherd dogs that were having more of an issue then the entire family had an early morning snack even before any of the family woke up. A bloody mess and nothing the children should have seen - yet, it was an opportunity for a lesson, if he only knew. It was an interesting plight of this man, who was trying to make sense of all of his legal battles and what he found comforting was to find something in his childhood that was carefree. Yet he never taught his children those values and he didn't choose a wife with those simplistic traits. Because of his choices, the dogs, indicative to his own personality, did what their instincts told them to do. He was not surprised. The children were devastated having only seen chickens for the first time the day before.

A divorced father had partial custody of his children. While they were growing up and he was still married, he was harsh with his words and in disciplining them. He would almost always use corporal punishment. His wife warned him, if he continued in that manner, the children would become immune to the beatings and they would resent him. Believing he was doing the right thing in raising his children, he continued. Now his children are grown with lives of their own. The divorced father has grand children that he doesn't see unless he calls and pleads for them to come and visit. There are many things that his children are talented in and many things their father needs help with, yet instead of asking, he uses the fact that they have been raised as Christians to manipulate them. Resenting the predicament he created and waffling with what they know in Christ, they try to avoid him whenever possible. He is amused with their efforts.

A young man finished high school and struggled through his undergrad years of college. He made some contacts and some associates but was never close enough to anyone to call them a friend. While trying to get a job, he heard of an opportunity in a company from one of his classmates. At first chance he got, he looked into getting the job. Once he landed the position, he focused on doing well for his superiors to notice him so he could be promoted or at the least get a raise. In the mean time, his classmate asked if he could put in a good word so he could get a job as well seeing they were both in the same field. The young man explained now that they have entered into the corporate world, things work differently and he has to look out for his best interests. His classmate looked at him bewildered wondering if he meant what it sounded like. If it weren't for him telling about the job he would have never known. The young man patted the shoulder of his class mate and said, "good luck."

The Word tells us if we have the faith of a mustard seed that we could do great things (Matthew 17:20 AMP). It continues to describe all what a mustard seed can do. If sown into good ground and taken care of, that seed will grow strong and be able not only to withstand the harvest of crops but could also house nests for birds (Luke 13:19 AMP). Through out the bible, the Word continues to use sowing and reaping as analogies for us to use in our day to day lives. When there is such a struggle for everything, we are quick to believe that it is supposed to be this way. If this is true, what is the abundant life that Jesus came to give? I ask this continually because Christians believe we are supposed to struggle throughout the life we chose to live. It simply is not true.

We make decisions. If those decisions are contrary to the Word, there will be a struggle to resolve the issue (1 Corinthians 6:12 AMP). The man with the financial and legal battles had much to deal with because of his dishonest practices. He could simply apologize and make good on his promises in order for his life to resume in peace. Instead he creates a childhood memory to gain some sort of stability in his life. Yet his dogs destroy it which is indicative of the life seeds he has sown. The divorced father with partial custody of his children might be amused with his manipulative antics as he was when they were children. Yet he is already begging for his children to come see him. If he doesn't change, and sow better seed this man is already experiencing the harvest he had sown for the majority of his life (Ephesians 6:4 AMP). The young man ceased an opportunity that came upon him through information. While he can justify why the classmate didn't seek the position for himself, he was not incapable of assisting his classmate in obtaining the position. Disregarding in helping is also seed sown. Though he wished his classmate good luck, the classmate should have said the same thing to him (Matthew 7:9 AMP).

Here is a question that true believers have issues with. The flesh continually wars with the Spirit and the Spirit wars with the flesh (Galatians 5:16-25 AMP). How long does this last? If the flesh is crucified daily and we grow to be more like Christ, are we still warring with the same issues that we know better not to do (John 15: 1-27 AMP)? Aren't we supposed to do better because we know better or do we need the milk of the Word again?

With each struggle there is a lesson learned and a means by which it is manifested. The Word tells us everything that the Lord has not planted, He will pull up by the root (Matthew 15:13 AMP). So if there is a hardship that continually comes your way, ask God where did that particular seed comes from and how you can change it to receive a better harvest (Galatians 6:9 AMP). He hears the prays of the righteous. If you truly desire to be back on the right path, do your due diligence and pray. It is a command that is required anyway. Consider it the labor of a different sort of farmer. Its how he lives (James 5:7-20 AMP).

Nutty Fluffer

Sunday, I listened to a message on television from a very well known pastor. As I listened to his always inspiring sermon, I noticed the verse he used to solidify the message was misquoted. Though it substantiated what he was saying, it wasn't at all the truth that the verse was supposed to be holding for those that read it. I wondered what would this do to those who believed what they heard and about to use in their everyday lives. Would they fare well and if the minister cared if anything happens to them based on what was preached and they spiritually consumed.

Look at it from a different perspective. A waiter takes the order of those who desires a meal. He/she then takes the order to the cook and waits for the preparation of the food. Once the food is ready, there are those that garnish the plate and then the waiter is told that the order is ready for him/her to take the food to the waiting patrons. If along the way that the server sneezes, cough, drops a plate and scoops the food back on it, or so forth, he/she has the responsibility to take the food back and tell the cook, it is no longer fit to serve or not. The responsibility is on the server and anyone that saw what the server did or not do. If the contaminated food is served anyway, the consumer will undoubtedly become ill.

Add this onto the perspective given: I noticed on a commercial some years ago about yogurt. There was a new style that was being offered with just as much flavor but half the calories. It was called to have a decadent smooth taste. Though it was marketing for the consumer to purchase the product, it is the responsibility of the consumer to find out what made this product better then the one they already had. The company took half of the container of yogurt, used a high powered mixer and whipped air into it. So you are getting half the product you use to get for the same amount of money (if not more). Yes, it is half the calories because you are getting half of the original product. Isn't that evil or just business?

The 23rd Psalm, a very popular passage that some of us had to learn and recite for our Easter Pageant, tells us that the table has been prepared by the Lord. This tells me the food that He has for us, has already been set. When Jesus told Peter to feed My sheep, he was being instructed to serve. Serve what? Serve from what He has already prepared in the 23rd Psalm (Verse 5). Remember this.

Now putting this all together, I have to take offense when a minister, pastor, apostle, evangelist, or teacher takes it upon themselves to make changes when speaking a message under the guise that it came from the Lord (  Hebrews 5:1-12 AMP). The position taken as mentioned previously, is a privilege to serve God's children. That doesn't mean anything that comes to mind. It is a message to be served as it is given. For we all are created at time such as this to be a set aside as a peculiar nation for God's treasure...His harvest. When a message is given from the Lord, isn't it the duty of the minister to study all of the aspects of that message, so when it is delivered (served) not only will the babies enjoy the milk of a nourishing meal, but the children and sons (mature Christians) are also fed from the Word as well (Hebrews 5:12-14 AMP)?

When ministers preach to others messages that they heard from television, a CD, a DVD or from another minister rather then directly from the relationship that he/she has with the Lord, isn't it diluted by the time it is delivered to the people...or lukewarm.... or contaminated with all sorts of fillers? And then the congregation hears it and starts speaking it as well because they trust that this minister has done the right thing...it then becomes a way of life for them. Would it not have been better if that minister studied, prayed on it, and then meditated to live that message as a minister before actually teaching it to God's people (Revelation 3:15-22 AMP)? Bishop T.D. Jakes asked a question in one of his many messages that would seem apropos here: How can you take me to a place where you have never been? I thought about that question and had a few of my own. If you as a minister never ate from that table or lived with that Word you preached to the congregation in your own life, how then can you tell me to do this, that, or the other thing? How can you chastise me for not doing something that you don't do? How can you tell me fornication is wrong, and then be involved in a scandal? How are you

teaching to draw nigh to God but the words you teach are drenched in contempt rather than love? How can you counsel a staff to do what is written and then be found in extortion? Its bothersome to say the least.

A pastor from a very large following was involved in a scandal that lasted for a couple of years. The congregation tried to stay loyal to the pastor but it was too much for them to accept and eventually, they began to leave. One of the nearby ministries in the area noticed that his congregation was getting larger then it has in years and believed that many of the congregants were coming from the church whose pastor was fighting the public scrutiny. The leader of the neighboring ministry told the new congregants to go back to the church where they came from. He said that they had no business leaving their pastor while he was going through this bit of trouble. I understood where the ministry leader was coming from, but what does the Word say about it? Was he being loyal to God or the troubled pastor? It was bothersome as well.

This post is entitled the Nutty Fluffer because the description "nutty" gives reference to the sanity of anyone taking the office to minister God's Word and then deciding to use his/her own words instead. It is written that not one tittle shall be added or subtracted from the Word of God (Deuteronomy 12:32 NIV, Proverbs 30:5-6 NIV, Revelation 22:18-19 AMP). When doing so anyway, in spite of what has been directed from God not to do, is insane. A lesson I heard in a sermon was: to do the same thing and to expect different results is the definition of insanity. I beg to differ when the Word tells us that it is the diligent that will reap the reward (Hebrews 11:6 AMP). Therefore, doing wrong and expecting to be rewarded for it is insane.

A fluffer would be the title of the one that uses the high powered mixer on the yogurt described above. This person takes a food product and whips air into it to make the product look as if it is more then what it actually is. In ministering the Word, which one of you does that? The product has already been prepared. Who is it that dilutes the Word or exaggerates what has already been written (Matthew 5:17-19 AMP)? Jesus is the Prince of Peace. The Father of all lies is the devil. He is also known as the prince of the air (Ephesians 2:2 AMP). Again, who is it that fluffs up what the Lord has already prepared? Do you really think you can do better then the Teacher (Luke 6:39-40 AMP)?

38 Years!

Seriously? What takes 38 years to do?

I was thinking on this particular scripture while getting ready for work and got so irritated at the man waiting at the healing pool for the angel to come and stir it up for him to be healed. I wondered about that man sitting there day in and day out for his moment. When was his moment about to happen? Thirty-eight years, he's had this affliction While some ministers would take this message and run with being diligent in the process of patience, I just don't see it that way. What was this man doing in that time that he was by this pool? He had to eat during that time. He had to sleep. He had to maintain with bodily functions. How did he do that? So why didn't he fight for his position? Aside from that, there were others that came and saw him year after year. He told Jesus that every time he would try to get in the pool, someone would jump in before him. So why weren't any of those people considerate enough for this man to have his turn? What was he thinking during that entire time? Did he get discouraged? Did he complain? Did he talk about others that passed him by? What was his attitude during that time?

I ask these questions because God is good. He would not frustrate His children. The Word tells us this over and over again. If your father in his evil ways would have good gifts for his children, how much more so would your Heavenly Father (Matthew 7:11 KJV)? The Word tells us that God tempts no man to evil (James 1:13 KJV). To complain would not promote righteousness, therefore it is evil and not of God (Philippians 2;14-15 AMP).

A woman bought a house and claimed it as "a starter home." She believed God for her dream house when the time was right. During some years, the neighborhood changed and the woman continued to wait on God  for the house of her dreams. Over 30 years passed. She became frustrated when anyone asked about her dream house. Her reply went from, "God will provide" to "I just don't care anymore." In all of that time as the woman continued to reside in that "starter home" she blessed others when it was befitting of her. She faithfully gave her tithes and her offerings. She thought of herself as being diligent with the small things God gave her to do. She would even go through other neighborhoods and watch the various houses that she would like to eventually reside in. Funny thing though, she never went through the same effort as she did when purchasing her "stater home". She never contacted a Realtor, did the research for the marketing prices of the homes, never looked into better locations, as she did when getting "the starter home". If the wait is extraordinarily long, the problem isn't what is God doing, its the consistent efforts in the one waiting.

What are you waiting for? What perfect work is patience doing for you (James 1:4 AMP)? Did you ask? The Word tells us about a farmer. He has patience for the seed sown to sprout up for the harvest he is employed to care for. The farmer is fully aware of the kind of seed sown and the state of the earth the seed was sown into. He is aware of the best conditions in which to sow the seed, otherwise his time of employment would have been for nothing. He expects for his harvest to be great. He has every reason to. He studied. He did the necessary research for his expectations to be met.

I have a number of things that God has called me to do. I was taking a certain amount of classes and other matters were doing well for me and then without warning - things came to a screeching halt. I didn't know why and it was extremely unnerving for me. I went before the Lord in prayer and what I believe I heard in my heart was about these two textbooks. These books were from a class by which the professor teaching didn't go over line by line nor had the students read for lecture or assignment. At the end of the term, he said for the class to read the books on our own and it would be to our benefit. Then he expected for all of the students to say in unison that we would. I felt like a child in Sunday School. We all said it and moved onto to the next semester. Still, Christian teaching isn't like secular especially when you are called to do a work. There isn't any such thing as skipping steps and making short cuts. The one called needs every single morsel to be effective in the calling. I kept looking at those 2 textbooks on my book shelf considering on reading them through eventually. Only, the next semester for me was like trudging through spiritual sludge. I had the worst time getting the classes and materials for the next semester and even when I did, it was the wrong things. I expected a full refund because classes had already begun and expectations were already assigned to the students. I was so behind. Not to mention that favor with men, governments, and on my job was at a stand still. People who normally treated me with high regard were now being disrespectful. Still with all that was going on, those books were not upper most on my mind. I missed the next semester. Money wasn't what it could be for me to attend classes. It was pretty rocky the semester after that and after that until I was seeing those that had no education were not only getting their degrees, they also completed their graduate courses. Now, I was getting not only frustrated but angry. I went before the Lord because it had to be somebody's fault and I know I was doing all that I knew how to do to be right. So if it isn't me or anyone else I know... then Lord....what's going on? I wouldn't get an answer but so happened to open my eyes from prayer and looked directly at those same 2 textbooks. When was I ever going to honor the answer to the question that anointed teacher asked of us all? I had to break the spine of that material to get back on the path I was assigned to.

This blog is to answer the questions that many of us have over the years of our own personal Christian walk. We either have come to a cross road and wonder which path to take or we have taken a path and wonder why there isn't as much blessing as there once was. We have made mistakes and don't realize how simple life use to be until much later. In asking the question: what happened, Lord? Or, is this all there is? Or, what's taking so long? The answer will invariably be something we did from habit or not thinking that it was too big of a deal to even consider. What we do know is that those small foxes that spoil the vine will cause production to ceased. That man at the healing pool frustrated me because all that he needed was right there and he waited for so long without doing anything. He could have built a fortress, devised a way to keep people from going in before him, he could have been right at the edge so that when there ever was a stirring he was automatically first. He could have thought of anything to do but just sit there for 38 years. He found a way to eat, sleep, and to have shelter. The same is true for my situation. All that I needed was right there. It was in front of me. All I had to do was open the book and read it. How simple was that?

The Word tells us that we are like trees planted by the rivers of living water (Psalm 1:3 KJV). The water is right there for the trees to have as much sustenance as the roots can hold. There is no need for the trees for anything. Fruit should be plentiful because of the provision. The Word tells us we also know a tree by the fruit it bares (Matthew 7:16 AMP). If the water is there and the tree continues to stand, what fruit should we see coming from you? Is the fruit obvious or are you waiting on the Lord to do what you can do for yourself? At the cross, Jesus said, it is done. The Lord is expecting a harvest. That sounds like the next move is on you. Selah.