Lettuce Pray

The lettuce in my garden has grown marvelously this year. I take no credit! I plant, fertilize and pray!

I wait for the rain and the sun and the Lord produces great fruit!

I think one of the most remarkable experiences for me is when I see fruit coming forth from my garden.

Cucumbers always surprise me. It looks like nothing is happening and then underneath the vine and leaves, if you look carefully, in its proper time, there it is, great fruit coming forth.

Sometimes it looks like nothing is happening in our own lives. The world calls it “status quo”. If we are not careful we might begin to agree. But the truth is that the God who spoke the world into existence is still speaking to us today. He directs the affairs of men if we let him. He leads his children by his Spirit.

“For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:14)

I’ve been singing a song for the last couple of weeks, “Way Maker”. The bridge of the song goes like this, “Even when I don’t see it you’re working, even when I don’t feel it you’re working. You never stop, you never stop working”. 

That is the song that I choose to sing to my own soul! That is my confession! I will agree with God! Even if I don’t see the full picture, my eyes will focus on Him. I have been made for his good pleasure. The horizon brings a new day. In the morning his mercies are new. As I worship and pray he cultivates a heart to please him. Therefore, I will say it again, “even if I don’t see it you’re working”! 

Therefore, let’s fix our eyes on Jesus. He is the author and perfecter of our faith. He still speaks today. Let the fruit come! Bring it Lord in your proper timing.

Cultivate the gift. Uproot the weeds. Fertilize my heart. 

I can’t wait to see what you have prepared for my life.

OK now, lettuce pray! (I couldn’t help it 😊)

God bless you!~Liz

Priceless Adventure

So today I drove twenty minutes to go for a walk! Yes, 3 of my friends and I each in our own vehicles (let’s not bring up carpooling) drove to the center of town to go for a walk.

I thought walking was just that, walking! No, in America we drive to our walking location, park and then we walk. I must say it’s pretty comical.

Actually, I had a fantastic time! Often in the body of Christ there is an underlying humdrum. Routines get boring and sometimes we might even feel like life’s gusto has been depleted. But the Bible says, that God has given us fullness of life. The entire world was created for us to enjoy!  So let's experience his JOY!

We must get creative and redeem back the time we have. Yes, chisel out an hour and create a healthy diversion to be refreshed by the Lord. Take a walk. Sit by a pond and search for wildlife. Perhaps a bike ride would be just the thing to do. Call a friend and go for ice cream or a cup of coffee.

Sometimes we imagine that everyone else is busy when if fact they are waiting for an invitation for an unexpected diversion. So, go ahead and make the call, text, FB whatever means of communication is at your disposal. The adventure is just about to begin.

So, as we are walking we are laughing which is good medicine (Proverbs 17:22). We discuss different activities that are going on in our lives. Four different women, 4 different lives, but the same Lord. Our common ground in Christ, he has knit us together.

So yes, 20-mile drive for a 1.5-mile walk.

We laughed.

We glistened (sweat).

Drank water.

Priceless!

Sometimes it’s worth the drive.

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
(1 Thessalonians 5:11)

God bless you!~Liz

Prisoner

“The wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23)

Who goes to a prison voluntarily? Perhaps an act of defiance, insubordination, a breaking of the law and the individual is arrested.

There is a trial, attorneys are present, some witnesses, and a judge makes the decision after the jury likewise deliberates.

Is the offender to remain incarcerated forever?

When people discuss God often no one describes themselves as an offender, a law-breaker. But that is exactly what we are. We have sinned, done wrong, committed a crime against God who is Holy.

A couple of months ago I went to visit my brother who is confined in prison. I had to rise up early & drive 45 minutes. Upon my arrival I had to fill out forms, show ID, and explain the reason for my visit. “He’s my brother”, I said.

Leave the pocketbook behind in a locker because it’s not allowed in the visiting area. Only certain attire can be worn. I’m searched, and my ID is requested again. I must have surrendered my ID at least 6 times in a 15’ stretch. I felt myself getting a “little perturb”!

I was reminded that we have all been prisoners; prisoners to sin.

The Holy Spirit of God is the only person that can enter a prison cell, visit, speak and leave and imprint that changes the heart of the prisoner.

Yes, we have broken the law and fallen short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) There is no bail that can get us out!

“The wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23)

So how do we get free?

Scripture reads: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

The truth is that the Lord walked right through the prison walls that had me hemmed in. He passed every check point and addressed me personally. “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9) I would be free!

My sin could not keep him away. His compassion and love were lavished on me! Yes, on the prisoner.

He wasn’t annoyed or disturbed at my condition.

Though it will cost him everything, including his life, he does not shrink back or consider this act of grace and mercy an inconvenience. If I was the only prisoner, he would still visit!

When the Holy Spirit enters our sinful hearts and begins to dialogue with us, he is not pointing the finger and condemning us. He is offering a way of escape! Yes, a way to be free no matter where we are.

In my short visit with my brother, encouragement is what I wanted to leave him with. I have nothing to offer that can impart life to this man except to point him to the Liberator; to the One that can enter the prison and leave an imprint that changes lives.

We have all been prisoners to sin.

We have been manipulated and lied to.

But there is a way of escape. He has the keys to every cell.

Jesus has come to set the captive free.

He is the Advocate and the Judge.

He traded places with me and paid the ransom.

He adopted me and proudly calls me his daughter.

He has given me a new identity and the former sins he remembers no more.

When life begins to close in on me and prison walls start erecting around me, I call on his Name and he reminds me, “daughter, I am right here, I will never leave you or forsake you. Truly, I have never left your side.

Yes, he loves me!

God bless you!~Liz

A Gentle Breeze

"The wind blows wherever it pleases.
You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”  (John 3:8 )

As I sit outside this morning and hear the rustle of the leaves, it’s a gentle breeze that’s producing the beautiful song.  It brought a smile to my face.

My grandparents lived in Fajardo, PR. Today I was reminiscing over a visit when I was a little girl.

My grandma’s house was surrounded by trees with lots of shade. Her balcony was huge or at least it was to me. There was a little house in the back that I could enter. I remember a sewing machine and just a quaint room that beckoned invitation.

No matter where I was in her big lot of land, the trees covered everything. I could feed the chickens, catch slugs on the ground or climb the mango tree and have a treat.  At night I would sit with my grandfather on the porch taking in the lessons on how to play domino.

It’s amazing how just the rustle of the trees can flood my mind and bring me back to a vivid childhood memory, a beautiful memory!

As the birds are singing this morning and only nature’s song is flooding my ears, the Lord also whispered to me.

He reminded me that my grandma, Felicita, was a Christian. I don’t ever remember going to church with her or even knowing or understanding the walk that she had with God. I still don’t. I do recall that after she died she gave her bible to my cousin.

As life progressed, in my twenties, I too began to serve the Lord. My cousin became ill and I remember visiting her at the hospital. As life was escaping from her and the transition of life was arriving, I recall pulling out a bible and reading from the book of Psalms to her. I began to encourage her and speak about the Lord and his goodness to her.

Sharing with other relatives, I pointed to my grandma’s bible that was in my cousin's hand. She was not awake or able to converse, but I do know that the Word of the Lord has authority and its a testament of all God has left for us. I told my relatives, “read to her from grandma’s bible”. The hope of eternal life is spoken about in the Book.

Did grandma go to church and pray for her family? I have been born-again and know that once you have this treasure, you want everyone to have it! Maybe grandma did speak to me about the Lord and I don’t remember. After speaking with my dad today, he said she was always praying, reading and in church. Perhaps as I walked the land and climbed the trees, she had prayed over her entire home that I would encounter the Savior. Indeed, I have!

Even now the wind is blowing, and the trees are moving at the Lord’s command. Even now the Wind of the Spirit is moving and speaking his purpose and direction over me.

Truly, before I was even born he knew me.

Pray, read and worship the Lord. Pray over your lineage that has not come forth yet. Cover those that will one day walk the earth, grandchildren, nephew & nieces. Pray for those that are rebelling against the Lord today. Pray for God’s intervention. Pray fervently and never forget that prayer affects today and tomorrow; it crosses over continents, causes change and affects future lineage.

Thank you Lord for saving grandma and saving me.

God bless you!~Liz