Are You Growing Up or Down?

"Don't give up..... One day I decided to quit... I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality... I wanted to quit my life. I went to the woods to have one last talk with God. 'God', I asked, 'Can you give me one good reason not to quit? 'His answer surprised me... 'Look around', He said. 'Do you see the Fern and the Bamboo?' 'Yes', I replied. 'When I planted the Fern and the Bamboo seeds, I took very goodcare of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The Fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the Bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the Bamboo.

In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the Bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the Bamboo. He said. 'In year three there was still nothing from the Bamboo seed. But I would not quit. In year four, again, there was nothing from the Bamboo seed. I would not quit.' He said. 'Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the Fern it was seemingly small and insignificant...But just 6 months later the Bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. It had spent the five years growing roots.

Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle.' He asked me. 'Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots'. 'I would not quit on the Bamboo. I will never quit on you.'

'Don't compare yourself to others.' He said. 'The Bamboo had a different
Purpose than the Fern. Yet they both make the forest beautiful.' 'Your time will come', God said to me. 'You will rise high' 'How high should I rise?' I asked. 'How high will the Bamboo rise?' He asked in return.'As high as it can?' I questioned. 'Yes.' He said, 'Give me glory by rising as high as you can.'

I left the forest and brought back this story. I hope these words can help you see that God will never give up on you. Never, Never, Never Give up. For the Christian Prayer is not an option but an opportunity. Don't tell the Lord how big the problem is, tell the problem how Great the Lord is!

Heavens door open this morning, God asked me... My CHILD... what can I do
for you?' and I said 'Daddy please protect and bless the one reading this
message. God smiled and answered ... 'request granted ............"

Author Unknown~

The Way Things Appeared Was Good- But Actually, It Was Far From God

When we look at the appearance of something, especially, when we are influenced by a cosmetic society it is easy to overly trust our eyes. The eye is definitely what we use to make out what's before us. However, the scripture encourages its reader to not be concern with what one see, be more concern with the thing(s) we do not see. 2 Co 4:18

I realize, that we humans care a lot about what others think. Where we live, how we live, if we do, or if we don’t; all these questions find passage to how we act or better said, how we react.

These societal pressures often causes one to lie. We may do well in word, only hoping to be accepted by hottest in crowd. Sometimes, I would find myself doing acts of kindness just trying to be acknowledge as a good guy. But one day I read how one could give his life to be burned in a fire, but if that burning was not motivated by love it meant nothing. 1 Co 13:3

We do our best to avoid the appearance of evil in the negative sense, but what about those things that appear good but are actually evil? For instance, the fake smiles we greet each other with at times; the giving a person a ride to church makes some angry, yet they continue to do it; when we loan money until payday next week; all appear good, but if our heart is not correct, we have not accomplish anything for God.

Thoughts, words, and deeds are all placed above the Lord’s fire to be tested- will your works burn, or will they last?

Carter with “K”