Out with my friends! (For Nana ;)

Passion FRUIT FOR - REAL!!!

Hey Guys! Whats up??? For those of you who keep up with my blog (ie: Amie & My Family) you probably remember my former blog regarding "the passion fruit project" anyways I want to let you guys know that seeds we planted FINALLY produced fruit. I am sooo happy to see the "fruit of our labor"...These fruits will not only benefit the members of our discipleship groups but also others...The seeds from these fruits will be used next planting season. More importantly - we've had several individuals in these groups come to know Jesus as their personal Savior. And that is something to get excited about!!! Probably my favorite "story" from this group is that a mother that hosts one of our discipleship groups at her home...her eldest recently got saved. Soooo its been encouraging for me to see God work in the lives and hearts of these precious people. ETERNAL FRUIT ISN'T THAT WHAT ITS ALL ABOUT???

Galations 5:13-25

"You, my dear brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature, rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'...So I say live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you , as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,and self-control.....THOSE WHO BELONG TO CHRIST JESUS HAVE CRUCIFIED the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, LET US KEEP IN STEP with the Spirit. "

I discovered this the other day!

NO TURNING BACK

"As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. And he sent messengers on ahead,who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, 'Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?' But Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they went to another village. As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, 'I will follow you where-ever you go.'

Jesus replied, 'Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.' He said to another man, 'Follow me.' But the man replied, 'Lord, first let me go and bury my father.' Jesus said to him, 'Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.'

Still another said, ' I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-bye to my family.'

Jesus replied. ' NO ONE WHO PUTS HIS HAND TO THE PLOW AND LOOKS BACK IS FIT FOR SERVICE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD.' Luke 9:51-62

This passage reminds me of the words of an old hymn :

"...though none go with me I still will follow...NO TURNING BACK..NO TURNING BACK.."

CHALLENGE: Think about a farmer turning around while plowing...What would happen??? What's keeping you from gazing ahead??? Are there distractions in your life that are causing you to choose the world over Christ?? Consider 'fixing your eyes' on Him in 2008.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY