Be Transformed Post #3: Fruit That Will Last

I shared in the last post how God has sustained me daily to open His Word and seek His face in prayer each morning before my family rises. It was NOT easy to start and only by His grace that I continue. But be encouraged if you want to grow through this with me that fruit has come!

FRUIT IN OUR LIVES
We cannot have sustaining fruit apart from Christ (John 15:5) and Christ himself said to abide/remain in His Word (that’s continual). But He also promises that we will grow more and more like Him as we are in His Word, because we are sanctified through His Word! What an incredible promise.

FRUIT IN OUR MARRIAGE
"Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up" Galatians 6:7-9
 If we want to be wives who encourage our husbands and moms who train up our kids, we need the root dug down deep. We need to continually seek God in His Word and trust Him for results. When we are daily in His Word, we can apply from Galatians 6 that we will reap fruit from that in our relationships as God transforms us more and more like Him. What's incredible is that the Holy Spirit multiplies our tiny effort into HUGE fruit. I see how Andy has suffered the wounds of me wandering from God and family in the past. But now our marriage is growing in incredible ways as we pray together and listen to sermons and seek Him. This could not have come if we weren't in His Word! God multiplied our teeny effort into big fruit!


FRUIT IN OUR KIDS LIVES
"Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths."- 2 Timothy 4:2-4
When we are daily seeking God and prioritizing Christ as first in our lives, we are modeling to our kids what they need- the life sustaining word they need to live in Christ.

In Deuteronomy, we are told to talk about God's ways with our kids as we walk, rise, etc. We can’t talk about what we don’t know. As our kids grow, they’ll ask lots of questions and we should look for opportunities to share the gospel in daily life. We need to know God’s Word to know what to share when those opportunities come.

When Jimmy was 4 years old he was really into the Burger King crown. One day, while playing with it, we started talking about kings and I shared about kings in the Bible (like Josiah) who followed God and kings who didn’t and what their outcomes were. Later, we were talking about how the crown is so sought after (this came from him not wanting to share it) and such a treasure, so we shared that Jesus said where our treasure is, our heart will be also- and I got to share the gospel by showing that Jesus is the true treasure we long for and everything else, no matter how glittery will die away. Only Christ brings life. Jimmy still applies that truth and even gave away his entire piggy bank (his "Disney ticket" savings) twice in the last year to help two different families in their times of need. He did this knowing he may never go to Disney, but believing that Christ is the true treasure. What a tender heart towards Jesus that I'm honored to get to pour His Word into and guide up into Him. Praise God for fruit!

I could share other stories: people I meet in hotel lobbies, my neighbors asking questions, friends/family in the midst of grief, etc. that need counsel and comfort from His Word that I could not bring if I didn't know His Word. But my point is this: God brings fruit in every area of our lives when we seek Him. And it overflows and then bears fruit in others lives as He blesses them through us. We can trust Him for the fruit in our lives and those around us when we seek Him. We need Him and need to daily be in His Word. Please do not let a hard season of life be reason to disconnect from our very source of life. Will you consider committing this mont to a daily time in His Word? Maybe getting up before everyone in your home does and seeking Him first? 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Fallen Idol- one man's sin exposed my own

CJ Mahaney steps down as SGM President... I'm still midprocess, but wanted to share thoughts on what God is teaching me. This week, I read that the President of our family of churches was voluntarily stepping down for a season of discipline and restoration because of sins of pride, sinful judgement, lack of submission to accountability, and even spiritual blackmail. We were assured this has been a year and 1/2 long process and he had already been restored to many he had wounded in his sin, but is stepping down to help healing personally and in Sovereign Grace Ministries as a whole. One (godly) man compiled 600 pages of documents of accusations and emails that he sent to CJ and that were posted online. I read through much of it as I grieved and wondered what this means for the church we've loved these past 6 months and our family. Andy and I prayed. I cried. And then I poured over websites of hurt former members and the official documents. They were written personally to ...
Read more

When Homeschool is all over the home

Image
I was ready to give up. I began thinking maybe I should just expect to eat at a table covered in math manipulatives and maps. Over a period of time and in a variety of ways, God lead us to homeschool our boys years ago. I've come to adore homeschooling my kids (most days), but we've never been able to make a "homeschool room" work for us. We somehow wind up on the living room couch or at the kitchen table. Every day. Learning about atoms and molecules Reviewing Latin Oh how the math manipulatives take over the table.  Are you getting the point that we use this room a lot? I remember reading that God has made everything beautiful in his time and thinking that I LOVE that HE's made beautiful things and places and people. It's a cool reflection of Him. I really enjoy pretty spaces in people's homes. It feels welcoming to me. I'm fine with toys everywhere, but I also love welcoming others to a peaceful, homey space. So I began wondering if...
Read more

Because I Forget...

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.   Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”- Ephesians 5:15-17 I’m starting this blog to hold me accountable to live in a way that glorifies God and to encourage other young women and moms who are daily striving to seek Christ alone and make the most of every opportunity to know Him more and make Him known. In my posts I’ll share ways our family looks for the “gospel reminders” in our daily lives and traditions. I need this because I forget. I wander daily away from the truth that I need Christ and I’m not self-sufficient. I forget how much He loves me and offers forgiveness and grace because of His love for me. This is about my journey to know Him more and how I see the gospel in fresh ways and teach it to my children through traditions and daily life. Truly Christ is the center and central theme of the Bible, in my personal...
Read more