The Choicest Vine....

Good morning to you all out there....

Man are we getting rain and more rain! I thank the Father however, because I have been in a drought and I prefer rain to that.... but I do miss seeing the sun. Fall is setting in and the gleams of winter are already in the air.

Remember to enjoy the cool breezes and the colors changing and take the time to praise the Creator for both. This may be a hard time for you survivors out there but GOD is still in control! Do not give into the fear that this season can evoke.....if you choose to live in fear then you will die in fear....and I am not writing this blog and putting out my testimony for any of you to die, but to find life....peace.... hope.... and love through our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus. The Real Jesus!!!

Love & prayers,

Judy

Reading: Isaiah 5:1-2

THE CHOICEST VINE

We have been talking about the adverse effect that remaining wild and in an undisciplined state will have on character, purpose and fruit. In Isaiah we see God trying to woo His undisciplined people back to Himself. He even devised a song for His beloved people concerning His precious vineyard. In this case, Israel was being referred to as His vineyard. He had lovingly planted this nation of people in a fruitful land, the Promised Land. He referred to this land as a fruitful hill. The hill reminds us that these people were preferred and exalted over the pagan nations. Since they were exalted, this field was to serve as a means for God to admire, preserve and honor His work among them.
It tells us how the Lord fenced Israel in. In other words, He dug the ground to plant the vineyard. He chose the choicest vine to ensure its survival, health and fruit. He even built a tower in the midst of it to watch over it.
When we think about the tower in the people of Israel ’s midst, we could relate it to the Law that truly set Israel apart. It even could be the temple that distinguished these people’s calling and purpose to worship and glorify Jehovah God. However, we know that the Bible refers to God as our high tower. Clearly God placed Himself among the people through the Law, as well as placed His name among them as a testimony through the temple.
It was also stated that a winepress was established in their midst. The winepress could be the Law that clearly established judgment among them. However, the reason God put a winepress in the vineyard was to bring forth the fruit of the grape.
As we consider this picture, we can see how the Church also makes up the vineyard. In the middle the vineyard God placed the choicest Vine, Jesus Christ. The Living Waters were uncapped to flow through His vineyard. The Word of God was set forth in order to cultivate and nurture this field. Obviously, there is no reason why God’s people are not producing quality fruit that will bring honor to Him, unless they are still maintaining wild dispositions that refuse to be tamed by His work.

Prayer: Lord, You have done all You can do to bring forth fruit from Your vineyard. However, as Your people, we must maintain Your life in us to ensure the quality of fruit that comes forth. Amen.



Reading: Isaiah 5:3-4

WILD GRAPES

We have been talking about those things that are untamed or wild. When we consider that which is wild, we think of those things which are not disciplined. God is clearly a God of order. He works within structure that ensures order and completeness of a matter.
In these scriptures, Isaiah is speaking to the inhabitants of Jerusalem on behalf of God. God had established a vineyard, Israel . He had invested much in this vineyard. The fruit of it was to bring glory to Him.
Instead of this vineyard producing quality grapes, it produced wild grapes. How could this be? The reality is that there was a mixture that defiled the vineyard. Without the proper structure, the vineyard produced wild grapes.
What happened to the vineyard? It is easy to figure out what the mixture involved. It involved idolatry. Idolatry is nothing more than man’s imagination. He imagines that a particular tree, a grove, some dough, a creature, or the sun has spiritual value. It represents something to him. Granted, the tree may look a certain way, the grove may give a certain impression, and the dough may be shaped a certain way, but that does not make it a god. It is man that gives an idol an identity that requires worship. As the Apostle Paul stated, it is vain imaginations that exalt themselves against the real knowledge of God. These imaginations are nothing more than fantasy that opposes, redefines or demotes the true God of heaven.
We must discipline our perception of God to avoid idolatry. We can exalt any god according to our own liking, but there is only one God who can save us from eternal judgment.

Prayer: Lord, we need to discipline our thoughts by bringing them into captivity to You. Lord, I know if it comes from my imagination, it is not of You. Amen.

©2008 Rayola Kelley, Gentle Shepherd Ministries. Permission is granted for non-commercial (free) distribution provided this notice appears.
http://www.gentleshepherd.com/
Questions or comments welcome. Email: http://us.mc800.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=ministry@gentleshepherd.com

I bid you peace for the week....

How did you like the title of this blog? I thought we all could use a little peace whenever we can get it living on this planet. Since peace is a state of mind not a place, well.......I shall pass on the peace that passes all understanding and that is through Christ Jesus.....

I have been having a weird week.... not weird in that odd things have happened to me, (although odd things always seem to happen to me). What I mean is weird in that I can feel my spirit stretching in ways I am feeling a bit out of sorts with. You know kind of like when you start a new exercise program and muscles you have not used in a long while or maybe never before start to cramp and complain. You know it is a good thing but it is not always comfortable in the beginning.

I realize I am being a bit vague and maybe I will talk about it a bit more at a later time but suffice it to say....please keep me in your prayers.

I want to thank all of you who got to listen to my interview last night on UFO Encounters live, for taking the time to listen in. I think Ronnie and I are going to be doing a follow up soon. I will let you all know when.

I think Ronnie McMullen and Zeph Daniel are planning on doing something together as in an interview in the future as well and I will post that when I get the info. Ronnie and Zeph are wonderful to interview with.... They always step outside of the religious boxes... I love it!!!

Ok, so here is the next installments from Gentle Shepherd.... I think the two I am posting today are really good to ponder over a while.

Reading: 1 Samuel 24:1-6

ROCKS OF THE WILD GOATS

We are considering the ways of that which is untamed or wild. This story is about the difference between one with an untamed heart and a person who is seeking to learn even more about the disciplines behind God’s promises, faith and patience.
David was the man being prepared to be a future king through discipline in the midst of the rocks of the wild goats. Goats are interesting creatures. They seek high places or pinnacles to stand upon. It is not that they are seeking perspective; they want to establish an impression of independence and dominance. Even though standing on a high place does not give them the position they seek, it does allow them to feel independent and on top of a matter.
The one who fits the example of the wild goat was Saul. He gave the impression he wanted to please God, but he would maintain his independence behind the façade of devotion and dedication. Needless to say, God would strip away all outward facades to reveal an untamed heart. An untamed heart is an independent heart.
When you consider an independent heart, it produces a stiff-neck of obstinacy towards God and rebellious ways. It is always trying to figure a way around God in order to subtly exalt itself above Him, while looking humble and noble. The Bible does not refer to such a heart as independent, but proud.
King Saul’s heart brought him into opposition against God. He lost his right as king over Israel . He was turned over to an evil spirit that tormented him. In this case jealousy was driving him to destroy a righteous man.
Are you guarding your heart against independence?

Prayer: Lord, I Know my heart can become exalted against You, but my desire is to remain humble before You. Amen.

Reading: Isaiah 51:17-22

LIKE A WILD BULL

Going through the process of being tamed is not easy. It takes transformation of the mind, a change in the heart, and discipline of the ways. As we consider the undisciplined person, we can see why the Christian life is contrary to the unregenerate person who is not being tamed and trained by the Holy Spirit.
In these Scriptures God is trying to awaken Jerusalem from a drunken stupor. The reality of the people of Israel was that they were in a dull state. The things that drove them were fleshly. The young men were like wild bulls that were finding themselves entangled in a net. The more they struggled in the net, the more enraged they became.
The net was the people’s own doing. They had come into agreement with the unholy. As they became entangled in it, they became more insensitive to God. Now judgment would come upon them. As they struggled, they would become more and more aware of the net that was holding them.
The untamed man is insensitive to God. Such a person simply gives in to the ways of the flesh. Such ways entangle him or her into the net of judgment. This judgment ends in desolation, destruction, famine, and death.
The Lord does plead the cause for such people. The greatest point of His plea is the cross of Christ. It is not only God’s point of pleading with us, but also our point of discipline. The cross of Christ requires us to come into identification with Jesus, but it is also the greatest point of discipline of the untamed disposition within us. To tame our spiritual state and character means death to the old ways, famine to our pride, desolation of the old man, and destruction to our old life.
Is there a net around you, entrapping you, or have you been set free by the discipline of the cross of Christ?

Prayer: Lord, as Your people, we have been made free through the truth of Your cross. Keep me from once again becoming entangled in my old ways. Amen.

©2008 Rayola Kelley, Gentle Shepherd Ministries. Permission is granted for non-commercial (free) distribution provided this notice appears.
www.gentleshepherd.com
Questions or comments welcome. Email: ministry@gentleshepherd.com

Question????

Does anyone find it kind of creepy that NASA is planning on bombing the moon in the morning?

Has our government gone mad? I knew it was evil....but this is more then nuts.

All I can say is, make sure your house is in order....



So here is the next installments of our study from Gentle Shepherd...hope you are getting something out of me posting this...if anyone thinks I am wasting you all's time please let me know...otherwise I will keep on keeping on.



Reading: Judges 9:7-15

BRAMBLE BUSH

When we consider the life that is being established in us, and the One we must also grow in, we must realize that we are like a branch in God’s scheme of things. There is no life in the branch apart from the source. It must be firmly connected in the vine or the tree to have life.
It is from the branch that the life of the vine or tree is reproduced. When it comes to Christians, this life has to do with the inward character of the person. Inward character is based on the type of life that is flowing through a person’s being.
A good example that life varies according to the source and character of it is found in the story of the wicked Abimelech. Abimelech was the son of Gideon. He decided he was to be leader over God’s people. Instead of being a righteous judge, he chose to exalt himself as a wicked king. At this time, God was the King and man served as a judge.
Abimelech went to his mother’s family and conspired with them to kill the rest of Gideon’s heirs, and to pronounce himself as king. The plan was carried out, except for one heir of Gideon’s who escaped. This heir, Jotham, came back to pronounced judgment on Abimelech.
To bring home a point, he related the type of life that was in Abimelech with different trees and bushes. The olive and fig trees, along with the vine, would not give up the fruit of their satisfying work to reign, for that was not their purpose. However, the bramble bush, which is only good for being consumed in the fire, decided it could reign.
The bramble bush was symbolic of the life of Abimelech. The life, or his light, was the darkness of arrogance and would be good for nothing except to be consumed by the fires of judgment.
What kind of life is being developed in you?

Prayer: Lord, we do have some type of life flowing through our being. This life represents our source, as well as the type of life that is being brought forth. Lord, I want You to be my source of life. Amen.



Reading: Judges 9:22 -24

WHO WILL REIGN?

In yesterday’s devotion we considered the wicked ways of Abimelech. He desired to reign over God’s people. Yet, his desire was not based on calling, right or honorable character, but on pride.
Pride conspires with that which will encourage it to reign. It will walk over or destroy anything that is in its way. It will deal in cruelty towards others as it exalts its tyranny over those who are considered inferior. As a result, those who come into agreement with tyranny always will display the fruit of treachery.
The tyranny of pride will eventually be met with treachery. Treachery is equal to tyranny in its level of wickedness; therefore, it will prove a worthy opponent if conflict arises. It is wicked in character and deed. Amazingly, it only took three years for treachery to raise its head against the cruel indifference of pride. Once again, we see where treachery conspired against the cruelty it had been party to three years prior. Only now it was on the receiving end of pride’s cruelty.
As we watch these two wicked factions rising up against each other in the story, they basically end up destroying each other. They were consumed by the devices of their own wickedness.
We need to take note of such incidents. From this premise, we need to decide who or what will reign over us because it will influence the type of character that will be produced in our lives.
For the Christian, there should be one ruler—the King of kings and the Lord of lords. It is from His reign that all true character will be realized in and through our lives.

Prayer: Lord, I want you to reign over my life. I want your character to come forth in my countenance. Amen.



Reading: Hosea 8:5-9

THE DANGER OF BEING WILD

One of the main points of identification in God’s kingdom is order. The opposite of order is chaos and confusion. When we consider the perspective of being wild, we know that which is wild can only produce chaos in its attempt to survive. A wild rose bush will grow every which way, revealing that there is no order to its way, causing the roses to be devoid of real substance.
Samaria , the capital of Israel represented the spiritual condition of the people of the ten Northern Tribes of Israel. They were wild due to idolatry. There was no order to their ways, nor was there true worship to be found in any of their religious exercises. They had become lost in the spiritual mire of paganism and perversion. As a result, they were not made or established by God. Their whole way of life and worship was about to be broken by judgment. Of course, they would not turn back to God in repentance and restoration. Due to their stiff-neck ways, they were about to reap the whirlwind.
There is no foundation that will stand in the whirlwind of holy judgment. There is no life or bud that can be found in such ways. Any type of l ife will dry up and blow away as the winds of adversity rip through the desolate terrain of sin and death. As Scripture states, those who find themselves in the whirlwind of judgment will be swallowed up. As for Israel , they were taken to Assyria as slaves. For Assyria , it stood alone as a wild ass.
Assyria was the empire that brought Israel down into utter defeat. Untamed as well, this empire found itself alone as it clamored to control the known world. Eventually, this wild ass would be brought down by another empire. Like Israel , this empire would also reap a whirlwind as it was swallowed up in judgment.
This is true for all world empires. They all are untamed by their idolatrous, wicked, pagan ways. They may hit peaks of exaltation in their existence, but they will eventually taste the other side of judgment and desolation.

Prayer: Lord, we must be tamed by Your Spirit, disciplined by Your Word, and brought into line with Your character to know the majesty of Your power and life. Amen.

©2008 Rayola Kelley, Gentle Shepherd Ministries. Permission is granted for non-commercial (free) distribution provided this notice appears.
http://www.gentleshepherd.com/
Questions or comments welcome. Email: http://www.blogger.com/mc/compose?to=ministry@gentleshepherd.com