Another Thank You....

Thanks once again for the encouragement and prayers from all you dear brothers and sisters in the faith....

I have had a huge blessing this week. My youngest son came to see me after not seeing him for over two years. We are having a nice visit and time together.... I believe this happened in part because so many of you have been praying so faithfully for me and my family. What an encouragement this has been for me and hopefully for you all as well. I just had to share this miracle with those of you who care so much....

Now for the next message from Gentle Shepherd....

Many blessings and prayers for you all....

In Christ Jesus,
Judy

Reading: Matthew 3:9-10

THE AXE TO THE ROOT

We have been considering what it means to be pruned. We have considered the type of seed and field along with the means in which real fruit is able to come forth.

When John the Baptist came, he warned the religious people that an axe was being taken to the root of the tree. In other words, it was not a pruning job, but one of total destruction. The old was not working, the roots of the religious system had been defiled by the many burdens of men. Granted, the roots were many, but they could not bear the type of fruit that would honor God. They only entangled people into an insidious web of demands that lacked any eternal mark, inheritance or identification.

Although some of these roots pointed to God’s Law, the Law could not save. It was holy, but it could not make men righteous. It was just, but it could not offer pardon. The Law could only condemn, never justify. Although it was part of the entanglement of the root system, it had been defiled, used and abused by the religious leaders to serve their own purpose.

John the Baptist made it quite clear that this root system had to be destroyed. Obviously, such a root system did not cause men to grow in their life in God; rather, it entangled them into useless religious activities that would end in death.

Clearly, we must ensure the integrity of our life in God to maintain a healthy root system that is rooted in Jesus Christ. This is the only way we can be assured that we are pruned and not rooted out in utter judgment.

Prayer: Lord, I do want to be rooted in You, pruned by the Father, and established by Your Spirit. I want to produce fruit that will bring You glory. 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

The Valley of Decision

I am beginning to think I just might be at a crossroad in my life....

Am I going to go on fighting for the truth to be exposed.... am I going to push on in the faith and doing what I believe is right in my spirit no matter what I lose in the flesh?

I have recently had a stern warning from the dark side to stop doing what I am doing and either return to the dark fold or suffer the consequences....

While I am not afraid of their threats and warnings it has caused me to pause and take stalk in what I am doing and how I am presenting myself as a believer and follower of the Faith, representing my Father and His Son.

Am I presenting myself in a real, honest way? Am I leading people to Him in what I say and do? Am I doing all I can as a believer to serve, love and forgive others?

I can not say that I honestly do all of these things all the time. I often struggle with the flesh and find myself angry at God.... angry at the one I want to serve with all my heart.

Yeah.... I sometimes get mad at GOD....I often wonder why He has kept me alive at all. I am always fighting my flesh... I am always wanting things I can not have....My children, grandchildren, a home where I can plant a real garden and raise animals, a reason to paint again, etc. I often struggle with wanting more and feeling guilty for wanting it.

I love my hospice work and am grateful for it... I love the people I am allowed to care for. I love my husband and the blessings of the few of my children and grandchildren I am allowed to see and talk to and I love the critters I have been allowed to have. I love the few things I can grow in pots and the chance to even be able to write this blog and try and encourage others.

But I have to be honest.... I struggle with my life. Growing up in abuse and Satanism and seeing death on a regular basis was not my idea of a wonderful life. I am still a human and a woman and I have dreams and hopes like everyone else.
I have always tried to be optimistic but I am a realist as well. I have days when I see the glass half full and many days when I see it half empty.

I guess what I am trying to say here today is... I am human, I am real, and please no one out there ever think that I am perfect and always feel strong, standing on a mountain shouting praises to the Lord. My Father often gets my rants, my questions and my cries. But He gets the real me.... I know He loves me anyway. I know He already knows how I feel and He loves me anyway....all of me...in the flesh. Just like He created me.

So that is all for today...thanks for listening..

Judy

Reading: Joel 3:12-14



THE VALLEY OF DECISION



Pruning brings separation. For example, there is a separation from that which is dead in our lives. It brings clarity as to what our real purpose is. We are not here to please ourselves, but to bear fruit for the good pleasure of the one who owns and oversees us.

We have been considering how pruning and preparation can become points of testing. Sometimes we are to walk in the fields of humanity, other times we are to take the very tools we may use in the harvest and use them as weapons against the enemies of God and His people. Sometimes we are called to fight the battle that rages in our own souls.

In Joel, it is talking about the war that is coming at the final countdown to judgment. There will be no pruning, just the impending reality of war and judgment.

The judgment will be full and complete as the sickle is put into the harvest of humanity. The separation will be obvious, as multitudes must face their own crossroads as to what side they will choose.

The harsh reality is that people already stand at these crossroads. They may not see the impending war, but there is an impending judgment that awaits them. They stand at the crossroads as to what path they will take. Will they take the broad path to destruction or the narrow path to denial, death and resurrection?

As those who are coming to maturity, we must recognize these crossroads. The best way to discern a crossroad is that a struggle between the flesh and the Spirit will ensue. The question will be between having our way or giving way to what is right and acceptable to God.



Prayer: Lord, we stand at a crossroad when it comes to wickedness and righteousness. Lord, give me the resolve to choose the narrow way. 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

Hello,Hello, Hello.....

Tis me, just checking in.... Your friendly neighborhood blogger.

My Internet has been a bit cranky this week so that is one reason why I have not posted much.

Not a lot to say just yet but I do have to say this....

Praise the FATHER for all HIS wonderful mercy and blessings on each and every one of us!!!

So with that... on with the Gentle Shepherd ministry postings....

Reading: Joel 3:10-11



PREPARE YOUR WEAPON



As we come close to the end of our discovery of what it means to be pruned by God, we need to remember that life will break us along the way. In other words, life has a way of knocking the stuffing out of us. This stuffing is our pride. We can never know peace or preparation without facing the wretchedness of our pride.

In most cases the biggest battles are with our flesh and pride. We must kill or mortify the influences and deeds of the flesh outright, but we must neglect the claims of pride. Much of the pruning that God does in our lives has to do with the useless branches that represent self, the flesh and pride in order to bring forth His life.

In the beginning of my initial journey into the world, I had a very high opinion of myself. I thought I had the world in my hands. However, my encounter with the reality of life quickly showed me I did not have it figured out. I was not on top of life, rather, I found myself being a victim of circumstances I had no control over.

This was my first harsh reality that life was not subject to my whims, and I could not control what it brought my way. In so many ways I felt like I was a small object on the ocean of life, and I had to accept where the waves of life sent me. It seemed hopeless to me. I had no say about the currents I often found myself in.

It was in this state that I discovered Jesus. Granted, life puts us in the midst of the ocean of humanity, but Jesus is our Savior and capable of bringing us through each wave and storm that life brings our way. However, in this struggle with the different challenges of life, we also must recognize the battle that rages in our soul as to who will win the ultimate position of lord and master in our lives.

In such times, there will be no pruning, just a tremendous struggle. One of the tools that turns into a weapon for the Christian is the Word of God. It is not a weapon of defense, but an offensive weapon that will not only expose the enemy, but also has the capabilities of defeating him.

The challenge is we must learn how to properly use this weapon. It will prepare us to face the uncertainties of life in the power of God. His Word not only prepares us, but also will allow us to stand when life’s storms challenge our very existence.

There is a time to be pruned, prepared and made ready to stand in the midst of the challenges of life, but the real key is to learn the lessons of life. It teaches us, as well as confirms that God is the source and solution to all matters pertaining to life.



Prayer: Lord, You are our solution and hope. If we are willing students, life will teach us the lessons of wisdom, hope and eternity. 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