The 5 Layers of Harvest

I learned some interesting things about planting yesterday ...'had a few dead spots in my lawn ...did some research and went to Lowes!! 'Never thought I'd be like the old people in the garden section looking for stuff ...lol...Anyways, I needed the following: topsoil, seed, fertilizer, and pines straw.

So topsoil is basically the soft earth that covers the hard ground that the grass is having a hard time growing through (that's why it's dead) ...the seeds are grass seeds ...the fertilizer or water starts the growth, and the pine straw is the last layer as it seals the moisture and protects the seed from the birds and the scorch of the sun.

So then, what's the spiritual revelation?  All 5 layers are necessary ...the hard ground is our FLESH!! That's why we've got to be careful not to sow into it because it yields death!! While it's hard for things to grow out of it, it's still important because it provides a starting point and roots still need to get through it...however, it must be broken up (pride) ...not with a rake but with a shovel!! This is the part we don't like to deal with!! I got blisters in my hands trying to break through that clay!! It's not easy but it's necessary before you add topsoil (GRACE).

Grace is Jesus!! It's what's already been provided for us ...that's why we must come to Jesus broken to our flesh before we can receive grace (topsoil). Then you have the seed (WORD) ...no Word, no growth! The seed goes into the good ground (topsoil), not the broken ground. Next? Fertilizer or water (FAITH) ...grace and faith must work hand and hand (Ephesians 2:8). If you don't believe in what's already been provided for you, the seed is simply dry seed in the ground; it needs help to kick it into action.

The last layer ...pine straw (God), which protects from the birds, the scorch of the sun, and seals moisture. This layer is the pivotal because it covers everything else ...it protects and it seals. "God will watch over His word to ensure it performs" (Jeremiah 1:12).

ALL 5 layers are essential to manifestation! So now, once the roots begin to spout, they will begin to burrow through the ground that had to be broken up. This is what causes us to act right and live right!!... The Word of God taking root!!...not our performance but the Word. This is also what causes manifestation of the BLESSING (Genesis 1:28) in every area of our lives ...finances, relationships, health, etc.

Breaking flesh/pride/unforgiving (hard ground), receiving everything God has for us by grace/Jesus (topsoil), hearing/reading the Word (seed), continuing to hear the word/staying around believers or good company/listening to music that glorifies God/speaking life (fertilizer/water), and allowing God to be God/hiding in Him/finding security and rest in Him (pine straw) allll working together, yield growth!!

'Things aren't working out? I've had to evaluate my sowing process on occasion. Have I forgiven? Or am I still holding on to pride? Have I received God's grace or am I still beating myself up from my past? Do I live life as though I have to work to deserve things? Or do I live to in God's grace receiving all He has for me? Have I spent time in the Word? Or do I stay busy doing other things? What seeds am I sowing??? Am I consistent with my prayer life? Who am I hanging around? What music am I listening to? Last, do I allow God to protect me? Do I rest in Him? Do I acknowledge Him as God or do I try to do things on my own??

God loves us so much y'all! I want to encourage you today! God is with you always, but He's a God of order and can't go against His Word. Are you prepared to sow If it's not working, then we must re-evaluate!!

GOD (pine straw)
FAITH (fertilizer/water)
WORD (seed)
GRACE (topsoil)
FLESH (hard ground)

Love y'all!!
Pursuing Truth,

D.

“Everything that I am, is because of Jesus Christ. All that I ever do, I do it only to bring Him glory.”

Pride: The Silent Killer

The Essence of The Pride of Life: anything that exalts itself above the Word of God or brings attention and glory to self! 

If it screams, "look at me", then we're likely walking in pride. Pride starts everyday with, "What do I want to do?" and ends everyday with "what have I accomplished". Pride is self-centered, it boasts in intelligence/knowledge but lacks wisdom. 

Pride is dangerous because it is unassuming. For the believer, it wraps itself in scripture or Jesus' name but the foundation/heart is always self. Pride seeks the applause of man because it is also a byproduct of deficiency. It boasts to "cover" insecurities or lack. Pride says, "I'm good" and convinces one that their intelligence and their way of doing things will sustain them. Since pride is void of God, pride breeds discontentment.

Pride is ineffective because it begins and ends with "I". Pride refuses to change and rejects order/authority. Pride is selfish and often says, "I've got to do this, this, and this to get ahead" vs trusting God. Pride pursues vainglory and rejects truth. Pride demands attention, reeks entitlement, and causes one to be self-absorbed (wants others to feel sorry for them). Pride doesn't necessarily equate to arrogance (although it's a byproduct) but often dresses itself in humility. Pride always leads with "I" with the expectation that everyone else must follow the needs/wants of your "I". 

Antidote to pride? Christ-centered ...eyes off of "us". Our lives no longer belong to us for they have been bought with a price. Ever said, "because I want to" regardless of seeking God's best? Humility begins every day with, "Lord, what will you have me to do?" and ends every day with, "Did I bring God glory today?". 

Humility breeds contentment. While humility doesn't mean we lay down and accept anything, it teaches us to walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). Humility also checks us when we begin to walk in pride. Humility breeds boldness ...in Christ and an effective and prosperous life. Likewise, Christians yield good fruit. 

Does the life you live draw people to Christ ...or to you??? Straight up ...effective ministry must begin with self-denial. I'm.dying.daily...it's a process. Love y'all! 

Pursuing Truth, 

 D. 

“Everything that I am, is because of Jesus Christ. All that I ever do, I do it only to bring Him glory.”

Focus

"The only reason we fail in life is broken focus ...something else introduced to us as an option that we choose to accept."
-Mike Murdock

Spoke volumes for me. There should be no "Plan B" for your life ...only THE plan; that which God has designed for you. Oooooooooo, I just love Jesus for being so customizable and perfect for each of us! Ha! Love y'all!
As we are inundated with several "options" daily, even good options, it's my prayer that I, we, stay focused on the RIGHT option.

Pursuing Truth,
D.

“Everything that I am, is because of Jesus Christ. All that I ever do, I do it only to bring Him glory.”

Grace Personified

There is a beautiful picture of Jesus hidden in the Old Testament. God knew it was impossible for the children of Israel to keep the law so they were permitted to bring a sheep without blemish, wrinkle, or spot to the priest. If the sheep was indeed perfect, the sinner would lay hands on the sheep as an act of transferring sins to the innocent sheep. At the same time the innocence of the perfection of the sheep would be transferred to the person. The sheep is killed and the person at liberty walks away with cleared conscious and sin-debt free.

The person of Jesus is a picture of the perfect Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Often our thought life or actions condemn us in the flesh. But thanks be unto God that our flesh is not our identity ...Jesus is! The 8th chapter of Romans starts with "no condemnation" and ends with "nothing shall separate me from the love of Christ!! He.loves.us. This love is what draws us closer, causes us to flee sin and fall totally in love with Him. Condemnation causes us to be sin-conscious (law) and strengthens sin.

When we start our day by occupying our minds with Jesus, becoming Jesus-conscious, every struggle, fear, and bondage that we are entangled with will lose its evil grasp on us!! This is the hope of II Corinthians 10:5 ...bringing into captivity the obedience of Christ. What is His obedience? Romans 5:19 ...His obedience on the cross has made us righteous!! I.am.the.righteousness.of.God with a new identity in Jesus! The priest in the Old Testament represents God ...He doesn't examine us ...He examines Jesus! What a beautiful picture of God's abundant and lavish grace.

If God isn't examining us today, why do we still struggle in self-occupation relentlessly examining our own thoughts, emotions, failures, and shortcomings? No more self-introspection!! Let's look to Jesus. His innocence is our innocence. His perfection is my perfection. His righteousness is my righteousness. Occupied with Jesus and transformed from the inside out! I love y'all!! #freedom

Pursuing Truth,
D.

 “Everything that I am, is because of Jesus Christ. All that I ever do, I do it only to bring Him glory.”

Identity Crisis

I love y'all so much!! Seriously!! Just wanted to encourage you this lovely morning ...God is with you, always.

Today, in a world where God has been cast aside to pursue money, identity, education, and purpose void of Him, let's choose to make Him the priority in our lives. Intellect, pride, and self-promotion can often drive us to rely on our understanding of life. Yet the Bible tells us that without Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5). In the end, all of the daily pursuits, lusts, and cares of this world will mean nothing without Jesus Christ.

I'm learning daily how to die to who I think I should be, who I'd like to be, or who I think I am and pursue the heart of God to be who He wants me to be. My hurt, my past, my disappointments , and guilt all went away when I chose to completely rest in Jesus. My life is no longer my own ...The choice to lay down my life and follow Christ doesn't make me righteous; yet me accepting His love and recognizing the work He did on cross makes me righteous.

What are you pursuing today? When we really know how much God loves us, that's what gives us the hope to allow Him to love us and be in relationship with Him. Void of God, life is a struggle and we often look to money, people, food, lust, pride in our intelligence, and identity in our success to fill the void. Yet, Jesus is the only answer. We'll never be able to figure it out on our own.

Today, choose who you will pursue and keep your eyes on. It's better to trust in The Lord than put confidence in anyone else (Psalm 118:8). He's my joy, my hope, my love, and perfect peace. Mannnnnn JESUS LOVES YOU ...and He cares. Have.faith.in.God.

Pursuing Truth,
D.

 “Everything that I am, is because of Jesus Christ. All that I ever do, I do it only to bring Him glory.”

THE BLESSING of the Lord

Restoring THE BLESSING: Galatians 3:8 ..."And the scripture forseeing that God would justify the Gentiles in consequence of faith, proclaimed the Gospel (fortelling the glad tidings of the Savior long beforehand) to Abraham in the promise, saying, in you shall the nations be blessed".

The Gospel is complete: It not only recognizes the purpose of Jesus to redeem us from sin but also recognizes the perfect plan of restoration of the THE BLESSING God intended for His creation. If He called Abraham the "heir of the world", what does that make us as believers who are Abraham's seed, according to the promise? Furthermore, what is our angle of identity and how are we thinking? God's original plan for us points back to the promise He spoke in the beginning..(Genesis 1:28).

How then do we see ourselves? As a sinner saved by grace or as a redeemed HEIR? Sin-consciousness gives power to sin ...Christ-consciousness glorifies Jesus and gives us authority to overcome sin. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, God's response ("Where are you?") was Jesus-consciousness ...the redemptive plan was already in place and set in motion. That's the message that must be preached ...a message of hope/life/excitement that will direct people to the person of Jesus. This takes the pressure off in all circumstances ...no need to carry His cross ...His dying for our sins is the means to an end ...and the end is the promise spoken to Adam (Genesis 1:28) Noah (Genesis 9:1), Abraham (Genesis 12:2) ...restoration of THE BLESSING (God empowers us to be fruitful, multiply, and have dominion: Genesis 1:28) ...The completed work!!! ...it.is.finished.

Now, is there ANYTHING too hard for God? My two bits on satan...He.has.no.power...

period...tell him to shut up!!!...that's all the letters he will get in this text...Are we trying to figure things out? Accepting barely making it? Or are you ruling and reigning?? Ayyyyeeeee!!!! 

#freedom #authority #power #joy #love #peace #self control #patience #gentleness #goodfruit

Pursuing Truth,
 D.


“Everything that I am, is because of Jesus Christ. All that I ever do, I do it only to bring Him glory.”

Unmerited Favor

Friends,

My Lakers are finally playing good ball, the cold weather is shipping out, and Jesus is still Lord!! ...makes for a great Saturday!! ;)

I've been on a reading binge lately and can't help but talk about the latest book I've been reading: Unmerited Favor. WOW!!

This book gives incredible insight into God's love for us and His desire to see us conquer, live, and succeed in every area of our lives. I'll keep this post brief by simply posting a quote from the book ...powerful!

"There are many times where the lowest points in your life are actually the launching pads to God's greatest promotion in your life. It was so for Joseph! If Joseph had not been betrayed by his brothers, he would not have been sold as a slave. If he had not been sold as a slave, he would not have been in Potiphar's house. If he was not in Potiphar's house, he would not have been thrown into an Egyptian prison meant specifically for the king's prisoners. If he was not in that specific prison, he would not have interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh's officers. If he had not interpreted their dreams, he would not have been summoned to interpret Pharaoh's dream two years alter. If he had not interpreted Pharaoh's dream, Pharaoh would not have promoted Joseph to become his prime minister over the entire Egyptian empire!!"

"Your lowest points are launching pads to God's greatest promotions."

Pursuing Truth,

 D.

 “Everything that I am, is because of Jesus Christ. All that I ever do, I do it only to bring Him glory.”