Hello Everyone!
I've been thinking about HOPE and FAITH for a week or so, after overhearing a conversation at the Farmer's Market. No, I really wasn't eavesdropping - the man in the next booth was in a conversation with an elderly lady about some of the fig trees and other trees that he had available for sale. She was interested in purchasing a fig tree and he was explaining the difference in the varieties.
I had customers of my own, so I just got bits and pieces of the conversation, but she had all of her questions answered and decided on a particular one. As she and the man walked to her car with the fig tree, she mentioned that she was 93 years old and would be 94 later this year! She didn't look a day over 70! She was amazing - a smile on her face, a spring in her step and HOPE and FAITH, which was very evident in her life!
I don't know why this thought struck me, but it was as if God was giving me something to think on. I thought about the fact that the "fig" tree was common in Biblical days and that it was referenced several times in both the Old and New Testaments. I did a search for the significance of the fig tree in biblical days and I found out that in Mark 11: 12-25, when talking about the fig tree incident, Mark may be using the fig tree as a metaphor, as Jesus himself might have, for what he sees as the barrenness of the priests and the withering of their teaching and authority due to their lack of TRUE FAITH. As Jesus hoped to find fruit on the fig tree, Jesus hoped to find "fruit", the fruit of true worship of God, at the Temple.
This is interesting for me because I have been on a quest to experience "True Worship." I commented on another blog about desiring true worship experiences. Hmmm, is this the direction God wants me to go?
When I first thought about this post, I was going in a completely different direction. My first thoughts were about how much HOPE and FAITH that this lady had to be planting a fig tree at her age and expecting a harvest! But, I guess we all have to be like that - at any age! We have to have the HOPE and FAITH in God that we will receive that which we seek! Well, there's what I've been missing in my worship lately! I have not been expecting TRUE WORSHIP, therefore I haven't been experiencing it! What a lesson!
I am so glad that God uses simple things like an overheard conversation to turn my FOCUS back to Him and the things He has for me - like the TRUE WORSHIP I desire!
THANK YOU, Heavenly Father for your gentle nudge!
Be Encouraged!
Plant Lady
11 comments:
Good morning Plant Lady!
Your post this morning really spoke to me. If you read my post, you know why. In this time of searching for just where and how the Lord wants to use us, it has seemed to me that it is important that we just worship Him. Not being in charge of a service or involved in any of the planning is different, but God wants us to JUST WORSHIP Him. It is a time of "Hope and Faith" for us. It is a time of trusting in the Lord to lead the way and open the doors for where we are to JUST WORSHIP our Father in Spirit and Truth.
You might recall that I do NOT have a green thumb, but struggle in my attempts to grow things. Well, I was given a little fig tree and it has lived! This very first year I have had about a dozen really BIG figs and now another harvest is on the way. Thanks for your post and the challenge of making sure we are bearing fruit.
Warmly,
Mar
Great Post, Thank You!! I know when I am at church singing and worshipping my Lord, I try and forget anyone is there, just him and I. And when there are no distractions, I can feel him, feel his presence and the goose bumps, and the Joy I feel is wonderful.
I know I get it at home, I have time for him and peace. Its wonderful.
I have a fig tree in my back yard and this year it has been just producing soooo much fruit. I Love figs, they are delicious. On tv there is a commercial that shows this sauce that goes on this italian dish and they use Apples and figs, not sure what else, you know they don't give all the secrets.. but it looks sooo good.
Have a blessed day & week
Sharon
Hi Plant Lady:
As I read your post...I am faced with a problem that is now becoming old...
It is difficult for me to place my eyes totally on the Lord when I see the enemy wanting come marching on in...now I do realize that the that battle is the Lord's and not mine...I also know that the Lord is the Victor in that battle...I don't know what I think I can gain by keeping part of my focus on what is trying to enter in rather than total focus on the Lord...I can do nothing without the Lord...Just yesterday I cried out to the Lord during worship...I can not take this battle any more -I am tired of this battle...I just want to worship you...His response to my mind and heart was and is the battle is not yours...stand, stand firm and see that the battle is the Lord's...This time I was changed...
the Lord continued to speak to me through the morning's sermon...11 Kings 18...
I find at least in my case - when ever I struggle with worship - my focus is divided and the Lord wants and deserves my total focus...
In His Love,
Debrah
Plant Lady, A wonderful post. God is definitely speaking to you. Without faith and hope where would we be. Faith in God, His Son to forgive us of our sins, and the Holy Spirit to comfort us, and hope that all three in One will always be there for us. Psalms 95:1-7 talks about worship. Especially verse 6 and 7," Oh, come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand." I truly believe He desires our worship of Him - He gave His only Son for the forgiveness of our sins and hope for eternal life through acceptance of His Son into our hearts. Without Him we are nothing. In Rev. 22:8-9 says:
"Now I, John, saw and heard these things, And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things."
"Then he said to me, See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. WORHIP GOD." Actually we are admonished to worship God. As we worship Him we grow closer to Him.
Continue to worship the Heavenly Father and He will take you places you've never been.
In His love,
AliceE.
that was exactly what i though! ( i wonder if she will live to see a harvest). isn't that horrible. oh if i only had an ounce of her faith. i pray that He blesses me with more and more faith each day!
blessings ~
~ sorry your dad is having to go through the pain and discomfort of kidney stones. i have never had them but i have heard how painful they are. please let your father know that i will be praying for a quick "passing of the stones" :)
God is everywhere in the midst of our day. We simply need the eyes to see, the ears to hear, and the mind to conceive him when he arrives on our scene. Sounds like you found him at the market!
What a mighty and good God we serve.
peace~elaine
Please come to my blog, I have a surprize for you.
AliceE.
Plant Lady,
What a great post. I find too that it's the little things that bring a great message to our hearts. And I too have started a post and ended it out in left field from where I started.
My Dad and my Son in Law have battled Kidney Stones and they are no fun my Son in law is still going thru it. I have prayed for your Dad.
Loves,
Lynn
Beautiful, thank you. :-)
Amen Amen!!
True worship is what I also want more of.. Less of me, more of him. This post spoke to me and allowed me to realize as a member our praise and worship team, I always pray that self would be removed and to be filled with his holy spirit. The bible says that we must worship him in spirit and in truth. A spirit to spirit connection how awesome. Just as our spirits connect to this post yet the Lord allows us to see things in a different way as it applies to our own lives, we all can look at each others comments and see how one post can touched us in different ways. I love it!! Hugz Lorie
Your post was simply God breathed!
God bless you as you minister through printed pages!
Kim
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