As long as the sun rises and seasons change, a gardener’s work is never finished. The gardener’s goal is not for plantings to stay a seed or a young plant but to become a fruitful tree. The same is true spiritually. Plantings of the Lord are expected to grow, always progressing toward maturity. The Apostle Paul affirmed this saying he labored that Christ would be fully formed in us. His goal was to see followers of Christ become like “oaks of righteousness.” (Col. 1:26-28, Is. 61:1-5) If disciples are not conforming to the image of Jesus, then we must discern why.

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If you want to work with God, you’ll find Him in the garden of your heart. That’s where He does some of His deepest work. Be prepared, though, to get your hands dirty. Good gardening requires much digging, weeding and pruning. Without that, there will be no good harvest.

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Do Christians live to die, or die to live? Perhaps the answer lies in the metaphor of the seed. Only when buried can a seed find life. Down in the earth, the seed’s shell cracks, and new life springs forth. Likewise, for the Christian, we must lose our life to find it. (Matt. 10:39) Through Christ, the imperishable seed, we are resurrected to both eternal and abundant life. (Rom. 6:23, John 10:10) There can be no resurrection without death. (Phil. 3:10-11) Obviously, Satan was not a gardener. If he were, he would’ve never buried Jesus.   

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Now you’re speaking my language! We all love that sigh of relief when we’re finally understood. Known. When someone starts tracking with us, sharing the same page, relating. In cross-cultural missions, I call that the art of the Gospel – heart-level communication that reveals Jesus uniquely within another language and culture. This usually means you’ve lived close enough and long enough with the people to speak their “mother-tongue” and to understand and know them. This is that most sacred place of exchange where great spiritual battles are won.

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There is power in friendships. So much so that kings and kingdoms rise and fall because of them. What starts as a casual acquaintance can turn into a divine connection that changes a nation. Imagine Israel’s fate without Naomi and Ruth, Elijah and Elisha, David and Jonathan, Paul and Timothy, to name a few. Of course, they weren’t thinking of their friendship in those terms at the time. And neither do we. Perhaps this is in part what Jesus meant when He said the Kingdom of God comes without observation. (Luke 17:20) We would do well to take account of the company we keep. The enemy does.

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Opening your home is like opening your heart. Some of my most significant conversations have happened around the table. A simple meal becomes life changing. That’s what happened to Abraham and Sarah when they welcomed three visitors into their home. (Gen. 18) Sometimes all it takes is creating space for change to take place.

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Connection with others is a basic human need. Being seen and known makes us feel validated and valued, like we exist. When we’re ignored or neglected, we wonder what’s wrong with us and question whether we’re good enough. The feeling of shame experienced in an individual or group can be devastating. It strikes at our self-worth, our dignity — the very part of us made in God’s image that was blessed and pronounced as “very good” at creation. (Gen. 1:31)

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It’s said ‘if we don’t use it, we lose it’ in physical fitness. I say the same is true spiritually. Active faith builds a healthier, stronger Body. Flexing our ‘spiritual muscles’ through daily exercises of loving, listening, obeying, and following God purifies and matures us. It makes us better fit in times of heavy lifting. When circumstances displace us, or decisions become too weighty, our spiritual discipline helps us bear down, to press into God and push back the evil one.

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When God puts His finger on something, we should take note. No doubt, the Holy Spirit has come to point the way. To mark the spot. When we can’t put our finger on it — that thing that keeps us in bondage — the finger of God can! He knows why something is the way it is and can set us free and heal us.

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On the path of life, a crossroad, or a fork in the road many times is a sign of spiritual warfare or crisis. A decision must be made which activates our faith. Like a door or a gate of opportunity, our choice will either add to our faith or to an element of fear in our lives. Thankfully, Jesus said He is our “Gate” –- our Way through. (John 10:7) So, we proceed ahead, following Him and trusting Him with the opening or closing of opportunities for us.

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Imagine driving without road signs or symbols. Not only would getting lost be easy, but traffic jams and wrecks would be everywhere. Road rage, too. Signs and symbols help keep us on track. Their meanings help guide us along the way. The same can be true spiritually. God often uses symbols to speak to us and give direction for our journey through life.

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When it comes to the blame game, we’ve all played and lost. Our attempts to avoid responsibility and accountability have only caused greater harm and destruction. No one wins, except Satan, when we’re pointing fingers at others, deflecting, denying, and defending ourselves.

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