*Fruity Or Fruitful

I went to a nursery and was looking to buy some plants. I noticed a large sign that said "fruit trees" for $29. They were small and had green leaves and about 3 foot tall. I asked the worker about what kind of fruit they were and he said that he had no idea. I was astounded and said "What? You don't know?" He shook his head and said it could be a number of things and he actually said, "you will know in time." Haha Well as much as I wanted to buy one I decided to pass on the purchase that day.

I know many people who are fruity...they can be any number of things. They have a label but no one can tell what they are! This is why Christians in general get a bad rap. People get saved and they identify as "Christian" but they never bear any fruit that is Christ-like....I like to call them fruity.

Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.  Colossians 1:10

We cannot see into a human heart to know whether someone is saved or not but we can see what type attitude or character they portray. They may be acting "fruity" which is NOT a good example to what we stand for; sometimes having the character of Christ and sometimes not.

Living a Christ-filled life is full of introspection and making changes as we grow and learn that can be difficult or against what our flesh finds as desirable. So we will bear rotten fruit from time to time and that just comes with the territory. But we are connected to The Vine which is Christ and He is the life-giver so we have no reason to not produce something wonderful. As with any fruit tree; every year we grow we should get better and better. There should be no doubt who we are by what we are bearing!

You Are Graciously Adorned

Oh it seems to be going around and finally I am it's latest victim. I lay on the couch with my stomach rumbling and everything that I even smell or think about eating makes me want to hurl. It is a horrible thing to run to the restroom and not even sure why...it just feels like an emergency. The only way I can explain it is that my insides have turned into a washing machine and it just keep turning. I decided to just take advantage of not being able to go anywhere and I caught up on my Netflix movies.

Now I am kinda crazy about washing my hands and I use antibacterial after touching inanimate objects or shaking peoples hands. But no matter what we do and how hard we try...sometimes we just catch things. It is in the air and you happen to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Sometime heartaches and hard times come your way even if you are doing everything right. Take heart and know that you are not alone. It is life. Things will come you way whether you are expecting it or not. Just don't lose heart. You may not know all the "why's" or even the "how's" but you will make it through with God's help. It is through the hard times that character is built and that wisdom is gained. I know that my best lessons have been learned the "hard" way...I will definitely never do those things again and I warn everyone I can!

So I just keep doing what I have been doing and rest in the fact that Romans 8:28 says that "We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."  So what do I have to fear? I am choosing to use this time to read and get some much needed rest...who knows...maybe I will lose a couple of pounds in the process! haha

Adjust that Crown

❤ Jonna

*Stomach Bug

Oh it seems to be going around and finally I am it's latest victim. I lay on the couch with my stomach rumbling and everything that I even smell or think about eating makes me want to hurl. It is a horrible thing to run to the restroom and not even sure why...it just feels like an emergency. The only way I can explain it is that my insides have turned into a washing machine and it just keep turning. I decided to just take advantage of not being able to go anywhere and I caught up on my Netflix movies.

Now I am kinda crazy about washing my hands and I use antibacterial after touching inanimate objects or shaking peoples hands. But no matter what we do and how hard we try...sometimes we just catch things. It is in the air and you happen to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Sometime heartaches and hard times come your way even if you are doing everything right. Take heart and know that you are not alone. It is life. Things will come you way whether you are expecting it or not. Just don't lose heart. You may not know all the "why's" or even the "how's" but you will make it through with God's help. It is through the hard times that character is built and that wisdom is gained. I know that my best lessons have been learned the "hard" way...I will definitely never do those things again and I warn everyone I can!

So I just keep doing what I have been doing and rest in the fact that Romans 8:28 says that "We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."  So what do I have to fear? I am choosing to use this time to read and get some much needed rest...who knows...maybe I will lose a couple of pounds in the process! haha

Adjust that Crown

❤ Jonna

It is Just a Bruise

Have you ever had a big bruise come up on your body and you just couldn't think of where it came from? It is like it came out of no where! Minor injuries can creep up on us and leave us "black” and “blue” from time to time.

When we suffer a serious physical injury though, we call 911 or go straight to the ER. The wound will need to be cleansed and properly bandaged so that it’s protected, and sometimes need to have it checked regularly to make sure it’s healing properly. Even then, it may take some time to heal.

This is an illustration of how our spiritual wounds can heal with faith, prayer, and proper care. But if we don’t allow them to be cleansed and healed in the proper way, if we try to hide our wounds or don’t cooperate with those who can and want to help us, our wounds can become infected with bitterness and resentment that can spread and poison the whole body. If left untended, they can affect our spiritual life, our happiness, our faith, and our general well-being.

I remember that I just "wasn't feeling right" for months and just like any good nurse that tells everyone to go to the doctor...I just ignored it. I kept going to work and just dealt with it until one day an ER physician I worked with told me that I had yellow in my eyes. Unbelieving I quickly went to the nearest mirror and sure enough....when did that happen? Come to find out I had pancreatitis from gallstones! I couldn't  believe it! I was immediately put in the hospital and couldn't have surgery until my liver enzymes and everything else came close to normal levels! I was in the hospital for 8 days all because I ignored a problem that could have left me with permanent liver damage!

The Bible teaches that we should empty our hearts of things in the past or the present that bother us: “Let us search out and examine our ways” (Lamentations 3:40). “Watch out that no bitterness takes root among you, for as it springs up it causes deep trouble, hurting many in their spiritual lives” (Hebrews 12:15 TLB). Past circumstances do not have to dictate your present outlook, because God has made a way for you to overcome the negative in your life.

 

The Bible encourages us to seek help and support from those more mature in faith, and to confess our faults one to another and pray one for another (James 5:14,16). It is detrimental to our health and future well being if we hide or ignore the issue.  It is only once you’ve gotten the problem out in the open and received prayer and counsel based on God’s Word, you can much more easily forgive, forget, deal with the problem and find healing and move on.

The Christian life is all about overcoming obstacles, rising above our circumstances, and not letting things get us down. It’s about making stepping stones out of stumbling blocks. It’s about joining hands with each other and sharing our bruises and hurts so that we can encourage and lift each other up. That is what a family is all about...not perfect but a bunch of broken people that can testify of what God has done and is doing to put us all back together to be who He intended us to be.

Adjust That Crown!

Jonna