Post by Nicole on Jul 24, 2008 11:59:27 GMT -5
Dear family and friends,
Today I was picking my raspberries. I have red ones and black ones each having thier own distinct flavor. I usually bear the evidence of thier good flavor on my face when I pick them. Picking them can be tricky. There are pickers galore. Some of those pickers get caught on even the back of my blouse when I pick the berries inside the bush. The berries are difficult to pick but the fruit is oh so sweet.
Usually God speaks to me through the natural environment. I guess I have a challenge for all those I care about. What about the people in your life? Do you only love those who are easy to love? Do you run into no pickers, a few pickers, or a lot of pickers? How do you react? Do you say "Forget it! This hurts too much." Do you decide to stop picking/ loving? Switch to an easier fruit/friends/family members?
Many of you who know me realize that I have had a life full of many pickers. Some of the pickery problems go into not only my children, but also my grandchildren. We are told by God to love our eneimies. Now I would not say that my children or grandchildren are my eneimies. But if we love only those who are easy to love what have we proved to God? Luke 6:35 states ------"But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked."
We are also reminded in Mathew 5: 43-47------ 43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor[h] and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?"
So I encourage you to love those who are the pickery people, the problem people. The fruit of such love is oh so sweet. I have seen so many of my pickery people grow into people that I can now brag about. Some of them are working with my pickery grandchildren. Thanks kids!!!! Thanks for all excitement and the opportunity to brag.
Love in Jesus' name
Mary O.
Today I was picking my raspberries. I have red ones and black ones each having thier own distinct flavor. I usually bear the evidence of thier good flavor on my face when I pick them. Picking them can be tricky. There are pickers galore. Some of those pickers get caught on even the back of my blouse when I pick the berries inside the bush. The berries are difficult to pick but the fruit is oh so sweet.
Usually God speaks to me through the natural environment. I guess I have a challenge for all those I care about. What about the people in your life? Do you only love those who are easy to love? Do you run into no pickers, a few pickers, or a lot of pickers? How do you react? Do you say "Forget it! This hurts too much." Do you decide to stop picking/ loving? Switch to an easier fruit/friends/family members?
Many of you who know me realize that I have had a life full of many pickers. Some of the pickery problems go into not only my children, but also my grandchildren. We are told by God to love our eneimies. Now I would not say that my children or grandchildren are my eneimies. But if we love only those who are easy to love what have we proved to God? Luke 6:35 states ------"But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked."
We are also reminded in Mathew 5: 43-47------ 43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor[h] and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?"
So I encourage you to love those who are the pickery people, the problem people. The fruit of such love is oh so sweet. I have seen so many of my pickery people grow into people that I can now brag about. Some of them are working with my pickery grandchildren. Thanks kids!!!! Thanks for all excitement and the opportunity to brag.
Love in Jesus' name
Mary O.