THE HARVEST LESSON # 21

THE HARVEST - WEEK 5 WOG JOURNEY

Question - Why do we garden? 
Answer = Because of the harvest 

"The harvest is a reminder of the cycle we call life." 
The harvest is a also a surety of the planting, nurturing, pruning and watering of the Gardener.

Genesis 8:22
While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

We must endure the pruning because....

TODAY'S FOCUS:  HARVEST TIME IS COMING

As you reflect on the coming final harvest of believers express...

• What are your expectation of the harvest?
• What are you enduring now that makes you anxious for the harvest?
• What are you longing for the harvest to bring and end to?
• What are you doing to bring others into the harvest with you?

Today I encourage you not to be afraid of the process of your growing in grace journey. Endure the pruning; be encouraged to know that God is with you every step of the journey.  You are planted in love, nurtured by grace, pruned with His mercy, watered by His spirit and your harvest will be in joy!  HALLELUJAH!

Be confident that God will gather up His harvest - BE THERE!

Keep the Faith!

GOD BLESS!

Virtuous Jewel

FOUNTAIN OF LIFE #19

Garden Fountain

"The quiet bubbling of a garden fountain adds peaceful tranquility to any garden setting."

There are various types and shapes of fountains, but each produces its own unique sound.  Some maybe gentle, fierce or melodious.  

As we read throughout today's scripture and other scriptures we we know that in our Gardener is the fountain of life.  I also reflect on the old hymn, There is a Fountain filled with Blood that flows from Emmanuel's vein... 

God's love and mercy flows from that fountain through the power of the Holy Spirit.  His grace and mercy splashes over us daily even when we do not deserve it!

TODAY'S FOCUS: "The Fountain of Eternal Life

1. It Never runs dry
2. It pours in continual streams
3. It pours down blessings
4. It deepens your relationship with Jesus

Let's Discuss the following:

• Think about the first time the fountain of God's grace splashed mercy down on you and can you share the experience so others can be encouraged?

• How is the spirit currently refreshing you?

• What are the benefits of the fountain?  

• How can you keep the fountain consistent?

Remember the consistent flow of the fountain will reflect growth as you stay watered by His spirit.

God Bless and KEEP THE FAITH!

Virtuous Jewel

COMBO DEVOTION 17 & 18

SOAKING RAIN

Our WOG devotion says, "It's a gardener's dream - a slow, steady, soaking rain", this is the kind of rain that washes off the dust, and any other thing from off the leaf and petal making our plant colors more vibrant and beautiful.

Meditate on Titus 3:5-6 and imagine for a moment the cool water drops of mercy falling over you steadily soaking you!  

It should make you smile, dance and rejoice - DO SO NOW!

Now Consider steady droplets seeping underground to your roots throughout the day.  

TODAY'S FOCUS - Let's discuss ways that your Gardner can refresh you:

• How would you express or describe a steady soaking rain from your Gardener?

• List some ways that you can refresh the Holy Spirit and receive steady droplets throughout the day? 

Remember to ask the Lord to help you to adapt new "watering methods" to keep His Spirit seeping into you throughout the day.  As droplets seep throughout the day, it will help keep your roots hydrated and you will bloom into a more luscious and healthier plant.  

God Bless - KEEP THE FAITH!

Virtuous Jewel

WATERED BY THE SPIRIT - WOG DAY 16

SPIRITUAL DROUGHTS

Many gardeners have expressed the effects droughts (lack of water) have on their gardens.  The scorching of heat and dry weather conditions make them pray and cry out for rain.

Spiritual Droughts are even more devastating especially when the soul is cracked with the scorching heat of disappointment, hurt, health issues, grief and even from our hunger for God.  

These things make our spirit shrivel from lack of watering.  

TODAY'S FOCUS:  How's the Weather in Your Garden?

• Have you ever survived a spiritual drought?   

• Are you presently in a drought now?

If you have survived, please share the experience and how you were able to get out to help someone who is going through right now. What would you advise others to do to avoid the dry weather conditions.

Those who are presently in a spiritual drought now can you can express what caused your drought or perhaps what contributed to your dry conditions?  

Both groups make a list of things that:

1. Keep your soul in drought
2. Keep the weather conditions fair and balance in your garden.

Read Isaiah 44:1-8 and allow God's Holy Spirit to pour floods of water upon any dry ground of your garden so your seeds can grow and spring up as willows by the water courses.  

God Bless and remember to Keep the Faith!

Virtuous Jewel

DAY 13 - GROW IN GRACE

GROWING IN GOD'S KNOWLEDGE

But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 
1 Peter 3:18

Staying in God's word allows you to be equipped for the challenges ahead.  It also shows your wrong doings and nourishes your relationship with Him so you can truly grow in grace. 

I ASK:

Do you enjoy His pruning? 

Do you seek Him less when life is blooming and more when you are faced with pests of your garden?

TODAY'S FOCUS:  God prunes us in the "GOOD" or "BAD" times.

Let's describe a time when God pruned you.... 

• In a good time - what was the result?

• In a bad time - What was the circumstances?

Remember that God wants us to spend time with Him everyday not just when disaster strikes but in every circumstance of our life.  

GOD BLESS - KEEP THE FAITH!

Virtuous Jewel

SPIRITUAL DEADWOOD - DAY 12

HACK AWAY AT SPIRITUAL DEADWOOD 

Are you feeling the pains of God's pruning?
Do you put up a good show on the outside but inside you feel suffocated or even dead? 

Today's devotion speaks about that evergreen hedges and other great looks shrubs need adequate light and air both inside and out in order to grow and thrive. Without it plants can wither or even die. Thinning the interior branches (pruning) helps to bring back health and vitality. 

TODAY'S FOCUS:  Dead on the Inside Hedges - WHAT'S CHOKING YOUR "SON LIGHT"?

Like the plants we too need to thin out internally the things that are choking us and allow God's light and air to prune us so we can grow.  How willing are you to share... Unlike yesterday's blog, let's discuss what's there now.

• What spiritual deadwood that needs to be hacked away by our Lord the Gardener?
• What steps or activity is necessary to hack it away and permanently prune it off?
• Do you know someone who needs your help in removing spiritual deadwood?
• What are your plans to help?

Ouch!! My my my Let's keep it real!

May God bless you as you discover the cool breeze of The Holy Spirit to refresh and encourage you to grow stronger in God's grace.

Stay faithful - KEEP THE FAITH!

Virtuous Jewel

PRUNED WITH MERCY - DAY ELEVEN

Purpose Of Pruning

Oh the pain of pruning - clipping and chipping away at the dry leaves, (habits, character and attitude that's unlike Christ) 

An old song comes to mind... 

Anything that brings you closer to Jesus is good for you.....

If your trials are bringing you closer to Jesus, just praise His name..

The word also says.. No trials for the present time seems good but they work for good.  So with pruning.  It may appear that the flowers are being clipped or the tree is being damage.  But it's the pruning that makes and keeps it healthy and causes the growth.  As the plants need pruning so our lives need the pruning (testing) to bring God's goodness to the surface.

TODAY'S FOCUS: Pruning is good for Christians

• How has God used His pruning clippers on you?
• How has it helped you bloom?

Remember pruning brings something productive in us and a deeper walk and relationship with Jesus.

God Bless

Virtuous Jewel

GOD'S CONTINUAL GRACE - DAY 10

HEN AND CHICKS

Insert By Jon VanZile explains the succulent Sempervivum plant.  They earned their popular name “hen and chicks” from their growth habit. The mother plant, or hen, sends off numerous offsets, which will cluster around her base like chicks. 

(You can read full details on line for re-potting etc..)

TODAY'S FOCUS: GROWER'S TIPS

Sempervivum are not difficult to grow, provided they are not waterlogged and killed from excess watering. They can be easily grown outdoors and in containers, and they earned the name “houseleeks” from their tendency to root on the roofs of houses. After the mother plant flowers, it will naturally die, but by this time, the plant has likely produced many offsets that will continue to grow. 

We are like the Sempervivum (Hen and Chicks) plant. As we share God's grace to others our offsets will grow to the next and the next and many generations. 

ARE WE FORMING CLOUDS OF WITNESSES IN THIS GENERATION? How?

Today let's discuss...

• Name three (3) people who have shared God's grace with you?  
• List some ways you can thank them or Honor their memory
• Can you think of two or three people you can encourage today with the Good News of God's grace? 

Remember, God's grace has the ability to reproduce.  Let's find a way to do it. Don't over-water but pour out God's love so it can be continual from generation to generation nurturing faith through God's powerful word.

Keep the Faith!

Virtuous Jewel

 

POSITIONING IS CRITICAL

RESPECTING THE POWER OF THE sun/SON

Positioning is indeed critical for our plants to survive and grow right.  

You cannot put a plant that requires shade in the sun nor can you put a plant that needs sunlight in a shady place.  Each must be positioned where it can grow and not where we feel we want them.  We stand the risk of losing them if we do not follow the instructions for its type.

For Today's Focus let's talk on Day 9 devotion a little......

It is said...

An experienced gardener appreciates and respects the power of the sun.  

An experienced Christian appreciates the power of the Son.  

Our scripture reference talks about how to be position well by abiding in the Vine.  John 15:4

Let discuss....  KEEP IT REAL

• Can you remember a time in your faith walk when you didn't want to follow or didn't follow God's directions for "Son Light"?

• What can you encourage someone with today that will help them stay in the "Son Shine"

Remember, when we see our misplaced priorities, our rebellion, and our willfulness, and confess theses sins, His grace welcomes us back into the "Son Shine" again.  

THANK YOU JESUS - HALLELUJAH!  

KEEP THE FAITH

Virtuous Jewel

UNIQUE SPECIES - DAY 7

CENTURY PLANT

"Century Plant grows v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y... 
Eventually this succulent will form large, pointed leaves, but Century Plants bloom only once every 30 or 40 years!"

There are times you may feel that your seed is taking long to sprout but just know that you are unique species. You are not weeds that are common and just grow everywhere. You develop roots like the bamboo but when you come out, nurtured by grace, you grow into a tall and useful tree.
Today I ask that you be patient. In the right season and at the right time the God of all grace will bring you into full bloom. 

TODAY'S FOCUS:  Describe what God's grace means to you.

Write the word GRACE vertically along the left side of your daily journal or a piece of paper. Make an acrostic (poem or song) using each letter of the word.  Personalize it to you.  

Remember it may seem that your seed may not be shooting.  But be patient see if it needs watering with the word or if it needs to be nurtured with a little sunlight.  Continue to grow in grace and in God's knowledge.  

GOD BLESS AND KEEP THE FAITH!

Virtuous Jewel

NURTURED by GRACE

NURTURED by GRACE.... DAY 6

Grace is poured into thy lips; therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.  Psalm 45:2

WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP

As our second week journey begins our devotion states that we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.  Ephesians 2:10

Just as a gardener carefully chooses individual plants for a garden, God has handpicked you to be His own work of art.  

TODAY'S FOCUS: BLOOMING IN GRACE

God has planted us together with other believers to create a landscape work of art. Let's discuss...

• How can you bloom in grace today?

• How can you help create a landscape that honors God with other flowers of God?

Today, let's thank the Lord for other fellow believers.

Remember he planted each of us in His Garden of Grace to Bloom to become his work of art.  

Let's create a landscape that honors our Lord and bring Him glory!

GOD BLESS!

Virtuous Jewel

DAY 4 - ROOT BOUND?

TANGLED AND TRAPPED

Let's Get to the Bottom of the Roots

Our devotional journal says today, "sometimes the only way to get to discern the truth is to get to the bottom of it all - the roots."

We struggle through our day and have difficulty sometimes staying focus and in many instances our growth is not reflected in our walk.  We may need to LOOK DEEP into our roots.  

What is our devotional life like?

What are we hiding beneath our beautiful parading outfits and smiles?

Or.......

TODAY'S FOCUS:  Do You Need to Be Replanted?

CHECK YOUR ROOTS

• Are you tangled up in traditions, family and other personal daily routines that stunt your growth? Which ones

• Are you engaged in thoughts that are not in line with what God say's about you?  What are they

• Do you allow people to dictate your growth or do you rely on the Holy Spirit? Who/What

Here's the biggie...........

• ARE YOU READY TO BE REPLANTED?    

Check your roots and see if they are tangled up and if you need to be planted in a bigger pot.  

The Gardner Jesus wants to help you TODAY!

Allow His Holy Spirit to speak to your spirit as you read Colossians 2: 6-7.  

Express yourself if you are feeling a little root bound or would like to offer some suggestions to others who are root bound.

GOD BLESS & KEEP THE FAITH!!

Virtuous Jewel

DAY 3 - REACH, GRAB SEEDS, SCATTER

Gardeners and Farmers

Read Matthew 13:1-23 and discover the eternal significance of the seeds sown in the parable of the sower.  

Today's Focus:  Reflecting on Verse 23 of the parable ask....

1. What seed has been planted in your garden by your Master Gardner Jesus?
2.  How well do you know the Gardner? (Do you know Him or know of Him?)
3. How is your relationship?
4. How can the soil of your heart be better prepared to receive God's word?
5. Do you really understand His love? 

Ask the Holy Spirit to become your personal tutor as you read God's word and grow in your relationship with Him.  

Remember to thank Him for His love!

God Bless

Virtuous Jewel

WOMAN OF GOD JOURNEY

God's Leading Lady was the theme of Omega Sister's Retreat 2013 held at Carambola Beach Resort in St. Croix US Virgin Islands.  

We have embarked on a new five (5) weeks journey where we were given a symbolic seed to plant.  

Each week we have a new section of the garden.  This week's theme is....

Planted with Love - Day 2

This reflects how each and everyone of us were planted in our mother's womb with love and was sheltered and protected until we came to life.  Meditatively read Psalms 139

Today's Focus: How were you planted?

Think of the times that God covered you and shielded you from childhood until now and...

1. List the various phases of your life that you were covered
2. Share how he carefully and intentionally took care of you
3. What's the result of your protection  

Know that God takes joy in His gardening.  

Remember the Lord of life gave you life and delights in you.  

God Bless and keep the faith!

Virtuous Jewel