Some of the greatest childhood memories I have are the days I spent at my Aunt Debi’s. My cousins and I would play ball, go to the park, and run up and down the neighborhood getting into all kinds of mischief. It was also nice because everyone knows that Aunt Debi is the cook of the family. Every family has that one who excels above the rest at holiday dinners and desserts and Debi is ours. Cakewalks are the hit of each church festival when people know they have a shot at winning anything Aunt Debi made. If you know her go ahead and get jealous as I inform you that I got to enjoy her cooking every week in the summers growing up. She was always baking up tasty treats for us and we’d line up to help as long as we got to lick the beaters off the mixer. As sweet as she is, Aunt Debi is also a prankster and there’s one trick that got us every time. She’d call one of us in with a spoon full of chocolate from the cake mix and of course we’d grab it and stick it in our mouths only to find out that it wasn’t cake mix at all…it was baker’s chocolate. Cocoa without sugar! Disgusting and extremely bitter! She’d call us in one at a time so that each of us could be in on the trick when the next cousin came in. One after another we’d thank her and grab the spoon, realize that our taste buds weren’t experiencing the delight we’d expected and then we’d try washing out the bitter taste with whatever we could find. She’d laugh and we’d eventually laugh as we watched our cousins go through the same shocking surprise. We’d go back outside and play for a while but would later come back in to find a scrumptious dessert that wasn’t the least bit deceiving.

It’s amazing how that bitter baker’s chocolate becomes a part of something so sweet. But what would happen if we had allowed the bitter taste of the un-sweet ingredient to keep us from the enjoying the finished product? What if we just assumed that no dessert could ever be good if it contains that stuff that put such a bad taste in our mouths? I mean, we didn’t imagine it! It was definitely bitter and nothing can change that experience from “that-was-horrible” to “can-I-please-have-some-more.” It was real. We expected something that didn’t turn out the way we’d expected, which could have left us as bitter as the baker’s chocolate, had we not known the baker. See, we know that Aunt Debi knows what she’s doing. She’s an experienced baker and loves to make things for us to enjoy. We know she has to add all sorts of things together to create each delicious treat to the taste buds. We trust her.
How much more should we trust God. We often come face to face with situations that leave us bitter. Relationships that didn’t work out, arguments, bitter feelings about circumstances and we decide to quit and hold bitterness in our hearts. We figure nothing good could ever come out of anything that involves this or that, him or her. While all the time God’s still in control and he’s working out a sweet thing that comes together when he mixes all the ingredients of our lives. The sweet, the bitter, the broken, the parts that would be horrible by themselves, and the parts that are good alone but are so much better when they’re mixed together, put through the fire, and served.
Don’t let a bitter experience keep you from experiencing what God’s cooking up in your life. The word says he causes everything to work together for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose. Sometimes things don’t turn out the way we had hoped or expected. Sometimes we even feel as if we’ve been fooled. But we know God. There’s nothing so bad that he can’t work into the recipe of goodness for you.We know we can trust him. Give him your complete trust today and taste and see that he is good.

Hebrews 12:15
Romans 8:28

Important! Please read regarding changes in Chris Taylor Company (CTC).

In light of recent events that have uncovered poor management in the CTC, Mr. Flesh has been removed from the position of CEO. I am aware that the corruption, which has been reported, has frightened the investors, stockholders, employee, and of course the people CTC serves. I understand you may have fear of loosing your investments and may no longer desire a part of the things CTC has to offer; however, I am fully confident that the new changes implemented are to the approval and advantage of all who have ties with CTC, especially the people the company serves.

I am pleased to announce that after seeking the perfect person to fill the position of president and CEO, I have chosen God the Father and he has graciously accepted the position. I believe that his proven track record along with his unlimited source of wisdom and resources make him the greatest asset CTC has ever had and I am honored to work under him. Under his leadership and direction, CTC will be a company used to meet countless needs in the community.

I am aware of the concerns regarding Mr. Flesh in his attempts to regain employment at CTC. He has applied to every department using various aliases but has been convicted of fraud. Mr. Holy Spirit, head of HR, has denied each of his applications and Mr. Flesh is and will remain unemployable by CTC. We have removed the provisions, which allow his access and have 24-hour security at each access point.

CTC is very pleased to announce the first project under the new CEO. I’m sure you’ve noticed that we are currently undergoing construction on the building. Trinity Designs has designed a breathtaking remodel featuring lots of storm proof windows and lots of light. The foundation itself has been fortified in order to support the new additional levels. The new interior is crisp and clean and the communication technology is the fastest available. Due to the construction, building access has been temporarily limited. CTC appreciates your patience and ensures you that the finished product will be worth the wait.

Sincerely,
Chris Taylor
Head of Heart and Mind Security

Imagine for a moment having a magical treasure box. It’s a small box, but possesses an amazing ability. Anything you put inside of this box becomes reality. Can you fathom the possibilities? That’s an extremely great, yet dangerous power. Many would seek after its ability, some for good and others for great harm. Your destiny is determined by the contents of this box. Your future, even what people think about you, all depend on what you place inside this magical mystery. What would you put inside of it? Who would you allow access to it? Who would you guard it from? How would you keep it away from ruthless pirates and wicked rulers with mighty armies? To prevent this from becoming a weapon it must be entrusted with someone who possesses great diligence, wisdom, and care. It’s a massive responsibility.

The truth is, you’re already in possession of such a thing. Your reality is already decided upon by a little treasure box called the heart. Whatever thoughts you allow inside, whether true or false, become your belief. This is proven by God’s word. Proverbs 23:7 says, “As a man thinks within himself (in the heart) so is he.” Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all else.” This means that the heart is deceitful because whatever you place inside of it, it believes to be true, whether true or not. If you allow false beliefs or opinions to go from your mind to your heart, they become real to you. If you think you’re worthless in your heart, even though this is false, you believe you’re worthless. If you place in your hearth the fact that you are a priceless child of God, you believe it.

This is why the Bible tells us to guard the heart above all else, for out of it flow the issues of life. WOW! The God of the entire universe, who sees all and knows all, commands us to guard the heart! If that doesn’t put enough importance on it, I don’t know what will. God tells us in Romans 10:9 if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you will be saved. Your salvation depends on what you put in your heart. That’s why, like with the powerful treasure box, there’s a wicked ruler with a ship full of lying pirates who desires to fill your heart with things that fulfill his purposes instead of God’s. So lets get back to the questions I asked earlier now that we know this treasure box really exists. What will you put in it? David said, “I hide you’re word in my heart so that I might not sin against you.” He had it right. There’s neither greater truth nor treasure than the word of God. He also asked God to search his heart to see if there was any wicked or hurtful way in him. In another chapter he asked God to create in him a clean heart and to renew a right spirit in him. This proves that there is a wrong spirit that will pollute our hearts. A fact that leads us to the question, who will you allow access to it? The answer is simply God. We allow his spirit and his word full access to search it, clean it, and fill it. Hebrews 4:12 says the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword. It goes on to say that it judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Your heart has thoughts. Now remember that once the thought is in the heart, you believe it. That’s why we need the truth of the word of God to search out and override anything that doesn’t align with it. It knows what our heart thinks, whether good or bad. Psalm 139:23 says, “Search me, oh God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.” The contents of our hearts can cause us to be anxious. Watch how Philippians 4:6 ties into this. It tells us not to be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God, and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. We’ve just discovered that prayer is another way to guard your precious treasure box, which answers the final question asked earlier. How will we guard it? If your heart is guarded in Christ Jesus, there’s nothing that can bust into that fortress of protection unless we let it in. That’s why we take our every thought captive to His obedience. How amazing is it that we can hide in him, while hiding his word in us! God desires a pure heart in each of us. In fact, in Matthew 22, Jesus told us himself that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all you heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. If you’re dealing with a false reality today because of the things you’ve allowed into your heart, loving God is part of the solution. Proverbs 16:6 says by mercy and love, truth and fidelity, iniquity is purged out of the heart. Allow God to examine your heart today. Let him replace your destination of deceit with his reality of righteousness. Through the true knowledge of Him, your treasure box will be filled with rare and precious things.

Genesis 2:8 says God planted a garden in the east, in Eden. Verse 15 says the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden. It seems so perfect to me that God placed Adam in a garden. And though he literally placed him there, I believe there’s a significant spiritual depth that is so rich. I believe each one of us is a spiritual gardener. We’ve been placed by God into specific gardens to grow in and to tend to. There are things we nurture and things we prune. There are weeds we pull and there are places we till and plant. And just like with Adam, God walks with us in the garden. He’s given us things to enjoy and to eat the fruit of. And just like with Adam, he’s placed things in the garden that are off limits. This fact is a bit hard to grasp at first. Why would God do this? Some believe it’s God tempting us, but I know this isn’t so because James 1:13 says that no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone. What he does, is provide us with the opportunity to obey. He gives us the opportunity to trust him and to choose him. So here we are in our garden and it’s meant to be a beautiful, productive, fulfilling, fruitful place, and we’re meant to keep it that way.

I didn’t keep mine very well. Yes I went to church and I watered and nurtured some things. I read the word and prayed, but I also brought in some things to temporarily enjoy that took root. Sinful things I had no idea would grow so fast or root so deep. They began to choke out other important things that were vital to my nutrition and to my garden. The weeds had new places to grow that were beyond my sight. Hidden by the out of control addition I’d allowed within my gates and garden walls. Small foxes and rodents began climbing the sinful ivy that now cascaded over and down the protective borders, and my God given garden gradually became a place that was no longer delightful. I didn’t want to be in my garden anymore. It seemed beyond repair so I searched and found another garden. It looked so pleasurable and in season. It even had the things I’d brought into my garden but they seemed to grow differently. It was springtime in this new garden and it smelled so good. Everything was new and exciting. There were plants I’d never seen before. There were others I had heard of that had bad reputations, but they seemed a lot more enjoyable than people said. This garden was different. Nothing was off limits. Even the poisonous plants were said to be ok if I just had a little. I ate of all the fruit! All my senses were invigorated. I saw everything, listened to everything, tasted everything, touched everything, and took in the fresh aroma all around.

As spring ended and summer settled in, so did I. The fresh aroma was gone because what had been new was now established and had become everyday for me. I had now officially moved and taken residency in the newer garden. It was so pleasurable in the spring, but now the resources were kind of drying up. I hadn’t worked because I was so busy enjoying everything. Now it was really hot and really wearing me down. There’s no big oak tree for shade like I had in my God given garden. There’s not even protection from the storms. But, there was still a little fruit, although it wasn’t fresh like it was in the spring. In fact, it had started to rot. Gnats and fruit flies were becoming so thick that the majority of my energy went to keeping them off the remainder of my fruit; at least what I had decided was mine. Along came fall. A season rightly named might I add because everything I enjoyed began to fall away. One by one the leaves of friendship, worth, and self-esteem dropped to the ground as winds of self-destruction carried off my livelihood. Winter was lonely. I was surrounded by the true identity of the garden. No longer covered in leaves of promise and flowers of glitz and glamour, the raw branches were exposed, along with all the thorns and thistles. It was a miserable time. I couldn’t go anywhere without the pain of the overgrown thorns. I needed it to be spring again! When would it be spring again? I filled my mind with the memories of spring and it helped me to wait. And then…spring arrived, but it was nothing like I had remembered. I was now surrounded by everything I had sown over the past year. I had forgotten that we are always sowing! I tried to nurture and water the things from the season past but they were dead. How could I have known they were seasonal and not annual? I found myself in desperation. How could I live with what I’ve sown? It’s all I have to eat. There’re no nutrients in it. There’s no substance to it. And to top it all off, there’s no water to even wash down the bitter taste. Thoughts of home began to flood my mind and I finally got up and went back to my God given garden.

I was so happy to be home because even though my garden was a mess, it was still better than the deceitful garden I’d made a mess of. I did some work, though there was still a lot to be done, and I enjoyed the company of my garden companions, especially the Lord. But before too long, the seasons in my God given garden were changing, as they always do, and winter can be hard even though it’s temporary. So I looked out my gates and there it was again! Springtime in the other garden! I wondered how it came alive again but there was no time for questions. I was off and back in the mystical garden. I noticed right away that what I had sown was still there. It was mostly ignored thanks to the other things growing around. But once more it happened again. A rerun now played in high definition.

Back and forth I went. My sin season cycle. I had become a horrible, hurtful, lazy, undependable gardener who couldn’t be trusted. I had trained myself to run to anyplace where it was springtime. Then one day after coming home to my God given garden, the garden giver himself spoke to me. He said, “Stop running from winter. I need you to see winter for what it really is. You need the color gone so that you can see things in black and white. Winter is when the roots grow deeper so that the plants grow larger and the trees grow taller. It’s not a time of death, but a time of depth. I want to cover you like snow and my warmth will cause my goodness to water you and nourish you.” This is where I am. I’m under the covering. Pulling weeds and working with the Lord as we make this garden beautiful.

God’s shown me that sin will always be in its pleasurable season somewhere. That’s the only time Satan will present it. He wants to conceal the fact that it’s only pleasurable for that season. He knows that the rotten side of it, the dead side, would push people away rather than draw them in. No one chooses rotten fruit at a grocery store. Crowds don’t flock to home improvement stores in the dead of winter for plants that aren’t in bloom. Teens wouldn’t look at a homeless man who lost everything he had because of drugs and say, “I want that!” The married woman wouldn’t flirt with the guy in the office if she saw the future affect than an affair would have on her husband and children. No! They are drawn in during the pleasurable season.
I’m grateful that God allowed me to see the seasons of sin that lead to death. I’m more grateful that he rescued me and welcomed me home so that I could be restored. You see, I’m not just in a garden; I’m an oak tree. An oak of righteousness to display God’s splendor. I’m now like a tree planted by rivers of water, which yields it’s fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither. Ready in season and out with a promise to prosper.

EVERY MAN’S A GARDENER
FOR ALL WILL SOW AND REEP
SOME WORK AT IT DILIGENTLY
OTHERS CHOOSE TO SLEEP

EVERY MAN’S A GARDENER
ONE DAY IT WILL BE SHOWN
THAT EVERY MAN’S A GARDENER
WHEN HE EATS OF WHAT HE’S SOWN

A few weeks ago my washing machine went out and when the repairman came to fix it, I was so excited because I’d been without it for a couple weeks. So he worked on it and put it back together and said, “all done!” I thought, “Wow, that’s it?” He didn’t test it or anything. He didn’t charge me either. So rejoicing over the money saved I thanked him and he went on his way. I didn’t use the washer that first day because I had to rush off to work since I’d already taken the morning off for the repair.

But the next day, oh the next day! I loaded it up with just a few things that I really needed washed and then it happened. All of the water from the machine flooded out the bottom, out of the washing closet and into my living room! Carpet might I add. Now I’m really picky about my home and I like things to be a certain way, and this was way out of my comfort zone and out of my control! Fear and frustration immediately flooded my mind as the water flooded my carpet. What if the ceiling below me is ruined? What if my carpet is ruined? What if there’s water damage and my home is never the same without spending money that I don’t have? I was frustrated. This wasn’t the way things were supposed to happen. My washer was supposed to be fixed and I was going to wash my clothes and everything was going to smell good and be clean and hung up in my color coordinated closet on matching hangers. I wasn’t prepared for this! I used a carpet machine to suck up the water and towels to dry the mess, but apparently carpet and the padding underneath don’t dry as quickly as we’d like. So, after days of frustration, blotting water, fans running, wet socks in the middle of the night on my trips to the bathroom, and the smell of mildew, the carpet finally dried. Now I know that some would have had a repair man out that first day to fix everything, but the thought of the frustration I had gone through kept me from calling anyone back right away to fix my machine. What if this happens again? What if water spills on my carpet that has finally dried while he’s working on it? I feared that even one drop would replay the whole thing over in my head.

But the thing is, I need my washing machine. Without it, things stay dirty and it starts to stink.

I remember when I was blessed with this washer and how wonderful it was to be able to do my laundry at home and to always have clean clothes.

How often do we let situations in our life, let downs, disasters, frustrations, and messes keep us from trying again. Maybe someone in church hurt you and you’ve decided not to go back. Maybe you planned an event that bombed or you stepped out into a field of ministry that wasn’t successful right off the bat! Is that reason enough to quit? What if Moses had quit after Pharaoh said no the first time and disaster struck? What if he waited to go back until he was comfortable….. he never would have! Is trouble or past frustration keeping you from fixing things in your life? Is there a relationship that was valuable to you sitting broken in a closet because of an argument that brings up bad feelings? Take time today to fix it. Talk to God about it today. Seek direction and ask him to help you move past the past! Then, with his help, rebuild that part of your life that you’ve been neglecting and you’ll remember and appreciate the value of what he’s given you and why he gave it to you in the first place.

If you believed…

“CRUCIFY HIM, CRUCIFY HIM!” yelled the angry crowd on the darkest day of time. I can’t help but to wonder how they would’ve acted differently had they believed and know that this was the Lord of Lords. That this was part of the Godhead who was there when the world was created. How would they have acted differently? Yet they wanted to see him die. Some who even waved palm branches and sung of his praises were so quick to turn when it was no longer what the crowd was doing. People who saw miracles and wonders and maybe even received them personally, now gazed upon a man who had been praised for what he did and not for whom he was. The man they loved for what he did and not for whom he was. What would have been different if they would have known? What would have been done differently if they had really believed in who he was?

I believe this is a question that can be asked to us today.
What would we do differently if we really believed in who he is?

How would you honor him differently today if you knew he is Elohim, the creator of heaven and earth, who was and is and is to come?
How would you bless him if you believed he is El-Shaddai, the God almighty of blessings?
How would you worship Adonai if he were really your Lord and Master?
How would you trust differently today if you believed that he is Jehovah-Jireh, who sees your needs and provides for them?
How about if you trusted him as Jehovah-Rapha, who is your healer?
How would you live today if you were sanctified by Jehovah-M’Kaddesh?
What kind of victory jig would you have danced today had you believed him to be Jehovah-Nissi, your deliverer?
How much better would you rest today if you really knew him as Jehovah-Shalom, the prince of peace?

Do you love him for who he is today? Does your life show it? Does your heart show it? Do your words show it?

What would you do differently today if you really believed?

I was watching a popular tv show this morning and it had a mothers day special with all kinds of gifts at different price levels that you could buy your mom. It started with small things like gardening tools and decorative things for the home. Then there were some perfumes and other items around 100 dollars. Then the guest on the show said, “If price is no object, this last one is for you!” Then she showed us a watch “or time piece” she called it, which cost more than my yearly salary. When I saw it I thought to myself…how in the world is that so expensive? I’ve seen watches that look just like that at Ross for 9 dollars. But then she started describing the watch in detail. This has a white alligator band. It’s face, which is made of pearl is surrounded by real princess cut diamonds with superior clarity. The gold that you see is 24 karat and it has a lifetime warranty.

Now when she described it I realized that what I had seen at Ross was an imitation. The band was probably plastic or synthetic leather, the gold was plated, and the diamonds weren’t diamonds at all. However, at first glance it looked really good. And it was cheap! The crazy thing is, I wouldn’t have known the difference because I know nothing about diamonds and I wouldn’t think to check the gold…. and to be honest, I wouldn’t know the real thing if I saw it. I’d probably think the real thing was fake because the imitations are so similar looking to the real thing, especially to those who don’t know a lot about jewelry.

I don’t think I’d ever see that watch on anyone’s wrist and believe it was real because you see those watches everywhere for so cheap.
But the truth is, though they look similar to the naked eye. There is no comparison in value and worth. There is a huge gap in the imitation and the real deal.
I think it’s amazing that although there are so many imitations, the price of the real deal doesn’t decrease; however, when the stores get flooded with imitations, the imitations soon become cheaper. If the price seems too high, people know they can find it somewhere else at a price they are more comfortable paying.

A. I don’t want imitations in my life. I don’t want an imitation relationship with my wife that cut corners and didn’t cost as much upfront but cost later.
B. If you watch those classic car auctions on tv then you’ll quickly discover that the cars that are all original that have been maintained are more expensive. They don’t have imitation parts or motors that weren’t intended for them. The true collector wants the car the way it was designed to be.
C. Casual: the watch on the tv wasn’t a watch that you’d wear with a ballgown or to a fancy event. It was a casual style watch. The real deal isn’t just for your dress up time. Not just for Sunday mornings and places where you’ll be seen by all your friends. If you’re the real deal, you’re all so pure during your casual times and in the casual places. You’re still the real deal when you sit at home to watch a movie in the privacy of your home. You’re still the real deal and pure when you go to a ball game. You still choose extracurricular activities that aren’t imitation. You can’t buy a watch of that quality at Ross among the mark downs and imitations because it’s still in season. It’s still fine quality and it’s found in high quality places.
D. Don’t expect to find a high quality, pure Christian in a bar at midnight drinking with their friends.
E. Every once in a while you come across a person selling something cheap because they don’t know the value of it. Or they think, I’ll never need this, I’ll just sell it to have a little something for right now. This culture has convinced us that some of our most valuable things are cheaps and that we’ll never need them. So why not sell them now for a little instant gratification. One of those things is sexual purity.