Fruit

You really can't know the lord unless you've been through the fire. Alot of folk try to know him through his Resurrection but you really can't know the power behind him unless you walked with him through his suffering. I can give you alot of info about him in a book...or on this blog...or through a conversation but it's something about going through the fire that gives one a personal experience that NO ONE can take away! Have any of you ever met the Lord in the fire? I used to think that fiery or spiritual folk where the people in church who hollered the most but that's not necessarily true. Some folks are hollering because the next one is hollering or they are standing because the next person is standing. They have no idea what the next one is hollering or standing about. But then you have some that are standing and shouting from a place because they know something. I stand and shout because I know and am learning God in a way that I wouldn't have if I had not been in the fire. I know how he can move. I know where I've been. If my friends stayed with me...or my family stayed with me...or my job stayed with me... I wouldn't KNOW him like I do right now. When they pulled out...he pulled in. If you've been in the fire or are in the fire, give God the praise. We have seasons where we are like the THREE Hebrew boys, they were in the fire but there was a FOURTH in there with them! There are some things about God that you can only learn while suffering for a while. The problem with some people is that they want the crown w/out the cross...they want the beauty w/out the ashes. God said if you suffer with me you will reign with me. He puts you in a place where you have no choice but to lean on him. Think about the true confidant in your life. Your real and true confidant is the individual that consistently walked with you and supported you through your time of suffering. You never have to look at this person and wonder what their motive is during your times of prosperity because they were with you during your times of lack. You don't mind providing everything in your power for that person because they were there and you know they were genuine. God is the same way. He says if you praise me during the agony...if you praise me during the pain...if you praise me through the tears...I will OPENLY and PUBLICLY reward you. He doesn't go back on his word. I KNOW that his word is NEVER null and void. As spiritual individuals walking this physical journey, we often depend on the "cares of the world" to provide UNLIMITED & perfect support and happiness. This is not available in anyone...not a husband...friend..confidant..mama..etc. A person can only do so much because they are not perfect and have shortcomings. We all do. You can't depend on mankind to fill you with unconditional love and happiness. They will fail you every time. God is sovereign. He will never leave you or forsake you. He loves you even when you are not the best person that you can be. He loves you even when you've done something that displeases him. Mankind sees what's on the outside. They often see you as a book...if the cover doesn't appeal, they assume the inside isn't appealing or if they see a "benefit" to being around you then they can deal with you. God sees our heart. God is not like mankind where they often befriend you or want a relationship due to something they feel they can get out of the deal. He doesn't love us or draw near to us to gain something from us because there is NOTHING we can give him. He is the owner of everything! He is waiting with open arms and covering for us even when we are RUNNING from him. Can you say that about ANYONE in your life? Can you say that a certain person or people have NEVER judged you or hurt you in some form or fashion? I can't. I depend on no one but my creator because he is all knowing and has everlasting love. I can lean on him because he has the shoulders for me to do that:) There's room for you too! I know that he will slowly but surely work on the things in me and about me that is displeasing in his sight. I no longer see myself through the eyes of other people. I pray to to see myself and other people through HIS eyes & he is providing me with that vision. This is very important to me because the carnal side of me sometimes would like to lash out,remove, and forget everyone that has ever taken me for granted or didn't give me the respect that I've given but then he quickly puts me in my place by saying, "concern yourself with dotting ALL of your "i's" and crossing your "t's". Let me do the rest. If they aren't meant to be there, I'll remove and replace them". I just sit still and wait.  I thank God for seeing me as a tree that's capable of bearing fruit. He often digs around and pulls out the "weeds" and "rocks" to allow the tree to grow. He puts fertilizer aka boo boo:) around the roots to allow it to grow. I no longer go through my "mess", I grow through it. I allow him to remove every weed...rock..insect...that prohibits my growth in him. A person is known by the fruit that they bear. Your fruit is your actions towards others particularly those that you can REAP NO BENEFITS FROM by doing for them. A person can SAY alot of things but their ACTIONS speak the loudest. I can sit here and quote scriptures, not eat every cow,pig, antelope,etc,wear dresses down to my ankles, and know every church in the southeast BUT if my everyday walk and actions towards my neighbor is all wrong, I have done nothing but PUT ON A SHOW for society. I am not a fan of religion. I am not a "fan" period. Fans are like the "constituents" in our lives...they jump on whatever ride gets them to their destination the fastest. They are not stable. They change up depending on the weather or circumstance.  How many constituents are you surrounded by? Careful...they can often be confused with a confidant. Moving on..I consider myself a follower of Christ and supporter of a strong spiritual relationship with Christ. "Religion" is a show for society. Religion states that as long as you are in church every Sunday and don't eat pork...at least in front of anyone..then you are saved & can go to heaven. Religion says that if you do a certain dance on Sunday's, then you are the holiest of holys. Religion caters to the world and society. When you cater to the world via religion, you only become a expert at deceiving yourself as well as others. Too many people that are "religious" smoke a blunt and drink liquor through the week yet point the finger at the crack attic that is in church on Sundays. How is the pot head going to talk about the heroin attic? How is the adulterer going to talk about the whore? How does the woman who fornicates talk about the woman who cheats on her husband? How does the man who's "shacking up" talk about the man who sleeps with prostitutes? How does the lesbian talk about the gay man? My point is...YOU CAN'T. We all are a work in progress. We all have places that need straightening out but how are we supposed to do this with this limited mentality of somehow thinking we are "better" due to committing only a certain sin? Too many of us get caught up in the "logistics" of how often, when, and where we go to church. Yes, we are to worship with other believers but never get so comfortable in your pew that you can't go out to bring other's in. God shows up in some of the most creative places. You'd be surprised. It's time that we at least try to get our "little church" together before we boast in the big church on Sunday's. No, I'm not perfect and neither are you but it's too many of us in various positions in life that can GIVE the advantage to other people instead of always taking advantage. I pray that God continues to surround me with people that speak faith mutually and that are loyal to him enough to know how to love on everyone around them. I pray that he removes those that are simply spectating and perpetrating. I pray that he removes anything about me or around me that is displeasing to him so I can become the woman that he has created me to be and bear the fruit that he'd like to see. What fruit are you bearing on today?


Peace,Love, and Blessings,


Nata Bee

copyright © 2011 Renate' Bender