Author: typistforjesus

I believe in God, His Son, Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. I am a mother of two beautiful young ladies and grandmother to a precious granddaughter. The aim of this blog is to share the Good News of the Gospel and share the love of Jesus.

Fruitless

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. John 15:5-6

There is a gentleman in my neighborhood that a grape vine. Every year he prunes it, ties the branches up and really puts a great deal of work on it. Despite all his work, his vines never produce. Year after year, there are no grapes.  He blames it on the birds or deer, he claims the neighbors steal them or the neighborhood kids eat them. He always has a reason why there is never fruit.

              Many of us are like this man in our spiritual lives. We rely on ourselves; we make a good show of all we do.  We are quick to boast about what we have done and as quick to blame others when it doesn’t work out.  But we have forgotten the most important thing.  We have failed to rely on God. For anything in our lives to be truly fruitful it must be through God.

              There are several references to wine in the Bible. In fact, 256 times.  Wine was not just made from grapes but from dates, figs, and pomegranates. It was consumed as part of the regular diet, during celebrations and weddings. Wine was even used for medicinal purposes and gifted as a symbol of blessing. That is why grapes, wine and the vineyard are used in parables because everyone was familiar with the process. Within this chapter, (John 15) Jesus repeats several times that He is the vine and we the branches.  One may wonder why Jesus repeated the theme. In Jewish learning the process of rote or repetitious learning was principle. The average mind requires the reiteration of truth before it can make that truth its own. By repeating “I am the Vine and you the branches”, Jesus is emphasizing the relationship between Jesus and the Christian.

              The vine is connected to the root system and its function is to nourish the branches. The branches are the conduit through which the vine expresses itself. Grapes do not appear on the vine or the trunk.  Only the branches bear fruit and that fruit is a direct result of the vine’s nutrients. The vine is the source of life.

              Jesus is the source of life for all that choose him. Without him there is no life. Only through Christ can the branches, Christians, flourish. Does your life produce fruit? Can those around know that your fruit comes from the spiritual relationship that you share with Jesus?  Or, like my neighbor, are your branches barren?  Has the relationship grown cold? Or maybe you are trying to do it all yourself and not relying on Jesus.

Jesus said:  apart from me you can do nothing. 

Typist for Jesus

Air Locks, Black Holes and Spontaneous Combustion-

Taking Rogue Thoughts Captive

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5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 2 Corinthians 10:1-6

READ 2 Corinthians 10:1-6  I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!— 2 I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

I have been sharing with you my struggle to forgive and release my anger toward situations in my life that have directly affected me physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  As I continue to turn to the Holy Spirit and the Word, I want to continue to share what I learn. We are well armed and fitted with what we need to face the tough seasons in our lives. We will always face difficulties in this life, it is the lot of humankind but knowing and trusting in God to help you navigate through the trials makes the difference between defeat and victory.

The battle begins in our minds.

              Our minds often determine our end.  By not controlling my thoughts, I became more angry, more bitter and blinded. I would run the scenarios or something someone said in a loop in my mind and as I did so I became more agitated. Allowing myself to indulge in this “created” internal argument provided strongholds for my enemy to get his foot into.  Then with that stronghold over me, I fell further into depression and anger.  The scenarios were not real, they were manufactured in my mind to feed my anger and push me further from God.

For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.

 To some this may seem incredible, however how many times have you allowed something someone said to you fester in your mind? How many times have you allowed what happened at the family dinner to gnaw at you until you are so angry with that family member you aren’t talking to them anymore? And they have no idea why!  What about something said to you against your faith in God and you turned in your mind rather than presented it before God for understanding? We do it everyday on grand and small degrees and we let those imaging run free producing fake emotions, perceived injuries and sparking anger.

..and take every thought captive to obey Christ

Your mind is strong and you, only you, can determine what you allow to play in your mind. When imaginings raise up causing paranoia or doubt, and sinful thoughts take that thought and cast it out.  I literally imagine myself ejecting it from an airlock.  A friend of mine drops her’s in a black hole. It doesn’t matter how you imagine it leaving your mind as long as it does.  Wad it, trash it, sweep it, set fire to it whatever but bring that thought under submission and cast it out. You cannot be in obedience to Christ if you allow these thoughts to occupy your mind unchecked. You leave yourself vulnerable and allow the enemy to seek out strongholds in your mind to use against you.

 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.

Typist for Jesus

Refrain from Anger

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Refrain from anger and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. Psalm 37:8

I have spent the last three months angry. This anger has permeated every part of my life, my relationships, my health, my writing, and my relationship with God.  When I tried to pray my anger got between the Lord and myself. I was snappy to my family and friends. Every time I ate the heartburn would keep me up most of the night. Anger bled into frustration and that morphed into depression. Many days I laid in my bed staring at a blank wall gritting my teeth and churning inside. It is a terrible thing to admit and put into words.  But there it is.

              Anger is not a sin; it is a perfectly natural and normal thing that we all experience. The problem is when we allow anger to grow, and we react out of anger. Once we do that, we are vulnerable, and our enemy uses that opportunity to enter our hearts. An angry heart taints everything it touches and our relationships.  Especially our relationship with God.

              There is no place in your heart for anger. Once you accepted Jesus as your savior and invited him to dwell within you there is no room for it. I let it in and that crowded out Jesus and the Spirit. Anger is loud and because of it we often cannot hear the Savior’s voice.  I am thankful that our Lord is forgiving and patient with us. Though I embraced that anger, Jesus never left my side and the Spirit continued to minister to me. When I think of the situation, I become angry again, but I immediately repent and drop it at Jesus’ feet.  Over the last few weeks those opportunities for anger have lessened and my desire to hold on to it continues to wane.

              We do not have control over the things that others do, but we do have the choice to decide how we react to their actions.  We can embrace anger, or we can choose to refrain from it.

              Typist for Jesus

I Am the Typist for Jesus

And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Matthew 5:40

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              I haven’t written a Mustard Seed in a couple of months.  I had just about decided that it was time to move on to something else. After nearly ten years, I was pretty sure that it had run its course. I had not received a call or even an email asking why there had not been recent publications. No one has asked so no one must be reading them.

              Last night, I decided that I would discontinue the Mustard Seed. I told God that since no one seemed to even notice they had stopped then there was no point. It was a very sad moment for me.

              Today I got a phone call.  “Hey, I haven’t seen a Mustard Seed in a while aren’t you writing them anymore?” I explained the situation to this young lady.  She seemed disappointed to hear that I was discontinuing publishing the Seed. Before I could say anymore her husband called out from another room. “Hey, sorry to be eavesdropping but I heard what you said and immediately I heard “as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” God says to tell you, that even if only one person is reading, you need to be writing.  I think you need to pray and make sure that is what God wants. I think He wants you to keep writing.”

Well, I cried after that call and not just a little. I had swollen eyes and snot bubbles all over the place. My daughter came in and was in a panic for a moment wondering what I was going on about. That husband had a message for me, and he delivered it with an authority that I knew exactly where it came from.  He and his wife ministered to me and renewed my desire to get back to the keyboard.

We have the ability and responsibility to minister to one another and should never shy away from obeying God when he speaks to us about another. The Holy Spirit spoke to this man and he obeyed.  I am very grateful for his willingness to be an instrument for God.

I’ve been called to minister to others with the written word, so I better get to writing.  I hope you will join me on some new adventures this year. Maybe invite some others to read along.

I am the Typist for Jesus.

Unveiled

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:17-18

              There were times while on my Egyptian Adventure I would have to pause and give myself a little pinch. Sometimes I was in disbelief that I was in Egypt and privileged to see some of the most amazing sites on earth and through history. One of those moments was when I was in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

              I stood transfixed in front of the glass case that protected the golden death mask of King Tutankhamun. Slowly, I circled the case my eyes roving over every part of the mask exploring every precious stone inlaid in his head dress, his obsidian eyes, and the detail of his pierced ears. It all fascinated me. I circled his effigy several times before, I returned to stand before the mask.  My mind raced and I was awed to think that I was staring at the face of a young man that lived 3350 years ago.  Tutankhamun reigned from 1333BCE until his death in 1323 BCE at the age of 19 years old. His exact cause of death has been the subject of many documentaries and numerous scientific tests and study.

As I pondered these things something caught my attention and I realized that I was so close to the mask, that my refection was in the gold of his cheek.  I stared at it for several seconds in awe.  As I studied my reflection, I was reminded that I am to reflect my King, the true King of all time, past, present, future and forever.  I should be reflecting him not me.  

Before Jesus died on the cross, we were separated from God by our sin. God’s people lived a life of laws and rules that they could not uphold. Because they could not, animal sacrifices had to be made to atone for sin. When Jesus died on the cross, he became the final sacrifice, the chasm that separated man was span.  The veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom and we were unveiled and therefore became like mirrors who reflect the glory of the Lord.

Life for all of us is uncertain across the globe and I admit there are times I find myself dealing with fear and anxiety. And when I do, I remind myself that I must renew my thoughts (Romans 12:2) and focus my eyes on him.  Especially now, with so many people living in despair and fear, we need to be the reflection of a loving Jesus. We cannot allow ourselves to get caught up in the fear and worry but be a beacon reflecting the hope of Christ.

What do you reflect?

Typist for Jesus

Step Out on Dry Ground in Faith

n Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, 22 and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. Exodus 14:21

After several days of touring the temples and tombs of Egypt, we took a much-needed rest at a resort in Hurghada on the Red Sea.  As I stood on the balcony looking out over the stunning blue of the sea and a forest of white umbrellas, it was hard to imagine Moses and the Israelites crossing this body of water.

 The beach in Hurghada is rocky and the wind blows continually.  The water is cold but clear, and the temperature stays a comfortable upper 80’s. Yachts cruise along the coast, their flags whipping in the wind, under a seemingly endless sky. It is a perfect oasis of never-ending food, entertainment, and relaxation. Far from what it was 3,000 years ago.

 One day I ventured past the umbrellas to a platform with a metal steps that disappeared into the water. Holding the railing and stretching my eyes across the water I tried to imagine what it was like for the Israelites that night as they waited by the sea knowing Pharaoh’s army was bearing down on them.

              The Bible tells us in Exodus 14:21 that the sea did not immediately divide when Moses raised his staff, instead God sent a strong east wind that blew all night pushing the water apart and drying the ground. When you think about that, the people had to huddle along the shore, waiting. Waiting on God to prepare their way. Waiting for the ground to be dry enough to cross and the whole time they waited they knew the enemy had 600 chariots racing toward them (Exodus 14: 7). Horse hoofs thundering, torches burning into the darkness, and the warriors filling the night with their war cries.  How terrifying when you allow yourself to meditate on it.  Huddled in the darkness with the sea ahead they cannot go forward, certain death and destruction behind them they could only wait, trust, and believe.

              Our world is in turmoil and we have been driven out of the way of life we have known. We have no idea what tomorrow will bring. We spend time on our knees in prayer beseeching him for deliverance, for answers, for understanding of things that lack wisdom and we wait. Many of us are nervous, worried, and afraid. Do not give up. Hold tight, God has this. We may have been taken by surprise, but he hasn’t.

Do not live in fear but in anticipation.

Waiting for God is not easy but then it was not ever meant to be. If God responded to prayers and request with fast answers, how would we learn patience, faith, and trust? It is not easy; it never will be and that is why you must have faith in him even when you are huddled in the dark.  Trust him when the enemy is close at hand.  Anticipate the east wind as it comes to make your way. Step out on dry ground in faith and know God in still in control.

Typist for Jesus

Lasting Impressions

MUSTARD SEEDS POSTCARD: Hatshepsut Temple at Deir el-Bohri, Egypt

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10

One of the temples I was very excited to visit was that of Hatshepsut’s temple at Deir el-Bohri. Hatshepsut (1479-1458 BCE) was not content with being a co-regent with her infant stepson Thutmose III, she had in mind something different.  In the second year of the co-regent reign, Hatshepsut named herself Pharaoh and donned the Pharaoh’s beard.  She had herself depicted as a male pharaoh in traditional clothing and in the same postures. However, she never changed her face, still appearing very feminine and pleasant looking.

  It is uncertain why she waited until the third year to take the throne but there are several theories. Whatever her reason, Hatshepsut was one of the most successful Pharaohs reigning for 20 years until her death in 1458 BC.  Hatshepsut is credited with establishing new trade routes and increasing Egypt’s wealth beyond what it had every been before or since.  She avoided wars and conflict with neighboring kingdoms by creating trade. She also built on a grander scale during her reign than any other pharaoh except for Rameses II. This proves she was in command of enormous wealth and created many jobs for her people. She commissioned building projects throughout the country. Her temple at Deir el-Bohri is one of the most impressive temples. (pictured above) In addition, she had two enormous obelisks raised at Karnak and elsewhere.  

Unfortunately, those that reigned after her did not have the same appreciation. Immediately after her death and Thutmose III’s rise to the throne, Hatshepsut was erased from history, her images destroyed, and her name blotted. Her campaigns, building projects and trade routes were credited to Thutmose III and he backdated his reign back to the death of his father, Thutmose I. Thutmose III did not want anyone to remember his stepmother.  However, this scheme has backfired on him Hatshepsut is well known today, and her temples are visited by thousands of people each year. Her story is both inspiring and amazing.  Hatshepsut took a risk took control and, in the process, prospered her people and country.

This may seem a strange subject for a Mustard Seed, but I think it is a good reminder that though your choices and actions are not immediately seen, your life and actions have a direct and lasting impact on the world around you.  What you choose to do, to say in any situation makes an impression, it influences everyone around you and not just today but tomorrow.

It is a tremendous responsibility that many of us never think about, but certainly should.  God’s Word tells us plainly that we are responsible for our actions and how they impact. We have been given many talents and abilities and we should employ them to help and encourage others. As Christians we need to think before we speak and weigh our words. Do our words lift, or do they tear down? Do our actions portray what Jesus would have us show of his love? These are questions that we should be asking ourselves daily.

Your choices and words live on through those around you and will reach further than you ever thought possible. Make sure you consider what you do or say carefully.

Typist for Jesus

Every Sunrise is a Renewal

Sunrise over Luxor, Egypt 9/2021

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

The chill of the desert morning left me with a shiver. I was nervous and my stomach rolled. I had never done well with heights and the idea of climbing in the wicker basket filled me with dread. Despite my fear, I climbed the rickety metal steps and dropped down. Once everyone was situated, the pilot released a blast of super-heated gas that threatened to deafen me and my fellow travelers. The balloon rose and we floated effortlessly and gently into the predawn sky. 

Balloons over Luxor 9/2021

              I was in a sweat, cold beads formed on my forehead. I closed my eyes tight afraid to look. I began to pray and take in deep revitalizing breaths.  After a few moments I opened my eyes and stretched them over the earth. A wash of peace covered me. Stepping closer to the outside of the basket I smiled. Colorful balloons dotted the sky and rays of pink began to streak the horizon.

              After only a few moments the basket erupted in exclamations as the sun burst and light, pale at first, illuminated the world.

              The ancient Egyptian believed that the sun died every evening and was reborn every morning. They saw each day as a renewal of life. To a degree, they were spot on. We cannot do anything about yesterday.  It is over and done.  We cannot go back or take back what we have done or said but we can do our best to make today better.

              Do not dwell on the past or things that you cannot change, but rather take each day and strive to walk with Jesus. Each day, God extends his grace and renews his mercy.

              Every sunrise is a renewal.

              Typist for Jesus

A Bag of Glasses

Bag of Glasses: What lenses do you use to view the world?

Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. Psalms 119:18

I popped in on my parents a couple of weeks ago.  We were having a little impromptu Sunday lunch.  I brought the chicken and mom made the sides.  As we waited on the last thing to come out of the oven, my mom handed me a bag. I peeked inside.  It was full of reading glasses. There were all shapes and colors. What driven this interesting gift was unfortunately I had broken my prescription glasses. Worst still with the delays and reduced number of clients that could be seen, I cannot get an appointment for two months. So, my mom always thinking got every reader she had and offered them for me to try.  She even provided a newspaper cutting for me to use to gauge which of the glasses would work best.  Some of the glasses were blurry, others were too weak and even one pair caused immediate nausea. Finally, after trying them all, I chose three pair and gave my mom a thankful peck on the cheek.

              Later, on the drive home, I thought about that bag of glasses. How each lens influenced how I perceived the world around me. It is the lens that determines how we see.

 So, what lenses do you use to view the world around you? Is it the lens of the media? Maybe your favorite Tik Tok? Your friends? Favorite show? Grief? Bitterness? Fear?

We have many options for lenses to choose from, but not all the choices are the best. How we choose to look at the world affects our relationships, not just with others but with ourselves. It affects our moods and can exacerbate depression. Sometimes the wrong lens evokes fear and leaves us feeling hopeless. Reading the Bible is the best lens we can use to view our world. The Bible teaches us to love one another and to leave the judging to the one and only judge. Reading your Bible strengthens your faith, gives you hope and perseverance to face the trials ahead. It places the focus on Jesus and reminds you how important and special you are to God.

Do you need a new perspective a more positive and peaceful view?

Change your lenses.

Typist for Jesus

Boldness is Contagious

If you get on your knees before God, you can stand before any man.

And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. Philippians 1:14

Today I read a comment from someone on their stance on the vaccine mandate.  Their response was intelligent, compassionate, and aligned pretty much to my thoughts.  After I read it my cursor floated over the “LIKE” button.  It hovered because I was afraid to hit like and tie myself to the statement. Time passed and the statement hung out there like the proverbial “elephant in the room” on the forum.  This person’s idea was contrary to the accepted narrative. However, I believe that more people align to this thought but because we fear backlash, threats, potential job loss and alienation in our communities, we keep it to ourselves.  

              Finally, one brave person hit “LIKE” and then a rapid succession of thumbs up began. The boldness of one person gave the rest of us the courage. I thought about this incident for the rest of the day. We have become conditioned to worry about the consequences of expressing ourselves we have chosen to sit on the sidelines silent. As Christians, we have our own mandate to declare the gospel to all.

              Jesus was not always very popular himself.  Though he taught thousands there were thousands more that refused his message. He was driven out of towns, in fact his hometown. The truth is not always the popular narrative, but truth cannot be silent, and neither can we.  If we cannot have the boldness to hit a button how will we face the coming days? The time is coming when you will have to decide to boldly say you stand with Jesus or with his enemy.  If we cannot speak up for truth now, how will we stand for it later?

              Each of us face times when we struggle and are reluctant to share our faith.  We do not have to muster up courage but rely on the Spirit that is within each of us. Through studying the Word and coming to God in repentance and prayer He will embolden us to proclaim the gospel without fear.

              Boldness is contagious. When we are bold for Christ, it provokes others to do the same.

              Typist for Jesus