TWO KINDS OF TREES? WHICH ARE YOU?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF TREES ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE? WHICH ARE YOU? CONSIDER YOUR WAYS?
Matthew 3:10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Matthew 3:10 (MSG) What counts is your life. Is it green and blossoming? Because if it's deadwood, it goes on the fire.
FIRE WOOD TREES or FRUIT TREES?
The blossom goes before the fruit? No blossoms, no fruit?
HAVE YOU EVER LOOKED AT WHAT KIND OF SEEDS YOU ARE PLANTING...?
Galatians 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Galatians 6:8 (MSG) harvests a crop of weeds. All he'll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God's Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life.
WELL, PREACHER, I AM NOT A FRUIT INSPECTED…???
THE HEALTH OF THE APPLE?
Luke 6:44 For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.
Luke 6:44 (MSG) The health of the apple tells the health of the tree. You must begin with your own life-giving lives.
SICKLY OAKS FROM SICKLY ACORNS GROW?
All the mighty oak is? Is a nut that stood it’s ground.
HERE COMES THE COWBOY? REAL LIVE COWBOY?
THERE IS PURE INSANITY TO THINK YOU CAN STAY THE SAME AND DO THINGS THE SAME OLD WAYS AND EXPECT A DIFFERENT OUTCOME.
Years ago I had three vehicles. I had a cow escape the fence area and I was looking for him? I got in a car and searching for that cow. It was cold and the ground was very, very wet. I saw the black angus in the neighbor’s field. So I drove over to get the cow. Real live cowboy here? I went through a low spot and the car sank to the axle.
I walked home and got a chain and another car and returned to get the car and the cow? I hit that low muddy spot and wow, the car buried to the axle. Now there are two cars stuck and a loose cow?
No problem, I walked back home and got my other car and a longer chain. I hooked on to the second car, and would you believe it, I am stuck in the mud. If you keep doing the same thing, why would you expect anything different? I got out and looked all three cars deep in mud and I THINK THAT COW WAS LAUGHING AT ME?
I walked about a ½ mile and knocked on the neighbor’s door. I asked him if he could get the JOHN DEER out of the barn and help me, I am stuck in the mud. He said of course and we went to the barn and got the green tractor and headed to the field.
He was laughing as we pulled up to see all three of my cars buried to the axle in the mud. I looked over to the cow and told that dumb old cow to quit laughing at me. I attached the chain and we pulled the car out to higher ground. We returned and I hooked the chain to the second car and pulled it out to our drive way. Then we returned and got the third car out of the mud and pulled it to the road.
We did not have to return to get the cow, the cow watched us and as we were leaving and the cow followed us home.
WHY WOULD A COWBOY GET IN SUCH A MESS? I heard my neighbor was telling everyone at the local country store about that preacher and his three cars in the mud? They teased me for some time? HERE COMES THE COWBOY? I want to be a COW MAN? NOT A COW BOY? The farmer did give me some advice for the next time. He said: PUT SOME CORN IN A BUCKET and walk to the cow and when the cow sees the bucket, he will follow you home without getting stuck? I TOLD HIM THAT WAS A BRIGHT IDEA! He said: I have been there done that? I said: THREE CARS, he said: NO, I LEARNED ON ONE?
CHOICES HAVE CONSEQUENCES. GET OUT YOUR APPOINTMENT BOOK? ARE YOU BRINGING OUT THE BEST IN YOU? ARE YOU BRINGING OUT THE BEST IN YOUR FAMILY? CAN YOU SEE THE NEED TO CHANGE?
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Hebrews 9:27 (MSG) Everyone has to die once, then face the consequences.
MOSES WAS TOLD BY GOD: SPEAK TO THE ROCK --- IN ANGER AND IMPATIENCE MOSES HIT THE ROCK.
MIRIAM WAS SHUT OUT OF THE CAMP OF GOD 7 DAYS FOR SPEAKING AGAINST MOSES’ WIFE.
SAMSON SPENT THE NIGHT AT THE HOLIDAY INN WITH HIS HEAD IN THE LAP OF A PRETTY WOMAN… TWO EYES?
JUST KILLING TIME? WASTED TIME?
I recently heard on the Doctor Phil Show a visit with the famed child star from the Partridge Family of DAVID CASSIDY.
CASSIDY would not admit that he had an alcohol/drug problem and he refused the offer of help from the Doctor. Sometime later Cassidy died. Doctor Phil stated, at the end of the show, that Cassidy’s daughter reported that David’s last words were: “TOO MUCH WASTED TIME.”
HOW SAD: TO COME TO THE CONCLUSION OF A LIFE AND MAKE THE STATEMENT: “TOO MUCH WASTED TIME.”
LIFE AT BEST IS ONLY TEMPORARY!
While teaching school we taught two special words…. FINITE and INFINITE. We need to be able to recognize the difference of these two words.
I HAVE OFTEN FOUND GOD IN THE SMALL STUFF OF MENIAL DAILY LIVING?
WHAT KIND OF FOOTBALL GAME WOULD BE PLAYED IG THE WHOLE GAME WAS PLAYED LIKE AGTER THE TWO MINUTE WARNING WAS ANNOUNCED?
DO WE UNDERSTAND IMPERATIVE COMMMANDS? NOT OPTIONAL? MANATORY?
Many imperative commands do not have a subject in the sentence. The subject in this case is YOU UNDERSTOOD.
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
THE PEN IN PETER’S HAND is being led by the Holy Spirit. The pen uses the conjunction, BUT… but is a signal word that there is an important thought ahead. BUT, GROW…
GROW IN GRACE
GROW IN KNOWLLEDGE.
WE MUST ADDRESS OUR HEARTS AND EVALUATE OUR GROWTH PLAN?
Will we stay forever as we are now?
YOU WILL EITHER GROW OR DIE? YOU CAN NOT STAY THE SAME AND EXPECT CHANGE.
ONE OF THE ITEMS GOD HAS PLANNED AND PURPOSED IN HIS CHILDREN IS GROWTH, REAL GROWTH AND THAT WE HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE. WE SHOULD EVALUATE SEVERAL ISSUES.
*WHO AM I?
*WHO DO I THINK I AM? AM I THE SAME IN MY EYES AS WHAT OTHERS SEE?
*WHERE AM I? HOW? DID I GET HERE?
*IS THIS WHERE I WANT TO BE?
*HOW CAN I IMPROVE MY ATTIITUDES, WORDS AND DEEDS?
*DO I HONESTLY HAVE A PLAN TO GROW OR BE BETTER
ARE YOU MAKING PROGRESS? ARE WE STUCK IN THE MUD? DO WE HOLD THE FLESH TO BE EVALUATED AND ACCOUNTABLE? HOW DO WE MEASURE PROGRESS?
DO WE SPIIRITUALLY SAY: QUE SERA, SERA, WHAT EVERWILL BE WILL BE, THE FUTURE IS NOT OURS TO SEE, QUE SERA, SERA.
Are we looking for easy progress? Is there a short cut? ARE YOU PAYING ATTENTION TO THE LITTLE THINGS? THERE IS NO INSTANT SUCCESS, GET RICH SCHEMES? I heard a friend went to a SALES PITCH where they had you put a $20 bill in your mouth AND CHEW IT to GET THE TASTE OF MONEY?
LOSE WEIGHT WHILE YOU ARE SLEEPING?
GOD DESIRES US TO GROW… Grow by being faithful to the SMALL DETAILS?
**Growth takes 1. A plan. 2. Practice. 3. Repetition. 4. Reinforcement. 5. Prayer. 6. Study. 7. CONSISTENCY. 8. Patience. 9. Value or Priority system.
WHERE AM I? Any school system that I know of has some sort of an evaluation system? Report card? Midterm report?
Finals? Etc. The system may be based on A-B-C-D-F- or I (incomplete.)
In college I was offered the deal in my student teaching classes of a letter grade or a P-F? (Pass or Fail.)
I did not want a P or F, I wanted to study and apply effort and make an A!
2 Thessalonians 1:3 (KJV) We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;
2 Thessalonians 1:3 (MSG) You need to know, friends, that thanking God over and over for you is not only a pleasure; it's a must. We have to do it. Your faith is growing phenomenally; your love for each other is developing wonderfully. Why, it's only right that we give thanks.
THE BIBLE TEACHES AND I BELIEVE THAT GOD KEEPS GOOD RECORDS AND GOD WILL HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE FOR OUR BIBLE READING, PRAYER LIFE, OUR CHURCH ATTENDANCE AND OUR GIVING.
*WANT ME TO TEACH YOU HOW TO WASTE YOUR TIME AND MAKE YOUR FAMILY A MESS?
*1 Fuss, find fault, grip, complain and HAVE A RAZOR BLADE TONGUE, leaving blood and guts everywhere you go.
*3. BE WORRY WART and worry, fret and fear everything.
*4. NEVER BE SATISFIED but demand more and more.
*5. BLAME OTHERS for your mistakes. It is not my fault.
*6. NEVER SAY I AM SORRY, or I am wrong.
*7. BECOME AN ACCOMPLISHED TEMPER FIT THROWER, teach them to dread seeing you coming. Wonder why others have bad attitudes?
*8. SAY THE FIRST THING THAT COMES OUT YOUR MOUTH, and say it so loud everyone can hear it.
RAISE YOUR VOICE AND SPEAK IN A MEAN TONE.
*9. TELL YOURSELF THAT GOD IS LOVE AND WILL NEVER HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE.
*10. THINK YOU HAVE PLENTY OF TIME and I will change tomorrow.
*11. NEVER PLAN or organize your time. Que sera, sera.
*12. SLAM THE DOOR and cut off all COMMUNICATION LINES. That will teach them.
*13. NEVER DO SELF-EVALUATION TO SEE WHERE YOU ARE?
*14. KEEP DOING THE SAME OLD THINGS OVER AND OVER…No goals?
CONCLUSION: How do we measure ourselves? What goals have you set? How will you measure your progress? Remember the story of the dying man that was so weak that left New York to die? He moved to a little log cabin in the country. He was sick and there was no hope for recovery. One night in a dream the Lord told him to push the huge boulder in front of the cabin. So each morning the man went out and pushed the rock. He stopped at lunch time and then returned to push the rock, just as the Lord had commanded. One day many months later the man pondered how far had he pushed the rock away from the cabin? So each evening he would measure the rock? After many days of measuring the man saw his pushing the rock for hour had never moved the rock at all. He questioned the Lord as he was sitting on the porch. Lord your command was use the rock and I have? Nothing? Nothing? The Lord said: WAIT A MINUTE: NOTHING? LOOK AT YOUR ARMS? They are stronger. Look at your legs? Look at your strength, my son, you have grown!
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Help me? Pass this on to others?
