We literally live in the middle of a field, surrounded on all sides by crops. One year it’s corn and the next it’s beans. So we get to see harvesting up close and personal year after year.

There are some simple, but profound, principles of the harvest that never change:

1) IF YOU DON’T PLANT, IT DON’T GROW – If seeds are left in the bags, you will not reap a harvest.

2) WHAT YOU PLANT IS WHAT GROWS – In all my years of watching this process, I have never seen a farmer plant corn and have beans grow. You reap what you sow.

3) GROWTH TAKES TIME – Plants aren’t ready to harvest immediately. They grow according to the increase God provides; not the farmer’s schedule.

4) THERE WILL BE CROP DAMAGE – There are insects and inclement weather that will still damage the crop as much as we try to prevent it.

5) YOU DONT REAP IF YOU GIVE UP EARY – If the farmer believes he is unable to harvest or gives up early, He will never enjoy the joy of the harvest.

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These principles also apply to the Christian life.

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1) IF YOU DONT PLANT, IT DON’T GROW – Not doing the work of God means there will be no harvest for you to reap.

2) YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW – If you are sowing the word of truth in all of your relationships, you will reap a harvest of life. If you are sowing pride, you will reap corruption and death.

3) GOD’S HARVEST TAKES TIME – Planting and watering in people takes even longer than crops and often times can be frustrating. You water and hope to see growth, but their growth is not completely dependent on your care. Growth happens according to God’s timing, not Yours.

4) THERE WILL BE DAMAGE – We live in a fallen world and each soul has its own free will. As much as we care for those souls, they will self-inflict blows that cause their own lack of growth and difficulty. Likewise, you may also be damaged in the process.

5) GIVING UP EQUALS NO HARVEST – While this is the same principle as with crops, the impact of not harvesting in human terms is eternal. We must not leave the work of the harvest or give up early. Every plant/soul is worth pressing on for.

Luke tells us, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few…”. Will you join me in solving this problem and invite others to do the same?

What would it look like if we had thousands of co-laborers for Christ, sowing, planting, and watering? God would give the increase, the harvest would be great, and our world would be changed forever!

#MPWarrior

#YouReapWhatYouSow

#FarmerWisdom

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Some thoughts and actions, the ones born out of lies, wage war on the truth within us causing a divided heart.

God’s truth has the power to cleanse the lies from the core of our hearts and replace it with truth. He can take back the ground the enemy has stolen.

We need Him to teach us His way and give us opportunities to walk in His truth. We need the Holy Spirit to unite our heart and remove any wavering; all with the goal that our focus and fear may be for the Lord only.

How does this happen? By spending time with God in His word and prayer. Infusing truth is the fastest way to remove lies that cause us to waver. The Lord hears our prayers and answers according to His perfect will.

Set a time to read the Bible daily. Pick a time that is least likely to change or be interrupted. Set a reminder on your phone. You can download and choose plans in the youversion app and even invite others to study with you.

Prayer should happen as often as you think of it. You may need reminders at first to get in the habit. In reality, it is an ongoing conversation with God. Talk with Him today.

My prayer is that you would be walking in Truth with a united heart that is unwavering in its focus on God and advancing the gospel.

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We may excel in all those areas, but when it comes to our salvation, perfection is required and our performance won’t get us there.

There is only One who is able to perform at this level. His name is Jesus. He was and is able to save you through His finished work at the cross that paid for your sins.

In fact, He lives to make intercession for you! The Christian life is not about performance. Instead, it’s about trusting in Jesus, loving Him and others.

There will be times that we slip back into our old mindset, thinking that we need to be good enough for God. It’s one of the many reasons we need each other on this journey.

Watch out for your friends around you. Are they striving to perform? Remind them of the great rest we have in Jesus today!

#MPWarrior

#JesuIsAlwaysInterceeding

#HeHasDoneItAll

Sin will not be content in our lives until it is on the throne. It will produce an insanity in our minds over time to make us crave only ourselves as kings.

Even as a believer, sin will cause us to forget our true King and forge ahead trying to sit in a throne that was never meant for us.

As Jesus stood before pilate, the Jews willingly pledged their allegiance to Caesar and denied their God and His precious Son. This insanity was brought on through prideful hearts filled with sin.

Our True King has always been Jesus, even before the world was formed. We were made through Him, by Him, and for Him.

Let us never forget our one and only King worthy to be on the throne. The One who conquered death and sin for all eternity. May the allegiance of our hearts never waver again!

#MPWarrior

#OurOneTrueKing

#WorthyIsHe

There are several who would like you to believe because of my beliefs, I am a hater. Before you subscribe to that belief, know that I willingly identify that I am included in that category of “sinner” also. I need a Savior as much as anyone; probably more.

I’m not driven to tell you these things because I want to prove I’m right or condemn. On the contrary, I’m driven by the love I received while yet a sinner (see Romans 5:8) and desire others to know this truth.

When the law (10 Commandments) came into being sin became clear. When Jesus came to fulfill the law, sin became even more clear. Men and women were no longer able to justify God’s truth as stories. For they had seen the Living God and all His signs and wonders.

As children of the Living God, our sins our forgiven because of faith in Christ’s finished work at the cross. The text says that He “chose us out of the world”. As a result the word hates us.

The world hating me will not keep me from telling others about sin and what God has done to resolve it, in my life and the lives of many. When we are in sin, and apart from Christ, we are in bondage.

I do not condone or seek to continue in sin, but instead seek To follow Jesus and all His ways.

In a loving manner, I will continue share the truths of the gospel to those around me. Some will receive and some will hate.

#MPWarrior

#TruthAndLove

#SomeWillReceiveSomeWillHate

Then I would go to my corporate job and do my best to be the best. Day after day, I gave my all to the company worked for.

Meanwhile, people around me were perishing while I was focused on acquiring more stuff and praise. More and more, my conscience would be pricked and show me my selfishness.

The temptation of this world is strong and we only have so much time here. We need to not strive after the wind but souls.

The work of our hands for ourselves is just vanity. When we carry out the good works God has prepared us to walk in, we don’t strive in vain, but instead accomplish the perfect plan of our Father in heaven which will last forever.

Here’s a quick test. Do you spend more time thinking about people and their needs or what to do with your stuff and how to get more?

Fix your mind on the Lord and His work. Everything else is vanity.

#MPWarrior

#StriveAfterSoulsNotWind

#DoTheLordsWork

We must put away the old and fully embrace the new.  Replacing all filthiness and improper talk; making no provision for the flesh. Instead, we embrace the purity of Christ and with grateful heart let our lips be filled with thanksgiving and praise. 

The world would take notice if we as Christians would carefully use every word for His glory rather than letting whatever come out of our mouths like a firehouse.  Not only would it take notice, but it would be blessed and uplifted. 

Reflection

Where, when, and with whom are you most likely to have improper talk?

Ask God to help you change the manner in which you speak; replacing sarcasm and filthy talk with thanksgiving. 

Prayer

Father, help us to remain focused on You in all things, especially in our speech.  For we know that it is not what goes into the man that defiles him, but what comes out of him.  May our words, actions, and thoughts be pleasing in your sight.  In Jesus’ name, Amen!

You can almost feel the tension building in Jerusalem as Paul returns.  Culture, traditions and people’s way of life stirred up and at odds now concerning teaching from those who were part of The Way. 
Read Acts 21:15-26

1) What stands out in the text?

2) What questions need to be answered so you have understanding?

3) What is the main theme?

4) What is the application for the original readers?

5) How does his passage apply to believers today and to you personally?

May His word be a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path today!

We serve the God of all creation who by the power of His word spoke all into being with its layers of complexity, design and laws of nature to govern.  Several times He has shown He has authority over nature by parting the sea, forming a pillar of cloud and of fire, walking on water, raising the dead and more.  We serve the one who holds all of creation in His hands. 

We are told in Romans 8 that the Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.  Kind of puts the whole my daddy can beat up your daddy in perspective.  In all seriousness, we are children of God and joint heirs with Christ.  Our inheritance is guarded and protected by God and His army. 

As you read the whole psalm, notice the psalmist asks the same question twice, “what can man do to me?   In a world with nuclear weapons, terrorists, etc, one might answer this question with, “a lot”.  But we are not limited to the physical realm.  Our ultimate enemies of sin, death and eternal separation from God have been defeated.  The battle for our eternity has already been won.  Our victory is sure!

Personal Reflection

Read through Psalm 56. Describe the enemies he is facing.  What enemies do you face that are similar? This could be a co-worker, relative, or even a school mate.  What conclusion does the psalmist come to?   How does that conclusion change your thought on your present situation?  Spend time praising God for His victory!

Prayer Focus

Heavenly Father, we praise you , that you have saved us from our ultimate enemy and secured our eternity with you. Establish our feet on your path to reaching others; that they may likewise know, live, and speak the truth, be equipped to love and serve, and skilled to make a difference.  May your glory be written all over us for all to see and respond in praise!  In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

@brianfriedl

#victoryissecure #childofgod #mydaddyisbigger #truthtalk4life

The more I walk with Christ the more I see the power in His Name. There been times in my life where all I could utter was “Jesus”. As always, He is faithful and He is been my strong tower that I run into.  Notice that the righteous run INTO it. 

We don’t just join the crowd and watch Jesus, we enter INTO relationship with Him and truly experience His power.  The power to protect us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  Praise God that He has given us Jesus who is sufficient in all things.  

Personal Reflection

Are you entering INTO your relationship with God or just watching Him from the outside?   Are you enjoying being in that tower or has your mind been fooled into thinking about what you are missing on the outside?   Know that all you need is found in the Name of the Lord!   Pursue Him with all your heart today!

Prayer Focus

LORD, your name is a strong tower. Teach us that in you we have all we need.  Let us find power in Your Name,O God, to do your will and fulfill the Law of Christ. In His Name we pray, Amen!

@brianfriedl

#powerinhisname #strongtower #truthtalk4life