Fig Trees And Faith

 

He spoke in parables each day,
But this one He lived out.
There’s more to this than meets the eye…
Here’s what it’s all about.
 
The fig tree bears fruit in the spring
That ripens in the sun.
A second growth appears by fall,
When first harvest is done.
 
Even when winter claims its leaves,
The winter figs remain.
So, when the leaves burst out in spring
The winter fruit shows plain.
 
He knew when He came on that tree
With leaves, but without fruit,
That it would not bear figs again.
To argue that was moot.
 
He chose, instead, to make a point
About the fruit we bear.
Though we wave bright leaves in display,
We’d best have fruit to share.
 
Though we might proclaim we are His,
Without faith it’s a lie.
For when our faith takes root in Him,
Then our fruit will not die.
 
Yet, those who proffer a false faith
Can harm those who seek Him
By distracting them with false truths,
Leaves on a fruitless limb.

 

The fruit we bear by what we share
Should help His harvest grow,
And He will prune or uproot trees
Which bring His harvest low.
 
Let your roots run deep in His Word
And your faith grow each day,
That your fruit will bring Him such joy,
He’ll smile at its display.
 
Matthew 21:19
And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at once.

Ask With Thanksgiving

 

When we lift up our daily prayers
Which approach should we choose?
Give me this, Lord and that, too, or
Would thanks be best to use?  
 
We keep thinking of our needs first
The requests of our heart.
While supplication does matter,
Thanks is the place to start.
 
Thank Him for watching over us,
For the roof overhead,
And for His Word, by which we grow,
Our precious daily bread.
 
Thank Him for those we love in life,
And those who love us, too.
Maybe even the hardships that
He’s helped us to walk through.
 
Thank the Lord with a praise filled heart,
Then lift your requests up
Knowing His love tends to lead to
An overflowing cup.
 
Philippians 4:6
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Peace Within The Storm

Your grace always amazes me.
You know just what I need
Before I even realize,
No need to beg or plead.
 
You give me peace within the storm,
Comfort when my heart aches.
You give me strength to walk in faith.
Your grace is all it takes.
 
Your works are wondrous, amazing.
I cannot contemplate
How vast is Your authority,
Your mercy’s never late.
 
You calm the seas and Your child, too.
As the tempests pass through
I do not fear the storm’s wild wrath
Because I trust in You.
 
Thank You for knowing what I’d need
Before I rose today
And having it prepared for me.
In praise and thanks, I pray!
 
Isaiah 32:18
My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.
 
Psalm 62:7
On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. 

Reflecting Him, Not Me

 

We see ourselves through our own eyes,
Thinking others do, too.
Yet, they see us in their own light,
From their own point of view.
 
I am not always the best me.
In that, I’m not alone.
We ought to reflect grace to all
And not a heart of stone.
 
Yet, more often we show the world
Our broken, human side.
Thinking we’re reflecting You, while
Showing not grace, but pride.
 
We need to learn to reflect You
And praise You before all.
We won’t be perfect reflections,
But we can share Your call.
 
Lord, help us to walk humbly and
Praise You every day,
That, when others see us, they see
Your Light to mark the way.
 
Matthew 5:16
"Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

This photo is a precious gift from TAF on her trip to Egypt! 

Darkness Is As Light With You

 

Though my path may be lost in night,
The way rocky and steep,
I will not let fear rule my heart
For I am Yours to keep.
 
Though all the stars are lost in cloud,
The moon hiding its face,
Still, I will find my way to You,
Relying on Your grace.
 
You are the light upon my path,
My strength during travail,
And I will not quake in despair,
For Your love will not fail.
 
I know this life’s a rocky road
That leads me down dark ways,
But I know, too, You’re always near,
Even on my worst days.
 
Let then the darkness do its best
To trap me in the night.
For I know there’s no darkness, Lord,
That can obscure Your Light.
 
Psalm 139:11-12
If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.

Being Kind, Giving Grace

 

People can be so difficult
To deal with now and then,
But that has not changed over time.
That’s how it’s always been.
 
There have been days I want to hide
And just tell people, “No!”,
But we, His children, have been called
To give the grace we know.
 
Learning to be patient with all
Is what we’re called to do.
As He bears patiently with us
We’re to be patient, too.
 
That doesn’t mean we tolerate
Evil within our space,
But those who are walking with Him
Deserve to feel our grace.
 
Thus, when I feel I’m put upon,
I thank Him with true joy
For giving me another chance
To give grace I enjoy.
 
Ephesians 4:32
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Sorry for the poor resolution of this cowbird, perched on a cow. It was taken from across the road, through the wire fence on my cell phone, but it was too funny to skip over! 

So Many Other Things He Did

 

He walked with them for several years,
Teaching what they should know.
Giving them gifts that they could share
With others as they go.
 
He did so many wondrous things,
But there was so much more
Than what they were able to share,
And so much more in store.
 
For all the wonders, signs, and works
The records show were done,
There were so many more that were
Performed by Heaven’s Son.
 
His students said time and again
They couldn’t share them all,
And they only knew those He did
After they heard His call.
 
Between creation’s call to be
And where we stand today,
There are more miracles to count
Than any man could say.
 
How wondrous are the works of Him
Who formed us, set us free.
Imagine how much more awesome
The full list’s bound be!!
 
John 21:25
Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

Rejoice, Oh Man, Rejoice!

 

Glory, Glory to the Lord
And holy is His name.
As He has risen from the grave,
We’ll never be the same.
 
The hosts of Heaven now rejoice,
So, too, the sons of man.
For He has loosed the chains of sin
As no other King can.
 
Rejoice! The tomb lies empty now,
The redeemed raise their voice
And shout in praise to Heaven’s King.
Rejoice, Oh Man, Rejoice!
 
Luke 24:4-6a
While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.

This amazing photo is a blessing from ATF and God! 

The Pieces He Put In Place

 

The Lord knew that the hearts of men
Would tremble at the word
That He who died had risen up,
They would call it absurd.
 
He set in place the small details
To forestall any doubt.
That all who heard, would know the truth
The world would talk about.
 
No one had lain in the new tomb
So no mistake was made
That He who rose was He who died,
And in that tomb was laid.
 
He called not one, but two leaders
Whose word would hold value.
Assuring that His death was deemed
As verified and true.
 
The plan was laid well in advance,
The pieces all in place,
That man might truly understand
God’s power and His grace.
 
Yet still, for those who laid Him there
And those who watched in grief,
No prophecy or promises
Could offer them relief.
 
They sealed the tomb and left behind
Broken hearts filled with pain
Not knowing that, in two days’ time,
Only joy would remain.
 
John 19:39-41
Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.

The Debt Is Paid - Good Friday 2026

 

Tetelestai He cried, dying.
The debt is fully paid,
The sentence has been completed,
And victory’s displayed.
 
He spoke to those who gathered there
At the foot of the cross
Who wept with grief too great to bear,
Unfathomable loss.
 
He’d carried every sin and stain
Each wicked thought and vice
For those He loved, He paid the cost.
The unstained sacrifice.
 
Yet, when He looked down from the cross
At each and every face,
He saw not just those standing there,
But all in need of grace.
 
Each sin we live, even today,
Was added to that debt.
When He looked down, He saw us, too,
And died without regret.
 
Tetelestai, our sins are cleansed,
Rejoice then in their loss.
He paid the debt we could not pay
Upon that blood stained cross.
 
John 19:30
When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.