Rosilind Jukic's Blog, page 94

Using Google Calendar to Organize your Family Schedule + Menu Plan Fridays

As I shared in my post "Let's Organize", I've been trying to get our home back on a schedule.
The past two weeks we've had a fairly good routine, but it's still not there yet. And I've begun to feel that familiar panic when I have too much to do and too little time.  So, I took a moment and ran through all my responsibilities in my head, and the panic went up 3 notches.
Then I realized that I can do it all - I just have to be more intentional and organized!
The fact is, I get sucked into Facebook too easily. I get sucked into watching TV too easily while the kids sleep. I get sucked into doing small, meaningless projects while larger important ones sit waiting.
I don't do each of these each day, but precious time is still being wasted.
However, I also know I have a threshold.  You can keep a steady pace for only so long - that's why God instituted the Sabbath!
Sundays for me are anything but what the Sabbath is meant to be - restful.  So, I am going back to my Saturday Sabbath again.

I already have a schedule - that is hung neatly on my kitchen wall.  And gathering dust.  So, I decided to use another method, that I hope will be more effective.
Google Calendar!
I started my new old schedule this morning.  I know it's Friday - who starts new things on Friday? Right?  Me! That's who.  
This is what it looks like:

If you've never used Google Calendar before, it is very simple.
1. From any Google page, you'll find the link at the top under your address bar.  Click on the date and time you want to schedule an event.  
2. If it's a one time event, you can use the small pop-up box, otherwise click on "edit event" and you'll be taken to a screen where you can add more information about the event and schedule it to repeat daily, weekly (weekdays, on certain week days, etc), monthly or annually.
This is great for keeping track birthdays, anniversaries and holidays, too!
At every event you receive an email reminder.  
Plus you can color-code it,  too and keep multiple calendars going in one place! I have color codes set up from when I used Google Calendar before - for family events, blogging and ministry events - and I plan to use them again.  
The best part is, by keeping to this strict schedule, I get Saturday off.  Clean house, laundry done, baking done, blogging done, comments answered, severely neglected emails answered, severely neglected FB page updated, and all my work and ministry done!
On top of that...
When the kids go to bed, I wont have to work.
I can't wait for next week!!!
Now - for menu planning:

Z is third shift next week, so I have to choose meals that I can prep quickly while the kids are alone in the living room.  I try to make one meal last two days. Plus he usually stops by the bakery on his way home, so I am not planning breakfasts this week, except for Sunday.
Monday: Lunch - Chicken in a cream sauce with Gnocchi, fresh salad
Tuesday:  Lunch - Leftovers
Wednesday: Breakfast - Lunch - Meatballs (sauce recipe to come), fresh salad
Thursday: Breakfast - Lunch - Varivo
Friday: Lunch - Leftovers
Saturday: Lunch - Chicken enchiladas (recipe to come)
Sunday: Breakfast - Tuna Salad on Toast / Lunch - Baked chicken with potato slices (recipe to come)

Linking up with some these blogs:
M: Motivation Monday, Gracelaced Mondays, Playdates at the Wellspring, Mom's the Word   T: Titus2 Tuesdays, Women Helping Women, W: Women Living Well, Wisdom Wednesday, Wholehearted Wednesdays, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Deep Roots at Home Th: Thrive at Home, Serving Joyfully F: Faith Filled Friday, Favorite Friday Things, Just For Fun Friday ; TGIF Fridays

Click HERE to find out how you can receive a copy of my book 14 Days of Agape for free and purchase Worship the Father and Discovering True Identity .

The Little Things + A Little R & R Wednesdays - A Linky Party!

Before we start the party, I just want to share with you a few things that gave me joy this week.

He loves that shovel!
My ice-cream faced Andrej
I love the smell of line-dried laundry!
Major cute factor here!
There is seriously nothing cuter than a toddler wearing his shoes on the wrong feet!
What brought you rays of joy this week?


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And now for the party!!!



Link up  as many posts on any subject you desire  (except giveaways)
Link up  those posts that you wish would have gotten more attention Come on - you know what I'm talking about.  I'll be linking up a few of my own, too.  
Link back  to A Little R & R with the button or a link
Visit  at least one other linked up post and leave a thoughtful comment
Tweet: Join the party at A Little R & R Wednesdays - A Linky Party!The one with the most clicks will be featured the following week.

The party runs from  Wednesday through Saturday
So link up and have fun!





Linking up with some these blogs: M: Motivation Monday, Gracelaced Mondays, Playdates at the Wellspring, Mom's the Word   T: Titus2 Tuesdays, Women Helping Women, W: Women Living Well, Wisdom Wednesday, Wholehearted Wednesdays, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Deep Roots at Home Th: Thrive at Home, Serving Joyfully F: Faith Filled Friday, Favorite Friday Things, Just For Fun Friday;  TGIF Fridays

David vs. Religion

It would seem to be a contradiction of scripture, although we've been told all of our lives that all of scripture is is breathed by the Holy Spirit, and that it contains no errors.
But there are parts of scripture that we have trouble at times reconciling because they don't seem to add up.
Take the man in the Old Testament who committed adultery and then committed murder to cover it up. He is considered to be a man after God's own heart. Then take the some men in the New Testament who served God their whole lives. They literally had the entire scripture memorized. They spent countless hours day and night studying it, praying, fasting, tithing and serving in the temple. And yet Jesus called them white-washed tombs and said they were full of evil.
How is it that the man who committed sins worthy of being stoned to death is considered a man after God's own heart, while those who dedicated their entire lives to studying His Word, prayer and service for Him be criticized and passed over?
Relationship

It's not what we do for God that matters as much as the fountain from whence it flows.

Why do we read the Bible?
Why do we pray?
Why do we fast?
Why do we tithe?
Why do we attend church?
Why do we memorize scripture?

If we do these things simply because it is what we do as Christians then we are no better than the Pharisees who were called “brood of vipers” and “filled with dead-man's bones”.

God isn't pleased with performance. Our fulfillment of His commands does not meet some needy place in His heart. He isn't motivated to act on our behalf because we've been “good little Christians”. And our adherence to His word isn't always proof of our level of maturity or dedication.
If this were so, then the examples in the Word would be reverse.

What pleases God is our desire for relationship with Him and our investment in it. When prayer, Bible reading, fasting, tithing, memorization of His Word and church attendance flow out of our growing and active relationship with Him he is pleased!
David wasn't a man after God's own heart because he was obedient, knew the scriptures, or could quote the prophets. He wasn't perfect, he wasn't even obedient. He was given to times of depression, his emotions were up and down, and he did some very terrible things. But God called him a man after His heart because David knew the importance of true repentance.
He understood what true repentance was because He had a deep, abiding relationship with God. He could feel the pain God felt, the joy God felt – and he felt it all very deeply.
When Nathan the prophet revealed to David the depth of the sin he committed, David fell on his face and repented with weeping and fasting for days. He realized how deeply He had offended God. He felt the depth of the grief God felt over his sin. He felt it to the depth that God felt it. And this was only possible because He already had a deep and abiding relationship with God.



God isn't looking for your performance. He isn't counting how many Sunday's a month you attend church. He isn't counting how many verses or chapters out of the Bible you read. He isn't counting the number of minutes you pray each day. He doesn't measure your dedication to Him by your track record as a Christian. He is looking for an abiding relationship with Him. Because if these things do not flow out of relationship, they are meaningless, religious performances that only stroke our egos, and measuring rods by which we compare our fellow brothers' and sisters' level of spirituality. Things which have no place in God's Kingdom.

I am in awe that the Lord of all creation wants to be in relationship with me! But it's true! He does. All we need do is reach out to Him. He has already come halfway, by His death on the cross. He is waiting for you to reach out and take His hand, and enter into an eternal relationship of grace, love mercy, and redemption.


Linking up with some these blogs:
M: Motivation Monday, Gracelaced Mondays, Playdates at the Wellspring, Mom's the Word   T: Titus2 Tuesdays, Women Helping Women, W: Women Living Well, Wisdom Wednesday, Wholehearted Wednesdays, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Deep Roots at Home Th: Thrive at Home, Serving Joyfully F: Faith Filled Friday, Favorite Friday Things, Just For Fun Friday;  TGIF Fridays

Mothers

*This is a post I wrote two years ago.  I think it expresses best how I'm feeling today.  I just edited it a bit - expanded it a bit - and I wish mothers everywhere a wonderful and special Mother's Day*
RobiIt was on Mother's Day four years ago that I decided to do a pregnancy test because I was bored.  A few minutes later a 2nd line appeared on the cassette and I stood there in awe and couldn't stop staring.  All day long that cassette sat there on the washing machine, and all day long I kept going back to make sure the 2nd line was still there.  After the ups and downs I had faced on my journey to motherhood, I couldn't believe that in 8 short months I'd be a mom.   A real, live mom!  Then 21 months later I became a mom again!

AndrejMotherhood has been thrilling, exhausting, rewarding, and sometimes just plain hard.  But, there is no way that I'd trade anything - not anything (even sleep) for all the joys and trials I have faced and will face even still.  

My Precious Miracles!



I'd like to also honor my mom.  If there ever was a woman to look up to, imitate, and learn from about how to be a godly woman, wife and mother, it's my mom.  I have learned so many things from her.  She has sacrificed so much for us over the years, and I have never heard her complain - not once.  She gives with joy and has such a grateful spirit; she creatively found ways to provide for us when we didn't have a lot of money. She gave up a lot to stay home with us, homeschool us (through high school - she deserves a Ph.D. for that!) and did it all with such grace.  She is the example I look to as a mom. She is my hero.

I would be remiss not to mention my mother-in-law.  I'll confess, before I got married. the idea of having a mother-in-law was enough to make me break out in hives.  My friends had told me of their mothers-in-law (and usually it they were not pleasant stories) and I'd heard all the jokes and comments. But after meeting Iva, I realized that I had nothing to fear.  I have the best relationship with my mother-in-law.  I have learned so much from her - how to garden, home remedies found in my yard, how to make blue-ribbon mashed potatoes; I admire her greatly. She is the truly the best mother-in-law one could have.  And I am to be envied!
Today I am also remembering my Grandmothers: Beatrice and Mary.  Two lovely ladies who loved Jesus with all their hearts.  I get choked up thinking about them - the funny times we've had laughing until we cried, the meaningful conversations we had, and I miss them both. 
I'd like to also honor my sisters, Bonnie and Stella.  Two great moms and the best sisters in the whole world!
And last (but not least) I wish all of you out there a wonderful Mother's Day.   
May your day be filled with joy.  May your children arise and called you blessed.May your husband take pleasure and joy in all that you do.May you find joy in the calling God has called you to all the days of your life.And may your home be always filled with child-like laughter!
Happy Mother's Day!
Linking up with some these blogs:
M: Motivation Monday, Gracelaced Mondays, Playdates at the Wellspring, Mom's the Word   T: Titus2 Tuesdays, Women Helping Women, W: Women Living Well, Wisdom Wednesday, Wholehearted Wednesdays, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Deep Roots at Home Th: Thrive at Home, Serving Joyfully F: Faith Filled Friday, Favorite Friday Things, Just For Fun Friday; TGIF Fridays
 

My First Harvest and Other Fun Stuff + A Little R & R Wednesdays Linky Party

Get a load of our cat. Seriously. Does anyone have a caption for this picture.
His name is kitty.  Original, I know.

Do not be fooled by his seeming innocence.

This cat is the strangest cat I've ever know.  I may end up borrowing Patrick F. McMannus' name for his dog and just name our cat "Strange".  It would be fitting.
Kitty adopted us.  When we moved here he was a stray that would fly through air at record speeds at the sight of any humanoid.  But, I had faith in my abilities to tame him, and kept leaving food out.  Little by little I got closer and closer...then I finally got to pet him, and finally pick him up.  When I picked him up, he fell in love.  Deeply in love. 
Someone needs to tell our cat that feline's are meant to be independent and repressed emotionally.  This cat adores us.  By "adores" I mean that this cat never stops rubbing all over our legs, is under our feet. I have nearly gone head over heals a number of times because of our cat's "attachment" issues.But moving on.
Our first harvest!!!  Butter lettuce, rucola lettuce and green onion.


By the way, did you know that with these leafy greens, you can restore their crispness by letting them soak in a sink of ice cold water?  Here is some spinach from my mother-in-law's garden.

And look at my husband's handiwork.  He built that fence out of pallets. 
I feel a pallet pin coming on soon!

Here is more of that fence down the side of our drive.

Future flower beds

and the man himself at work!

And his big "helpers" 







And just in case you may have missed what I've been blogging about lately:

Let's Organize + A Little R & R Menu Plan Fridays {and organizing stuff}
Run Through the Wall


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Bernadette from Barefoot Hippie Girl had the most visits last week.  It was a tie, actually, between her two posts.

Forgive Me Father, For I Have Sinned

Keeping the Rat Out of the Rat Race

And now for the party!!!

Link up  as many posts on any subject you desire  (except giveaways)
Link up  those posts that you wish would have gotten more attention Come on - you know what I'm talking about.  I'll be linking up a few of my own, too.  
Link back  to A Little R & R with the button or a link
Visit  at least one other linked up post and leave a thoughtful comment
The one with the most clicks will be featured the following week.

The party runs from  Wednesday through Saturday
So link up and have fun!



Linking up with some these blogs: M: Motivation Monday, Gracelaced Mondays, Playdates at the Wellspring, Mom's the Word   T: Titus2 Tuesdays, Women Helping Women, W: Women Living Well, Wisdom Wednesday, Wholehearted Wednesdays, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Deep Roots at Home Th: Thrive at Home, Serving Joyfully F: Faith Filled Friday, Favorite Friday Things, Just For Fun Friday;  TGIF Fridays

Developing a Thriving Prayer Relationship

As a work-at-home mom in the ministry, I find that my prayer life often becomes reduced to a list of bullet points.
Have you ever been there?  You get up early so you can squeak in a half-hour with the Lord before the those little bodies with hurricane-like energy wake up and hijack your day. Because you know full well that when they wake there wont be a moment’s rest until you convince them to go backto bed that evening.  And if you’re anything like me, by the time that happens there is simply no energy left to keep your brain cells functioning long enough to have a semi-intelligent conversation with Jesus.
For me, I simply must have my devotions in the morning.
But even my usual wake up time of 5:30 doesn’t generally provide enough time to adequately read, pray and fly through my administration duties before I hear my kids yelling in their room for mommy to come get them.
Thus I have found a few ways to keep my heart in an attitude of prayer throughout the day.



Today I am blogging at Simply Helping Him.  Read the rest of the article here.

Run Through the Wall

*Every once in a while, as a writer, you write something that touches your heart. I wrote this the other day for my monthly newsletter.  When I got to the end, I went back to the top and read it again, and cried. I don't credit myself at all for having written something that touched my own heart - I truly believe these words did not come from me, they came from the the Holy Spirit. And today I have decided to share them with you.  Perhaps someone needs to hear these words.  If you feel like giving up or giving in, I pray you will find encouragement here to keep running - and finish strong!*


We stood on the sidelines watching runner after runner pass by, their Nikes and Reeboks beat the hard pavement. But we had come to watch one particular runner, a young boy barely in double-digits. He blazed by us with amazing speed, perfect running stance, arms and shoulders relaxed....and a face contorted in the ugliest expression imaginable. He called it his "monster face". 
My brother had learned an important lesson in running. When running long distances - as in the 10k he was running that day - you will eventually hit a "wall" of pain and exhaustion. This wall will tell you to stop and rest, catch your breath and let your muscles rest for a moment. But that wall lies; because if you stop at the wall, you likely will never finish the race. However, if you push through the wall, you will enter a new realm where you feel as if you could run forever. The "monster face" my brother would make was an expression of his determination to "scare away the pain" and push through the wall to victory. And he did. He never took less than 1st place. Our piano was lined with trophy after 1st-place trophy that he took home after every race.
We hit such a wall last month. It began with Z's ankle injury. He twisted his ankle and heard something pop. The next day he went to the hospital where they put it in a half-cast and gave him sick leave for 2 weeks. During that time he also had some chest that caused us some concern, and is waiting to have an EKG done. His sick leave was no sooner done, when Andrej fell outside and cut his hand on a piece of glass that we had somehow missed and ended up with 3 stitches in his hand. We felt assaulted with adversity from every side!
I began to look toward the Good Morning Girls summer session with little enthusiasm and began listening to the whispers of "you need a break" and "just take the summer off, when the fall session rolls around, you'll be rested and ready to start it back again" and I began to contemplate doing this. But alongside of those whispers was an unsettled feeling, knowing that summer time can be dangerous for many Christians; as they take vacation time away from work....and the Lord. For they, too, listen to quiet whispers of "don't get up early to read and pray - you can always spend time with God before you go to bed" and day after day pass by without their usual quiet time. Before they know it, they have lost touch with God's presence, fellowship with believers, and they suddenly find themselves in ship wreck.
I knew what I had to do. I had to press through the wall. I had to put my "monster face" on. I had to refuse to look at the circumstances life throws at us. I had to dig deep and find not only the strength needed for this journey, I had to find the joy that would swoop under my wings and cause me to soar like an eagle. Because I have a great responsibility to my girls to provide them a place where they can find resources and accountability in maintaining a growing and active relationship with Jesus Christ.
We are all in a race. We are all runners. We will all face our own "walls" in this race. Some of them are small and paper thin, while others are seemingly made of solid oak and we wonder if we will ever be able to scare away the pain and break through to victory. But there is something that gives me great courage and inspires me to keep going. Jesus is with us in the race. He runs along side of us. He has been through the wall. He has won the victory! And Hebrews tells us that there are multitudes of saints who have been victorious runners. For many of them, that wall cost them their very lives. And yet as they pressed through the pain, rejection, and physical agony of that wall, they crossed the finish line into glory with chest expanded and arms raised as only a victorious runner can do. These great saints are watching on the sidelines. They are cheering us on. They are watching for those "monster faces" and they cry out to us to forsake the wall, turn a deaf ear to the whisperings; dig deep, press in and press on! We will finish and we will finish victoriously!!

Linking up with some these blogs:
M: Motivation Monday, Gracelaced Mondays, Playdates at the Wellspring, Mom's the Word   T: Titus2 Tuesdays, Women Helping Women, W: Women Living Well, Wisdom Wednesday, Wholehearted Wednesdays, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Deep Roots at Home Th: Thrive at Home, Serving Joyfully F: Faith Filled Friday, Favorite Friday Things, Just For Fun Friday;  TGIF Fridays

Let's Organize! & A Little R & R Menu Plan Fridays

If you've been around here very long you know how much I love to organize.  (in fact, I'm sure a few "organizing posts actually started with this same sentence)
But, when you have two littles aged 3 years and 18-months, you find that there are seasons when you just have fly by the seat of your pants - because...well, littles don't get the idea that certain things should be done at certain times.  
Then there are those seasons when everyone is shut up indoors because of rain or snow or heat...
...and the other seasons when everyone finally escapes out into fresh air and most of the day is spent soaking up much-needed vitamin D...playing, gardening, and taking long walks.
We have gone through each of those seasons - and my schedule has gone out the window - along with menu plans, goal setting....the works.  We have been flying by the seat of our pants for months now.  Life has happened in a very loose routine. 
But I think we are ready to get back into a more rigid lifestyle.  
So here is what I have - it's what worked for us before and I love it!


This is a Daily/Weekly chart I have in a page protector.  The daily section is wiped off with rubbing alcohol each day, so I can enjoy the pleasure of crossing off each task (don't you love doing that???).

Then I have the weekly section that keeps my chores on track.
The "special jobs" section is great to write down reminders like, "switch out winter clothes" or "cobwebs"...and other tasks that you don't do each week, but notice needs doing fairly soon.
Then there is the "office" section, where I can write down what needs to be done for my church's admin, my own admin, my blog, etc

Next I have my menu and "preschool" areas where I can write down what my plans are for that week.


This is so helpful in menu planning and shopping.  It helps keep me from purchasing unnecessary items, and use up what we already have.


I keep this on the fridge in a page protector so I can quickly jot down the items we need as we go along.  It is pre-filled with items that I generally purchase each week.

I have found that goal setting enables me to be more intentional about these three areas: spiritual goals, life goals (that don't necessary have to deep - it can be as simple as a trip someplace or becoming more disciplined in a certain area), and health goals. 
I have personally found this be very effective for me.

I have also made up a family schedule and my personal list of exercises.
Each Friday will be filled with organizing tips, recipes and menus.  I hope you enjoy them!

So - now for our menuZ is second shift next week, so I am only cooking for the kids and I until Saturday. So I usually make a meal last two days during second-shift weeks.
Monday: Breakfast - Pancakes  / Lunch - Chicken Pasta Salad (if this turns out, I'll post the recipe)
Tuesday: Breakfast - Muffins / Lunch - Leftovers
Wednesday: Breakfast - Piggies in a Biscuit / Lunch - Meatballs (sauce recipe to come)
Thursday: Breakfast - Breakfast Biscuit Surprise / Lunch - Leftovers
Friday: Breakfast - Sandwiches / Lunch - Sweet and Sour Hot dogs (recipe to come)
Saturday: Breakfast - Crepes / Lunch - Taco Salad (recipe to come)
Sunday: Breakfast - Tuna Salad on Toast / Lunch - Baked pork chops with potato slices (recipe to come)

Linking up with some these blogs:
M: Motivation Monday, Gracelaced Mondays, Playdates at the Wellspring, Mom's the Word   T: Titus2 Tuesdays, Women Helping Women, W: Women Living Well, Wisdom Wednesday, Wholehearted Wednesdays, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Deep Roots at Home Th: Thrive at Home, Serving Joyfully F: Faith Filled Friday, Favorite Friday Things, Just For Fun Friday ; TGIF Fridays

Introducing A Little R & R Wednesdays - A Linky Party

I have been in what I have termed "writer's drought" every since my first book 14 Days of Agape came out. It was like I just completely exhausted every writing resource and inspiration I had and when it was over I didn't know what to write about any longer.
I did an Easter series on The Cross and began a new series called Beyond the Grave.  But every word was eeked out and forced. 
I confess that it got so bad that I was considering retiring A Little R & R and saying goodbye to blogging.  I simply didn't see an end to the drought of words and inspiration.
Then we got hit with everything life had to throw at us and left me broken on top of inspirationless. But as I cried out to God last week; seeking for answers and comfort, He not only lovingly gave me the answers I sought for and the comfort I needed, He gave me fresh inspiration and new words to share - and a fresh joy for blogging!

And that fresh inspiration led me to a desire to reconnect with my fellow bloggers.  I have felt pretty disconnected for a while - and I think that disconnect has kept me from being challenged as a writer.

I want to keep it simple:
Link up as many posts on any subject you desire (except giveaways)
Link up those posts that you wish would have gotten more attention Come on - you know what I'm talking about.  I'll be linking up a few of my own, too.  
Link back to A Little R & R with the button or a link
Visit at least one other linked up post and leave a thoughtful comment
The one with the most clicks will be featured the following week.

The party runs from Wednesday through Saturday
So link up and have fun!

The Everlasting Grace of Christ

The grace of Jesus Christ extends much farther than we could every dream or imagine. 

The past two weeks have been harrowing for my family.  We have faced unbelievable waves of adversity; and Saturday I was in despair because I felt that my response to the circumstances that hit our home with hurricane force was not correct.  

I cried out to God, begging for forgiveness that I hadn't responded in a manner I felt others may expect of me - a believer who has walked with Jesus for nearly 40 years.

And I was reminded that the fruit of spirit - the evidence of ones abiding relationship with Jesus Christ - is not a sign that you have arrived, or even fully matured. It is not a sign that you can now be elevated to a status of one who ought to be admired and emulated. Just the same, not displaying all of the fruits of the spirit is not evidence that one is not mature, not growing, or not cultivating an abiding relationship with Jesus Christ.


I was struck this week as I read Wednesday's Good Morning Girl's passage in Luke 13:


"He also spoke this parable: 'A certain [man] had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, "Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?" But he answered and said to him, "Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize [it]. And if it bears fruit, [well]. But if not, after that you can cut it down."'"

We hear the oft-quoted verse "by their fruits you shall know them" - which Jesus actually said in reference to false prophets, not to followers of Christ and certainly not in reference to new believers. 

In fact, Jesus here was warning us that often as mature believers we grow impatient with new believers, or even those we think should be more "mature".  He used the illustration of a fig tree.


Now - I don't know much about fig trees; but we planted 4 trees recently: an apple tree, 2 cheery trees, and a plum tree.  Funny thing: we won't get any fruit from those trees at all for about 4-5 years. Sure, we see leaves and our apple tree is even getting some blooms. But even if we do get fruit soon, it wont be big enough to eat.

What's more, some trees take longer to bear edible fruit than others.  

But this doesn't mean our trees aren't any good.  It doesn't mean that they are not healthy or growing.  It simply means that we need to be patient; we need to cultivate our trees and fertilize them.  If we tend to them properly they will eventually have the kind of fruit we can pick and eat.


I have meditated on this passage ever since I read it last week and I was reminded of something more.


I have heard a lot of people use Jesus, John the Baptist and some of the Apostles as examples of how they criticized and condemned the Pharisees. And I was suddenly struck by something I had never realized before:

They were not criticizing religious followers, they were criticizing religious leaders.  Those who were supposed to be cultivating ones who sought to follow God; they were insulting those who were supposed to be tending them and inducing spiritual growth in their lives.  But rather than being the "keepers" they were called to be, they were actually preventing that growth.  Not only were they were preventing growth, they were creating an environment in which proper growth simply could not occur.

They were interpreters of the law - but by interpreting the law they created all kinds of man-made laws that never actually existed in the law given by God. What is worse, they forced their followers to keep their laws, while finding ways to get out of having to keep them themselves.


And Jesus was condemning these false interpreters of the law for not being the "keepers of the vineyard" they were called to be; while encouraging us to extend grace to each other, be patient with one another, cultivate each other, encourage each other, and truly love the body of Christ with the same love that He loved those He came to serve.


Nowhere in the gospels do you see Jesus condemn, criticize, or rebuke anyone other than the religious rulers who shut up the kingdom of God to those they were called to lead.  Rather, He extended love and grace; forgiveness and redemption; healing and freedom.  He was patient and kind.


And as these truths trickled over my spirit like a refreshing stream, I was awakened to yet another dimension of God's grace and love; not just for me, but for my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who will sometimes miss the mark, who will not always display the fruits of the spirit, and who will sometimes respond incorrectly in certain situations.  And when refreshing streams of grace flow freely among us, our local bodies will thrive and grow and the world will know we are His disciples because of that love and grace we freely extend to one another. 


May the everlasting grace of Christ flow through me today as a blessing to those I am called to serve!


Linking up with some these blogs:
M: Motivation Monday, Gracelaced Mondays, Playdates at the Wellspring, Mom's the Word   T: Titus2 Tuesdays, Women Helping Women, W: Women Living Well, Wisdom Wednesday, Wholehearted Wednesdays, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Deep Roots at Home Th: Thrive at Home, Serving Joyfully F: Faith Filled Friday, Favorite Friday Things, Just For Fun Friday