Tag Archives: Growth

Sometimes it takes a fight

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by DP

When the trumpets sounded, the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so everyone charged straight in, and they took the city. – Joshua 6:20

We are often faced every day with many challenges in or work, our relationships and our dreams. We have this idea that if something is meant to be, it will just happen. I could agree in part with that assumption, without ruling out that there could be always some resistance.

The children of Israel knew that very well. They were promised the land of Canaan which flowed with milk and honey. A land that was the representation of a better life and a brighter future. One would think that after being in the desert for forty years that a respite would come. But upon entering the land, they were confronted with their first challenge, Jericho. They might of thought that as it happened to Jericho, where they just had to march to bring down the walls, every other encounter would be the same. But no, they fought thirty-nine battles in order to conquer their promised land. A new land, a foreign land in which they encountered giants, crossed rivers, and many obstacles they had to overcome.

Such is our life. We might have this preconceived idea that everything will be smooth, and that there will be no disturbance in our path if something is meant to be. And it is true, sometimes it happens that way, and it feels good. But the reality is that sometimes it takes a fight to get your promise. Some of them will be more easily won, but others will be fierce and difficult battles. Encounters that will leave scars and marks in the heart and in the soul. We have to understand that there is a part that must be done by us, as the preacher in Ecclesiastes wrote, ”Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom…”. Things might not come down as you envisioned or thought they would, but we learn, we grow and we obtain experience that will prepare us for our next assignment.

Jesus knew that all to well. He fought for you and me, to give the most high of the sacrifices, his life. It scarred his body, but he won. And because he won, we are victors and not victims. We should not feel sad or discouraged when we find resistance and trouble in our way. I can assure you that character and experience is building up in you. You are being prepared for a higher purpose. Maybe this present trouble, this problem, this resistance, is the event that will unlock the gifts and talents that have been hidden in you. This could be the moment you have been building up for in order to live in your promised land.

So shake off those defeat and demeaning thoughts, and press on. Be prepared, strategize and consult, it is not the time to sit down and wander and have a pity party, it is time of walking and fighting. There’s a reward waiting, there is a brighter and bigger future in sight. And as the children of Israel experienced, it will take a lot of effort, not to mention time, but it will be worth it.

Your blessing is coming, your promise is near, but sometimes it takes a fight.

“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”

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© Copyright DP, 2011
Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Graduation day

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by DP

“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” – Revelation 22:12

It was quite a different feeling altogether. I had walked the entire day before, searching for the clothes he would wear. We got the tie, the shirt, the pants, the shoes, (He actually wanted to use sneakers!) and the usual haircut. A day of shopping around, a great day of hanging out with my son. (Ah, and less money in my pocket!)

The day came and we headed out to the graduation ceremony. It was a great moment, and also a moment of deep thoughts and emotions. Emotions got to high level when a slideshow was presented with the students pictures. My son had selected a picture to be displayed from his early school days and then his current photo was shown. I just can’t quite put in words what I felt that moment. Joy, hope, a myriad of feelings that day (and an occasional tear bothering my eyes!). One thing was certain, I hoped for greater things for my son and felt very proud of him.

This day was the culmination and the beginning of two seasons. The culmination of years of studying and learning and the beginning of a season of new experiences, challenges, and victories, and yes, more studying and learning. The graduation was the recognition of the work that was done years before. While sitting there, it also made me reflect about life, about my wife, my son, my daughter, and myself. And I realized that we all will stand before our God one day, we will be called by our name and receive the reward of what we have done in this life. That day is not the day to get prepared. On that day there is nothing that can be done to get a medal or recognition. That day is graduation, reward day.

As I felt that day, I was and I am, proud of my son, will God feel the same about you on that day? If you’re not sure, it is not too late to you turn your heart to Him and amend your ways. He has promised to hear you and receive you. He has made all that needs to be made in order for you and I to be reconciled with Him. We all have sinned and we all have a past, and we all have a future if we want to. – “Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future” Craig Groeschel

You and I will receive the reward according to our work, for what we did with our lives. Make it a rewarding one. The day will come and it will be, graduation day.

“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”

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© Copyright DP, 2011

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Cut or prune

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by DP

“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.” – John 15:1–4

This passage brings forth many teachings that will enrich the life of any human being. Here, Jesus was talking to his disciples about the importance of the relationship with the Father and with Him. He stressed the invaluable principle that relationships play in everyday life. And he makes very clear in the following passages that without a relationship with Him, the works of men, would be temporary.

But it is very interesting that he makes a distinction between cutting and pruning, and rightfully so. When you cut off a branch it is displaced completely, it is severed. All nutrients, water, and everything that gave it life are gone. It is discarded as not being part of the grapevine any longer. No effort, no energy will be spent in order to maintain, to nurture or give life to this branch. Likewise there are some relationships that need to be severed in our lives. Relationships that only take from us our energy, time, and resources, and we never see any fruit. These are relationships that never add to your life, they only take. They don’t celebrate you, they criticize you. These are relationships that need to be cut.

But when you prune the grapevine, it might appear that you are also cutting it since you are making its appearance lest abundant. But in reality what pruning does is that it creates capacity and space so it can grow ever bigger. The same way happens with us. Sometimes we have to prune some areas of our lives. Not to sever them but to create capacity, to make space in order to grow and be fruitful. Be it relationships or at work, sometimes less is more. The space created by the events that prune your environment, will translate into focus, and fruitfulness.

In each case, your actions will lead you to a better place in your life. And when we remain in Him, the True Grapevine, we will bear much fruit and our lives and those around us will benefit from it. So what will it be, to cut or to prune?

“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”

Want this inspiration of coffee by email every morning? Enter your e-mail to subscribe at the top right of this page under the box for “Subscribe”. Like this writing and want share it? Just add your comment below on “Leave a Reply” or share it on Facebook, Twitter, or by email using any of the buttons next to “Share this:”

© Copyright DP, 2011

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.