Pondering Good

Hello sisters! 

Hope you're all standing strong in the Lord our Rock! 

I have an audio with some scriptures for you... 

We will have goodness in us because of the Spirit won't we! 

Pretty bird in the garden searching for grubs... 

Praise God for His creations! 

So beautiful to see the plants growing and producing food... 

Before and after picture on the weed patch I've been working on. So difficult are those grasses to dig out as their underground runners and roots are deep. But I'm glad to have reclaimed a good garden bed to plant vegetables in soon. 

I just was watering it to see where the roots have been missed as they will shoot right back up...and I'll deal with them promptly! 

Picked the last of the apples.... 

What great blessings they are! Now I have to work out how to use them or preserve them for a later time. 

A box of quinces turned up from somewhere so I need to use them somehow too. 

So many interesting fruits God made! 

And here's a baby passionfruit growing! 

Having little lambs around you definitely see what the scriptures talk about. This is just a quick video showing them following me. And we want to be like that with our Saviour don't we...the good Shepherd! 

That means not following some other master doesn't it sisters...like not satan or the world or sin or ourselves. 

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Matthew 6:24 

 

May we sisters follow closely to our Saviour! We once were lost sheep...but no more! Let us be so grateful to be found! 

For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

1 Peter 2:25

Thank you sister for the scripture picture.... 

Such a great God we have who gives us life! He owns this world, made us and we are just His creatures. Glad we can have eternal life through His Son! 

But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

John 20:31

That's what I have to share today sisters! Hope you all are striving in seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness! 

Sister Michaela 

Find the gospel explained here. 

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Fruit and Your Fruit

 

Greetings godly sisters!

How does this day find you in the faith? Hopefully you are pressing on and through all things that come whether it's in our physical life in our health or in our spiritual life of trials and what comes because of our faith. As we sisters often remind each other...our reward is in the next life! All we go through here is nothing compared to the glory to come with the Father! 

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Romans 8:18

The world may be receiving their reward now in fulfilling all manner of pleasures and lusts...but we know it shall not be well with them unless they repent. 

Here's some fruit blessings of peaches and apricots we got... 

Indeed the trees are doing what they were created to and bringing forth an abundance of fruit! 

And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.

Genesis 1:11

 Which means I have some work to do... 

Cooked some to freeze... 

And made some into a crumble for dessert... 

And the chickens get the scraps... 

And the chicks too... 

God is good to provide many different foods for mankind. We give Him the glory and thanks for them. 

We can't talk about fruit without bringing up about the fruit we are to have as saints of God. 

What does your tree look like, your life? Is it full of good fruit? I hope so because that shows our faith in Christ and our new life in the Spirit! 

But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Matthew 13:8-9

That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

Colossians 1:10-11

And we also know we women are to be adorning with good works rather than outward physical adornment in our dress etc too. 

Here's a picture of fruit that I added some names of the fruits we are to be producing in our lives. 

We know it is a work of the Spirit within us to produce these...as without Him we do not have the power to. Let's make sure we keep abiding in our Saviour and are branches bearing much fruit! 

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

John 15:5

 

Well I hope you were edified sisters and you keep going about your lives producing good fruits so the Father is glorified! 

Perhaps in the physical, some of you have some surplus blessings to work with storing them up and being good stewards of what you have. I'm sure all of us women have various kinds of work to do working with our hands and feeding others in our lives. What a good blessing we have to do so! 

You have a joyous day sister saints and the Lord give you strength! 

Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

Psalm 27:14

 

Love in Christ, 

Sister Michaela 

Find the gospel explained here. 

Read more of "Fruit and Your Fruit"

Followers of Good

Greetings sisters! 

Here I am back again. And I hope to edify us all with some scriptures and a few thoughts. Hope you are strong in the faith of Christ and standing rooted in Him! He is our firm foundation and if we build on Him (hearing and obeying) we shall not be moved! 

Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

3 John 1:11

I was thinking about how we are to be followers of good. We know God is good and He is the author of good. As His children, we no longer want the evil ways of the world, satan, and the flesh. 

We know from what apostle Paul wrote in Titus 2 that the older women are to be teachers of good and that would no doubt be actual teaching but also being good examples in everyday life. So much can be learned by watching and listening too not necessarily actual set teachings. So if we know people are watching us (they always are) we do want to represent Christ in all our actions, words and ways. We have been told to shine our lights before men so God is glorified. 

The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

Titus 2:3-5

There are a handful of good things mentioned there that they are to teach the younger...be keepers at home, loving husbands and children, being chaste and sober etc. So it has a wide range of applications in what would be included in teachers of good. And we are told elsewhere in scripture many times about good and being followers of it and therefore hating evil and fleeing from it. 

Also a widow was only to be received for aid amongst the believers if she had a record of many good works. 

Well reported of for good works;
if she have brought up children, 
if she have lodged strangers, 
if she have washed the saints' feet, 
if she have relieved the afflicted, 
if she have diligently followed every good work.
1 Timothy 5:10

So in that we see some more examples of what good is. 

We see that goodness is a fruit of the Spirit... 

(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

Ephesians 5:9

(So if someone doesn't want to follow that which is good and is compromising and allowing evil...even if 'only a bit'...then that is not good fruit of being born of the Spirit.)

We hold fast to good and we also know we are to abstain from all appearance of evil. 

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

1 Thessalonians 5:21

A godly woman is to adorn with good works (and not external in her dress and looks)... 

But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

1 Timothy 2:10

We are to cleave to good... 

Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

Romans 12:9

I'm glad we can know right from wrong because we have His Word and commands and His Spirit too, and also a conscience as well. We don't ever want to go against that knowledge we have. 

Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

James 4:17

What a precious promise for workers of good... 

But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God.

Romans 2:10-11

We know it is good to obey all of God's commands so we are blessed to know what those are if we have His Word and read it as we should. 

The list of what is good would be so huge but as would also be the opposite list of what is evil. So avoiding evil would be good itself. 

I know we are to return good for evil that people may do to us. Whether that is in word or deed we can return good in some way and as it says heap coals of fire on their heads in doing so. Hopefully they repent. God will judge them lest they repent. 

Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:20-21

See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

1 Thessalonians 5:15

And sometimes that would include being silent and obviously not using words back that are not good or keeping peace. Or it could be in our physical actions of giving them something they need as it says. 

Of course this all is only truly possible when we have been born from above and truly desiring holiness and obedience to God in all our ways. I mean we can never be good enough for God and eternal life without trusting in Christ and obeying His gospel no. We just follow after good because of all He has done for us and that we know He is good and also commands it of us. It is fruit we are of Him and even if people tell us we don't have to do all we do, we listen to God over humans. 

We also know that today people call evil good and good evil...but God is the one who shows us what is good amen sisters. 

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

Isaiah 5:20

Let us sisters put our senses to use to discern good and evil... 

But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Hebrews 5:14

Well I hope that edified you in some way as you seek to follow after Christ and because of Him we want to do good. We know He is good! Every good thing comes from Him! 

Lord willing I will be back here tomorrow. Hold fast to that which is good sister saints and let us be examples in it. 

Love in Christ, 

Sister Michaela 

Find the gospel to eternal life explained here. 

Read more of "Followers of Good"

Fruit and Good Fruit

Greetings sisters! 

How are you doing? I'm back again with a bit of edification that hopefully encourages you in some way. 

I share some pictures of some fruit coming along on the fruit trees here. There's apples, plums, peaches, apricots, nectarines, and pears. What blessings to look forward to in a harvest! 

Just as we have to be patient waiting for the Lord! 

Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

James 5:7-8

And I share some scriptures on fruit too as we know that we are to have good fruits if we are truly one of God's children. Are all our fruits good sisters? And as it came to mind reminds me also of the fountain that is yielding sweet water...because it can't yield both sweet and bitter at once. That is our words sisters. 

Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

James 3:11-12

So on to the fruit blessings and scriptures about our fruit... 

That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Colossians 1:10

That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

Philippians 1:10-11

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Hebrews 12:11

Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

Matthew 3:8

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

James 3:17-18

Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

John 15:8

Don't we want to be like that sisters? Glorifying our Father bringing forth much fruit? Of course without abiding in Christ the Vine can we do that so let us abide in Him! We want to take this all seriously don't we sisters. Our God is so great and holy and what a great opportunity we have been offered back to Him via His Son...so let us treasure it and strive to walk worthy of Him. 

I was thinking of this psalm too... 

For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer. And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.

Psalm 109:4-5

Reminds me of what Christ went through for us. But also how that's often how it might be with us saints when we love people and their souls and try to help them. But Christ is our perfect example isn't He sisters! 

Thank you again sister for the scripture pictures here.

Oh amen for sure contentment is important in this life isn't it sisters! Content in what the Lord has called us to and where He has us doing our duties as godly women. Content in our physical bodies the Lord has given us even if they have weaknesses. Content in the situations around us even if they are challenging. But as I've said before...not content in sin though. 

So let us glorify our great faithful and true God! He is worthy! 

Love in Christ, 

And hold fast to the true faith sisters! 

Sister Michaela 

You can find the gospel explained here. 

Read more of "Fruit and Good Fruit"

Trees, Fruit, and a Few Thoughts

 

Good day sisters! 

I pray you are striving on obedient to all the commands God has for us as women. 

Today I have a few bits and pieces about trees and fruit for interests sake.

These are two carob trees we have on the property. They are the same age. All we can tell is that the one on the right has not got good deep roots because there is rocky soil underneath. And the one on the left is deeply rooted and flourishing in leaf production. And you can think about how we are to be rooted in Christ and the gospel. 

But the other thing about these trees is that they have never borne any fruit. A Jewish neighbour gave them to us and I believe we were supposed to graft a good yielder onto them so they produce fruit. But we didn't and time went on. So I was thinking that scripture has so much about all this type of thing and so I wanted to share this to think how we as Gentiles were grafted in and can become people of God with the Jews. 

"For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy : and if the root be holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.  And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?"

Romans 11:16-24

It's something to ponder for all of us. I think how many are acting high minded and not fearing God in these days of lukewarm faith. 

As I said above our carob trees hadn't produced any fruit yet...or at least none to maturity. I saw these tiny pods (or flowers) on one of the trees the other day but I suspect they won't last to full maturity. We will see. 

That same Jewish neighbour used to bring us bags of carob pods and us children used to devour them in short order. They are yet another unique creation of God for feeding man and the animals. 

As I said our trees haven't yet produced any fruit in about 15 years. It reminded me of this what Jesus did.  

'Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered. And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!"

Matthew 21:18-20

And this one too. 

"He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it : And if it bear fruit, well : and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down." 

Luke 13:6-9

And this is another thing I found interesting.

These are two pistachio trees we have. The tree on the right is the male tree and it produces flowers. The tree on the left is the female one and it bears the fruit. I'm not sure if it's always the case that there is that size difference but I thought how much of the plants energy must be spent on growing the fruit. And maybe you can think of some spiritual correlations in relation to the size difference too...about how God ordained that the men be the leaders and the women the helpers. 

I shared before about the nuts on that tree but I thought they should be ripe and ready to pick by now...but not quite. 

Well what are some good fruits we women should produce? I'm sure you can think of many. It all comes down to the fruit of obedience I guess but in that there are many things of course...and which will be fruits and evidence of the Spirit in us and our faith in Christ. 

Love

Mercy

Peace

Joy

Truth

Righteousness

Goodness 

Temperance

Faith

Longsuffering

Forgiving

Kind

Gentle

Meek

Quiet

Submissive

Keeper at home

Biblically clothed

Unadorned

Chaste

Sober

Shamefaced

Discreet

I'm sure there are more but those are some. 

And what will happen to us if we do not produce good fruit?

May we be good trees in good soil bearing good and much fruit...in Christ of course...for without Him we can do nothing. 

And may we not be like this... 

And we know John 15 about Jesus being the true vine. This verse stood out for me because we see that Jesus takes away branches that don't bear any fruit but He says He purges (go check what that means) the branches that do bear fruit so that they may produce more fruit. I find that amazing, especially that He would care to do that sisters. 

"Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit."

John 15:2

Reminds me of this one too. 

"For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth."

Hebrews 12:6

There are so many simple connections and relations to the country farm lifestyle in the Bible. So much of that is lost in the cities and in our culture in general as you just find all these things in a shop and don't think what work and processes went into it all. 

There's much much more of course as I am not doing any kind of deep study on it all but mentioning it as I do find it fascinating and it does give a better understanding of scripture to picture these things and then connect them to the spiritual truths that they are mentioned about in the Word. 

And we have to have much patience and endurance as we allow the Spirit to convict us and as we overcome the flesh growing more and more like Christ. 

"But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience."

Luke 8:15

I needed to go and pick some lemons for another batch of pear butter I was making today. And I thought this lemon was interesting growing straight out of a woody branch. 

And have you ever seen such a small manderin? It was almost thumbnail size but it looks ready to pick. I thought it was cute anyway:-) And look at that blue sky! 

Amen! 

Love in Christ to my good-fruit-bearing sisters,

...from an unworthy servant of God

See the gospel to eternal life here. 

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Good Fruit

"For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."

James 2:26

Greetings sisters! 

I hope and pray our lives are all producing much fruit, that shows we are true disciples of our Lord. We love Him so we keep all His commands...and those ones especially for women. 

"Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Matthew 13:18-23

I was thinking of the parable that Jesus told the disciples about the hearts of men. 

God's word is so amazing as of course He knows all things and exactly the things he says happens. 

And it is interesting to see it happening. Of course we pray for good ground that bears much fruit but more often than not the hearts of humans are one of the other ones. 

I think about how that could affect some of the things that pertain to us women. Say if someone taught that God's Word teaches a woman to wear a head covering and you see that and obey for a time then persecution arises and you put that away...it isn't good fruit of obedience from a good heart. And it could apply to many things but the Lord has warned us in this parable about the dangers that abound. 

Praise God for the Spirit and for those who are truly seeking that they might push past all that and study deep and obey what it says rather than what our flesh might want. And they ENDURE and OVERCOME to 

THE END!

"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God."

Revelation 2:7

In regards to good fruit, we are blessed to have quite a few varieties of fruit trees on our property...and if they are healthy and strong they bear much good fruit. God's created trees just do what they are created to do which is to bear fruit which provides food for man. 

There are plums... 

And nectarines... 

And pears... 

And mandarins...

And more that we are blessed to have. 

What good fruits are in your life as a godly woman? Are you biblically dressed? Are you covered and submitted to the order of authority that God ordained? Are you showing a meek and quiet spirit...which is to God of GREAT price? 

Or are you showing evidence of sin and the flesh? 

"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."

Matthew 7:13-20

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:" 

1 Peter 5:8

Be not deceived sisters.

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

Ephesians 6:12

Cling to the Word and don't let anyone sway you from your pure devotion to Christ. We will all answer to God one day and He will put everything right. Good will be rewarded and evil punished. Fight on in the strength of the Lord looking to Him and not yourself or circumstances.

We all need to examine ourselves and make sure we have the right gospel and not one that has been changed by corrupt men. See the biblical gospel here and how to find eternal life through Christ.

Love in Christ,

...from a daughter of God

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