Wintercreeks.net Statement of Faith, Hope and Love
Welcome all visitors. Like a tree planted by the Spring of Living Water. The plan of action for Wintercreeks.net is to be a source of healing for the nations. The Bible contains the mind of God, the state of mankind, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the joy of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light in a dark world, nourishment for your soul, and comfort for a broken heart. Here Paradise is restored, Heaven opened and the gates of hell disclosed. Christ is its grand subject, our good the design and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, reverently and prayerfully. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.
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Finding help to overcome a Bitter or Critical spirit.
Written by Richard Thomas October 10, 2001/Revised September 24, 2004
There are many metaphors used in the Bible to help develop a mental picture of life’s important lessons. In this article I have chosen the lesson of harvesting tree-ripened fruit. I had the experience of tasting tree-ripened lemons many years ago. Lemons are used to give contrast to foods like fish or poultry. Sugar is used generously when making lemonade. But did you also know that when lemons are left on the tree long enough they develop certain sweetness to them?
Most fruit in the major grocery industry outlets are picked green and forced to ripen either in transition or on the produce rack. The reason being is time. Time is money in agribusiness. The planting of a crop to the retail outlet is mapped out to maximize yield. Maximized yield means profitability. Profitability means you stay in agribusiness.
Mature fruit from the tree has been allowed to maximize the sugar content to make them sweet and juicy. The only drawback from waiting for tree-fruit to mature is contending with the birds, bees and yellow jackets. They too know when to harvest.
Bitterness comes from immature fruit explaining why birds, bees and yellow jackets don't bother with it. And there are many today that are pressed into service before maturing in Christ. They have a zeal for the Lord without maturity. As a result, there are cults today that were started on zeal but not firmly abiding in Christ.
On the other hand fruit left on the tree too long has a tendency to ferment. But that doesn't mean it has no use. The birds, bees and yellow jackets love it. Especially the hummingbirds; I get a thrill out of watching the hummingbirds load up on fermented plum juice, then spiral into orbit. The fruit that eventually falls to the ground becomes food for the ants and other insects. The seed that remains starts another tree. And the cycle continues!
The application of the above information to the fruit of the Spirit is found in John chapter 15. Jesus is explaining to His disciples that in order to bear fruit we must abide in Him. The word abide means to take up residence, not just a casual visit. And just as the fruit must remain on the tree to mature so must we abide in Jesus "daily" in order for the fruit to become palatable.
When Jesus laid down the statutes for His kingdom, He made it clear the citizens of His kingdom were not to be critical. [Matthew 7:1-4 ] That doesn't mean we are to neglect judgment altogether. Using good judgment is what the book of Proverbs is all about. Using criticism correctly will help others reach their highest potential. How else can a coach motivate a player to do his/her best. A drill sergeant’s job is to transform flabby undisciplined children into mature men and women. Functioning as a single military weapon. I personally have no experience with military training although friends and relatives that do, tell me it was the best thing that ever happened to them, though not the most pleasant. They tell me that boot camp was hell on Earth but it disciplined their minds and bodies for future challenges. The mean and nastiness of the drill sergeant achieved the goal.
Unwarranted criticism however, is non-constructive and steals the dreams of others, leaving the victim bitter or critical of others. The only point to non-constructive criticism is to sharpen the meanness of the criticizer. I’ve heard psychologists say that an over-critical parent can destroy the confidence of a child leaving him/her to grow up insecure and verbally, even sometimes physically abusive. I think it safe to say an insecure person is a critical person. Criticism is the seed of bitterness. Bitterness is the cancer that will destroy a relationship. Many a congregation have been poisoned with the seeds of bitterness. There is no room for bitterness in the church (the Body of Christ). The Church represents the Kingdom of God on Earth. "The Kingdom of God is...righteousness, peace and joy..."[Romans 14:17] Jesus Christ laid out the constitution of His kingdom in the Sermon on the Mount.[Matthew chapters 5,6 and 7 ]
The remedy for bitterness and criticism is found in the "Love Chapter" of scripture. [Read 1 Corinthians chapter 13 ] Jesus said if we abide in Him, we will bear much fruit.[John chapter 15 ] The word (abide) takes on the meaning of residence. He also (while in the "Garden of Gethsemane") referred to a gardening technique called grafting. [ John 15:4-8 ] The apostle Paul picked up on it to illustrate a point that the vine does not depend on the branches but the other way around. [ Romans 11:16 - 24 ] The branches remain healthy through submission and obedience. Now if we are grafted into the sweet "Root of Jesse" [ Isaiah 11:10 and Revelations 12:19 ] we will begin to bear the sweet fruit of the Spirit that flows from the Root, through the Vine, into the branches. [Galatians 5:22 ] Now if you check out the fruit of the Spirit, you will not see listed - bitterness or criticism. They are not listed as God's family values. [continued -->
We are admonished, in Scripture, to put away "all bitterness". [ Ephesians 4:31 ] By keeping our connection with Jesus intact and unpolluted by the world. Which will result in the desire to be reconciled with the brethren. [ Matthew 5:23 and 24 ] The North American Indian tribe “Miwok” would gather for public worship long before the white-man brought the gospel to the new world. The Miwok’s had a tradition that before anyone could enter the public worship area, had to be reconciled with another tribal member. This tradition produced harmony and goodwill among the members. Bitterness disrupts the harmony just like a sour note will spoil a beautiful symphony. God laid out creation with the sweet melodious voice of the Word of His mouth. Creation is His symphony. If we are still, we can hear it. But we must be still and know that He is God. [ Psalms 46:10 ] He is looking for more members to join and get in tune with His symphony. He searches the earth to find those whose hearts are loyal to Him. [ 2 Chronicles 16:9 ] God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself. [ 2 Corinthians 5:17 - 21 ]
The troubled spots of this world can be traced to bitterness between brothers. The Middle Eastern conflicts date back to Jacob and Esau; Ishmael and Issac; Cain and Abel. If you check the origins of the conflicts among mankind, you will find the flames of bitterness are fueled by an unwillingness to forgive and be reconciled. The benchmark of Christianity is "Forgiveness" represented by the cross. Jesus Christ broke down the wall of separation "unforegiveness". [Galatians 3:26-28 ] He took the first step. Therefore, there is no room for bitterness or criticism in the Kingdom of God.
If you are seeking hope for a new life, it all begins with Jesus. Begin Here!
Prior to his death in 2003, Dr. Bill Bright, founder and former president of Campus Crusade for Christ International, put into book form what he regarded as the 10 most vital principles every Christian leader should know and live by.
The result is The Joy of Knowing God, the "simply powerful" 10-book series of Bright's most dynamic messages on successful Christian living. Each book also contains a thoughtfully abridged Bonus Audio CD, hosted by Grammy Award winning recording artist John Tesh and read by a noted Christian who graciously volunteered time.
Join Bill Bright for a powerful look at how you can enjoy the true peace of mind that comes from giving and being forgiven - "The Key to Guilt-Free Living."
Years ago, award-winning Christian artist Sandi Patty felt at home on center stage. But after her controversial divorce, her career and personal life went into a tailspin. In this candid memoir, she recounts her fall from grace, her long journey back to restoration, and the powerful way God's forgiveness worked to heal and redeem her. 256 pages, hardcover from Howard.
Move beyond being a victim of others' actions and discover the freedom that is yours in choosing therapeutic forgiveness. The 35 liberating lessons contained in the book can help you to put yourself back in control, transcend the most hurtful of circumstances, and make the healing choice of wellness over bitterness.
I love these shoes. Really? The same way I love my wife? What's up with the word "love"? It doesn't have much meaning when we use it so loosely. Maybe we don't really get it. Maybe we don't understand what real love is. What it involves to really love somebody. What it means to give yourself to someone else. We mistake things like friendship, commitment or lust for love, but God wired us in a certain way to experience all that love was really meant to be. Not to hold us back or make us miss out on the best that life has to offer. God created love, and wants us to feel it all in the way it's meant to be felt. Flame is the second DVD of the NOOMA® series - short films appropriate for personal and small group settings, congregational meetings, and much more. Like parables, they use the experiences of our lives to teach about the fullness of life through Jesus, tackling issues like forgiveness, discipleship, and unconditional love. The study materials accompanying each NOOMA® encourage meaningful discussion with relevant questions and biblical references.
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