Conviction of The Holy Spirit - 130

There is a force in the world that acts upon the hearts of men.  It is a force comprised of Spirit, not flesh, and it acts from within and of Itself, through a simple process called Conviction.

If you are brought to court for an offense and are found guilty, you are considered convicted of a crime.  Truth is found through the trial process and a consequence is rendered.  Spirtual Conviction is a Holy act and process of cleansing, step by step, in preparation of complete and unhindered indwelling.  The process is simply being convicted toward purity and truth - love and all that is GoOD and of Him.  This is your consequence for accepting Jesus for your Life.

Individuality and uniqueness of each person is never sacrificed, but is enhanced when the Holy Spirit Convicts a heart.  We were each created unique as the snowflakes in the sky.  This is the love that God has for each one of us.  He is in control and performing His Will through your obedient vessel here on earth.  Your hands become His, your feet become His and your Life is because of Him.

How perfect is that?  How perfect is God? 

I Love Him with everything inside me!

Fresh Lettuce - 129

I wasn't planning on making a salad until i remembered the fresh baby bibb lettuce in the cold frame.  I grabbed a gallon ziplock back and began to thin the row a bit.  This helps in two areas, firstly it feeds me, and secondly it makes room for other plants to fill out.  I plan to do more thining about Wednesday.  Between the lettuce i planted in the cold frame and that which i planted in the open garden, only the cold frame was successful.  All the plants that began to come up in the garden were eaten.

I was also able to pick some fresh carrots that i had planted last fall.  They overwintered well and were vey crisp and flavorful.  i plan to plant a larger area of broadcast seed for a carrot bed around the small cabbage seedlings.  I tried my hand at juicing tonight with my "Back to Basics" hand juicer.  It's just like an old timey hand crank grinder with a fine screen for juicing fruits and veges.  The carrots worked pretty well, but it will take quite a few to get a decent size glass of juice.  Wheatgrass juice may be next on the menu - we'll see. 

Love and Blessings,  ~ ab

The Transformation of "Work "- 125

http://www.antbrotherfarms.com/

  Two weeks ago i woke up at 4:31am and said, "GoOD Morning Father."  He replied, "GoOD Morning Son.  Today you quit your job."  Now this was odd, because i had almost stopped praying about it and asking if now was the time, i had been praying on this for the past 9 months.  i would trust when the time was right in God's Will, not my anxious nature.  Patience.  Wait on the Lord.  So the "Today" back then was Saturday March 13, 2010 - 113.  Significance, probably not, but what was significant, was what happened that day.  And Since ...        ....     ......;:/|*|\:;.....  ..  a seed is planted.

Amory, MS

God Blesses You All Greatly This Day!

Love,  ~ab

Wow! - 123

  We just got back from church tonight at the jail in Clay County and we were all blessed with a great service.  There is a true church family that has developed over the past year there, one that is strong and connects us all at the heart.  This is a church of inmate trustees, visiting family and friends, police officers, and paroles that began many years ago.  These men and women are all my brothers and sisters in Jeshua.

It is hard to put into words the love that i feel for this prison ministry work and "The Church" inside the jail.  Every Tuesday night at 7:00 pm Church gets underway and The Holy Spirit is invited to feed us The Word.  There is a portion of the service that is devoted to "testimony time" where anyone can stand up and provide a personal testimony of what God has done in their lives.  Some like to share a song or a scripture and there is the occasional mini-sermon.

I always leave there filled to the brim with joy, excitement, and definitely the peace that transcends all understanding.  It is a gift to be part of this family and to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit wash, share and teach.  As one former inmate turned pastor shares, "God took a mess, and made a messenger."

Thank You Heavenly Father,

~ ab

Genesis ~ A Beginning - 122

  The beautiful birth of spring gives new hope again to growth and the potential of the soil.  Lying dormant through the cold months of winter and storing energy in the earth, the green shoots of new growth slowly emerge from the ground and the leaf bud as temperatures begin to warm.

Can you tell that i am a bit of a romantic regarding spring?  We have seen some strange weather here though, as i'm sure many have witnessed in their own area.  From 70's one day to sleet and 30's the next seems to be the range of fluctuation from day to day.  Spring temps were very slow in warming this year and i have appreciated the time invested in a small cold frame.  Although the local fire ants have taken up residence (they too appreciate warm soil), several plants have thrived in the small greenhouse.  The changing and unpredictable weather seems to warrant the use of greenhouses or some level of controlled growing environment.  Just my thought.

I have been busy with work and the day to day needs of life lately.  The main website has been down for a while though i have a blessing of a gift in a new server host.  Being out of "tech" for so long has made it a challenge for me to get the site back up and learn to use new tools.  It will get there soon, i pray.

With spring comes more landscape work. Several new and old clients have called about some "work".  There is also a start to a small garden using some makeshift coldframes and gathered soil from compost piles and other stored sources.  i was talking with several of the residents involved in the prison ministry and they are making their own efforts at starting a garden on the prison grounds.  The H.O.P.E. group helps them out with seeds, plants and other needs - though they don't seem to need it based on their success last year.  Being able to share a common love of growing with these men has been a way of ministering, or just talking.  That is time that i have enjoyed sharing with them. 

This walk of faith continues.   ...just walking a step at a time...

Love and Blessings of new growth,

~ ab

Coaching - 106

  I had the privledge of coaching my youngest son's basketball game today.  Talk about winging it - i had never before coached anything and pretty much had to rely on the help of others, including the young players, to point me where i needed and tell me what to do.  Thanks and Blessings to them all.  i relaxed into being "coach" after the first couple periods and encouraged the players to open their eyes to certain things happening on the court to help direct them as i could.  i explained a new play at halftime, not expecting them to pick it up in such short time, but surprisingly a couple players did try the new play.
  The league my boys are both in is called Upward and is sponsored by the local churches.  It includes devotional time and Biblical teaching as the foundation in team sports.  At halftime there is a miny sermon to the whole assembly.  This is a positive mix as i've witnessed and a GoOD lesson to put God first in all our endeavors - work, play, entertainment, etc. 
  During halftime the team went into their private team room and we talked a bit about the game first and then came time for a scripture.  i wasn't provided a "standard" verse to teach so i gave the children one of my first favorites Genesis 2:8 - And God planted a garden eastward in Eden and there He placed the man he had formed.  i explained in the simplist terms to the young boys how God first intended for us to walk in a garden that He gave to us as a gift.  He wanted to be close to us as He made us for Him and we are just wired that way - connected in our Spirit - Deep within our hearts God planted a seed.
  The Holy Spirit teaches us in all circumstances as we mature our relationship with Him.  This "coaching" lesson has been to show me what He does with us and how He coaches, teaches, and counsels us in our game here on earth.  The Counselor is very intimate in His teaching and very direct.  i have been shown this to understand empathy for how God is trying to guide us and direct us through each day.  As a coach may suggest a new play or point out some area we may improve upon, so does the Holy Spirit lead in this way.  He cannot play the game for us, He can only lead and suggest and protect.  Look to God for your guidence in all situations and cultivate your relationship so that you may always know to rely Him.  He is Truth and Love in action.

May You be Blessed this day by Father,

~ab