Faith Filled Fridays From Croley’s Corner of Chicklit Power

Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power...

It’s Faith filled Friday! No matter what time of day you may be joining me, it’s always good to be together. Grab your journal, coffee and let’s get started.
The last several weeks have been founded on the necessary part of tending a garden -- water, weeding and fertilizing -- in order for our harvest to be healthy. The anticipation of the first sprouts to pop up through the ground is so fulfilling, yet we know that even in our lives as believers, the work is never done or complete! It is a continual, perpetual place of growing.
I recall my grandparents’ farm. It was quite large and I remember watching them both labor; he would build a fence, a stronghold that would surround his precious fields preventing intruders to invade and destroy his work. He invested long hours in the field to give way to a fruitful harvest. They never gave up, never grew weary or discouraged.   As a child I recalled asking him when we would see the fruits and vegetables pop out, and grandma’s reply was, “It’s not time yet. We just have to continue to wait.” They knew the process of waiting, trusting in the seed that was planted.
In the waiting; it truly can be the hardest time for most. It can be discouraging and it can definitely be unfruitful.
Waiting on God is not easy and is a crucial step in our lives in which our dependence upon God grows.
Our hearts often cry out in distress. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord! Psalm 27:14
We can easily feel worried and second-guess our motives. We yearn for freedom and provision, yet waiting upon the Lord for needed supplies is one common area in which He trains us. The garden is always in need of continual care, even when we don’t see any productivity. Our soul gardens are in continual need of Him and His care for our lives. Yet it’s in those times when we are needy that we are forced to look to the Lord for help.
The other day someone said to me, "But I don't like what the Lord is bringing me through." Yes, how true this is, yet we must have the confidence in God in order for us not to squirm, squiggle and squeak!
He knows what He is doing! The survival of the seed in the ground must squirm, squiggle and squeak, so to speak, in order to produce efficiently.
Therefore when someone comes to the Lord, through salvation, remember it is a gradual process of a walk by faith. Their beginnings may seem small but as they grow in the grace of God, their faith too will increase. The parable of the mustard seed says: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” Matthew 13:31-32
If we live by confidence in our own means and abilities, will we not become certain of God’s power working in us? What glory does that bring to God? But through this process, God enables us to depend upon Him so that we know it is only He who does wonderful things in our lives.
Ultimately then, waiting upon God protects us, deepens our trust in Him, forces us to seek His ways and brings Him the most glory.
Next week I’m hoping to conclude “A call to Sow”. We’re going to find an example in God’s Word of a couple who experienced seasons of waiting. And through their waiting, and might I add a time of even questioning God, a seed produced, a seed called Isaac, the Son of promise.
Have a wonderful weekend and remember….keep Him close to your heart!
Love, Debbie



P.S. Now that we've had our coffee with Debbie, would you join me in
offering up a prayer of health and blessing to the most amazing woman,
my self-adopted mom who is celebrating her 87th birthday today! Mom, I
thank God for the day He put you in my life, to walk alongside me,
whisper wisdom and love into my soul, to be the first person to show
me that unconditional love.... I love you with all that I am and know
that I am who I am because He's used you to help me become all that He
requires me to become!

Faith Filled Fridays From Croley’s Corner of Chicklit Power

Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power...

“Therefore, we must be diligent to feed our soul being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:11
So happy you joined me today for “Faith filled Fridays.” Grab your favorite drink, journal and join me as we realize the need of compost in our garden. Question: How many of you enjoyed science when you were in High School? It wasn’t one of my favorite subjects, yet it was essential for life as I became an adult.
The earth’s soil is a rich storehouse of nutrients essential to the growth, beauty and good health of any kind of garden. We are told in the class of science that plants must have 16 basic nutrients available to them through the soil and air. When soil does not contain enough of a particular nutrient, a fertilizer or a mixture of compost must be added. It is essential…. It’s needed to enrich the soil in order to support growth and progress of a garden.
Here’s a list of four ingredients for a garden to survive: Carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, water. Wow, how about that for a quick science lesson!
Now, to connect God’s Word to us as believers.
We must consume food daily in order to stay alive and to remain healthy…. Just as food is an important part of living and thriving, so it is with living Godly, although we are a part of this world we defiantly are not of it. “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him". Colossians 3:17
Although each believer’s walk with God is personal; we truly need one another to be fruitful together in order to further the Kingdom! However, there are times when there are opinions or offenses that mix into the ingredients of our walk, together. I’ll call that the fertilizer or compost of life… and it can certainly leave a stinky aroma.
In addition to that, we typically want to turn and run. Let’s think about this for a minute…. if we go through life without any troubles, trials or tribulations, we would have no need to call on the Lord for help. There’d be no compassion for others who may be experiencing similar stinky situations! James 1:2-4 tells us, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
Is your garden lacking?
The fertilizing part of our lives is essential. For a believer it is necessary to go through stinky times in order for us to grow in His grace, His mercy, to love others, including those “stinky” enemies in order to see God produce His righteousness in us. (Matthew 5:43-48) It definitely may be stinky which makes us uncomfortable; however; He sends the Holy Spirit to stir our hearts with His love, to process the fruitfulness out of the stinky stuff.
When we don’t feed our garden properly, it will be affected. It is in that fertilizing time that causes us to grow and to walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. (Colossians 1:10).
Remember, Christianity is not a list, but a life....a life worth serving. Join me next week as we begin to see budding growth in our garden.
Love, Deb

Faith Filled Fridays From Croley’s Corner of Chicklit Power

Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power...

Wow it has been three weeks since we started our “A call to Sow.” Grab your favorite drink and journal as we peek into our “soul garden” and see how it’s growing. Let’s get started.
Have you heard the expression “Digging in the dirt makes one feel closer to God?” I know for the most part when I’m out digging, I find myself absorbed in all that He has created. It’s a great way to spend my quiet time, cultivating what I love...spending time with God.
Luke 8:11 tells us: “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.” When we begin to dig into God’s word, there is no doubt that there will be an increase and immeasurable amount of growth of our faith and our strength in Him and His peace in us. His word produces life....just like a seed.
Jesus taught the parable of the soils to His disciples in Mark 4. Christ said spiritual fruitfulness or barrenness depended upon the type of soil that received the seed of God's Word. He warned of the choking influence of thorns… pesky, prickly weeds that squeeze the life out of fruit-producing seedlings. The weeds Jesus warned of are the worries of the world, the anxieties of this age. Worry or anxiety means "to be drawn in different directions," or, "to be distracted.” What’s worrisome is that these weeds have the inherent potential for multiplying ... and way too quick!
When weeds are left unattended, they can cut the harvest by as much as 40 to 60 percent. As I consider the consequences in my life of the "harvest hinderers," I know that I need to get serious about pulling, poisoning and plowing under those destructive weeds. Letting just one weed grow freely in your life could result in crop failure; removing them is essential to a healthy, productive, bountiful harvest.
The potential for weeds for me is my busyness. A full schedule of doing good can crowd out the best of my intentions and I soon find the seed that He has planted in me becomes “weed crowded.” I catch myself rummaging through the pages of God’s Word and circumventing or skirting through my prayer time. And I justify my actions by saying…” see, God, how busy I am for the Kingdom?”
I can also be distracted by urgent things, but what’s more urgent than feeding on His Word? See, doing all the right things doesn’t always qualify for a bountiful harvest, even if our intentions are good. If we don’t pick up and rightly utilize the tools He has given us, be prepared for some deficiencies. 
As we grow closer to Him He can spotlight areas of the weed root that has mixed itself in with the seed of life: for example, it can be bitterness...un-forgiveness...jealousy…lack of faith, or even doubt.
When we find ourselves not producing as we should, that’s when we need to take inventory: Are we reading God’s Word …daily? Are we spending time in prayer?
Friend, what distracts you? What pulls you in a direction you know is unfruitful? What seems to be inhibiting the growth of your spiritual walk?
Time spent in His presence…springs forth His power in us….which roots us in Him!
We must keep a watchful eye on our “soul garden.” We must be careful how we pluck out the weed not to disturb the seed that has been properly planted. This week make a check list; ask Him to help you weed out your pesky, prickly weeds so you can continue to produce a bountiful “soul garden!”
…rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 2:7
Thanks for stopping by “Faith filled Friday’s.
Love,

 Debbie

Faith Filled Fridays From Croley’s Corner of Chicklit Power

Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power...

Here it is, Faith Filled Friday already! So glad you could join me. I’d like to ask a question of you: Do you have a garden or are you thinking about one for this year? If so, have you surveyed the land for the right place to see the best results? I’m always excited when it comes to experiencing what He has prepared for us together, so let’s not delay any further. Grab your coffee, journal and let’s get started.
I love my prayer walks; each day He speaks to me something new. He is always faithful to give me a word of inspiration. Why? Because I have made myself unavailable, not capable of being disturbed by anything… no texts, no phones, no list of things that need my attention this very second.
In my walks lately I’ve noticed the parchedness of the ground and for many who have beautiful landscaping, the amount of water, or lack of water being used has certainly had its effects … because of our drought
Water, no matter what the condition of the ground is… lifesaving. Water is essential of any kind or way for life!
I know He’s been speaking to my heart about soil and as I shared last week in “A call to Sow,” the question still echoes: “Who are you sowing into?”
But after you’ve carefully tilled the ground, one must ask, “Are you sprinkling and saving on watering?” It struck a chord in my heart.. “Wow, am I under watering? Am I that busy that I only hear in part?” Sure, my intentions are pure yet sometimes I can be over-cautious in order not to offend. And the question is “Who am I offending?” If He has prepared them for me to do some sowing, then I’d better be prepared to sow…and if I’m supposed to water, then I better be prepared to water.
In order to sow, we must prepare in the rightful manner of God’s Word so it can abide, imparting His love upon their hearts and minds and if their hearts are not duly ready and prepared to receive it, it falls on hard ground. This is where the watering comes in. Water is vital in order for the seed to germinate. Watering is equivalent to pursuing keeping a watchful eye on what you’ve just sowed.
Life at this point of the sowing is very precious and fragile; timing is so important.
The devil is very busy, about ready to steal from the hearers that you’ve been sowing into just as the fowls of the air go about the seed that lies above ground. When the heart, like the highway, is untilled, he is like the birds; he comes swiftly, and carries away the seed of God’s Word sown.
Remember, He takes consideration in every single person ….just as we must take into consideration those whom He sends our way.
Using the right tools when we sow and reap is also important to the process. You cannot use a sowing tool when you reap and you cannot use a reaping tool for sowing. Oh, the steps of a garden: the tilling, the right seeds in the right season, and the right amount of watering and weeding in order to reap a bountiful harvest!
My prayer for you as you take some time to read today or this weekend comes from Isaiah 55:8-11 & John 4:27-38: that you will understand that you are used for every part of His “soul garden” and that He will accomplish His Word through you, for His ways are far greater than our ways…. lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already ripe for harvest… and remember; A word spoken in due season, how good it is!
Thanks for stopping by today’s Faith Filled Friday’s and keep Him close to your heart.

Love, Deb