Fruit-Evaluation...

How often love relinquishes what we dearly love 

for Who we dearly love~

***

To love something is never Reason enough unless

it is because we love someone

***

2 Tim.3:1-5

But know this, that in the last days [a]perilous times will come: 

2 For men will be lovers of themselves, 

lovers of money, 

boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents,

 unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, [b]unforgiving, 

slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,

 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, 

lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 

5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. 

And from such people turn away!

***

We all know it is foolish to wait till autumn to contemplate

what will be the harvest!

Harvest depends on what we sow during planting season!

Today in the Season of life it is still planting season,

even in November.

Fruit is no liar;

we reap what we sow.

We are wise to pause time and again, and evaluate

humbly and honestly the health and hardiness

of the fruit on the tree...

Matt.3:10

The ax is already at the root of the trees, 

and every tree that does not produce good fruit 

will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

On today's to-do/planting-harvest list; can pumpkins...

Roast beets for supper 'salad'...

(Below, last week's first time recipe-try and new fall favourite!)

Myriad medleys of  moments served up inspiration for today's poem...

Upon a scale we oft forget, the fruit of love is weighed

Each new day, rife with gleaming 'yet' grants opportunity 

To manifest love's evidence, as word and deed are laid

Before the One whose ordinance lays the ax to the tree   

 

Upon a scale we cannot see, we heap the fruit of love

While God's goodness streams fresh and free, like rainfall and sunshine

His mercy hails and we reply; as what we prize we prove

By who we serve; vain to deny the fruit upon the vine   

Great peace have they who love God's law, yea, nothing will offend

Then pray for more genuine awe as we approach The Scale

For love is not a liar as it fills limbs that will bend

With fruit of heart's desire and the proof that will not fail 

Upon a scale none can revoke love's sacred fruits accrue 

The deed we did, the word we spoke, the Thought, secretly sown 

Then pray we pay more earnest heed as we embark anew

To till the ground and plant the seed that by its fruit is known

Upon a scale held in hands scarred by love, nailed to a cross 

We heap our answer; no holds barred, holy, holy, the fruit 

Because it tells the tender truth; futile, all verbal gloss 

The fruit of love, the sacred proof that silences dispute  

Gal.5:19-26

The acts of the flesh are obvious: 

sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;

 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy,

 fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; 

drunkenness, orgies, and the like. 

I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this

 will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance,

 kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 

23 gentleness and self-control. 

Against such things there is no law. 

24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh 

with its passions and desires. 

25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 

 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Gal.6:7-10

Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. 

Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return.

  8The one who sows to please his flesh, 

from the flesh will reap destruction;

 but the one who sows to please the Spirit, 

from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

9Let us not grow weary in well-doing, 

for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

  10Therefore, as we have opportunity, 

let us do good to everyone, 

and especially to the family of faith.

 

Maybe Their Ball of String Got Caught...

Are you having a reaching-for or reaching-out

a helping hand kind of day?!

My challenge in this poem was thoroughly tested as soon as it was written😅😂

Muffin-maker had a vegetable oil mess!

Be kind, where today’s grind unwinds the hours of its charge, but once

Where we are all still learning through the yearning drill of woes and wants

Where Circumstance is like a chance/dance God grants to test alacrity

Of love, with push and shove to prove devotion’s authenticity

Be patient; goodness, graciousness and compassion are always right

Be one less brute; wisdom’s recruits cannot yield ripe fruit overnight

Apples of gold and growing old are no laconic enterprise

The recompense for diligence not gained through negligent half-tries

Be gentle; Learning’s mental ball of string bounces across the floor

Unraveling as we give chase, tangling in stubborn knots galore

Testing grace in a thousand ways, while teaching us to take command

Of angry fists we raise, and instead to reach out/reach for a helping hand

So then, let’s try to be kind when we find fellowmen, not quite so

Maybe their ball of string got caught, and the taut knot will not let go

Maybe all they need is a tender word or deed to cheer their heart

Kindness unfurled can change the world; let’s try harder to do our part

© Janet Martin

This month the memory verse/s for my Sunday school class is

Gal. 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is 

love, joy, peace,

 patience, kindness, goodness, 

faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 

Against such things there is no law.

We are never too old to consider what fruit our life is yielding!

Mess cleaned up! All is well.

 Frustration-frenzy crisis averted! 

I offered a rag instead of a lot of

unnecessary, aggravated 'counsel'.

 thanks in part to today's poem😄