God is looking for good fruit, not religious nuts.

I took the above statement from our pastor’s sermon Sunday. I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

As a Christian, we should be busy daily, telling others about Jesus. We can’t do this on our own intuition or drive, it has to come from the Holy Spirit.

God’s not looking for people that have a seminary degree or someone who’s read the Bible through 50 times. He’s looking for someone with good fruit, meaning, someone who loves God, has a relationship with Him and who goes about telling others this good news.

I recently went hiking and someone had an app that would track our hike and guide us along the way. It would also show us when we were off the trail.

No, there’s no app that’s going to tell us when we’re not producing good fruit; God will reveal this to us when we’re not doing what we should be doing.

Colossians 1:10 - “So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;”

We are to be as a fruit tree, bearing fruit. And just as it is with a fruit tree, if it doesn’t produce fruit, then you have to cut it down and throw it into the fire.

God desires the fruits of good works and service to others.

Stop trying to push religion down people’s throats. Show your good fruit in loving others and sharing the gospel.

Dianne PetreyComment
Are you convinced?

The definition of convince is “to persuade someone with evidence or argument.”

Most times, you have to have proof to convince someone of something.

Matthew 13:13 - “This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.”

As Christians, we are commanded by God to tell others about Jesus. It is not our job to convince others to believe in Jesus.

Evangalism is not about “winning” a person to Christ, but only about proclaiming the truth of the Gospel, with the exception that God might persuade the unbeliever of the truth of it.

Anyone can believe the truth about God intellectually, but this is not the same as having faith or heart belief.

I’m not going to convince you to give your life to Christ, but I will tell you my story of how Christ changed my life, and I am convinced without a shadow of a doubt that I’ll be with Him in heaven some day.

Are you convinced, or are you convicted?

Dianne PetreyComment
Spiritual gifts

Did you know that 63% of Christians don’t know their spiritual gifts?

A spiritual gift is described as an endowment or extraordinary power given by the Holy Spirit.

Believers are given spiritual gifts to contribute to the growth of the church. No matter what your giftedness is, you play an important role in strengthening the church.

Spiritual gifts aren’t anything we can touch or developed by human capacities. As a Christian you have no right to brag about your spiritual gift.

Every Christian has a spiritual gift or gifts. Ask God to reveal it to you.

One of my gifts is serving people. Even in my early years as Christian, I can remember going with the older women of the church to visit the sick and shut-ins.

I have been so blessed in having a job that I love now. I serve people. I’m a Senior Helper and love giving back to the elderly who so desperately need it and deserve it.

I’m also serving on the mission fields. God has truly given me an abundance of spiritual gifts.

What are your spiritual gifts? Ask God to reveal them to you.

1 Timothy 4:14 - “Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.”

Dianne PetreyComment
Expiration date

Almost any edible or drinkable product you buy has an expiration date. Some ‘suggests’ that you either purchase or ‘use by’ a certain date.

Did you know that our life has an expiration date? Yep. One day, it will expire. Whether it’s your day to leave this earth by death or when God decides to stop life on earth, we will all leave the earth one day.

Right now, today, as you’re reading my blog, you’re breathing. You may be living in comfort or existing in misery. All of life on earth is only a temporary arrangement.

Ecclesiastes 12:5 - “they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets”

So, do you know where you’re going after this life?

No one likes to drink milk that is expired, right?

None of us know our expiration date. No one knows when life will end.

Be prepared. Know your destiny. Know for sure that God’s getting your home in heaven ready for you.

Dianne PetreyComment
God is not limited to your ability and capacity.

God is our source of life. He’s our supply for what we need. If we’re low on self-esteem, look to God to get re-fueled.

We can trust in God’s wealth for our security. It doesn’t matter that the stock market goes down. It doesn’t matter if our bank account is low. God provides. But He wants to see if we truly trust Him enough to let go of the worry and let Him give us what we need.

Philippians 4:19 - “My God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Jesus Christ.”

God’s not sitting in Heaven waiting for you to build your bank account, or for you to save enough money for retirement. He’s available now, today, to use you as you are; to use you where you are.

God has used me in my worst days, to prove that He alone can change the destiny.

Stop trying to design your future based on your wealth or even your own plans.

I promise you, if you let God take over your life, your life will be more fulfilling and your wealth of love will be overflowing, everlasting, consistent through eternity.

Dianne PetreyComment
Are we weaving the habit of prayer into the very fabric of our days?

God wants to be a part of every aspect of our life. He wants to be invited into every detail of your day. Are you letting Him in? Are you involving Him on even the tiniest elements of the day?

Quit turning things over in your mind until you’re sick with worry. Turn your thoughts over to God. Stop throwing up urgent requests when you need something. Pray constantly about everything, big and small.

Did you know that when we pray, satan strays. Prayer gives us powers from Heaven.

Luke 11:1 - “Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”

Prayer is fellowship with God. Fellowship is described as, “friendly association, especially with people who share one’s interest.”

Just as you hopefully strive to keep your marriage or friendship together, God wants us to be eager about spending time with Him in prayer.

Prayer is the channel between us and God, the secret to power and life.

When we pray and are asking God for something, we then wait for its fulfillment, based solely on trust.

We all need prayer in our lives. Ask God to teach you to pray.

Dianne PetreyComment
Dare to be specific

Philippians 4:6 - “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

Have you ever asked God for something specific, something so commonplace that you at first didn’t even think to mention it?

God tells us in John 5:14 that if we ask anything according to His will, God hears us.

I talk to God all day long; thanking Him for everything. I do ask for specific things because from past requests, I have received what I asked for. Now I know that God doesn’t give me everything I ask for, because not everything I ask for is good for me.

This reminds me of when my kids were little. They would ask me for certain things and if I thought it was good for them, or if I thought they needed it, I would give it to them.

How much more do you think God wants to give to His children

What have you been wanting lately? Is there something specific that you’ve been wanting? Ask God. If He doesn’t think it’s good for you or that it might harm you, He won’t give it to you.

Get to know God. Keep him close. Ask Him anything..

Dianne PetreyComment
How healthy are your roots?

Typically after a seed is planted in the ground, there will be roots sprouting in all directions. Healthy, nourished roots produce the best results.

But if you have roots that have been damaged, left alone or over watered, you could end up with rotten roots. Rotten roots produce rotten fruit.

As it is with God; our roots are our foundation. Once you surrender your life to Christ, read His word and develop a relationship with Him, you’re rooted. Your roots go deep and take off. You keep your devotion to Christ healthy by keeping and maintaining healthy roots.

Don’t neglect your relationship with God. It’s easy to do if you’re not grounded in the Word (Bible). You get caught up in every day life; the demands of your job, your spouse, your family or friends. And before you know it, something starts to rotten.

Don’t let this happen to you. Stay strong, consistent in reading the Bible. Learn how to keep your roots healthy. Feed your life with the goodness of God.

Rotten roots produce rotten fruit.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 - “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

Dianne PetreyComment