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Warriors Arise: June 25, 2023

Matthew 3:7-10 (NKJV) But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, 9 and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

We look forward to harvest here in Iowa. It is work, but it is work that tastes so good. My Dad will call when the green beans look about ready. He watches over the garden. He tells me when we need to come weed it. However, he waters it, and when it is time, he calls me, "Veridee, we are going to need to pick in two days." How does he know when it is time to pick? He has been watching over the garden. He knows that when the flowers come start looking at the plants and see how the vegetables are growing. He does not want them too small or they do not have any substance. We do not want them to big or they are mealy, a little too much fiber and thick when chewing them.

God knows exactly when we need to pick the vegetables. He is watching over the garden. He is watering it. There are times when He calls us to go weed a garden. We reach out to someone, send them a "care card", or come alongside of them to accomplish something they have wanted done. Our acts of service and reaching out to care, are weeding the garden. It allows God to water their hearts and minds. He keeps it soft so the blossoms will come. When the blossoms come the fruit will follow.

Many times through the Holy Spirit we will know to weed the garden as well as pick the fruit. We re not taking form the individual, we are giving opportunity for their gifts and talents to be activated in serving others and honoring God. What God has been producing in them, as the plant, is not to be picked too early where there is little substance to their testimony nor is it to be picked too late, where what they share is overgrown, thick and heavy. God knows the timing and we need to encourage them to be ready and prepared to share their testimony. We do not want to let an opportunity to pass by, because someone they know needs to hear the testimony of what God has done in their life.

Father, thank You for Holy Spirit. I make myself available to assist in taking out the weeds around people lives. I want them to grow strong and have plenty of sunlight and get the water they need. I pray I would be faithful to help others. I want to see them grow in all You have for them and know when to encourage them to give their testimonies. I want to be sensitive to You and hear when it is time to pick and others to be fed by their testimony. I pray for the listeners to taste and see the goodness of the Lord, in Jesus name amen.

A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,

Veridee Joy Hand

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