"The wicked is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, but the righteous will come through trouble. A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth, and the recompense of a man's hands will be rendered to him. The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise."---Proverbs 12:13-15 (NKJV)
"A mind without instruction can no more bear fruit than can a field, however fertile, without cultivation."---Cicero
"Cause and effect, means and ends, seed and fruit, cannot be severed; for the effect already blooms in the cause, the end preexists in the means, the fruit in the seed."-Ralph Waldo Emerson
Please excuse the fact that my Christian private school upbringing wouldn't allow much room for fictional reading (for shame, for shame!), but according to my (quick) research, "The Phaedrus" was a literary work by Plato about the dialogue between the (main) protagonist, Socrates and Phaedrus. Anyway, within the exchange, Phaedrus once said, "Judge a tree by its fruit, not by its leaves." Boy, we could take that to all kinds of places now couldn't we?
Just because someone has a high position at a certain company doesn't mean they're a good worker.
Just because someone is the ministry leader of an organization doesn't mean they have integrity.
Just because someone is married doesn't mean they're happy.
Just because someone is rich doesn't mean they're satisfied.
Just because someone is popular/famous doesn't mean they're trusted, respected or even liked.
In other words, just because it looks like it should be something that doesn't necessarily mean that it is. Maybe Socrates spent a lot of time in the Book of Luke because there are scriptures that sound a lot like the words of his fictional character:
"A good tree does not produce bad fruit, nor does a bad tree produce good fruit. Each tree is known by its own fruit. People don't gather figs from thorn bushes, and they don't get grapes from bushes. Good people bring good things out of the good they stored in their hearts. But evil people bring evil things out of the evil they stored in their hearts. People speak the things that are in their hearts."----Luke 6:43-45 (NCV)
And, just because someone says they are a Christian doesn't mean they're Christ-like. Unfortunately. As the Word tells us, you must test the spirits to see if they are of God (I John 4:1) and one of the best ways to do that is to look at the fruit. If it's yielded to the Holy Spirit, it will have an abundance of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23) When you don't see this evident and working, take heed. And no, you are not crazy for doing so. Actually you're a little loony if you don't. Again, it is my firm belief that most people don't have a problem with "judgment". After all, the Bible says to judge with righteous judgment (John 7:24). If I said you were cute or smart, guess what? I just judged you, and I'm willing to bet that your response would not be "Don't judge me", but "Thank you".
No, what people tend to have more of an issue with is either rebuke (which is needed for anyone who wants to GROW UP---Proverbs 9:8) or people who speak out of ignorance/misinformation. See, what it also says in John 7:24 is that we are not to judge based on appearance (outward impressions, indications, or circumstances). It takes time, intimacy and godly discernment before you are able to "righteously judge" anyone. If you do it based on what someone wears, how someone looks/sounds or even a fragment of something you heard or saw, it would appear that according to the Bible, you are out of line because your judgment is off. Of course, it is also my firm belief that if you want to see how someone feels about themselves watch how they treat others. If they are really "image conscious" of others, they usually tend to have a poor self image. If they are really controlling of others, it's usually because they feel that their life is out of control. If no one and nothing ever seems good enough for them, you can best believe that they have not found the art of being self-satisfied. (Matthew 7:3-5)
Yeah, before you go around picking fruit off of any tree, it would be good to know when it's in season; when it's right and ripe for the picking (this would include "picking on").
But that's not really what today's message is about. It really is about blackberries and whipped cream!
A couple of nights ago, I woke up with the revelation that I really will be 34 in less than two months. I CAN'T BELIEVE IT. Yeah, I know someone of you will be quick to email me to let me know how much of denial I am in by saying this, but I promise you that it feels like the (relatively) same face has been looking back at me in the mirror for the past ten years! It was actually a compliment that I received from a young man---or old teenager, however, you want to look at it---that was the wake up call. After trying to "holla" at me and me telling him that I could have birthed him (if I really tried), he said, "How old are you?" I replied with "34 in June." His response? "Daaaaaang. You look good for your age!"
My age?!? I'm finally at the place where people say "I look good for my age?" or is it that I am just now paying attention?
Now, my mother always raised me to embrace aging. I remember at random stages in her life, people (often male friends my age) would say, "Your mom doesn't look 35...40...42" (you get the point). Her response? "No, this is what 35...40...42" looks like." And so, since it is my prayer that I have caught even one or two of her "ageless genes", I have been prayerfully pursuing taking better care of myself and being more conscious of my weight.
Now don't get me wrong. I love the beauty of a "thick" woman and I enjoy being on the semi-slim side of it. But, because "to whom much is given, much is required" (Luke 12:48), I want to learn to be a better steward of all of my gifts. J Still, I'm never gonna be one of the "starve yourself" kinds of gals. I enjoy food and life is too short not to. But, I have been looking for alternative ways to have fun eating. One of my newest loves is blackberries, Splenda and whipped cream. (Yes, mother, I'm sure you are jumping up and down at that!)
What are they an alternative for? Ice Cream.
Everyone is my world knows that I LOVE ICE CREAM. I do have favorites (S'mores by Ben & Jerry's, Strawberry Cheesecake and Natural Vanilla by Breyer's), but to be honest, it really doesn't matter. If there is some around and I got the money to get it, I almost always will.
But one day, I was looking at myself in the mirror with a short-sleeve shirt on and I didn't like what I saw. Yes, I am coming to accept that I was fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14) no matter what my size, but this wasn't about what God or anyone else thought of me. I didn't like the extra flab on my arms. I didn't like sitting down with a roll. I didn't like not feeling totally comfortable in my clothes (nor do I want to buy a bigger size).
And so, since the Bible tells that with wisdom comes understanding (Proverbs 2:2, 3:13), I accepted the fact that:
1) My metabolism is not as quick as it used to be
2) It really couldn't hurt to exercise more
3) I need to make some modifications to my diet
GOD: "You know, you could curb a lot of those calories by cutting down on soda and juice and limiting your ice cream intake."
SHELLIE: "Oh God...say it isn't so! NOT MY ICE CREAM!"
I didn't hear him say anything else. Unlike us, I've come to realize that he really doesn't waste his words (probably because he fully understands the power in them---Proverbs 18:21). But I did feel led to do research on fruit; first in the spiritual sense and then in the physical sense.
Amazingly, in the Word, almost always, fruit is looked upon as a positive thing, or rather a positive result of doing a positive thing:
"But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper."---Psalm 1:23- (NKJV)
"Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing, to declare that the LORD is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him."---Psalm 92:13-15 (NKJV)
"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth."---Psalm 127:3 (NKJV)
"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise."---Proverbs 11:30(NKJV)
"A man's stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; from the produce of his lips he shall be filled."---Proverbs 18:20(NKJV)
"'I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace to him who is far off and to him who is near,' says the Lord, "And I will heal him."---Isaiah 57:19 (NKJV)
"'I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings."-Jeremiah 17:10(NKJV)
"'And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,' says the Lord of hosts..."---Malachi 3:11 (NKJV)
"Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance..."---Matthew 3:8 (NKJV)
"Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit."---John 15:2 (NKJV)
"You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you."---John 15:16(NKJV)
"But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life."---Romans 6:22(NKJV)
"Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God."---2 Corinthians 9:10-11 (NKJV)
"...that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy..."---Colossians 1:10-11 (NKJV)
"But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace."---James 3:17-18 (NKJV)
And that's not even all of the promises! Just look at all of the good that comes from taking in (good) fruit! In this context, fruit would be defined as "anything produced or accruing; product, result, or effect; return or profit"; "something (as evidence) that is obtained or gathered during an action or operation"; "to use; to enjoy", or "to deserve; to earn".
But because the flesh and the spirit lusts against one another (Galatians 5:17) and because we do not receive the things of the Spirit in our natural man state (I Corinthians 2:14), sometimes we need things modeled to us in its physical form (which is why I'm sure Christ spoke in parables so much while he was on the earth and why we should do it more often). I mean, it's not like these "fruit promises" have not been in the Word my entire life, but it wasn't until now that I really made the time to understand the purpose that they hold for me personally.
Thanks to blackberries and whipped cream...
I'll explain. As I was thinking of a way to curb my like, love, lust...all of the above for ice cream, I read an article entitled, "127 Foods That Fight Fat" (link enclosed at the end of this piece). One of the things that it said was that you could never get enough fruits and vegetables into your diet. I mean, I like fruits and vegetables, but I have been engrossed in ice cream (among other things) for so long, I've never really considered it as a satisfying alternative. (Bookmark that.)
As I started doing research, though, I discovered all of the benefits that come in eating something that, in many ways, is just as sweet but better for me. According to several reports:
Apples: They are high in antioxidants, slow down the wrinkling of skin and promotes hair growth.
Bananas: They are rich in fiber and natural acidophilus. They are good for energetic activity, stamina and it's a viable method for treating anaemia.
Grapes: They are high in vitamins A and C. They purify the blood, invigorate the immune system, renovate body tissues and soothe the nervous system.
Oranges: They are high in vitamin C, betacarotene (antioxidant), calcium (bones and teeth), folic acid (brain development) and magnesium (blood pressure). They are also beneficial in fighting asthma, bronchitis and arthritis.
Peaches: They are high in vitamins A and C. They are diuretic, depurative and detoxifying and it has been reported that they help in fighting liver infections and cancer ulcers.
Pineapples: They are high in vitamin C and also have a good source of vitamin A, B1, B2, calcium, phosphorous, iron, magnesium, potassium and sodium, chlorine, sulphur and manganese. They reduce blood clotting, increase circulation, treat rheumatoid arthritis and serve as an excellent cerebral toner (which aids in combating memory loss and sadness).
Watermelons: They are high in fiber and iron. They are 92% water and 8% sugar, so they are a great diuretic. They also aid in cleansing the kidneys from uric acid.
Ah, and then there are blackberries (any berry, really).
Blackberries: They are high in antioxidants and a good source of Vitamin E and potassium. They aid in fighting bacteria and have anti-aging and anti-cancer properties. They also help in cleansing the blood.
Until this year, blackberries were never on my taste-test radar, but when I decided to try some fruits out to see if any could serve as a good substitute my desire for ice cream, I found myself really liking them: slightly-thawed, dipped in Splenda and a touch of whipped cream. (Marvelous!)
There may be some irony to it all. Vitamin E heals you and on so many levels I am dealing with that right now. I am becoming somewhat age-conscious and blackberries have anti-aging components. A blood cleanser? Everything is in the blood, right? We all could use that. But what really struck me is that blackberries are roughly 75 calories per serving. Whipped cream is 25. Ice cream? Well, Breyer's Natural Vanilla is about 140 calories per serving. Ben & Jerry's S'mores? 260 per serving. (And smaller servings at that!)
OK, but here's the real clincher. When I tried to research the health benefits of ice cream, I didn't find any. Sure, I found articles on ingredients found in ice cream (calcium, for instance), but not really ice cream itself, as is. Sure, ice cream is good to my physical senses, but there is a lot of baggage that comes with indulging; most of it "extra weight" that I can do without.
Oh, but with blackberries, as is, even with nothing added to it, there is less of a burden on me and it carries with it many, many benefits. By studying to show myself approved (2 Timothy 2:15), I discovered that giving up something that appeals to me pretty much only physically doesn't mean that I have to lose the joys that comes with it. As a matter of fact, in being open to trying something another way, a different way, at times even a better way, I found myself indulging in something that ended up being good for my mind, body and spirit. I have all of the joy with less of the baggage. I can still have fun and look at my (holistic) reflection and like what I see!
I'm sure you see where I am going with this. One of my many gigs is being a blogger for XXXChurch.com (the women's portion of the site). People often write me guilt-riddled by their struggle with pornography. Do you know what I tell them?
"Stop focusing so much on the habit. Focus more on alternatives to the habit. It's hard to move anything out of the way if you don't have something in its place to fill the void. But if you look for new and (holistically) better things to do, you will find that there is no void, and before you know it those alternatives will have pushed the initial desire out of the way."
Now, by no means am I implying that giving up ice cream and porn are in the same boat. I have had to struggle with both and trust me, porn is no picnic. Nor am I saying that ice cream is bad or that you won't run into me at some point this summer (more than once, I'm sure) with a cone in my hand. What I am saying is that in life, there are people, places, things, ideas that all of us hold on to and all while it may seem fun, pleasurable, enticing for a moment, not too long after "taking it in", you realize that it brings a lot more "weight" (burdens, circumstances, challenges, obstacles, stress, problems, drama, trauma) than it's really worth. Sooner or later you find yourself looking into the spiritual mirror and not really liking what you see. Then you find yourself being the kind of person James 1:2-24 speaks of; someone who looks in the mirror and they walks away forgetting what they look like. One day, after indulging for awhile, you look in the mirror and don't even recognize yourself because that "temporary pleasure" has become all-consuming.
Just last night I was reading about how one of the biggest tricks of the Enemy is to get us to think, feel or (worst of all) believe that doing things God's way is to keep us from our fun when really its for our protection. But if living right is so good for us, why is it so hard to do?
Oh, there a lot of answers to that, but I am coming to see that one of the main ones is that we are not opening ourselves up to the alternatives. For every carnal attack that the Enemy tries to wage against us, you can best believe that God has a counterattack. This is why his word has conditions, but also promises that comes along with them. ("Those who sow in tears will reap in joy."---Psalm 126:5; "If you suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed."---I Peter 3:14; "He who humbles himself will be exalted."---Luke 14:11)
Some of us are getting "bigger and bigger" in our strongholds because we are holding on to the fleeting pleasure that comes with them, but if we did a little "biblical taste-testing", we would see that the Lord and all that he has to offer is good. (Psalm 34:8) It may take some getting used to (going from spirit to flesh usually does so be patient with yourself; GOD IS---I Corinthians 13:4), but if you remain open, in time, you will notice that his way is the best way---all the way around and the season of "tightening up" will be a good look for you in every way.
So, here's to you finding your own "fruit of choice", both spiritually and physically, and reaping the benefits.
Or, of course, you can stick with your own lusts and continue to let them weigh you down. (Pun intended) I didn't like what it did for me. The alternative is much sweeter. (Psalm 119:103). J
Article Link: http://www.prevention.com/cda/article/127-foods-that-fight-fat/7b6d8169c1903110VgnVCM20000012281eac____/weight.loss/strategies.for.success/diet.smart.products/0/0/3
Shellie R. Warren/2008
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