Bitter Before Sweet

Bitter before sweet.  Most of daily life in one way or another reminds me of scripture. Lately I have considered the process of dehydration.  In our daily walk with God it is all about hydration!  Receiving the life giving water of The Word, staying full of Him and His Spirit.
But the beautiful blueberries I was working with reminded me of pride, a work of the flesh.
The opposite fruit of what God desires to be manifested in His children.
Pride can be very deceiving, but when heat is applied it manifests in its element.
So I consider the blueberry and the dehydration process to shrink its appearance and the bringing out of a different form of beauty in it....wrinkles and all!

I am dehydrating blue berries and the smell in the house is terrible.
The berries are beautifully plump and need to be reduced to the size of a raisin.  
I have always thought blueberries smelled delicious, but I have only smelled them when they were fresh or after the drying process.
The process to reduce them to dried has been smelly.
I have been dehydrating them with forced warm air in a table top dehydrator for hours.

The berries still appear plump in appearance but their pleasant aroma has changed for the worse!
Because of lack of progress I have transferred them into a shallow tray in the oven on 325 degrees.
Raising the temperature has increased the productivity of dehydration and the berries are actually starting to smell better!
Reminds me of discipline...aka...Godly correction.
Strange.
Sometimes our attitude is like this fruit.
It appears on the surface quite beautiful, but when a little heat is applied, stink is evident!

But do not despair, God will make all things beautiful in His time. Ecclesiastes 3:11

2 Corinthians 2:14-15  Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish.

~Debbie

*Originally posted in 2015 at my blog http://wordparables.com


Proverbs 27:7 The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

Hebrews 12:6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Hebrews 12:7  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Hebrews 12:8  But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
Hebrews 12:9  Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave  them reverence:  shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
Hebrews 12:10  For verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure;  but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
Hebrews 12:11  Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Mark 7:20-23





**All writing, poetry, posts, art, and photography, copyright © 2017 Debbie Turner Chavers.
Protected by US and International copyright laws. All Rights Reserved. Scripture references taken from the King James bible.
Would you like to see what I am currently painting? Click on these links http://artparables.com/ or http://debbieturnerchavers.com/

Life Point

Man Shall Not Live By Bread Alone

© 2006 Debbie Turner Chavers

Luke 4:4

Water-Man Series

"I ate until I disappeared" was the sentence that started the following thought process.
What are we consuming?
Bitterness?
Betrayal?
Food?
Gossip?
The things that can be on our plates can be varied and colorful.

The root of my statement could also be " What is eating at you?"
Out of order thinking can skew a  balanced plate of life.
Too many portions of one unhealthy thing can push the scales into a negative balance.
Balance is something most of us desire even if we do not necessarily strive for it on most days.
Too much on your plate?
Retrieve, renew, go back to portion control.
Life happens.

Choose balanced meals.
~Debbie







** If you click on the art parable painting title you will be redirected to its website for more information about the painting.
 All writing, poetry, posts, art, and photography, copyright © 2017 Debbie Turner Chavers. Protected by US and International copyright laws. All Rights Reserved. Scripture references taken from the King James Version bible which can be accessed online at http://biblegateway.com
Click on these links http://artparables.com or http://debbieturnerchavers.com

Dental Floss and Sticky Situations

My grand-daughter made the observation that it is hard to "let go" as she held tightly onto that which she was trying to escape.

She was referring to something that she was holding onto that needed to be cut loose so she could be free.
It was a thread of dental floss that was wrapped around her finger and around the spool in a floss box.
She was trapped by something that appeared harmless when she first started playing with it.
Such is life...

She saw the thing that would help her, a floss thread cutter, but did not yet understand how to use it.
The ability of the thread cutter was available to lend aid in her dilemma, yet all the natural things in this world can not help when they are not utilized.

She struggled to unwrap and cut the floss, but it was wound tightly around her finger.
Part of the problem was that she was attempting to get free on her own without instruction.

I saw a parable of sorts as I watched and listened as she acknowledged a need for help.
The struggle is real when you are tied to a desire and instruction is needed to overcome and cut loose.
Our desire to lean on our own understanding can lead us into trouble.
But when we are willing to listen and learn at the feet of Jesus, we can be set free.

She asked for help and received it from someone who understood the process.
Whether we are holding onto the trouble or trouble is holding onto us, freedom can be had if you will call upon the Lord and obey His instruction.

The Messiah will free you.
Jesus is the one who can and will set you free no matter how strong the stronghold.

~Debbie



Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Psalm 50:15  And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.





** If you click on the art parable painting title you will be redirected to its website for more information about the painting.
 All writing, poetry, posts, art, and photography, copyright © 2017 Debbie Turner Chavers. Protected by US and International copyright laws. All Rights Reserved. Scripture references taken from the King James Version bible which can be accessed online at http://biblegateway.com
Click on these links http://artparables.com 

Crescendo

ARISE: A Call to Prayer and Action

© 2016 Debbie Turner Chavers

Water-Man series

We rise
Every eye upon the Worthy One
Attentive to His direction
Ready to begin...
And the crescendo begins

Let no false note be played
No harmony erased
Let us come together
To praise the worthy One

All can come
Christ Jesus is the Way
Do not tarry
Take your place

A chorus of salvation
In one accord
Each instrument tuned
And played
To the Master's plan

With hands raised high
The rain of His Spirit falls
upon tongues raised in praise
To God who reigns eternally

Worthy
Worthy
Is the Lamb of God

Let every tongue confess
Worthy
Worthy
Is the Lamb of God

~Debbie Turner Chavers

Revelation 5:12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.
John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
Philippians 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the Lord shall be saved.

Romans 14:11 For it is written, as I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

Ephesians 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.










** If you click on the art parable painting title you will be redirected to its website for more information about the painting. All writing, poetry, posts, art, and photography, copyright © 2017 Debbie Turner Chavers. Protected by US and International copyright laws. All Rights Reserved. Scripture references taken from the King James Version bible which can be accessed online at http://biblegateway.com Click on these links http://artparables.com or http://debbieturnerchavers.com

I Am Learning

In Christ, Christ in Me

© 2012 Debbie Turner Chavers

Water-Man Series

Daily I am given opportunities to stretch my capacity in understanding and applying the principles of God's word. There is a dynamic shift of thought when I realize and apply subtle adjustments in my daily way of life to His Way. It can be a discarded area of unbelief, a critical attitude, and the list could be longggggg!
Yet these changes give us an opportunity to grow. To grow personally, emotionally, and spiritually in our relationships with one another and the world at large.
A granted opportunity to learn to do well.
It is a beautiful, inspiring purpose to live life as God intended.
I am learning.
Mistakes abound in my walk of faith, yet I don't have to run to keep up, for the Lord's hand is ever present and He never leaves or forsakes me.

I am learning to recognize the pitfalls of my own perception. Every man's way is right in his own eyes. Proverbs 16:2
I have experienced this truth in my own walk.
As I have studied God's word and applied it to everyday life it has illuminated areas of gray and darkness in my own perceptions.
In thought and in deed I was not as grounded as I thought and was too impulsive.
I have been quick to give love yet also quick to judge. Both are out of order without grace and godly discernment.
Therefore, the gift of love is to be weighed, measured and dispensed by the Great Physician.
We are carrying the prescription within us. We must dispense with care and with knowledge.

As a light bearer of God's love, I do not want to shock or jolt others that draw near in fellowship or friendship. Therefore, I (we) must stay plugged in, hiding God's word in my (our) heart and mind to be balanced in a world that can be full of doubt and unbelief.
For it is this people and this world that Christ Jesus came to redeem.
Being mindful, that if I (we) allow offense, pettiness, or carnal lifestyle to manifest it is like a cut or exposure in an electrical line. We must not allow the power of God within us to be exposed to others in a harmful way. There should not be rogue electricity, but stable lines of love and communication.
We must walk in truth and love. The world is watching. We are His own and we are "representing."
God is our source and illuminator in all things. He is light and there is no darkness in Him. I am in Christ and Christ is in me.

"Representing"
~Debbie


Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

John 17:23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

1 John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.


** If you click on the art parable painting title you will be redirected to its website for more information about the painting.
All writing,sculpture, poetry, posts, art, and photography, copyright © 2017 Debbie Turner Chavers. Protected by US and International copyright laws. All Rights Reserved.
Scripture references taken from the King James Version bible which can be accessed online at http://biblegateway.com
Click on these links http://artparables.com or http://debbieturnerchavers.com