God Loves Fruit Too

Did you realize ... God craves fruit?

As you may well know by now, several of my Blogs deal with my ongoing episodes with produce. I have so many that I actually asked the Lord about this. Yes, really.  He, of course, took me back to His Word.

Genesis 1:11 “And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.


12: And the earth brought forth grass and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.”

The fruit trees were among God’s first creations. Fruit was used throughout the Word as a token of the blessing or curse and judgments in your life. Children were compared to fruit. Fruit was the prize of the promise land. Nehemiah declares that fruit trees were a portion of the enemy’s plunder. Psalms sings songs about fruit. The wisdom of Proverbs warns that men’s deeds will produce fruits of righteousness or destruction. The poetry of Song of Solomon uses the metaphors of fruit to describe the love between King Solomon and his beloved Shunamite. Jesus had no patience for trees that did not produce good fruit. The Word commands us to bring forth much of it and encourages us to be fruitful in every good work. Fruit can be peaceable. The fruit of our words generates life or death.

Fruit can be used to measure our spiritual growth. Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

God compares fruits to our different levels of giving: Deuteronomy 18:4 - First Fruits -Leviticus 27:30 Tithe.

I think you would agree the most notorious fruit was connected to the fall of man.

Genesis 3:6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.

We as a nation, have sent men to the moon, but still have not understood or harnessed the full healing power of raw fruits and vegetables. The Prophets of old knew the earth’s secrets. Isaiah 38: 21 Isaiah had said to Hezekiah’s servants, “Make an ointment from figs and spread it over the boil, and Hezekiah will recover.”

Seeds, crops, harvest, Parable of the soils, vineyards, seasons, break up the fallow ground…you get the jest. God is the Master Gardner, and He loves fruit too!!!

From Genesis to Revelations there are 253 references to just fruit. Wshewwww! Who knew there were so many life lessons in the humble fruit basket?

Sooooo…with that said this is the beginning of our summer season and I already have two more episodes under my belt. Never mind the fact that I drove around this past Sunday for two hours with 5lbs. of lettuce in the back-end of my 76 degree SUV. At least it gave the cantaloupes a break!

With fear and much trepidation, I purchased a new Smoothie/Juicing book. The recipes are sure to carry me through many new adventures and much riper life lessons. So if you see me perusing up and down the produce aisles with ear buds on and I fail to speak, please forgive me… I’m just singing ‘Silly Songs’ with two of my favorite fruits and vegetables “Bob and Larry.”

One more thing before we go…just couldn’t resist!

Q. What is a ghost favorite fruit? Boonanaa !

Q. What do you do if you see a BLUE banana? Try to cheer it up!

Q. What do bananas do best in gymnastics? The splits!

Q. Why don’t bananas snore? Because they don’t want to wake up the rest of the bunch.

t-t-f-n (ta-ta-for-now)

P.S. I think I'm being stalked by my produce....this was in my pickle jar!

I Hate the “P” Word!

I HATE THE “P” WORD!
The “P” word?
YES, THE “P” WORD… PROCESS!”

P-R-O-C-E-S-S ..."fact of being carried on" - "journey" - “to yield”
  a. series of actions that produce a change or development
  b. a method of doing - of producing something
  c. a forward movement
  d. the course of time

To even whisper the word “PROCESS” evokes a range of emotions. The word makes the stout of heart weak in the knees. We scream, “Oh-h-h No-o-o!” Spin around three times, and swoon with the ‘vapors." We immediately bemoan the fact that we are not getting our supposed needs met NOW! (Stomp foot for emphasis)

Side Note: This term was used by polite 19th century women to mean (ahem) becoming emotionally overcome. Beginning in the 15th century, doctors thought gases from your stomach, called "vapors," could waft up to your brain, causing headaches and ill health. By the 18th century, these vapors had become "the vapors" and referred to a more general class of disorders that could include depression, hypochondria, nervousness, and excitability. Sometimes a person with the vapors had a lasting or chronic condition, but sometimes "getting the vapors" meant just having a brief headache or a fainting spell to be cured with smelling salts.

With my poetic license I could imagine this being a statement from Gone With the Wind. “Oh, Rhett, I am et up with the vapors!”

The word “PROCESS” is synonymous with an extended period of time that we don’t believe we possess, or delays to much needed answers. It is often associated with pain and prolonged distress.

Quote: “So then disappointment is the undoing of any given or hoped upon appointment. In other words our expectations were not met for one reason or another.”

About a year ago, I felt the Lord gave me this word for ‘SOMEONE’ else. “Do not curse the process.” All of nature knows and understands these laws. Without the proper processing time malformation or premature death can occur. It is God’s most willful creation, man, which is unwilling to yield to this code. We kick, scream and try to manipulate or microwave our way out of it.

Don’t you just hate when a well-meaning friend reminds you that you just have to go thru the “PROCESS?" Tell the truth…you feel the overwhelming urge to stuff an argyle sock in their mouth! It is a very different matter indeed to hear these words directly from your heavenly Father.

The duration of "PROCESS"can be a very dangerous, vulnerable time. Our Adamic Nature is quick to believe the lies that God has forgotten us, or worse, forsaken us.

Proverbs 13:12 (New Living Translation) "Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life."


Proverbs 13:12 (The Message) "Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick,
but a sudden good break can turn life around. "

The Word of God is overflowing with the Prophets of old cries for mercy during their times of "PROCESS." None more poignant than from the lips of King David after his long wait for the throne that had been rightfully his for 20 years, and the prolonged battle that ensued for his life.

Psalm 18:4-6 (The Message) The hangman's noose was tight at my throat; devil waters rushed over me. Hell's ropes cinched me tight; death traps barred every exit.
6 A hostile world! I call to GOD, I cry to God to help me. From his palace he hears my call;
my cry brings me right into his presence— a private audience!

Unfortunately, revelation often comes only by way of suffering through the ‘Plan of Process.” Leo Tolstoy, the Russian Author of War and Peace, wrote that “It is by those who have suffered that the world has been advanced.”

Even history’s perfect example, Jesus the Christ, begged for a Plan B more than once.

Matthew 26:40-44: "Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour?

41 Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”


42 Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away[a] unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open. 44 So he went to pray a third time, saying the same things again

A precious friend and I are currently sharing a ‘time of process” together. She recently encouraged me with these words, so aptly put; she had successfully made it from the fetal position (place of hopelessness) to her knees (place of faith). It is my prayer that I don’t force my own agenda for myself and those I cherish dearly. Prayerfully, in God’s timing we will all emerge mature and whole once more having survived the "PROCESS."

The Easter Season is the perfect time to reflect on the fact that even out of death, the "PROCESS" works.

t-t-f-n  (ta-ta-for-now)

Job's Cry...The Worship Heard Throughout History

Our only grandson will be sixteen years old this month.When he was a toddler and his parents lived in married housing at one of the local universities, his favorite thing to do was go see the 'BIG' truck.

Regardless of where he was or how he was being entertained at the moment, he would hear the beeping sound and know his buddy had arrived. He squealed with delight and would hold his tiny arms up for the closest tall person to either take him to the window or outside. 

Little did he know or care that it was the 'GARBAGE' truck, already laden with the day's earlier trash pick-ups and more stops ahead. He didn't know you had to hold your nose from the rotten stench of decay. All he knew was that he was fascinated and excited when he heard the beeping. In his tiny mind it appeared to be much different, bigger and better than anything he already owned. There was no amount of strategy that could convince this headstrong bundle of cuteness that to get very close to this type of truck could ultimately harm him. At the end of the day, even being a new 'GARBAGE' truck doesn't change its' purpose.

If we had any idea what was contained in the next load the 'dump truck of life' was backing into our driveway  I am certain, that given the opportunity, we would run for the border.

The Book of Job is synonymous with suffering. Job had no inkling of how many dump trucks had been dispatched to his address or that one of them had the death sentence for his children or the battle for his flesh loaded on board. Job 3:26

You cannot have the kind of favor, wealth, notoriety or power  that Job had achieved and NOT get the attention of the 'master thief,'  satan, himself. ( Please don't write me...I know his name is not capitalized, but I refuse to)
Job 1:

I believe that satan did not nonchalantly saunter up to the throne room of God and pull Job's name out of a hat. Job's life had both Heaven and Hell's attention. I believe that satan had a five year strategy plan to destroy Job. He well knew  the power of the blessing on this man's life, and its' ability to choke him out of any access to not only Job's life, but that of his family. The hedge around Job was infamous in the supernatural realm. All satan had in the meantime was 'time' to plot and plan. 

He patiently waited for Job to float to the top of his success and ministry. He did not want just Job and his acid mouth wife, two old dogs, a mangy cat, and a moldy turtle. NO!!!! He wanted the best this man had and was going to have! Plus, Job was famous! You don't fall by yourself. satan was after not only his family and his personal wealth, but his friends and his influence.

As if things were not bad enough...his wife gave the hubby one heck of a tongue lashing , and suggested he not only throw in the towel, but curse God on the way out the door.  I often wonder about her response.
Why would she speak such a thing?  Number one, she obviously did not have the same relationship with God as her husband.  Number two, the bitterness of her loss gushed out of her mouth.
Job 2:

Together, Mr. & Mrs. Job had seven sons and three daughters. Job 1:19 says they were all together in the eldest brother's home. Job's children were virtually party animals and in a perpetual birthday celebration.

One, if not all, had their own homes and families. When the whirlwind came it not only destroyed entire households, but the ability to procreate Job's bloodline.  This was the greatest of ALL curses, and ultimately was what satan really desired to destroy. He has the inability to create and despises anyone or anything that produces life.

You don't have to trace this family root back very far to determine why Job felt the necessity to offer continual sacrifices and repentance for his children.  Job 1:5

Obviously, if you read the entire book, Job's sorrow and pain ultimately got the best of his mouth as well. It's interesting the very thing that had become an idol in the life of his children ( their birthdays ) was the very thing he cursed in his own life.  All of chapter 3 is a pretty gloomy description of how he viewed the day of his own birth, understandably written from the well of self-pity.

There are 42 chapters to this book.  Of all the intricate chapters there is none more challenging to me personally than these verses in Job 1:20-22.

20 Then Job arose and rent his robe and shaved his head and fell down upon the ground and worshiped

21 And said, Naked (without possessions) came I [into this world] from my mother's womb, and naked (without possessions) shall I depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed (praised and magnified in worship) be the name of the Lord!

22In all this Job sinned not nor charged God foolishly.

v. 20 Job's pain was so intense he had to tear something - the robe, being symbolic of his flesh. Job was a man of sacrifice so much so the word of God gives the Inventory Spreadsheet for the number of his livestock.
³He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and a very great body of servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the East.

There was no sending the servants for the sacrifice of the day... there were no more servants - nothing else external to sacrifice. At the point of Job's greatest, most desperate need he found himself stripped bare. The only sacrifice Job had left to offer was himself.......Selah....(Pause and Reflect)

The Cardinal's Song

I have not written a poem since my last childen's book.  I am sure this may not pass the true poetry critique, but this is the right now expression of my heart.

The air was heavy with life’s latest blow.
Painful sobs, deep breaths,
The battle for truth …I must know.

The clouds were grey and misting rain,
The earth seemed to sigh aware of the pain.
The depth of grief too deep to bear.
Did God of all see…did He care?


Oh my soul’s anguished cry
For those I hold dear.
The ‘King of Thieves’ had declared destruction was certainly near.
His acidic proclamation, “Thissss relationship is destined to die!”


My spirit man began to rumble and roar
Deep from within hope’s corridor.
I heard my heart SCREAM…
“NOOOOOO…. IT’S A Lie!
THINGS ARE NOT WHAT THEY SEEM!!”


I opened my eyes
to realize…
I was not alone.
God had sent a special messenger, one of his own.

The Cardinal ablaze with his crimson glory
had come to visit, and listen, to my personal story.
I have always been told the cardinal has one mate for life.
I found myself wondering…where were his babies…
where is his wife?


He cocked his head as if to say,
“Never mind my child, I am here for you.
Heaven is on alert for each word you pray.
Be wise in all that you choose, in all that you do.”


The Cardinal’s majestic plume ablaze,
His small dark eyes fixed on me in a steady gaze.
His blood red color… such stark contrast to the winter’s dead tree
Ushered my emotions into a harbor of safe reality.


This creature of comfort stayed for the longest of time.
Assurance of peace,
Once more to be mine.
The word secured and beauty sublime.


Salvation’s King pledged to carry our grief and sorrow.
Redemption’s promise of a better morrow.
Listen carefully for the Cardinal’s song,
To herald God’s new mercies at morning’s dawn.

          Cathy Summar Flynn 

WELCOME TO MY OWN PERSONAL PARADE

You know the ole' sayin', "The behinder I go the further I get." That statement is the sum total of my last
year's life events, especially the last few months.

Soooo, I decided to give myself the day off to get a much needed hair-cut. With another birthday looming ahead, I desperately needed to contemplate the latest turn of events in my life.

Over the years I have been in every scale of hair salons. My hair has been whacked up by the best!  I accidentally finally found the best little hair dresser at our local Mega-Mart. I can safely sit in her chair with assurance that I will not have to leave  the salon wearing a false nose and glasses, nor do I have to spend a week in fasting and prayer to make sure none of us are traumatized.

I actually had very little shopping to do...just for my weekly bananas. I was relieved that I had an appointment and would not have to wait.  I had one of those head-aches where you feel like you need to stop the world and get off. I even considered going back home, but decided the world would be a better place if I pushed thru the pain and gave this bush a bouffant.

My hair dresser was running late, and said she was sorry but it would be 45 minutes or more.  Did I have any shopping to do?  "Yes, as a matter of fact." How long could that take?

With each step my head pounded more. So I was not in a very social mood. About that time I hear a booming man's voice, "Hey Ms. Cathy! How you doin today?"  It was my new BFF, the manager of the produce department. I waved back as I was heading to the bench outside of the salon with my swollen head.

Although, I am a deluxe people watcher (My husband says I can tell you how many eyelashes people have), I just needed to sit very quietly and nurse this headache.

The parade began. I decided to make the best of this delay and pretended the mesh bench was a reserved seat or better yet, my own float. I was nodding my head, smiling and giving my best pageant wave to many of the employees who, after many years, have become some of my favorite peeps.

I observed the newest trends in physical attire...PAJAMAS! People of all ages, red, yellow, black and white, male and female were wearing their night clothes in the middle of the day.

The lady ahead of me getting her hair done was at least my age. She stood up to pay and I nearly fell off my float! She was wearing Disney Character flannel pajamas in conjunction with what appeared to be her husband's camoflauge hunting jacket. On the bright side, she had a newly coiffed do of barrell curls...OF COURSE! As liberal as our society is, I don't think it is ready for my coming out of the closet in my most comfortable pj's.

My hairdresser winked at me and said it would be a few more minutes there was some waxing to be done. Sigh... I sit back down. Obviously, my parade was to be continued.

Seemingly, out of no where, this lady comes wheeling her buggy up beside me at about 50 mph. Before I could utter a word she said, "Since you are aleady sitting here could you please watch my cart?"  She throws this thing in park dangerously close to my foot and does the 50-yard dash to the bathroom.  I have been asked to keep watch over a lot of things....

I turned around to discover at the end of my range of vision, someone was trying very hard to get my attention. An adorable toddler with about fifteen pigtails and a yellow binkie was waving very aggressively at me. She would wave once and then 'pee-pie" once... then it was my turn. We had it going on! So much so this man, I did not recognize, walked up to shake my hand! He thought I had been waving and winking at him!

I was speechless!  Good thing. Before I could figure out how to get out of this, he says, "WELL HEY THERE! I THOUGHT I RECOGNIZED YOU! He reached out and gave me a hearty handshake!

(Me) "You did?" This stranger continues as though we had planned to meet for coffee. "I had a far (fire) last week in the cold, and wudn' ya know it...it affected my sinuses, but that's ok. I went and got a cocktail shot today, and I am feelin' a little woozy." 

I thought to myself, "SO DO I". My old - new friend says he better be off, and I better be good. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

My hairdresser sweetly tells me it's finally my turn, and she asks, "How are things going for you today?"

"Wel-l-l," I begin... "Never mind. You wouldn't believe it."

Why do I share these episodes from the ordinary days of my life? The word of God says in Proverbs 17:22  "A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired." 

He well knows I need a dose of laughter every day...and perhaps, you do too...even at my own expense.

P.S. I forgot and left the bananas in the below freezing weather in the back of my car! AND, oh yeah, if you have not had your shower for the day, it is possible to stand close enough to the lettuce to get one!

t-t-f-n  (ta-ta-for-now)
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