Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I poured out my Heart to the King of kings while He poured down the rain and I embraced His Word with the eagerness of a child. Sometimes I just can’t get enough of Him and sometimes I can’t seem to give Him enough of me. When I considered the rain on this new day, I thought about how all the soon-to-be Spring foliage can’t get enough of the rain the same way I can’t get enough of Him. It’s the rain that will provide what the dormant life needs to come back to life and bloom or bear fruit, and it’s the Son that will do the same for an eager and hungry Heart. Nature has no choice in the growing process…a little dose of rain and a big dose of sunshine and off it goes. But man has a choice of whether or not to grow. I choose to grow, don’t you?

It can be easier than most people are willing to admit to put God on a shelf and to leave Him there until He’s needed again. Some people go days without praying at all…except for the obligatory prayer before meals or a little “now I lay me down to sleep”…and they never consider the consequences. Some NEVER mention His name outside of their inner circle of friends and family. Some mention His name in public but it’s painfully obvious they haven’t Surrendered their Will to Him by the way they speak and judge. It might be better for them to never mention His name at all instead of being a bad Witness for a Gracious and Forgiving God. Some live in fear of what He might “do” as if God has a Plan to destroy the imperfect ones and He’s armed and ready to punish. Some pout like a 2-year old when He doesn’t give them what they want – all the while they refuse to give Him what He wants. There are lots of “signs” of a dormant Life but only one reason they are. They make the choice to remain dormant and they refuse to grow to bear Fruit.

There have been times over the years that I’ve worried about one of my children and the direction they were inclined to take. I prayed without ceasing and I trusted God with the outcome but it hurt to watch them make choices that went against the Rules. When they were our relationship suffered. I stood firm with unwavering Faith and non-negotiable expectations while they set out to challenge the rules and suffer the consequences. They made the choice to rebel against the one who gave them birth AND the One who died for them and it wasn’t easy to watch. I didn’t argue or berate them, I loved them instead, and I was as gentle as a lamb as Christ’s love for my child was Reflected through me. I reminded them of who they Belong to and I encouraged them to make the Choice to Grow again. When your Heart is Inclined toward the Son you’ll bear Fruit in the toughest of situations and when you Love Him more than anything else, the rest of the world sees Him in you no matter what’s going on. Having a saving Faith is one thing…bearing Good Fruit is an entirely different story and it always comes down to choice.

I was inspired by the Love of my Life on this rainy day and I’m grateful for the God-sized reminder straight from the Throne of the Creator of the universe this morning. The more we Give…the more we Love…the more we Surrender..the more we bear Fruit. But it always comes down to choice. I’ve made my Choice to be the best that I can be for Him…a Reflection of the One Who died for me…in all that I am, all that I do, and all that I say…and I reconfirm my choice often.

How about you?