Green Figs & Tender Grapes

The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;

The fig tree putteth forth her green figs,

and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell.

Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.

-Song of Solomon 2:12-13

As I was asked by my publisher to create an autobiography,  I stood  at a crossroads.  Ironically,  as I put this project together, I am also pastoring Crossroads Church.  Part of me wrestled with putting out a “tell all” book since I am, for the most part,  a private person.   And as I thought about it,  I decided to put together a book of my most private times.   A book that described what I did and what I learned behind the closed doors of the private study in my home.   There are 22 words of inspiration found on this entry…  more are being added as they are edited.

I am going to share with you some things that came in some of the most intimate times with the lover of my soul.  The one who purchased me at Calvary.  The one who loved me first.  Jesus Christ.

One day I decided that I needed to make myself more visible to my congregation and I felt that to do such a thing, I had to open a daily dialogue with each and every one of the precious people that God had entrusted to my care.  Each day except Sunday when I am able to teach them face to face I reach out and knock on their door.   I gather fresh bread each morning.  I bless it.  I break it.  And of course, I share it.

So,  for the past three years, I arise each morning and spend my first hours with Him.  In  worship,  in prayer and in study.   Without fail,  each day the Lord gives me something new and something fresh and something that no doubt, someone needs to hear… and most times, that  someone is me.  So I write a word for their day based upon my early morning times with my Father.  It’s not a “must read”, or a mandatory edict from the Pastor… but everyone knows that it’s there if they’re hungry and need something to eat.

I hope that this book will shine a light upon who I am,  what I think,  what I feel and how I live.   I  have chosen some of my favorite messages to put into this compilation and I hope this will give you just what you need for your day.  More than knowing who I am, though… I would hope that these excerpts would shine a greater light upon who HE is to you.

Some may find it as a word that comes at the right time a few times a month.  Some may find it as a daily devotional that propels them into a new realm of study.  Some may find it as a voice from Heaven confirming what they are going through.   Whether you pick it up once a month or once a day…  if you are still reading this introduction,  I promise He has something for you in these pages.

With each day’s word,  you will notice that I add a video link that goes along with the subject that I’ve written.   I believe that God has hand picked these songs for His glory and will open a portal for you to come face to face in worship.  Many times,  I will encourage you to worship FIRST before you read the words.  When flesh comes face to face with the supernatural,  there is a healthy breaking in your soul and soil that is broken up will receive the word with much power.

I pray that these words will minister to you as they have ministered to me.