Author Archives: Shirley Logsdon

About Shirley Logsdon

I am the only child of Christian parents who wanted me to know God personally as they did. One night during church we watched a movie depicting a family in their home accepting Jesus as their personal Savior. I was nine and realized then my desire to make Jesus my personal Savior. With the full support of my parents, I met with the pastor and prayed to receive Christ. A few years later, several of us around the same age began classes for our confirmation to become church members. The privilege of taking communion was a special time for me. . During my teenage years I was outwardly complacent, but was inwardly rebellious. I developed the nasty habit of disrupting harmony in the household by nitpicking at anything and everything. A preacher came to hold revival services at my dad’s church and nailed me silently with looks. This helped me tremendously. I turned a corner and began to respect and obey my parents in attitude and actions. I survived these years through prayer (mine, my parents and friends). The love and tenacity of my parents and God’s grace got me through these years of upheaval. I readily identify with David the Psalmist when he said in Psalm 25:7, “Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to Thy mercy remember Thou me for Thy goodness’ sake, O LORD.” Because my parents provided a stable home life for me, when I went to college my Christian values remained intact. After completing my education in 1979, I started working. For a while, I worked at temp agencies, then I did odd jobs. I settled down in a secretarial position in 1986 working for a firm specializing in retirement plan administration. In 2007, I started working for a law firm, eventually becoming a knowledge management assistant in their law library, helping to alert attorneys to new business opportunities. I am a productive citizen of my country in large part because my parents prayed for me and made clear by word and example what they expected of me. I am extremely grateful to God for them. John 15:5 is my life verse: “I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.” I am confronted with this realization every day I live, and it helps keep me on the straight and narrow path. I met my future husband at church. After a few years of our two families getting acquainted, he and I started courting. We married at the church where we met, in the presence of many relatives and friends. We have been married for 29 years. My hobbies are reading, cooking, and canning or freezing what my beloved husband grows in the garden. Also, I thoroughly enjoy writing. While my writing has included poems, most of my writing has been letters to family and friends. I like to share my faith when I write and am fond of adding a Bible verse or two to help focus on the source of our life. Since I am now retired after working 38 years, I can concentrate on keeping up with birthdays. Something else I enjoy is studying the Bible, often with others. Blogging is a new form of writing for me. I am getting my feet wet and I’m beginning to enjoy the experience.

Fruit bearing-Nourishment

blueberry fruit

NOURISHMENT FOR FRUIT BEARING

The fruit tells the story. Fruit provides nourishment. One or more bees or other pollinators visited the spot. We expect to see fruit on a tree, bush or produce we grow. Examples: apple tree, blueberry bush, sweet potato. God the miracle worker designed this plan to provide food for humans and animals. What a marvelous design.

In contrast to animals, plants have their insides on full display. People and animals eat fruit (or vegetables) plants produce. If you will ponder with me for a moment, I wonder if the fruit my life produces tastes good.  God made fruit for food to nourish other living things. Next, consider that God created His children to grow spiritual fruit.

Our produce-fruit of the Spirit

God gave us ideas of what He expects us to produce. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).

When people I meet today see my fruit, I hope they will find it attractive enough desire it. I want my fruit to help someone else to grow closer to God. Jesus instructed His apostles, “Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit: so shall ye be My disciples” (John 15:8).

Finding the “fruit” in believers

Also, God made us as “fruit trees” so unbelievers will see God in us. Finding God attractive they should desire Him, Additionally, they will come to know Him personally and grow to love Him as their personal Lord and Savior.

In order for me to get the strength I need for daily living and fruit bearing, I talk to God often.  Also I read His Word for nourishment. My word for 2019 is NOURISHMENT. I find God’s Word relevant for today’s world and my place in it. The Bible records a lot of incidents and includes details. At the same time the principles laid forth in the Bible, God’s Word, span the ages and apply to every generation.

Shirley Logsdon

For further reading:

MY RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

https://www.treadingwatertiljesuscomes.com/2019/04/11/my-relationship-with-god/