Month: April 2025

Planting Precious Seeds

Posted on By Tina "Richele" Ballinger No Comments on Planting Precious Seeds
Blog Post

Nothing thrills my heart more than planting in spring, with the first rays of sunshine glittering upon the daffodils my heart has already been in full planning stages for new beginnings and new additions to my garden. One of my absolute favorite thing to do is planting trees knowing that I may not see their full potential, but others will benefit from the work I am doing today.

Yesterday, one of my beautiful granddaughters assisted me in the planting of my newest addition to my landscape, a some day will be gorgeous Southern Magnolia. As I watched her eager to help, longing to be part of what I was doing I paused to reflect upon the fact that but for a moment she is intently absorbing all that I have to teach her. In the hustle of the day I often forget that she is watching, she is listening (even when it does not appear to be the case). One of my greatest blessings is the opportunity to be a Nana, a chance to plant precious seeds for Jesus Christ. Just like the magnolia, I may not see the full results of who she will become and how my teaching may direct her toward God’s plan for her life, but someday she will become something beautiful in His sight if I remain faithful in the planting of the precious seeds of the Gospel in her heart today.

“And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” Deuteronomy 6:6-7

“And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.” Isaiah 54:13

“But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” II Timothy 3:14-15

Oh, the precious seeds that bring beauty to our world and to our lives, the sharing of the Gospel that brings others to Jesus Christ. There is no greater calling, there is no greater honor than to plant the seeds that bring honor and glory to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Be Thou Instructed

Posted on By Tina "Richele" Ballinger 1 Comment on Be Thou Instructed
Blog Post

“Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul depart from thee; lest I make thee desolate, a land not inhabited.” Jeremiah 6:8

As a young child I tended to soak up instruction, curious to learn all that I could, hungry to know more and more. Yet, somewhere along the way there seemed to build up a resistance to being instructed, somewhere around the early teen-age years I obviously felt that I had received all of the instruction necessary. The children of Israel seemed to have similar feelings toward the instruction of God.

All throughout Biblical history, the Israelites were in constant turmoil between obedience and rebellion much like I have found myself over the course of time. I get a good forward motion, fully intent on the Word of God striving with everything in me to remain focused on His instruction . . . and then before I know what has happened I am in left field going in an entirely different direction. It happens all too quickly, that rebellion within rises up to divert my attention from what God is trying to teach me.

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” II Timothy 3:16-17

Just as God told the Israelites in Jeremiah 6:8, God’s instruction is given to us that we might know Him and experience the fullness of life that is found only in His Word. Without the instruction of God our hearts become desolate, we become wanderers in an uninhabited land without a true direction.

“I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” Psalm 32:8

I want to know that God’s eye is upon me, guiding me, teaching me, and instructing me in the way that I should go. When I am walking in His promises, when I allow Him to instruct me, I know that I am exactly where I need to be in Him.

“Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.” Proverbs 8:32

Decluttering My Heart

Posted on By Tina "Richele" Ballinger No Comments on Decluttering My Heart
Blog Post

It seems there are times when the overwhelming sense of how quickly time is passing grips my heart and I find it hard to get my bearings. Each moment of each day seems to be full tilt ahead with little to no time to enjoy the journey or to sort through the events that are happening all around me. Over the past few weeks I have had the opportunity to join a wonderful group of women in a journey toward decluttering our lives and embrace a renewed relationship with Christ. As many are accomplishing great things around their homes bringing a sense of renewed peace to their spaces, I have found myself looking inward. I have spent time examining my heart inwardly. In my time of reflection I have discovered that I have allowed the changes, the difficulties, and the trauma associated with recent life events to overcrowd my heart with feelings that desperately needed to be “decluttered”. My thoughts, my actions, and my attitudes have been in such a swirl due to all of the clutter that I have allowed to pile up within my heart both spiritually and emotionally. As a result of this clutter, not only was I suffering mentally, spiritually, and emotionally, my physical well-being was suffering as well. There simply was no place within my heart for God and the Word that He was trying to speak to my soul due to the clutter that I kept sealed away within my heart. As a result, I was left feeling empty, alone, and afraid.

In turning to God’s Word, I discovered verses that have helped guide me through the process of “decluttering my heart” so that I could once again search for Him with my whole heart. A heart uncluttered with overwhelming feelings, struggles, and emotions from my past.

“Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”. Philippians 4: 6-7

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will harken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all of your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13

“Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:18-19

God wants me to let go of the past and move on toward what He has for me in each moment of each new day with a heart that is free from clutter; free from a cluttered heart that keeps me from being able to search for Him with an open heart !! He has plans for me, I no longer feel empty, I no longer feel alone, and I am no longer afraid. I know that there will be times that I will need to return to the feet of Jesus and declutter my heart, but for now I am resting in His promises that He will always be there to help guide me through that process.