Muttering Verse

So I picked this verse: Jeremiah 17:7-8 to mutter.  (If you don't understand you didn't read to the end of the post: Courage, Honest and Vulnerable).   Some of you might recognize the verse from the devotional I shared in the post "Trusting in the Lord."   It was perfect and I decided that this was my verse and the Lord had plopped it into my lap (he must know I'm sort of busy these days)! 

“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord    and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit." (NLT) Jeremiah 17: 7-8.

I kept coming back to this verse after I read the devotional.  I decided that it was perfect for my muttering verse.  Here's why.....  I need to remember that I cannot produce fruit without having roots into Jesus.  Pride is one of my strongholds and I need to stay plugged in to Jesus so nothing moves me, withers me or causes me to not bear fruit.  Bear fruit to me means loving people, sharing grace and mercy and forgiveness and the freedom that comes with it.  Working for justice.  Being a voice for the oppressed and the poor.  Helping lead people to Shalom.  Listening to Jesus and wanting to be obedient to what he asks of me - big or little.

If you hear me walking around muttering.....  you'll be able to figure out what I'm saying now! :)