"Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire, and burned." John 15: 4a, 5-6
I discovered the truth about this verse firsthand. I had this beautiful potted shrub that I had somehow managed to keep alive for over a year. (I have a black thumb..) When I got home from vacation, I saw the poor thing dried up and brown...crunchy, really. No life left. I had forgotten to ask my friend to water it. My stomach sunk because this was a special gift I had received after my grandma died. So, I decided to give it a last chance at life and cut all of the dead stuff off...which was everything. It was left with a few pathetic stubs. So I watered it. Seems silly to water these little stubs, but within a day or two a vibrant green leaf had sprouted! And every day, it's getting healthier!
This is a perfect illustration for our hearts. Are you feeling dry, and thirsty? Kinda dead and ugly inside? We have all been there. The next question is where have you been drawing your "water" or energy from? The world? Yourself? Or the Lord? In John 15 he promises that IF (IF...) we remain in Him, and His love, and His Word, he WILL remain in us, and will never leave us. He promises we will produce fruit. But without being closely tied to our Father, our life source, we are sure to end up weary and fruitless.
If you allow Him the control of being your "gardener", of pruning off the "dead" fruitless junk in your life, He is SURE to replace it with something better!
Have you EVER been able to keep a dozen fresh cut roses alive? Not more than a few days. Once they've been cut from their life source, they are sure to shrivel, dry out, lose their vibrant color and sweet scent, and be thrown into the trash. But if those same roses stay attached to the "vine" from where they grew, they can last season after season.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Unity!
So our church, the Refinery, has a great new concept called Refinery U (as in university) that allows us all to come together at church Wednesday night and then go take a "class." We chose the marriage class with Roderick Logan, a great preacher and christian counselor. Anyway, I was inspired tonight by his focus on the word "unity" and how crucial it is to have healthy relationships, especially in marriage.
Unity: Oneness, agreement, harmony, peace
A lack of unity leads to a lot of strife, hurt feelings, even broken families and marriages. What prevents unity? We do. I think it's in our sinful nature to keep striving to fulfill our OWN needs- to have other people conform to our hopes and expectations, rather than focusing on the giving. Also, we grow weary when we rely on that person (or that role) to "fill us up" and we lose focus. Why are we doing this? What's the point again?
Well, let's consider what the opposite of the word unity may be.
Opposition, strife, division, egocentrism?
A self-serving attitude creates division, and there's no way around that.
When it comes to family, (our church family or birth family), spouse, best friends, work associates, teammates, there HAS to be unity. And, as Roderick so simply stated, (and in regard to marriage especially) this requires three things:
1) Volunteerism (from everyone involved)- You make a choice to give of yourself- no one can require this of you or demand it
2) mutual love- a CHOICE, not a feeling. Something you decide to give unconditionally, that doesn't rely on what you receive in return. In hebrew, "ahav" which translates to "benevolance to the other at a cost to me."
3) mutual respect- usually requires a degree of self sacrafice and compromise, "choosing" your battles for the good of the other person (or the good of the vision)
If you find yourself in an "agreement" or a relationship where you feel burden and lack of unity, first take a look at your heart's attitude. Are you lacking in volunteerism, love, or respect? Have YOU lost the vision? If you feel irritated as you give your gift, it's not really a gift,but a disservice to the recipient. Give as Christ gave to you. This fact alone should be more than enough to carry us through when we feel "dry."
Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates His love for us, in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." NIV
1 Peter 3:8 "Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude." -NLT
Unity: Oneness, agreement, harmony, peace
A lack of unity leads to a lot of strife, hurt feelings, even broken families and marriages. What prevents unity? We do. I think it's in our sinful nature to keep striving to fulfill our OWN needs- to have other people conform to our hopes and expectations, rather than focusing on the giving. Also, we grow weary when we rely on that person (or that role) to "fill us up" and we lose focus. Why are we doing this? What's the point again?
Well, let's consider what the opposite of the word unity may be.
Opposition, strife, division, egocentrism?
A self-serving attitude creates division, and there's no way around that.
When it comes to family, (our church family or birth family), spouse, best friends, work associates, teammates, there HAS to be unity. And, as Roderick so simply stated, (and in regard to marriage especially) this requires three things:
1) Volunteerism (from everyone involved)- You make a choice to give of yourself- no one can require this of you or demand it
2) mutual love- a CHOICE, not a feeling. Something you decide to give unconditionally, that doesn't rely on what you receive in return. In hebrew, "ahav" which translates to "benevolance to the other at a cost to me."
3) mutual respect- usually requires a degree of self sacrafice and compromise, "choosing" your battles for the good of the other person (or the good of the vision)
If you find yourself in an "agreement" or a relationship where you feel burden and lack of unity, first take a look at your heart's attitude. Are you lacking in volunteerism, love, or respect? Have YOU lost the vision? If you feel irritated as you give your gift, it's not really a gift,but a disservice to the recipient. Give as Christ gave to you. This fact alone should be more than enough to carry us through when we feel "dry."
Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates His love for us, in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." NIV
1 Peter 3:8 "Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude." -NLT
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Thank you for my suffering!
WhAt?!
When is the last time YOU felt like praising God in the midst of a trial? "Thank you, God, for allowing me to experience this current trial or hardship. This pain and suffering is going to make me such a better person! You must have something great planned!" Hmmm....not so much?
This message is nothing like the messages of the world. The world would have us go buy something to bandage the pain, to comfort the bruises of our flesh. The world would say that there's a pill, a doctor, a book, or a bigger house (...or atleast a great pair of shoes) to ease the pain. The world, and even our own selfish, prideful nature, would have us do our best to bandaid the hurt or frustration we experience as we go through trials.
Satan's message is even more self-destructive. He says, "You don't deserve this! You are a good person!! If God really cared about you, He wouldn't let you experience this! It's not fair. No one can be trusted. Not even God, if He even exists at all. So from now on, you should probably just crawl into a pit of self-loathing and self-protection. Keep people far away so you can't get hurt! This terrible experience defines you now. You deserve to waste as many years of your life, as many hours of your days, fully focused on your own pain. Feed that bitterness with self pity until it becomes you." The result is a bitter, hardened heart unable and incapable of loving or receiving love. A heart that has tuned out the voice of the Savior with the rage of their own voice.
But God has something different in mind for you completely. Holiness. A bigger faith. Perseverance through trials. Integrity. Peace. Greater joy. Humility. Compassion. A softened heart. Victory. Purpose.
Oswald Chambers said, " The lives that are getting stronger are the lives in the desert, deep-rooted in God."
Much of our "happiness" or contentment with life relies solely upon our perspective of the "storms." One person sees the storm brewing from afar and gets excited! Now, none of us may ever get to that point. But regardless, the storm is a declaration of the greatness of God. The pounding thunder and the flashing lightening all can remind us of His awesome power. His ability to maintain control of the violent weather and still bring a sweet fragrance of the dew following it, and maybe even a rainbow! Others hear the thunder and shudder at the fear of what might be coming. "What if...?!"
We don't experience one single thunder storm that God doesn't know about. He goes behind and before you, always offering unconditional love and comfort. And thank goodness, our feelings are not a good gauge of the facts. His love remains whether we feel it or not!
In my life, I've found this to be completely true. Each heartache I experience has become an opportunity for God to answer me with a resounding, "I LOVE YOU and I WILL CARRY YOU." And when I approach the hardships with a complete trust that I serve a sovereign God who knows better than me, I always am able to see His hand working through it. He doesn't desire heartache and pain for us. But He does intend to make us more like Him, and sometimes that's a painful process.
Next time you encounter a storm check your heart. Are you angry first, or prayerful first? Do you ask, "Why me?" or "God, please help keep me humble enough to hear your voice through this."
Aim for this to be the condition of your heart through trials:
"Lord, I don't get it. But I've learned that I don't have to. You see the big picture...you look at my life from an aerial view while I'm on the ground staring at what's right in front of me. Help me to see that you intend you USE this for my good, or for YOUR good- for someone else's benefit even. Help me to trust in you so completely, that my fear is silenced at the sound of the rolling thunder..because even that sounds reminds me you are there."
Romans 5: 3-5 says, "Not only so, but wec also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. "
Romans 8:35, 37-39 says, 35 "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. "
When is the last time YOU felt like praising God in the midst of a trial? "Thank you, God, for allowing me to experience this current trial or hardship. This pain and suffering is going to make me such a better person! You must have something great planned!" Hmmm....not so much?
This message is nothing like the messages of the world. The world would have us go buy something to bandage the pain, to comfort the bruises of our flesh. The world would say that there's a pill, a doctor, a book, or a bigger house (...or atleast a great pair of shoes) to ease the pain. The world, and even our own selfish, prideful nature, would have us do our best to bandaid the hurt or frustration we experience as we go through trials.
Satan's message is even more self-destructive. He says, "You don't deserve this! You are a good person!! If God really cared about you, He wouldn't let you experience this! It's not fair. No one can be trusted. Not even God, if He even exists at all. So from now on, you should probably just crawl into a pit of self-loathing and self-protection. Keep people far away so you can't get hurt! This terrible experience defines you now. You deserve to waste as many years of your life, as many hours of your days, fully focused on your own pain. Feed that bitterness with self pity until it becomes you." The result is a bitter, hardened heart unable and incapable of loving or receiving love. A heart that has tuned out the voice of the Savior with the rage of their own voice.
But God has something different in mind for you completely. Holiness. A bigger faith. Perseverance through trials. Integrity. Peace. Greater joy. Humility. Compassion. A softened heart. Victory. Purpose.
Oswald Chambers said, " The lives that are getting stronger are the lives in the desert, deep-rooted in God."
Much of our "happiness" or contentment with life relies solely upon our perspective of the "storms." One person sees the storm brewing from afar and gets excited! Now, none of us may ever get to that point. But regardless, the storm is a declaration of the greatness of God. The pounding thunder and the flashing lightening all can remind us of His awesome power. His ability to maintain control of the violent weather and still bring a sweet fragrance of the dew following it, and maybe even a rainbow! Others hear the thunder and shudder at the fear of what might be coming. "What if...?!"
We don't experience one single thunder storm that God doesn't know about. He goes behind and before you, always offering unconditional love and comfort. And thank goodness, our feelings are not a good gauge of the facts. His love remains whether we feel it or not!
In my life, I've found this to be completely true. Each heartache I experience has become an opportunity for God to answer me with a resounding, "I LOVE YOU and I WILL CARRY YOU." And when I approach the hardships with a complete trust that I serve a sovereign God who knows better than me, I always am able to see His hand working through it. He doesn't desire heartache and pain for us. But He does intend to make us more like Him, and sometimes that's a painful process.
Next time you encounter a storm check your heart. Are you angry first, or prayerful first? Do you ask, "Why me?" or "God, please help keep me humble enough to hear your voice through this."
Aim for this to be the condition of your heart through trials:
"Lord, I don't get it. But I've learned that I don't have to. You see the big picture...you look at my life from an aerial view while I'm on the ground staring at what's right in front of me. Help me to see that you intend you USE this for my good, or for YOUR good- for someone else's benefit even. Help me to trust in you so completely, that my fear is silenced at the sound of the rolling thunder..because even that sounds reminds me you are there."
Romans 5: 3-5 says, "Not only so, but wec also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. "
Romans 8:35, 37-39 says, 35 "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. "
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
The Light of the World
Hi! Thanks for stopping by and checking out the new blog. My intention is to use this blog to encourage women and deepen their relationship with their Savior. I think we could all use a little more peace and quiet in this loud world...and if we don't allow ourselves time to listen for His voice, we will miss something vital in the hurried pace of our noisy lives!
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
God's promise to us is that whoever follows Him will NEVER walk in darkness. Have you ever had to walk down a long dark hallway, or through a dark parking lot to find your car? I can almost feel the hair on the back of my neck stand up just thinking about it. Your whole body can feel the darkness. It's so thick, that it seems to wrap its arms around you tightly.
God doesn't promise we'll never have to walk through a dark time in life...a time of sorrow or hardship, or loneliness. What He is promising is that He'll never leave you alone, and He'll always shine enough light on your path to keep your steps steady and sure, as long as you let Him lead you.
When you walk through the darkness with a light going BEFORE you, your path is well lit, atleast enough to see your next step. When we turn our backs to that light, our own bodies cast a dark shadow on our steps, and we can no longer see well. That's when our own pride and false sense of self assurance cause us to stumble.
So when you find yourself in a dark spot, remember that God wants to wrap His loving arms around you, so that you don't feel the heaviness of the darkness. The darkness can never own you, never take you over, as long as you keep following the light. And His light never goes out.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)