“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
John 15:5
I really like the imagery of John 15 – Christ being the Vine and we believers the branches. The New International Version of the Bible uses the word: remain, while the New King James Version uses the word; abide – both of these words come from the Greek Meno. The richness of this word perhaps does best to describe this idea of remaining or abiding. One concordance I looked at divided the meaning into three areas: place, time and condition.
Place: Remain, abide – to sojourn, tarry – to continue to be present – to be held, kept, continually.
Time: To continue to be, not perish, to last and endure. Of persons, to survive, live
Condition: to remain as one, not to become another or different, to wait for, await one.
We are to become like Christ and we must live by Christ’s example – the way to do this is to stay near, stay connected. Branches - whether they are on a grape vine or a fruit tree are nothing without the vine or trunk. It is while so close, so connected that they are nourished and watered and can produce fruit.
For me abiding or remaining in Christ – is to be close enough to see how the root grows, to learn from the root how to grow in a way that reflects the root. To be connected in a permanent way so that I am nourished, renewed, strengthened and at times pruned so that I can continue be a reflection of the root. This means spending time among the other branches – working and learning together - just us and the Lord. It also means spending time just the branch and the vine – just me and the Lord so that I can drink deeply, so that my connection to the root can be strengthened. The result of being in the vine – of being in Christ should be the fruitfulness of my obedience to Him and my life being transformed into His image.
This week, spend time letting your life become intertwined with the Vine that is Jesus – remain, abide, meno. The fruit you produce as a result will change you and may change the world around you.
A prayer
Father – Thank you that you desire for us to tarry with you, to be deeply connected to You always. Thank you for those times when you “prune” us even though it may not be pleasant, it will make us more fruitful. As the branches may we more fully reflect the root that is Jesus. It is by His name we pray. Amen.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Do A Joy Dance!
“You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. LORD my God, I will praise you forever.
Psalm 30:11-12
Little things and not so little things can bring us joy in the midst of our trials. Great weather, the announcement of a wedding or a baby, taking a step to serve others, a trip to the shore or the mountains - these things are ways God clothes us in joy – they are reason to dance. That long awaited job, a visit from an old friend, peace in the valleys of life – these are also ways that God clothes us in joy – they are reason to dance.
David was coming out of a time of trial when this psalm was written – there would be other trials in his life, and in the midst of them as long as he stayed focused on God he would find peace and joy – he would find reason to dance. What are you facing today? A new trial, the continuation of an old one or perhaps you have reached a mountain top and are rejoicing in the amazing view as you look back over the valley you just came through. No matter where you find yourself today keep your eyes, your mind and your heart focused on Jesus and He will give you joy.
So today crank up the radio – read the Psalms of long ago and listen to the Psalms of today. Seek the joy of the Lord and dance! Dance with all your strength, with every fiber of your being. It will make your day; lessen your stress and make God smile.
A prayer
Father – Thank you for the things You use to clothes us with joy. Thank you that we can dance even in the midst of life’s trials. May we invite others to join us in the dance, especially if they don’t feel like dancing. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Psalm 30:11-12
Little things and not so little things can bring us joy in the midst of our trials. Great weather, the announcement of a wedding or a baby, taking a step to serve others, a trip to the shore or the mountains - these things are ways God clothes us in joy – they are reason to dance. That long awaited job, a visit from an old friend, peace in the valleys of life – these are also ways that God clothes us in joy – they are reason to dance.
David was coming out of a time of trial when this psalm was written – there would be other trials in his life, and in the midst of them as long as he stayed focused on God he would find peace and joy – he would find reason to dance. What are you facing today? A new trial, the continuation of an old one or perhaps you have reached a mountain top and are rejoicing in the amazing view as you look back over the valley you just came through. No matter where you find yourself today keep your eyes, your mind and your heart focused on Jesus and He will give you joy.
So today crank up the radio – read the Psalms of long ago and listen to the Psalms of today. Seek the joy of the Lord and dance! Dance with all your strength, with every fiber of your being. It will make your day; lessen your stress and make God smile.
A prayer
Father – Thank you for the things You use to clothes us with joy. Thank you that we can dance even in the midst of life’s trials. May we invite others to join us in the dance, especially if they don’t feel like dancing. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Where Is Your Center?
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.”
John 15:9
Recently when I asked my daughter what she had learned a two week intensive acting workshop – she talked about finding the character’s center as being something she thought would be useful. That got me to thinking… there are lots of ways we can center our lives. We can center our lives on our intellect, on our self-sufficiency, on our work, on our sports, on lots of things – some good some not so good. But where should be we centering our lives? So I have been thinking about the importance of centering our lives the right way. What is the right way?
Jesus shows us what a centered life looks like. His center is his heart for the Father and for the people He came to serve. If we center our lives on Him then we will see the world as He sees it. We will see how much we are valued just for who we are, we will see how others should be valued just for who they are. Mother Teresa once said that she saw Jesus in the face of every destitute and sick person whom she served. Her life was centered on Jesus He was her motivation in everything she did. I believe in her worldly poverty she lived in extreme abundance. Like Jesus prayer played an important role in Mother Teresa’s life. It is in prayer, in this time of intimate communication that we can find our proper center as well.
This week think about where your life is centered – as followers of Christ I believe we should be centered on His heart. When we sit with Him in prayer we should see His heart reflecting on us and He should see His heart reflecting back. This week’s scripture speaks volumes – Jesus knew that His father loved Him completely – the Father loves us too. Jesus loved His disciples and indeed the whole of mankind because of the Father’s love. Jesus tells us to stay in His love. Stay in His love even when life is tough, even when we feel unlovable, even when we don’t want to love.
Stay centered on the heart of God and experience a whole new kind of abundance.
A prayer
Father – Help us to center our lives on You. Help us to value others the way you value us. As we spend time with you show us what a truly abundant life looks like. Thank you that Jesus loves us the way that You do. May we find joy and peace as we remain is His love. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
John 15:9
Recently when I asked my daughter what she had learned a two week intensive acting workshop – she talked about finding the character’s center as being something she thought would be useful. That got me to thinking… there are lots of ways we can center our lives. We can center our lives on our intellect, on our self-sufficiency, on our work, on our sports, on lots of things – some good some not so good. But where should be we centering our lives? So I have been thinking about the importance of centering our lives the right way. What is the right way?
Jesus shows us what a centered life looks like. His center is his heart for the Father and for the people He came to serve. If we center our lives on Him then we will see the world as He sees it. We will see how much we are valued just for who we are, we will see how others should be valued just for who they are. Mother Teresa once said that she saw Jesus in the face of every destitute and sick person whom she served. Her life was centered on Jesus He was her motivation in everything she did. I believe in her worldly poverty she lived in extreme abundance. Like Jesus prayer played an important role in Mother Teresa’s life. It is in prayer, in this time of intimate communication that we can find our proper center as well.
This week think about where your life is centered – as followers of Christ I believe we should be centered on His heart. When we sit with Him in prayer we should see His heart reflecting on us and He should see His heart reflecting back. This week’s scripture speaks volumes – Jesus knew that His father loved Him completely – the Father loves us too. Jesus loved His disciples and indeed the whole of mankind because of the Father’s love. Jesus tells us to stay in His love. Stay in His love even when life is tough, even when we feel unlovable, even when we don’t want to love.
Stay centered on the heart of God and experience a whole new kind of abundance.
A prayer
Father – Help us to center our lives on You. Help us to value others the way you value us. As we spend time with you show us what a truly abundant life looks like. Thank you that Jesus loves us the way that You do. May we find joy and peace as we remain is His love. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Rainbow Reminder
“And God said, ‘This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.’”
Genesis 9:12-16
A late June rain and some recent news stories had me thinking about Noah. There were the stories about the floods happening in parts the United States and a story about a man in the Netherlands who has built a full size ark, built to Biblical specs, sea worthy and filled with fake animals. Noah had found favor in God’s eyes all those generations ago and he and his family were protected from God’s wrath. God rewarded Noah’s faithfulness and obedience with a special gift – the very first rainbow! This rainbow also served as the symbol for a divine promise, the kind of promise that will not be broken. But what about now how does this apply to us now?
This life is full of storms and floods do come into our lives. Some floods of course are the too much water in the river sort but others are perhaps less obvious unless you are in the midst of it. The continued effects of the bad economy are definitely a storm and for some the flood is still rising. The losses of a loved one, an unexpected bad report from the doctor are also storms that can threaten to overwhelm us with the flood. I am sure you can think of other things – what storms are you facing? Are you keeping an eye on the rising water and looking to escape to higher ground? There is good news – I think Noah’s rainbow reaches through time and reminds us that God will not let us be overcome by life’s storms. Oh we may have to face them, but they will not destroy us.
I don’t know if you will see an actual rainbow today but the promise is there every day. Grab a hold of it and know that you will come through the storm, changed perhaps, but by the grace and love of God better for having made it through. May you have the rainbow reminder that you need today and anytime you face life’s storms.
A prayer
Father – Thank you for rainbows, for the reminder that they are of your love us. Protect us from the floods we face in our lives and fill us with the promise of your peace. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Genesis 9:12-16
A late June rain and some recent news stories had me thinking about Noah. There were the stories about the floods happening in parts the United States and a story about a man in the Netherlands who has built a full size ark, built to Biblical specs, sea worthy and filled with fake animals. Noah had found favor in God’s eyes all those generations ago and he and his family were protected from God’s wrath. God rewarded Noah’s faithfulness and obedience with a special gift – the very first rainbow! This rainbow also served as the symbol for a divine promise, the kind of promise that will not be broken. But what about now how does this apply to us now?
This life is full of storms and floods do come into our lives. Some floods of course are the too much water in the river sort but others are perhaps less obvious unless you are in the midst of it. The continued effects of the bad economy are definitely a storm and for some the flood is still rising. The losses of a loved one, an unexpected bad report from the doctor are also storms that can threaten to overwhelm us with the flood. I am sure you can think of other things – what storms are you facing? Are you keeping an eye on the rising water and looking to escape to higher ground? There is good news – I think Noah’s rainbow reaches through time and reminds us that God will not let us be overcome by life’s storms. Oh we may have to face them, but they will not destroy us.
I don’t know if you will see an actual rainbow today but the promise is there every day. Grab a hold of it and know that you will come through the storm, changed perhaps, but by the grace and love of God better for having made it through. May you have the rainbow reminder that you need today and anytime you face life’s storms.
A prayer
Father – Thank you for rainbows, for the reminder that they are of your love us. Protect us from the floods we face in our lives and fill us with the promise of your peace. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
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