LOVE AS HE LOVES!

10-29-2010. . . .LOVE AS HE LOVES!

"I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Live within my love.  When you obey me you are living in my love, just as I obey my Father and live in his love.  I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your cup of joy will overflow!  I demand that you love each other as much as I love you. (John 15:9-13 TLB)  The Living Bible renders these words of Jesus strong and emphatically, "I DEMAND that you love each other as much as I love you!  Keep in mind now, that Jesus loved us enough to give His life for us!  Who do we love enough to give our life for?   Literally give our life. . . . not necessarily.  Real love however, considers others before considering ourselves!  If we would just begin there, what a great difference we'd see in the world.  Obey His command and Love as He loves! 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for loving us and showing us how to love.  Help us now, carry out what you've so wonderfully modeled for us.  Amen!

John 15:12-14. . . . I demand that you love each other as much as I love you. 13 And here is how to measure it-the greatest love is shown when a person lays down his life for his friends; 14 and you are my friends if you obey me.  TLB

LET IT HAPPEN!

10-28-2010. . . .LET IT HAPPEN!

Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.  (John 15:2 KJV)   What may appear to you to be a time of bareness, is really a time of replenishment!  Apples don't grow on trees to simply hang there and look pretty!  The fruit is taken from the tree  and used for it's designated purpose.  The removal of the fruit from the tree makes room for more fruit to come.    What was needed to produce the last harvest, may not be needed to produce the next.  The pruning process is necessary!  Let it happen!

Prayer: Lord, prune us as you will in order that we may continuously increase our fruit production.   Amen!

Ps 1:1-3. . . . Oh, the joys of those who do not follow evil men's advice, who do not hang around with sinners, scoffing at the things of God.  But they delight in doing everything God wants them to, and day and night are always meditating on his laws and thinking about ways to follow him more closely.   They are like trees along a riverbank bearing luscious fruit each season without fail. Their leaves shall never wither, and all they do shall prosper.  TLB

WHO WILL BE GLORIFIED?

10-27-2010. . . .WHO WILL BE GLORIFIED?

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.   Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.  (John 15:7-8 KJV)   Every request made will be granted, that is, every request made that will aid us in producing our expected Kingdom harvest!  In this is the Father glorified.  Examine your request and ask, 'Who will be glorified?'  If it's the Father, expect your request to be fulfilled; if not, well............?  

Prayer: Lord, thank you for making available to us every resource needed to produce much fruit.  Be always glorified in all we do.  Amen!

Phil 4:19. . . .But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. KJV

DON'T GET IT TWISTED!

10-26-2010. . . .DON'T GET IT TWISTED!

"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." (John 15:5 KJV) All that we are and ever shall be is solely because of Christ! We may be ever so talented and gifted, but without Him, talent and gifts alone yield no meaningful fruit!  Don't get it twisted!

Prayer: Lord, you are my source and my strength. In you we live, move and have our being. Without you we are nothing and can do nothing. Help us keep it straight and never get it twisted! Amen!

Acts 17:27-29. . . . "His purpose in all of this is that they should seek after God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him-though he is not far from any one of us. 28 For in him we live and move and are! As one of your own poets says it, 'We are the sons of God.' TLB

HAVE YOU CHECKED YOUR LIMBS LATELY!

10-25-2010. . . .HAVE YOU CHECKED YOUR LIMBS LATELY!

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful." (John 15:1-2 NIV)   It seems hardly possible to be connected to Jesus (The true vine) and not produce fruit!  The only way this is possible is if one decides (sets their mind) on doing that which is contrary to His will.  An improper connection with Jesus will result in a complete disconnection by the Father.  He cuts off non-fruit baring branches.   Have you checked your limbs lately?  

Prayer: Lord, thank you for connecting us to you!  As our source, help us to produce fruit continuously.  Amen!

Ps 1:1-3. . . . Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.  But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.   And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. KJV

IT WORKED THEN, IT WILL WORK NOW!

10-22-2010. . . .IT WORKED THEN, IT WILL WORK NOW!

Prov 6:20-23 . . . "Young man, obey your father and your mother.  Take to heart all of their advice; keep in mind everything they tell you. Every day and all night long their counsel will lead you and save you from harm; when you wake up in the morning, let their instructions guide you into the new day. For their advice is a beam of light directed into the dark corners of your mind to warn you of danger and to give you a good life."  TLB   Good public behavior stems from good home training!   Parents are charged to train their children in the way that they should go so that when they are old, they will not depart from it.   Today, some might call that old fashion, but it worked then......It will work now!   Try it......and change the world!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for parents that are still willing to raise their children your way!  Help their lights to shine brightly that all others may see and follow their example.  Amen!

Prov 22:6. . . .

Train a child in the way he should go, 

and when he is old he will not turn from it.  NIV

UNWANTED WEEDS!

10-22-2010. . . .UNWANTED WEEDS!

Prov 6:17-19 continued. . . . .A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. (KJV)  Blessed be the tie that binds, not the bonds that are broken!   It is good and pleasant to dwell together in unity.  Why would someone purposely disrupt that by sowing seeds of discord.  Again, God hates this!  Therefore, cast them and their seeds out of your presence before they have a chance to take root and spread like unwanted weeds!

Prayer: Lord, through love and unity we create for ourselves a garden of peace and harmony.  Help us recognize  weeds and keep them out.  Amen!

Ps 133:1. . . . How wonderful it is, how pleasant, when brothers live in harmony!  For harmony is as precious as the fragrant anointing oil that was poured over Aaron's head and ran down onto his beard and onto the border of his robe.  Harmony is as refreshing as the dew on Mount Hermon, on the mountains of Israel. And God has pronounced this eternal blessing on Jerusalem, even life forevermore.  TLB