MEASURING UP!

Words of scripture are written to encourage us.

She is clothed with Strength and Dignity and she laughs without fear of the Future. (Proverbs 31:25)

Until they make us question ourselves as a bookmark (gift) did to me.

When I turned it over, I saw the measurement “ruler”—-AARGG!

Conviction trumped encouragement.

Weariness had set in. I no longer had strength. I wasn't measuring up!

I was no longer clothed without fear! I seemed to daily put-on fear.

Was I measuring myself by the world's standards?

But God in His love and mercy used truth to remind me that the only true measurement we need comes from the shed blood of His son Jesus. 

John 15, a fave chapter of Scripture for me, was the needed reminder......

apart from me you can do nothing. (v. 5) Doing for Him is not measuring up. That's more self-credit. Walking with Him in His grace displays His strength, NOT ours.

...In quietness and trust is your strength... (Isaiah 30:15b) More than just alliance, it's reliance. (G. A. Smith, The Book of Isaiah, 1:128)

Leaning in---relying on Him alone! 

As I was typing these thoughts, the melody of the hymn, "My Hope is Built on Nothing Less" sealed it for me.

1 My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus' blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus' name.

Refrain:
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand:
all other ground is sinking sand;
all other ground is sinking sand.

2 When darkness veils his lovely face,
I rest on his unchanging grace;
in every high and stormy gale,
my anchor holds within the veil. [Refrain]

3 His oath, his covenant, his blood,
support me in the whelming flood;
when all around my soul gives way,
he then is all my hope and stay. [Refrain]

4 When he shall come with trumpet sound,
O may I then in him be found:
dressed in his righteousness alone,
faultless to stand before the throne. [Refrain]

Words of scripture written to encourage me/us that have me humming & tapping my toes while sitting in my prayer chair!

ABIDE! A WAY OF WISDOM!!

Believers desiring to know God more deeply realize the need to turn to Scripture. For me, it also includes studying with other believers. 

Bible Study w/ others---A Way of Wisdom! Studying & Sharing together!

Allen Bible Church, Allen, TX

I don't remember the lady's name but she lived in a 2 story house on Park Ave. in Memphis, with a curved drive way in the front. Not my 1st Bible study but one that emphasized "abide" as a relationship key. Remaining in Him and loving one another! Abide and love are key words in John 15:1-17.

Our abiding relationship with God and other believers helps us to abound more! A shared joy! True fellowship!

It gives rhythm and "full joy" to our lives with Him and each other! (v.11)

ABIDE! REPEAT!

STAY! STAY!! STAY CONNECTED!!!

TWEAKING TO TEACH & RECALL!

Yesterday's request was "share your favorite Bible verse. Today I recalled the chapter of Scripture that changed the aim of my life. AIM = Abide In Me!

(John 15)

Abiding makes us RICH in Him. Remain in Christ's Holiness!

All of the truth's of Scripture found in John 15 led me right into John 16's teaching which focuses on the face of trials which require perseverance. Imagine that !?

If one wants to be truly R I C H.....Read above acronym again and again!

 

ABIDE!

ABIDE! Love that word!

In fact, I love all of John 15.

It was a significant chapter for me in beginning to seek God's Word for truth.

As always, Scottie Smith gives me new insight!

Keep stunning and saturating us with your truth O Lord as we  seek Thee. 

You're easy to find when your addresses is our heart!

May I continue to think on these things. (Philippians 4:8)

You ask me How I know He lives, He lives within my  heart!

NEED A BREAK.....or at LEAST A PAUSE?!

Our culture is always telling us we do....need a break, that is. We even deserve it. Just ask McDonalds. My favorite breaks include reading and crossword puzzles, especially USA Today ones. (

Today my "break" is to be a time of pondering, a PAUSE,
A focus on meditation with my marginalia quotes from previous weeks.

Putting
Aside
Unnecessary
Sidelines to
Embrace meditation

• God is always doing more than I know. (Romans)
• God is builder of all things. (Hebrews 3:4)
• Gospel, a victory announcement, is our fuel and motivation. (Romans 1-3)
• Unrighteous and self-righteousness are both sins,
• Gospel is a spoken message. (Romans 10:13)
• If I abide, He will reside. (John 15)
• It's never too dark for God's light to penetrate. (No one is ever beyond His reach.)
• Jesus changes everything. (Hebrews)
• Mercy matters! (Luke 6:36)
• Worship follows belief. (John 9:38)

MEIDTATION, combined with scripture, MATTERS---it's a refreshing pause!

Familial Quotability

These quotes were under hashtag John 15---a life changing Scripture for me in 1975.

AND....since they were referenced as Buddy Liles, for sure I'll go back and see how these pertain to my beloved chapter. 

I see them as quote worthy regardless of one's point of reference, familial or not----hope you will too.

NECESSARY Pruning

3/13/11 Yesterday, I spent time with hubby in the yard with clippers and pruning shears. Felder Rushing, former Memphian, and 10th-generation American gardener, would be rolling his eyes because the Liles prune when time allows. Convenience often rules our lives even to our lawn care. I spent less time outside than hubby did though I did try not only to direct his efforts but also to try my hand with the pruning shears as well. Fatigue took me inside before the job was completed but I took a spiritual lesson with me as I closed the door to the outside world and sat at the feet of my Master Gardener.

(John 15) ¹ “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ² 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.

Pruning both in the garden and in our spiritual lives is necessary for healthy growth. We have to get rid of the superfluous and useless parts that compete with the healthy growth. Pruning helps to bring balance and it guides the shaping of the plant (or person) to be all it (or she) was intended to be by the one who planted it.

These last 6-8 weeks, the Lord has begun an awareness of pruning that is needed in my life. I don’t have enough time in my day for everything. My time needs trimming and shaping. I need to know my Master Gardener’s plan for me for this season in my life. I know that pruning is painful. I just need to remember that God will never leave me and His pruning is loving surgery to allow me to let His “Sonlight” go deeper than it ever has before. If it becomes the blessing that my cancer was, I know I’m going to love the results. **

A Well pruned life---what does it look like? I’ve seen it in the lives of others---Marge Andrews, Geary Irwin, Mary Ann Frazier. But I don’t know what it looks like in my own life----but God ….God willing and guiding (“apart from Me, you can do nothing.” John 15:6), I’m going to find out because I have recently enrolled in Basic Pruning 101, A Guide to NECESSARY Pruning. Care to join me? The text is God’s Word and is free on-line.

**Before I even could post this blog entry, I received an upsetting phone call. I had planned to be in KY this week for the first part of Spring Break. My cardiologist visit on Wednesday and another carotid artery “episode” thwarted those plans.

This phone call was from brother, Bobby, with an update on Daddy. Friday, Daddy had trouble eating lunch because his right hand was swollen & wouldn’t work for him. Care clinic and ER visits showed no stroke but an appointment was set for Monday with his internist. Late this afternoon an ambulance took him to Jennie Stuart hospital. Daddy has had a stroke and though we’re hopeful it’s mild, he couldn’t recall Bobby’s name or remember his own birth date.

Please join me in praying God’s best for Daddy.

V is for....

1/30/10 …..volumes of “V” words whirring in my mind with none anchoring yet. Virgin’s son. (Luke 1:27) Vine---John 15, my life-changing chapter. Victor----the victory is His. He is the victorious one. Through Him we have victory---we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37) Conquerors are indeed victors. As I discovered in both Hungary and Mexico and especially through this last year He is also a very present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1) He is TRUTH----veracity starts with “V” but I couldn’t find it in my concordance.

But God……………there was the “v” word right in my good old KJV, my grandmother’s Bible, with its broken binding, loose pages and cracked leather cover. “Verity”---in the concordance---not veracity but another great synonym for truth.

In our life’s journey we are all mere voyagers on this earth and it is the verity of the One who is Truth that guides us. Knowing His truth has set us free (Romans 8:2) As believers, we’re at least on the ship that’s headed in the right direction----eternity with Him. If we weren’t voyagers on His ship, we would be facing life without Him. I’m glad that even in the midst of life’s storms, we don’t have to be tossed around by every wave of circumstance or wind of doctrine (Ephesians 4:14-15) because we are stabilized by truth and anchored by the One who is Truth.

We need to listen up ------His verity speaks volumes.

Psalm 111:7--These works of His hands are verity and judgment; all His commandments are sure.
I Timothy 2:7--Whereunto I am ordained and a preacher, and an apostle, ( I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.

Watermelon-Kindness: An Analogy

8/18/09 Kindness

The mountains shall depart, but my kindness shall not depart from you. (Isaiah 54:10)

I’ve been wondering why two of the “fruit of the spirit characteristics” that I’m most lacking in are side by side in the list. (Galatians 5:22-23) Patience and Kindness.

BTW, before you read any further please remember this—Don’t compare your insides with someone else’s outsides!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’ve said that before but I’m having to remind myself over and over as I study these spiritual fruit characteristics. Why? Because that’s what I’ve been doing and it’s brutal. This is God’s work and His grace is sufficient in our weaknesses.

Remember when it used to be a big deal to get to eat the “heart” out of the watermelon----you know, that sweet plug you’d always want to take right from the middle! There were no seeds in that location, just cold, refreshing, sweet red fruit----without a doubt, one of the sweetest treats of summertime in the South. But rarely did anyone in my family have access to the heart, except Daddy that is. Mother would always cut a piece for him with lots of heart. In my mind’s eye, I can see him sitting on the top step of the latticework back porch at 2211. Watermelon slice in one hand, salt shaker in the other---enjoying every juicy bite. Refreshment was written all over his face. My brothers and I enjoyed ours as well letting it drip down our chins---juice, seeds and all. Since we had a lot more of those big ole black seeds to contend with---well you know what we did with those. Spitting contest, anyone?

Two weeks ago for just $3.99 at Wal-Mart one could purchase a seedless watermelon---that’s like all heart. The small, soft, white, seeds that are present are virtually undetected and can be eaten along with the flesh of the melon. When these hybrids were first developed they were not as tasty/sweet but nowadays they are delish----a real “nummy-nummy” as Owen says.

I know a few folks whose insides are like that watermelon---they’re hearts are ripe with kindness. No yucky, bothersome black seeds get in the way of their sweetness. They exude sweetness. This is not contrived---not just manners or superficial social graces or compliments for compliment’s sake-i.e. flattery. Their lives manifest this fruit of the Spirit. As God’s lovingkindness is great toward them, their benevolence is great toward others. I did not say their situations were perfect, only that they have thankful hearts and see God’s kindness in their lives regardless of their circumstances. Just like the watermelon that remains close to the vine until maturity is sweeter, these folks who abide in the True Vine have an eternal sweetness about them. Their sweetness counts for eternity as they “do good” to others regardless of the response, invest in others’ lives, bear the burdens of another, listen to others, pray for others and give thanks in all things.

Though my mother tried many methods to ensure the selection of the sweetest watermelon, no amount of thumping, taping, sniffing, or shaking actually gave a clue to the inside condition of the melon. 

Oftentimes, maybe most times, our outsides don’t give a clue to what’s really on the inside either. Sometimes we don’t even know. (Jer.17:9) But God…………”create in me (you) a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me” (you). (Psalm 51:10)

Now that I know watermelons do not continue to ripen after they have been removed from the vine, I know that if I’m going to mature in this area, I need to move closer to my Vine. I need to abide. Sweetness/kindness in my heart doesn’t come naturally.

In 1974, I couldn’t have found the book of John in my Bible without the Table of Contents. But God……I not only found John but I found chapter 15. It changed my life. This weekend, I plan to return to that “ABIDE” chapter for a refresher---maybe I’ll do it with my Bible in one hand and a piece of watermelon in the other. How refreshing is that!!!