FOR THE GLORY OF GOD AND THE GOOD OF OTHERS
ABIDE IN JESUS.
BE CHANGED BY JESUS.
EMBODY THE WAYS OF JESUS.
ENOUGH SAID!
Showing posts with label Abide. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Abide. Show all posts
Monday, May 11, 2026
Tuesday, September 16, 2025
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!!!
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
FELLOWSHIP / BEYOND FRIENDSHIP!
Abide in the Lord (the vine) love one another.
Y'all-ianity--a community of believers. Folks who love one another "in Christ"
Southern speak of sorts, created by Pastor Buddy.
Y'all-ianity that rolls off the tongue and flows from the heart..
Fellowship beyond friendship!
Monday, January 6, 2025
MONDAY MUSINGS!
As I prepare for today's trip to new cardiologist, I need to cultivate new "heart habits"..........more spiritual than physical. Gratitude for a spouse who has become my "uber" to numerous medical centers in far away places. Acceptance of no longer driving.
Help me, Almighty God, to abound in this new season regardless of the circumstances!
A heart habit of praise and worship! Lead me Lord in this new season of heartache......pain, fear and disappointments.
May I lean into the Most High and abide in His shadow.(Psalm 91:1)
Help me, Almighty God, to abound in this new season regardless of the circumstances!
A new year to abide and abound!
Sunday, August 4, 2024
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!
Monday, February 12, 2024
ABIDE!
ABIDE! Love that word!
Keep stunning and saturating us with your truth O Lord as we seek Thee.
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!
Wednesday, June 8, 2022
PUNCTUATIONS OF LIFE!
Is the "old" MLA guide on your bookshelf? Probably not. But it certainly influenced many "seniors," aka old folks, not graduates, back in the day.
These days one can sometimes tell the age of someone by their use of punctation. Not sure of all the alphabet soup of names from age groups, but it's my guess that "Baby Boomers" often use too many commas and "Millennials" rarely use commas or even periods for that matter.
Last Sunday, Pastor Taylor Park stressed the importance of correct punctuation in Scripture.
Sometimes in sharing biblical truth verbally one will add a lilt in his/her voice, as if doubting, wondering or asking a question. Jesus is the son of God? That is a true statement----not a question!
God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God and God abides in him. (1John 4:16)
The commas tell us there is more to say. More to the story/statement.
Note the period. That ends it. Period indicates a full stop. It's truth declared.
One might even add a relational explanation point to indicate profound truth as it applies to him/her!
Allow God's word to erase the question marks in your faith life and add more periods allowing your life of faith to be filled with the best punctuation marks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sunday, July 31, 2016
Profundi-TEA
Profundi-TEA--I'm steeping a big cuppa to share the deep (for me) insight which the Lord has shown me to aid my knowledge of John !5:1-17.
THOTS as I have dubbed it---Trusting Him On This Subject!
This past week in response to a valid question asked by BSF friend, Jackie, I shared with her how John 15 had changed my "spiritual" life. Then, she asked me how many verses were in the book of John. I realized that I had not a clue.
So, last Wednesday, I opened my Bible to the book of John (27 verses, by the way) and realized it was not the entire chapter that had so impacted my "first" journey into Bible study. It was the "abiding" passage in the first 17 verses which the Lord used to draw me unto Himself.
As I returned to the passage, I began to use the "precept" method of inductive Bible Study re-introduced to me by Marilyn LeBlanc in our "Summer Refreshment " study of the book of Esther.
I began to look for key words.
As I meditated (and counted # of times certain words were used) I found abide (11) love (9) & bear fruit (7) Arranging them in descending numerical order put them in alphabetical order----which spells alb.
Alb---a white linen robe worn by a priest at mass.
For the first time in 40 years, when I was first introduced to this passage by Bible teacher Kay Arthur, I saw those words becoming my personal "alb" as the white robe (Psalm 51:7) of His righteousness (Isaiah 61:10) of "my high priest" (Hebrews 4:14) covered me as I worshipped!
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| Irish Breakfast is a good strong black tea---perfect to jog "profound" thoughts! |
This past week in response to a valid question asked by BSF friend, Jackie, I shared with her how John 15 had changed my "spiritual" life. Then, she asked me how many verses were in the book of John. I realized that I had not a clue.
So, last Wednesday, I opened my Bible to the book of John (27 verses, by the way) and realized it was not the entire chapter that had so impacted my "first" journey into Bible study. It was the "abiding" passage in the first 17 verses which the Lord used to draw me unto Himself.
As I returned to the passage, I began to use the "precept" method of inductive Bible Study re-introduced to me by Marilyn LeBlanc in our "Summer Refreshment " study of the book of Esther.
I began to look for key words.
As I meditated (and counted # of times certain words were used) I found abide (11) love (9) & bear fruit (7) Arranging them in descending numerical order put them in alphabetical order----which spells alb.
Alb---a white linen robe worn by a priest at mass.
For the first time in 40 years, when I was first introduced to this passage by Bible teacher Kay Arthur, I saw those words becoming my personal "alb" as the white robe (Psalm 51:7) of His righteousness (Isaiah 61:10) of "my high priest" (Hebrews 4:14) covered me as I worshipped!
I'm not sure the "steeping" is complete in my cuppa profundi-TEA as there still seems to be a few thoughts "brewing" in my head. But....I decided to pour out what I've learned so far. (before I forget it)
Monday, April 23, 2012
GRAMMAR LESSON FOR MEDITATION
4/23/12 First
person singular
Grammatical
person in nominative case English pronoun---tends to dominate the thought life
of most Americans.
CONVICTION!
What “I” want! What "I" desire! What “I” deserve! 1st person or the self. “I” is certainly the “person” easiest for folks
to put FIRST.
But God….has
shown me this week how that “self” focus is
not God honoring or “other” honoring. sIn.
prIde. “I” boldly
occupies the middle of those 2 self-seeking words.
Meditate
on these words from John as you seek to move self out of the limelight and
focus on loving God and serving others.
But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. (1 John 3:17-18)
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. (1 John 4:7)
Yesterday, Cole’s
sermon, along these same truths (Malachi 2:10-17), concluded with “the larger “I” gets in our lives, the less regard we have for God and others.”
End of lesson!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Watermelon-Kindness: An Analogy
8/18/09 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.
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!!!
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!!!
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