Abide in The Vine

Abide in the Vine

When we are properly watered & fed we will grow healthy in the Lord. This is by reading the word of God and prayer. When we eat healthy we grow healthy, When we eat junk food we grow unhealthy, sickly. We are what we eat .The physical & spiritual are parallel.

New Living Translation (NLT) John 1:1

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and

the Word was God.

Reading the bible & praying is eating and drinking spiritually

John 15:1-5 “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

Amplified Bible (AMP) Philippians 3:10

[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [[b]which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]

Galatians 5:21-23
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

This is the fruit of the spirit, not the fruit of me. The fruit of the spirit that flows through is for others.

Luke 10:27
The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

LOVE

My husband Don Davis created the fountain that so powerfully shows the Lord's sacrifice and love. This is a dramatic depiction of the love that Jesus Christ showed by shedding His blood on the cross. His blood was what paid for and covered all of my sins. It is His blood that made it possible for me to intimately know Him. I really can't realize what it cost Him. I don't deserve the price He paid. But I am eternally thankful that He did.
AND NOW BEHOLD...THE LAMB...THAT WAS SLAIN.

NANETTE'S STORY

Wednesday night at the Soul Cafe a beautiful thing happened. Nanette shared the story of her and God in a very tender, vulnerable way - but also extremely powerful and thought provoking.
One of the things she shared was exactly what we have been learning in our group (imagine that) about the necessity to renew our mind by the Spirit through the Word of God.
She shared that she (and we all) believe lies, which influence our thoughts and result in the things we feel, say and eventually do.
It was put in such a simple way...a way that we can all use as a tool to help us in our renewal.
The chart she handed out went something like this:
Start with three columns:
INFLUENCE (What caused this?)
WRONG BELIEF/THINKING (What is the resulting wrong thought that comes from a wrong belief?)
WRONG "SAY, DO, FEEL" (What is the wrong thing I did, said, or felt?)

You can start in any column and work the situation through. Then you find a truth in the word of God that replaces the lie.

When the situation comes up again...don't believe the lie.
Remember the truth. No matter how you feel - choose to believe the truth. Don't worry, your feelings will eventually catch up.

She gave a few personal examples that really showed how deep the lies effected her (and us).

I want to thank our Lord for using Nanette and for showing us another tool we can use as we step out of the lie - into the truth-and become more like HIM!

LIGHTHOUSE

God Bless You Nanette for recommending this.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day

Is a day to remember Love

Love is a smile

Love is opening the door for someone

Love is a hug

Love is paying for someone's meal

Love is random act of kindness

Love is giving up your time for someone else

Love is running into a burning building to rescue someone

Love is more for others than for self

The color of Love is Red

The color of blood is Red

Mark 14:24
And he said to them, “This is my blood,

which confirms the covenant between God and his people.

It is poured out as a sacrifice for many.

Ultimate LOVE

John 10:18
No one can take my life from me.

I sacrifice it voluntarily.

For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again.

For this is what my Father has commanded.”

John 15:13
There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

TURKISH DELIGHT!

We have been studying about our thought patterns and how they impact our actions and our life.
It made me think about temptation and the lusts that are in our flesh.
If I let the desires of my flesh dictate what I think about I will soon be consumed and overcome with temptation.
But God promises a way of escape...We must renew our minds with the truth in His Word. We must think of His Word with the same devotion and passion that we used to think about our idol.
The flesh wants to indulge itself in things that I think will satisfy....but I must remember....it always comes back to bite me....and ends up leaving a bigger hole than the one I was trying to fill in the first place!

I end up betraying my Lord, myself, and others.

I read this the other day in "The Daily Bread" devotional:


Turkish Delight

Read John 21:15-19

Your law is my delight--Psalm 119:174


In C. S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the White Witch needed to know only one thing about Edmund to get him to betray his siblings. By asking a few simple questions, the witch learned that Edmund’s weakness was his love for a candy called Turkish Delight. The piece she gave to Edmund was more delicious than anything he had ever tasted. Soon Edmund could think only about “trying to shovel down as much Turkish Delight as he could, and the more he ate the more he wanted.”

Each of us has a vulnerability like Edmund’s that Satan is eager to exploit. It may be something addictive like drugs or alcohol, or it may be something seemingly harmless and perhaps even good like food, friendship, or work.

After His resurrection, Jesus asked Peter this personal and probing question: “Do you love Me more than these?” (John 21:15). Many have speculated as to what Jesus meant by the word “these,” but it’s probably better that we don’t know. It allows each of us to personalize the question and ask ourselves, “What do I love more than Jesus?”

When Satan finds out what we love more than God, he knows how to manipulate us. But he loses his power over us when we delight in the Lord. — Julie Ackerman Link

I love Thee, because Thou hast first loved me,
And purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree;
I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now. —Featherstone

God takes delight in us—how can we help but delight in Him?

What is My "Turkish Delight"?

Cry Out to Jesus

To everyone who's lost someone they love
Long before it was their time
You feel like the days
You had were not enough
When you said goodbye

And to all of the people
With Burdens and Pains
Keepin' you back from your lives
You believe there is nothing
And there is no one
Who can make it right

There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
And love for the broken heart
And there is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus
Cry out to Jesus

For the marraige that's struggling
Just to hang on
They've lost all of their
Faith and love
And they've done all they can
To make it right again
Still it's not enough

For ones who can't break
The addictions and chains
Who try to get up
But you crawl back again
Just remember that you're
Not alone in your shame
And your suffering

There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
And love for the broken heart
And there is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus
Cry out to Jesus
Cry out to Jesus

When you're lonely
And it feels like
The whole world is fallin' on you
You just reach out
You just cry out
To Jesus
Cry to Jesus

To the widow
Who suffers from being alone
Wipin' the tears from her eyes
And for the children
Around the world
Without a home
Say a prayer tonight

There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
And love for the broken heart
And there is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are

There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
And love for the broken heart
And there is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus
Cry out to Jesus

Oh cry out to Jesus
Cry to Jesus

Terri's Testimony

I have been thinking about the testimony Terri gave last night...
What a beautiful love story between her and her Savior.
The love that God has shown her
even in the very dark times
has just made her story shine that much more brighter.
I was really touched by how she talked about the first inklings she had for God.
It was like a wakening to reality...the reality that life is so empty without Him.
It painted such a sweet picture for me.
A picture of a gentle Savior's love.
One who died for us to be brought back to Him.
He brings our heart around slowly until we see our need...and His love!
It made me think how illusioned we are.
That's right...ILLUSIONED!
We live under an illusion of self sufficiency.
We think that our power is really something.
It doesn't matter if we come from poor or rich families.
If we are well educated and mannered, or not too much so.
We still live under an illusion. The illusion takes many forms.
Yet it still always remains...an illusion.
When we get DIS-illusioned is when we begin to wake up.
The tearing down of the facade is painful sometimes.
We don't like it.
We hear a lot of stories in these rooms about just that....
The DISILLUSIONING.
It is frightening when it's happening.
But once the illusion of self is gone...
the REALITY of walking daily with the ETERNAL is left...
And that is more beautiful than any illusion we could paint.
Thanks, Terri....for the surrender...

Do we really believe?

Do We Really Believe

If I were driving down the road, and someone flagged me down, and told me that the bridge was out.
I said OK, Thanks, I really appreciate the warning.
BUT...
kept on going.
Did i really believe them?
Doesn't my actions ( or no action) show my belief?


Don't get me wrong --we are all human and we all fall short.
But...We shouldn't use this as an excuse to do what we want when we want.
That is cheap grace! This also doesn't mean we shouldn't strive.

The first commandment
Luke10:27 You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.

This says LOVE GOD with every fiber physical & spiritual

James 4:8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.
The choice is ours

Proverbs 8:17 I love all who love me. Those who search will surely find me.

Psalm 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.

Please God humble me!

Matthew 17:20 You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible. ”

God can move the mountains in life, but most of the time He give us the strength to get through it.

Isaiah 29:13 And so the Lord says,“These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips,but their hearts are far from me. And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote.

God looks at our heart, there is nothing hidden from Him. Do my actions line up with my heart?
Do I follow the Lord 24-7 ?

James 2:26 Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.

When we follow the Lord, He flows through us. It is automatic (this is the fruit of the spirit)

Mark 9:24 The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”

It's God job to grow us. We have no power to do that. (We can decide on the quality)
We are all a work in progress until we die (we are growing) this is a continual changing

Romans 8:1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.


ONLY TWO CHOICES ON THE SHELF
SERVE GOD
OR
SERVE YOURSELF

Pathway to Spiritual Independence

You guys really ought to take the time to listen to this...
Thank You Cindy for the suggestion!

• The Pathway to Spiritual Independence

  
  Learn from Dr. Stanley as he teaches from Luke 15; how you got where you are, and how to get back where you need to be.
  

Scripture Memory Verse

Psalm 139:23-24

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  Search me, O God, and know my heart;
  
  Try me and know my anxious thoughts;
  
  And see if there be any hurtful way in me,
  
  And lead me in the everlasting way.
  
  

God's Promise

James 1:5

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  If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

Here is the audio teaching

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  mp3

  
  
  

GROW! - By Don Davis

God gave us a free will .

The ability to choose.
We can choose to grow spiritually or not.
The choice is ours,
God isn’t going to force feed us.
God knows what is best for us;
Through His Love letter (the Bible)
He gives directions & warnings.

Romans 12:2 (New Living Translation) Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

James 4:8 (New Living Translation) Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

John 8:31 (New Living Translation) Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Philippians 4:6-7 (New Living Translation) 6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

RENEWAL OR RELAPSE PT 2

• Dr. Stanley explains some key principles to help believers be on guard against falling back into their old lifestyles.
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  Also Available mp3 Real Media

  
  
  

  
  
  
  

RENEWAL OR RELAPSE

• 
  
  Here is a link to Charles Stanley teaching about
  
• relapse - This is part one:
• Thank You to David & Cindy for the suggestion.
  

  
  
  
  
  

  mp3

  
  

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The Stool

Temptation

A Servant's Heart

Today I was finally getting around to packing the few things we had put out for Christmas. I wondered why I had waited so long. Now I think I know why....
As I was collecting the Christmas cards that were sent to us by friends & family I began to look at the cards that we had saved throughout the years. I was actually just rummaging through them haphazardly. One card drew my attention in a remarkable way.
I picked it up noticing how pretty it was. On the front it just said, "My friend".
Unremarkable.
Yet the remarkable part of the card lied in the words which were handwritten on the inside.
"Sondra, I just want to thank you for being my friend. Thank you for loving me and for caring about me. I know we both have had a rough year. One good thing came with it though, our precious Gabriel. He is a gift from God. I love you, Cheryl"

Cheryl was my friend.
She wrote this card in 2007. We had both been going through cancer. She, for quite a few years. Me, for only a few months.
I began to think of our friendship and of all of the ways she had shown love to me and my family during our relationship. She was the first one to love me at my new church back in 2003. When we met she hugged my husband and I with a bear hug and a grip ( amazing because she was a tiny lady)that felt like she would never let go. She never did.

I am amazed when I think of the way this woman loved:

She loved and served everyone she knew.
She didn't ever complain about it.
She did it from her heart.
She gave each person her all, and made them feel like they were the only ones in the entire world.
Although she was suffering the most, she would reach out to others who didn't have it so bad, and make their burden lighter.

These words don't do justice to the way Cheryl lived her life.
I guess you would have had to know her. Then you would know what I mean.

As I read her card I was filled with love for Cheryl.
I was also filled with a remorse because I know that I did not show, in tangible ways, what she meant to me.
She had loved me with her heart.
Yet...
She thanked me for loving her.

Sounds a lot like her savior.

I can just hear Him say to her, as she saw Him for real that day, "Well done you good and faithful servant! Enter into your rest..."

Cheryl Gold Barcliff did finally meet her Savior for real last year.
January 5th of last year, by the way!
Exactly one year, to this day!
I told you there was a reason that I waited so long to put away the Christmas stuff!


May God make us all into people who love.
Not just with words, and not just in our hearts...
But out of our hearts ...
And into others'

Solitude

Psalm 27 NASB

A Psalm of Fearless Trust in God.
A Psalm of David.

1The LORD is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the defense of my life;
Whom shall I dread?
2When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh,
My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell.
3Though a host encamp against me,
My heart will not fear;
Though war arise against me,
In spite of this I shall be confident.
4(I)One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the LORD
And to meditate in His temple.
5For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle;
In the secret place of His tent He will hide me;
He will lift me up on a rock.
6And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me,
And I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.
7Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice,
And be gracious to me and answer me.
8When You said, "Seek My face," my heart said to You,
"Your face, O LORD, I shall seek."
9Do not hide Your face from me,
Do not turn Your servant away in anger;
You have been my help;
Do not abandon me nor forsake me,
O God of my salvation!
10For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
But the LORD will take me up.
11Teach me Your way, O LORD,
And lead me in a level path
Because of my foes.
12Do not deliver me over to the desire of my adversaries,
For false witnesses have risen against me,
And such as breathe out violence.
13I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD
In the land of the living.
14Wait for the LORD;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the LORD.


This past week the Lord has been whispering to my heart. He has patiently and consistently tugged and urged me to get away - alone with Him. I must confess that my ears have been dull and my heart has been even slower to comprehend what He has been saying in His unique gentle whisper. I just kept trudging along, getting wearier and wearier by the minute. Not realizing what I needed, I tried to find the strength in myself. Although I didn’t “snap” to what He was saying I could not shake the sweet undertone of His influence – “Come Away With Me”.

You see, life has been hectic lately. There has been the business of studies and ministry. There has been the harried pace of the Christmas Holiday (somehow I see a sad irony in this statement). There has been the financial uneasiness of being self employed during this time of failing economy. And how could I forget the intense underlying concern for loved ones who are far away.

All of this going on in my soul has brought with it fear, unrest, and exhaustion.

Yet, for some reason it has taken me a lot of time to realize that the only one that could restore and rejuvenate my weary self was calling me to be alone with Him. I knew it. I just didn’t bring myself to actually do it! Every time I have finally sought solitude with my Lord He has restored me. Why does it take so long to remember and return?

Today I did take the time. And guess what? God showed up! Actually He was always there - at the door, knocking, waiting to come in and be with me!

I have been able to hang out with Him all morning and what a great morning it has been!
It seems like every thing I’ve read in His Word has been for my restoration and recovery. He knew what I needed!

In Psalm 85:6 the psalmist asks, “Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?” By the way, did you know that the Hebrew word for revive means not only to restore and refresh but also to repair? That’s what I needed …repair.

I am so grateful that I finally got alone, opened the door, and had the most amazing time with my Lord. I felt that I never wanted to leave. Yet, life beckons…sigh…
Even though I must leave the solitude and become involved, once again, with the cares of living, I feel somehow lighter and strengthened. I also know that I don’t go alone.

It is my prayer that you guys won’t put it off…that you will make the time…open the door…trust me (actually-- TRUST HIM) …You won’t be disappointed!

Incidentally, I sooo identify with Elijah in this passage...know what I mean?

I Kings 19:3-12 NIV

3 Elijah was afraid [a] and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day's journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, LORD," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors." 5 Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep.
All at once an angel touched him and said, "Get up and eat." 6 He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.
7 The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, "Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you." 8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. 9 There he went into a cave and spent the night.

The LORD Appears to Elijah
And the word of the LORD came to him: "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
10 He replied, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too."
11 The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by."
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.