Jesus ~ The True Vine

Hello dear friends!

Take a moment with me, grab a cup of your favorite hot drink,
maybe even a cookie or two 
relax, and drink in the goodness found in God's Word.

**~~~**

My husband has enjoyed a small garden over the past three years

but unfortunately where we live, up in the high country,

not much will grow due to the short season.

Our success has been potatoes,

and I must admit that they have been quite enjoyable to grow,

especially when the time comes to digging them up.

With pitch fork in hand, we make our way to the garden

looking for buried treasure. 

This year he tried growing zucchini, and as we all know,

zucchini will grow just about anywhere! 

We learned something beautiful as our zucchini began to blossom.

The flower or bloom is on one end of the zucchini

while the other end of the zucchini is connected to the plant.

But what was enjoyable to watch day after day

was that blooming flower.

At certain times of the day that flower would open big and wide

in all it's splendor and beauty, but then, it would

close tightly before the day would come to an end. 

**~~~**

The amazing thing was how that flower closed,

it was like a cloth being rung out tightly,

twisted you might say, and ever so tight!

Once the zucchini would get large in size

the flower would die off but the zucchini would remain connected to the 

plant until we would cut it off from it's growing source, the plant.

I couldn't help but think of the Scriptures where Jesus talks of being the Vine

and we are the branches, and how we are to "abide" in Christ.

Our zucchini is weak and useless and will not grow

without the plant that it is connected to.

It will not produce it's own life,

 it must draw it's life from the plant. 

That is the way it is with us and Christ.

We must draw life from the Vine.

It is our communion with Christ through the Spirit 

that makes possible the bearing of fruit.

John chapter 15 speaks to us about Jesus being the True vine ~

I would recommend  reading the whole chapter ~ but I'd like

to focus on verses 4&5 .

~~~

"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself,

except it abide in the Vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

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."

**~~~**

To "abide" means to keep in fellowship with Christ

so that His life can work in and through us to produce fruit.

How beautiful is this picture...we can be glorious women,

in sweet fellowship, bearing good ~ not rotten ~ fruit. 

We must let nothing hinder us from this precious communion with Christ.

Verse 3 tells us to be "clean through the Word which Christ

has spoken to us." We are to be washed and holy, confessing our sin.

This precious communion also involves obeying Christ because we love Him.

In verse 9&10 Jesus tells us "as the Father hath loved me,

so have I loved you, continue ye in my love.

If  ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love,

even as I have kept my Father's commandments,

and abide in his love."

WOW! That is to the point!

I did some cross referencing and look what 1 John 2:3-6 has for us.

~~~

"Now by this we know that we know Him,

if we keep His commandments. He who says, "I know Him"

and does not keep His commandments, is a lier, and the truth

is not in him. But whosoever keeps His Word, truly the love of God

is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.

He who says he abides in Him ought himself

also to walk just as He walked."

**~~~**

The test of "knowing" Him ~ To know God does not depend on our good works

but instead demonstrated by them.

When believers are born into God's family, they are united with Him

in an eternal relationship that cannot be broken ~ praise the Lord!

But fellowship with God, however ~ communion with Him ~ can 

be disrupted by our sin.

Obedience is a sign of relationship and fellowship with Him.

~~~

We demonstrate our love for God with life service not just lip service,

and our desire should be to do what God has said in His word.

Verse 6 ~ obedience ~ Jesus "walked" in total dependence

upon His Father, and He was fully submissive to God's will.

We too, should walk as Christ walked.

May we graciously walk and seek God with our whole heart,

for there is joy and blessing in following in Christ's footsteps.

Oh the wonderful love of our Jesus!

We have a living relationship to Christ and belong to Him ~ But our

relationship must be cultivated, it does not come automatically.

~ It would be glorious if it did ~ but it does not.

Abiding in Christ demands worship ~ meditation on God's Word ~

prayer ~ sacrifice and service ~ but what a joyful experience it is!

~~~

Oh ladies ~ once we have begun to cultivate a deeper communion

with Christ, we will have no desire to live a shallow life as a Christian.

**~~~**

"And he that sent me is with me;

the Father hath not left me alone;

for I do always those things that please Him."

(John 8:29)

What a beautiful verse we can claim for our own lives.

Even Jesus did those things which PLEASED His father.

May we follow after Him in our walk of faith.

Does your heart long for and desire to do those things which please God?

"God is faithful"

Our Precious Heavenly Father,

we have a future hope because we know You are faithful to Your promises.

As we seek to follow after You, 

we humbly ask that You would draw us ever so close to Your side.

Teach us through Your Word and Spirit

to live graciously as we abide in You.

Amen. 
 

 Be Gracious

~ Debbie ~ 

I am joining Stephanie's party at
Roses of Inspiration 

A Gracious Woman

O God, thou art my God: early will I seek thee;

my soul thirsteth for thee,

my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land,

where no water is.

To see thy power and thy glory,

so as I have seen thee in thy sanctuary.

Because thy lovingkindness is better than life,

my lips shall praise thee.

( Psalm 63:1-3 )

It is in those early and quiet hours

while the house is motionless with no disruptions

from the things which press us for time,

that we meet Jesus.  

I love my early mornings spent with my precious Lord and Savior.

Those ~ for me ~ are times when God blesses me with nuggets of gold

in the reading of His Word.

This morning was one of those days

of sweet fellowship as I sat at the feet of Jesus.

~*~

This was my nugget of gold;

"A gracious woman retaineth honor,

and strong men retain riches."

( Proverbs 11:16 )

The word gracious stopped me in my tracks

and I wanted to know more~ dig deeper~

and learn just exactly what God was wanting me to know

through this one verse.

I love to "dig" through spiritual growth books~

Bible dictionaries~Concordances~Commentaries~Topical Bibles

and the likes, to gain wisdom, knowledge

and spiritual understanding.

God's Word tells us to;

"cease from our own wisdom"

but to "be filled with the knowledge of his will,

in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.

That we might walk worthy of the Lord,

unto all pleasing,

being fruitful in every good work

and increasing in the knowledge of God."

( Colossians 1:9-10 )

~*~ 

Matthew Henry's commentary says this about Proverbs 11:16.

" Here, 1. It is allowed that strong men retain riches,

that those who bustle in the world,

who are men of spirit and interest,

and are able to make their part good

against all who stand in their way,

are likely to keep what they have, and to get more,

while those who are weak are preyed upon

by all about them.

2. It is taken for granted that a "gracious woman"

is as solicitous to preserve her reputation for

wisdom and modesty,

and all those other graces that are the true

ornaments of her sex,

as strong men are to secure their estates;

and those women who are truly gracious will,

in like manner,

effectually secure their honour by their 

prudence and conduct.

A "gracious woman" is as honorable

as a valiant man and her honour is as sure." 

~*~

How beautifully said!

I looked up the word solicitous to see how it would apply to this statement,

and it is that the gracious woman would be,

careful~thoughtful~and full of concern.

So she is careful to "preserve her reputation."

We as women, are graced with beautiful ornaments,

and it is honorable.
May we be ladies who grace these ornaments
for His honor and glory.

~*~

I pray that your heart was just as blessed as mine was

through this one little verse from God's Word.

~*~

Our dear precious Heavenly Father.

Thank you for Your Word

that reaches into our hearts, through Your Spirit,

and touches those cord strings

which draws us ever so close to Thee.

Amen.

~Be Lovely~

Debbie

I will be joining Stephanie's party at
Roses of Inspiration

In Honor of Many Special Mothers

 In Honor of Many Special Mother's

As Mother's Day approaches

I would like to honor all you mothers out there
with a wish and a prayer for

a beautiful, blessed, joy filled Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to

Mother

One of the most touching and beautiful scenes in the Bible is of

Mary, the mother of Jesus,

as she stood by the cross of her Savior (Luke 1:46-47)

but also her son.

Mary, the mother of our Savior must have sobbed as though her

heart would break.
Oh, mother love!
~

All of a mother's tenderness, gentleness,

sweetness, forgiveness and patience

is covered in that great virtue ~ love.

Love motivates a mother's soothing touch,

her encouraging smile, her understanding heart

and her sacrifical love and care.

Thank God for a Mother's Love
There is no love, like a mother's love,
no stronger bond on earth...
like the precious bond that comes from God,
to a mother, when she gives birth.
A mother's love is forever strong,
never changing for all time...
And when her children need her most,
a mother's love will shine.
God bless these special mother's,
God bless them everyone...
for all the tears and heartache,
and for the special work they've done.
When her days on earth are over,
a mother's love lives on...
through many generations,
with God's blessings on each one.
Be thankful for our mother's,
for they love with a higher love...
from the power God has given,
and the strength from up above.
                        ~Anonymous

~

Happy Mother's Day to the

Adoptive Mother

The beautiful grace of God,

in His gift to you through the adoption of a child

who "belongs" in your home to love and to be loved in return.

How precious and blessed by God,

to have been given the responsibilities and privileges of parenthood.

An Adopted Child

An adopted child is greatly loved

and soon becomes a part,

of everything that is treasured

and held closely to the heart.

~

An adopted child is looked upon

with special tenderness,

and he or she will always know

the warmest, sweet caress,

~

For those who adopted children

find joy in little souls,

a baby's smile can help them on

toward their chosen goals.

~

God knows how much mankind cries out,

for pure unselfish love,

and so He sends adopted ones

seemingly from above.

~

Broken hearts are mended,

in manner meek and mild

truly blessed are those who have

an adopted child.

                                                          ~Author Unknown

~

Happy Mother's Day to the

Mother-In-Law

This one chokes me up.

My husbands dear mother, Betty,

went home to be with her Lord just over a year ago.

Oh how I miss her!

I was blessed with a God fearing, mother-in-law.

I do not always here that from other ladies.

How dishonoring to God, their husbands and their mother-in-law.

~

The mother-in-law relationship

is often a difficult and delicate one.

Mothers naturally love their children,

and that love does not cease to exist when a marriage ceremony is performed.

A mothers duties may become less~but not her love.

To suddenly "let go" is not easy.

When a mother looks at her son or daughter

all grown up~she still see's that tiny baby

she held in her arms and cuddled.

She still see's the diapers,

the growing up years with tears and heart aches,

for which she mended.

She would give advice, make suggestions,

answer questions and was always eager

to help with tender loving care.

~

Now she may be misunderstood

or considered "stepping on toes"

should she show herself concerned, try to give advice,

or even become over-anxious.

She is still as concerned for her childs welfare

as when he/she was dependent on her care.

Her motives may be pure, but she may be misinterpreted.

To A New Daughter-In-Law

Forgive me if I speak possessively of him

who now is yours, yet still is mine;

Call it the silver cord disparagingly

and weave new colors in an old design,

yet know the warp was started long ago

by faltering steps, by syllable and sound

by all the years in which I watched him grow

by all the season's turnings are we bound.

But now, I loose the cord, untie the knot,

unravel years so he is yours alone

and if there is a message I forgot

or something that could help you had you known,

I shall be waiting, hoping you will see

that him you love, is also loved by me.

                                                        ~ Author Unknown

I love the ending of this poem!
"that in him you love, is also loved by me"
I guess because I was blessed with a mother-in-law
that was very much a Proverbs 31 women,
I therefore, was never placed in a possition
where I felt I had to share any part of my husband.
We could both love him as God intended for us.
My heart breaks for those who struggle
with their mother-in-laws, as they are missing out
on a relationship with one another that could be both
 beautiful and rewarding.
I believe as women, by the grace of God,
we can be a glory to our husbands,
as well as have the right heart attitude
of obedience to God towards our mother-in-law,
therefore, bringing glory to God.

~

It can be a touchy situation, but it can be made an
endearing and enduring relationship
within the principles of Christian living.
Each must learn to respect, to tolerate, to be courteous and understanding
of the other, in love.

~

Happy Mother's Day to

The Mother who Has Lost A Child

God, truly must have great compassion

and grace upon a mother who has lost a child ~ for He lost His Son.
Again, I think of Mary, the mother of Jesus.
Yes Jesus was her Son, and yet she knew why He was here,
and that she would loose Him, for a purpose.
Can you imagine how it must have been for Mary, as a mother?
 She loved Him as her own son, yet, she had to let Him go.
The love of a mothers heart...

To this dear mother, may God pour His grace upon you.
For His grace is sufficient for you,
the One, who gives generously to meet our needs.
 I pray, that as Mother's Day nears

  your heart would be drawn even closer to the heart of God.
The God of all comfort and peace,

which passes all understanding.
~
Fom my heart to all you precious mother's, Happy Mother's Day
and God bless you!

Our precious Heavenly Father.

Thank you, for mother's.

Thank you for their endless, selfless love

that you grace them with.

In Your love, touch their hearts

and meet their individule needs.

May this day that is set aside in honor of them,

bring blessings that abound.

Amen.

                                                                        Be Lovely!
                                                                        ~ Debbie~

Gracious Lips

"Hear: for I will speak of excellent things:

and the opening of my lips

shall be right things."

(Proverbs 8:6)

Only God's Word is excellent and right.

Therefore; we need to make sure we are full of it

and speaking it in grace and beauty to others.

~

Only through daily immerson in the scriptures

and through daily prayer and meditation

will we be able to speak

"pleasant words that are as an honeycomb,

sweet to the soul,

and health to the bones."

(Proverbs 16:24)

Honey is good - and good for us.

Did you know that honey is used in the Bible

as the supreme symbol of the Word of God?

So, God's Word is both good, and good for us!

So are pleasant words.

~

But what are pleasant words?

When they are words of encouragement,

counsel, edification, sympathy,
(to name a few)

they are sweet.

If we are to be satisfied and spiritualy healthy,

then we must drink deep of God's honey.

"Right things" flow from a heart

that is full of God's Word.

~

How beautiful and pleasing to God,

when the words we speak

are right, pleasant and fitly spoken.

"A word fitly spoken is like

apples of gold in settings of silver"

(Proverbs 25:11)

"Fitly spoken" - we should choose our words well.

Are they in good taste, in control and with grace?

Because rotten apples are a disgrace

to our Holy and Righteous God.

~

Words are critical;

they can heal or wound;

they can edify or destroy.

Unloving words are like darts that pierce the heart.

How easy it is to blurt out words

that we may later regret.

~

James chapter 3 is excellent in teaching us how to control the tongue.

James is saying, "how can we bless God

and curse men?

In verse 10 James tells us

"My brethren, these things ought not so to be."

In verse 11 James asks?

"Doth a fountain send forth at the same place

sweet water and bitter?"

Learning to control our tongue

seems almost imposible-but not according to the Word of God.

Take heart ladies,

All things are possible with Christ, through His Word, and by His Spirit.

Wouldn't it be glorious if we were so saturated
with the Word of God,
that when we spoke it would be the scriptures
that we were quoting, naturally?
~
Philippians 4:8 tells us to "think on these things"
"Finally, brethren,
whatsoever things are true,
whatsoever things are honest,
whatsoever things are just,
whatsoever things are pure,
whatsoever things are lovely,
whatsoever things are of good report;
if there be any virtue,
and if there be any praise,
think on these things."

~

If we were to purpose in our hearts

to do as this verse tells us to do,

how could we not speak in love one to another?

Just with that verse alone,

our hearts and minds would be full of sweet honey

that would flow graciously out of our lips.

~

I would encourage you to look up each of those words

in the dictionary and see their definition.

Here's a little taste to get you started.

Lovely:  Delicately beautiful ~ beautiful in moral or spiritual character ~

gracious ~ highly pleasing ~ fine ~

Such qualities in loveliness,

who would't desire this!

~

Our precious Heavenly Father,

by Your grace impower us to open our lips

so as to speak right things that would

heal, edify, encourage and bless

the lives of others,

bringing honor and glory to You.

Draw us to Your Word daily

that we might drink deeply

filling our hearts and minds

with what is good, right and pleasing unto You.

Amen.

Be lovely!

~Debbie~