Be Still and Know...Then and Now

I continue to remain on the vine…it’s a good place to be y’all! John 15: 4 “No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine…” The simplicity of this statement at time can be lost if I just glance over the words. Often times, especially with very familiar passages I tend to just rush through them, having read them may times feeling sure that I have a thorough understudying of the meaning. The reality is that scripture really is living and active (HEB 4:12) for it can change from day to day to meet whatever need I may have. One day it will speak to me about one thing and then the next time I find myself there I may receive something completely different. Lord, help me to never just gloss over Your Word thinking that I have received all you have for me. This morning verse 4 spoke to me re-reminding me that bearing good fruit requires being connected to the source of all good nourishment. Remaining in God's word provides the connection to the vine. The other realit...

In my quiet time a few days ago I found myself in Isaiah. I think it is one of my all time favorite books. It is so full of God’s promise and it gives us a very clear picture of just how much God loves us. However even with God’s unfathomable love there comes consequences if choices are made to live outside of His plan. I know I have lived outside of God’s plan many times in my life. It’s human nature to think we can come up with a better one. It’s human nature to want to listen to our sinful side. Listening to the world is so very easy. Isaiah heard God’s voice so very clearly. There are times when I would wish for that clarity, but then I know that with that clarity comes the reality of what happen next. 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”    And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” And I said “Here am I. Send me!” Those are very powerful words when spoken, even more powerful if you really mean them. I know there have been ...

Several days ago I was sitting in my living room and the world outside was transformed. It literally was transformed by these amazing hues of gold and orange. It was nearly time for the sun to set, yet there was a bright glow washing in my windows. If you have ever experienced the sudden shift in how the sky looks right before a nasty line of thunderstorms rolls though the south then you will understand. The sky takes on a hint of ominous color to it, almost like a small visual glimpse into what is about to happen. The smell in the air is even a bit different. Well given the fact that over the last several days we had been experiencing some very volatile weather, the night before as I lay in my bed waiting for my bedroom window to simply be blown of there casings, I was a bit concerned as I stood in my living room and watched the world outside shift into this amazing and strange color. I stepped outside and the humidity was thick and the golden color was washing over everything. There ...