The VINE and me

John 15: 1-8 

(read 1-17, it’s good!)

“I am the vine; you are the branches. 

If you remain in me and I in you, 

you will bear much fruit; 

apart from me you can do nothing.”

Remember, Jesus said:

On that day, you will realize

that I am in my Father

and you are in Me and 

I am in you?

We are a Holy nation!

We are OF God

as we are IN Christ Jesus!

The ones who choose not to be part of this

are cut off; pruned.

and thrown into the fire.

Why? 

they can not bear fruit, much less bear Christ.

They are not worthy

They choose not to be CLEAN by the Word.

They choose the world over Jesus

Apart from our Life Line (Vine who is Jesus)

we can do nothing apart from God.

Scripture says Nothing can separate us from God’s Love

Yes, He will always love us.

But it is our choice

to love Him back.

We can not bear fruit apart from God-

I am talking about the God producing fruit-

the kind of fruit that is pleasing to the Father;

Beginning with Salvation.  Mine/Yours/theirs.

Jesus is Lord- Salvation’s gift to us

Without it; we are nothing.

Without Jesus- we are nothing, scriptures say.

So then, let’s become SOMETHING!

This is why we share with the world of God’s Good News-

the news of Salvation- to the Way, Truth and Life-

because apart from God- we have no Word, no Light, and ultimately

by bad choices- h e l l.

Remember, God doesn't send people to hell.

The one who REJECTS God sends themselves to hell.

and, Hell is REAL- whether you believe or not.

You will find out for yourself.

Let’s find out who Jesus is.  Do you want to know Him?

The bible says SEEK and you will FIND.

in this scripture it says to REMAIN.

Do you want LIFE- from the giver of life?

Remain IN Him.

Believe and Remain.

Remain then

GROW

PRODUCE FRUIT

BE CLEAN THROUGH THE WORD.

Jesus, thank you for Your Word that cleanses us of all unrighteousness.  Thank you that You are the Word.

We need to believe- to receive You Lord.  We need to LOVE You Lord.

Jesus, please Lord, let me be a tiny piece of Your complete Joy!

I want you to dance over me,

to rejoice over me,

to pour out Your LOVE over me,

and be pleased with me, Lord.

And in return, I want to walk with You

talk to You

love my Lord

with all that I have with in me.

I want you to be pleased with the fruit I have brought to You, Abba.

I want it to pleasing to Your sight.

As for now, accept my offering of love.  

Thank you that You are my JOY- my DELIGHT!

I find pleasure knowing that I pleased the Father.

Even when I am pruned- I am grateful.

A good vine has the unfruitful (sucker plants) pruned

these suck the life out of the fruit bearing vine.

I choose LIFE, Jesus.  I choose YOU. 

Please accept me, and my faith in You.

Thank you that You are the Vine, and Father, You are the husbandman

of my life.

Thank you that nothing shall snatch me out of Your hands.

Thank you that as I remain in you, I have life, Your Eternal Life!

Bless our faith today, Jesus.  

and, bless our fruit too.

Honor Your children who are called by Your name across the world.

Let us be counted worthy of our Lord.

In Jesus name I pray.

Amen Jesus!

I love you Lord

Amen.

.....JESUS, our Enabler......

Can we all say these words from our heart?

And I thank Him who enabled me,

Christ Jesus, our Lord.

Because He counted me faithful

appointing me to His service

According to the Good News

of the glory

of the Blessed God

which committed to my trust.  

1 Tim 1: 12, 11, 13

These were Apostle Paul’s words, but can easily be our words, too.

Has God in His faithfulness enabled you 

in Jesus Christ

appointing you to His service?

Being TRUSTED by God

to share His Good News?

To be integral part of the “labors few?”

Ah, Lord Jesus, give us a BIG tug in Your direction!

Help us to SEE that You trust us

in SHARING Your wonderful Good News

to the world

to the lost

to the ones who are trapped 

and snared by the enemy.

Show us that You have confidence in us!  

That You consider us faithful and trustworthy,

to go about doing the Father’s business

That we need not be afraid

because You Holy Spirit will give us all the words we need.

Help us to place our trust in You, Jesus and be confident that He who began a good work in me is faithful to complete it.  We will be confident in our obedience to You, Abba.    

Confident that because we belong to You, 

& can share freely to the ones You send to us.  

Thank you.

In Jesus name we pray.  

Amen Jesus!!!

2 Cor 6:6-8

2 Cor 6:6-8

We prove ourselves

by our purity

our understanding

our patience

our kindness,

by the Holy Spirit within us

and by our sincere love.

Psalm 119:9-16

How can a young man keep his way pure?

By guarding it according to Your Word.  

((I will keep guard))

With my whole heart, I seek You; let me not wander from Your commandments.  

((I will seek))

I have stored up your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against You.  

((I will store up God’s Words))

Blessed are You, O Lord; teach me your statutes.  

((I am taught by the Lord))

With my lips, I declare all the rules of Your mouth.  

((I speak/declare/teach))

In the way of Your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches.  

((O, I delight in You, my God))

I will meditate on Your precepts and fix my eyes on Your ways.  

((I will think about You, pondering You, and keeping my eye on you))

I will delight in Your statutes, I will not forget Your Word.  

((Your Word is my delight, Abba.  

I will never forget YOU, Thank you))

Job 28:20, 23 & 27

From where then does wisdom come?  

And where is the place of understanding?

God understands the way to it, and He knows its place.  

Then He saw it and declared it; He established it, and searched it out.  

And He said to man, “Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is Wisdom, 

and to turn away from evil is understanding.”

James 5:10

Brothers and sisters, 

as an example of patience 

in the face of suffering 

take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

Col 1:9-14

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Proverbs 25:16

Patience can persuade a prince, and soft speech can break bones.

Romans 11:22, 2 Sam 2:6

Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God:  sternness to those who fell, 

but kindness to you, provided that you continue in His kindness.  

May the Lord now show you kindness and faithfulness, and I too will show you the same favor because you have done this.  

((There is favor in kindness, Hallelujah))

James 4:5-10

Or, do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, 

“He yearns jealously over the spirit that He has made to dwell in us?”  

But He gives more grace.  

Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”  

Submit yourselves therefore unto God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  

Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.  

Cleans your hands, you sinners.  

And, Purify your hearts, you double-minded.  

Be wretched and mourn and weep.  

Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.  

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.

Romans 15:13  

Now- may  God, the source of hope, 

fill you will all joy and peace 

as you believe, 

so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit!  

Hallelujah!!!!  Hallelujah!!!

1 Pet 1:22  

Now that you have purified yourselves 

by obeying the truth 

so that you have sincere love for each other, 

love one another deeply, 

from the heart.

Amen Jesus, Abba, bless us all, in Jesus name.  Amen.

........can Y O U see?.......

Can the blind lead the blind?

Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”

Mat 15:14

I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.

Is 42:16

I love the story in John 9.

A man born blind, not of sin, but to bring glory to God as God’s works might be displayed in him.

Had his parents known they had a very special child!

Jesus had compassion- as the Lord spit on the ground and made a mud pack 

and placed it on the mans eyes, telling him, 

“Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam.”  

So the man made his way to the Pool which means Sent; and washed his face

taking extra care washing the mud out of his eyes, 

and as he finished getting out all the muddy grit

and him feeling the smooth water he then discovered that he could see!

He went home, all by himself- without aid- following the path he memorized when he was blind.

In my imagination, he was floored by the beauty before him.

All the colors, all the sounds that he once could only hear, just imagine; now he could see them!

As he was making his way home…

His neighbors had to take a double take-  

hmmm, is this our neighbor who was born blind?

Nah, others said, he just looks like him!

I can imagine the once blind man chuckling-

one- he could SEE the ones whose voices he recognized and stated: 

“I am the man!”

Then the who, what, why where questions came in!

first from his neighbors, then the Pharisees to investigate this event.

Not believing the man’s story, they brought his parents in for confirmation.

“He is of age, ask him!”  They didn’t want to put out of the synagogue.

So the Pharisees being the Pharisees said of all things:

“GIVE GLORY TO GOD, (The only smart words out of their mouth)

tell the truth, we know this man is a sinner!”

They asked the man again, how do you see?

Frustrated, he says, “I already told you, and you don’t listen! 

Why do you want to hear it again,

do you want to become His disciples too?

I can picture the red faced men who didn’t believe- say they were followers of Moses, 

and smugly say they don’t even know where “this one” came from! (talking about Jesus)

Before the man got kicked out of the synagogue, he said these wonderful words…

Now, that is remarkable! You don’t know where He comes from, yet He opened my eyes.

God knows, and He doesn’t listen to sinners, but the godly who does His will!

If this man were not from God, He could do nothing!  ((whoo eeee faith words))

Then he got the boot, right out the door.

Jesus heard they had thrown him out and when He found him he said these words to the man,  

“Do youBelieve in the Son of Man?”

“Who is He sir, so that I may believe in Him?”

Jesus said, “You have now SEEN Him, in fact, He is the one speaking to you!”

The best and favorite two words come out of this once blind mans mouth:  

I BELIEVE!!!

and He worshiped Him.

+++++++++++++++

I once was blind, but now I see

I didn’t know exactly where the faith came from, yet I believe!

Then came the Master

and opened my eyes, and shown me great and marvelous things.

Don’t be blind- don’t follow after the blind guides

follow after Me, He declares.

Give glory to where glory is due-

to my Father

to the Son of Man

and the Holy Spirit who has led you from the beginning.

I will be your guide,

I will be your Light

your Teacher.

Your rough unfamiliar paths will be made smooth

JUST BELIEVE ME.

I am the Way, the Truth and Life- 

I am your Way

your Truth

and your Life

Come on, open your eyes!

and SEE-

All I can say Lord, is thank you for the ones who can SEE You.
We love and appreciate YOU.  Thank you once again.  Amen Jesus!!!

BLIND FAITH V/S LOGICAL FAITH ((is that even faith?!))

I was troubled this morning.  My brothers in Christ were arguing about “who” killed Jesus.  Growing up Christian I thought I had the answer!  I love the book of John- I read it over and over again.  Going to Chapters 18 and 19, I pretty much got my answer of the “who.”  Then, here’s the part that troubled me.  I researched even more.  I got a perspective of a Rabbi on line- and my heart sank. His perspective of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John pretty much made the atheist smile, and point their finger with an Ah ha!  His main comment that struck me was the “differences” between Matthew, Mark, Luke’s version compared to John, my “favorite” book!  Apparently, to him, John did not compare at all to the other three, thus causing confusion.  When it came to the resurrection of Christ- forget it!  It was too much- the differences in versions cast such doubt, it made the resurrection story ludicrous!

Okay, here’s where BLIND FAITH comes in.  Either we BELIEVE in the Lord Jesus Christ, and all He is- and all He has done for us, or we don’t!  We believe in God the Father, without any fillers- whether it makes sense or not-this is called blind faith. The world’s wisdom is utter foolishness. But God is wiser than men’s wisdom, and that which it deems feeble in God is mightier than men’s might!

To the world- we are the utter fools! So be it!  I BELIEVE and this is all that matters.  Whether the story goes like this way or that way, I know this: GOD IS LOVE!   Jesus died on the cross for you and for me!  Jesus rose on the third day- that stone was rolled away- however the story is presented, in whatever version it was written, in my heart- 

I believe- Jesus rose!  This is blind faith!

The part of who killed Jesus- then and now- are these:  the ones who don’t believe.  They are the ones who killed Jesus.  The ones who rebelliously don’t believe now, who are so stiff necked, and hard headed, have the same mentality as the very same black murderous hearts who wanted Jesus dead back then.  They didn’t want to be bothered.

The Jews didn’t kill Jesus- the Romans did; physically.  The Jews played a great part in delivering Jesus to the proper place, Pilot’s hands, but didn’t dirty theirs.  The outside looked clean, but the inside was filthy dirty- full of malice and evil intent. The bible says the Jewish leaders/officials, Pharisees, high priest & Pilot were responsible for the death of Jesus.

But

Ultimately, we (every sinner) were responsible for the death of Jesus Christ.  He died for us.  He died for our sin.  This sinless Savior paid the price because there was none other- no man, none that the Heavenly Father trusted; save Jesus, the Christ, the Anointed One to pay this price.  The cost was too high.

God was responsible for that day to occur, and it happened just as planned.  For the joy Christ endured the cross.  

JOY? not ha ha joy, but Joy unspeakable and full of glory kind of Joy!  Joy to the Father, and Joy for us.  ONLY JESUS could do the task.  It took the act of men to carry it out &, it took the act of God to fulfill it.You see, Pilot thought he had power to save or deliver Jesus to them- but he didn’t,  God even used him!  God used those Roman soldiers, and God even made the tree, and had it prepared for a day such as this.  The nails, the spear, the gore, God knew all about the very day it would happen.  Jesus knew what he would endure, thus praying to the Father and  in such anguish His sweat was like blood falling to the ground.  He knew what He had to endure- and didn’t back out.  He went forward- He is a God of LOVE- and He loves YOU.

It was for our sin- so we could become SINLESS- like His Son.

It takes blind faith to receive this.  Not to be like the one who needs exponential proof- and something to examine! 

NO, JUST BELIEVE! Believe and Receive and Have- and be Blessed!  There are some who just can’t do that.

If they can’t put their hands on it, it’s not true.

Scripture says the Believer is blessed, even though we have not seen Him, and love Him we believe IN Him- and are FILLED with inexpressible and glorious joy!  Are you blessed?  Are you filled?  I am!  Because I believe!

Scripture also says if you believe you will see the glory of God!  I want to see, don’t you?

The atonement of my sin was covered by way of the blood of Jesus Christ, His stripes, and His walk all the way to Golgotha to be crucified on that tree for me.  I KILLED JESUS with my sin- Yet, He loved me right back with His LOVE.  I had to REPENT.  I had to empty myself- just as Jesus had to empty Himself-  I am no way comparing myself to Christ, or what He did, for I could never do or take on my body what He took, but I am so glad that He did- because He knew I was weak.  So when I empty myself, I ask God to please forgive me of all sin.  And to please expose the sin I do not remember that is displeasing to the Father.  Why?  I want to be pure in heart!  I want to see God, clean, and not embarrassed with sin, but washed clean- living a clean life daily- crucifying myself daily- refusing sin- and remaining in right standing with God, so I can be called the righteousness of God IN Christ Jesus. Amen?

All I can say is THANK YOU JESUS for not giving up on me. For the joy enduring the cross for sinful me. For taking those stripes and beating and all that they did to You, for me, a sinner  who doesn’t deserve Your grace, at all Jesus.

I thank you for not turning your back on me when I deserved it- or deserted me when I deserted you.  Or disgraced myself with sin.  Thank you for not walking away shaking your head.  You held your hand out- kept your eye on me, Your arrow pierced me deeply, Lord, with Love, with forgiveness, with LIFE- because I was a dead man- I was on a one way road to hell, and You didn’t want my direction to go that way.  You are my Eternal Life- and You showed me that I needed to turn my life around and Repent, and Follow You- and I am so glad I listened to You that day, and all my days Lord.  I am sorry that I was one of the ones who killed you that day, but I am glad that You are not a God who holds that against me as I repent.  O thank you Lord.  You seen me in the future and continued on.  

Lord, I lift your name on high…I’m so glad You’re in my life, I’m so glad You came to save us.

You came from heaven to earth to show the way….From the cross to the grave, my debt to pay….  from the cross to the grave from the grave to sky, Lord I lift your name on high. 

Now if anyone can praise the Lord with me, raise your hands and shout Hallelujah!!!!  

Amen Jesus

.........I AM HE..........

Is 43:14  

From this day forward I am He

no one can deliver from my power

I will act, and who can prevent it? 

(Hallelujah)

From the Ancient Days, I AM HE

From Eternity, I AM HE

Before the day even existed, I AM HE

Even from eternity to eternity, I AM HE

Also from today on, I AM HE ALONE

From the beginning, I am the same

I AM GOD- I am the One

Now, who can snatch anyone out of My hand?

No one can deliver out of My hand.

No one can deliver from My power.

When I act, who can reverse it?

No one can undo what I have done!

Who can turn it back?

Who shall let it?

And, who shall prevent it?

No one can hinder it!

I am God!  There is NONE other!

I AM HE

I AM

Lord, we take time to stop and ponder Your words of truth today.

Thank you, Heavenly Father that You are the I AM- the ONLY- the One

True God. Our Heavenly Father.  Thank you that NOTHING shall snatch

us out of your hands.  NOTHING shall prevent Your power.  NOTHING shall

stop or undo the Sending Power of Your Word, Jesus.  You are God, there

is none other!  We believe You-  We believe IN You! You are our deliverer.

And we thank You.  Greater is He that is in us that he that is in the world.

Thank you, Abba, that You are HE- this wonderful and truly good God!

This prayer we pray in Jesus name.  Amen  Amen Yeshua

.......GOD'S WORD IS NOT CHAINED......

The Lord shared with me today

Lo, I am with you, always!

Thank you, Abba.  

Today is my birthday and this is my message from my Lord.

God’s Word is not chained!

God’s word is not bound!  

It can not be hidden under a bushel

nor can the light be put out.

God’s word can not be un-Sent

nor can it fail.

God’s Word is Living

Alive!

Quick!

I never have to worry when God sends it out-

God’s Word is Powerful

Full of Action!

Effective!

All Efficient!

I never have to worry about God ever producing fruit

on my behalf!

God’s Word is sharper than the sharpest two edged sword

Cutting and penetrating

piercing and reaching unto the division,

where the soul and spirit meet

and between the joint and marrow.

To the nth degree

God knows

God’s Word exposes our innermost thoughts and desires

God’s Word judges my thoughts and intents of my heart

God’s Word exposes my thoughts and desires and attitudes of my heart

God’s Word will Accomplish all He wants

and Prosper every where He sends it

Producing glorious fruit IN me, because of His Word, Hallelujah!! \0/

(2 Tim 2:9, Heb 4:12, Is 55:11)

CHRIST, THE PERFECT SAVIOR

I am the Good Shepherd

I know my sheep, and my sheep know me.

Just as my Father knows me,

and I know Him.

The Gatekeeper opens the gate for him 

and the sheep listen

He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out 

His sheep follow Him because they know His voice

I am the Gate. 

Whoever enters through Me will be saved

They will come in and go out

and find pasture. 

I am the Good Shepherd.

The Good Shepherd lays down His life

for the sheep.

The reason the Father loves me is that

I lay down my life

only to take it up again.

No one takes it from me

I lay it down of my own accord.

I have authority to take it up again.

This command I received from my Father.  

John 9:14, 15, 3, 4, 9-11, 17-18, Jn 8:37

+++++++++++++++

Do you have room in your heart to receive the Word of God?

Do you have room?

Some people reject the perfect Savior! They can not abide His teachings, much less the scripture

you just read.  The shame of it all is they make no room for our Savior, who is also their Savior; if they allow.

The only way to SEE God is through Jesus.  He is the Way, the Gate, the True Shepherd.

We are likened to these dumb sheep.  Sheep are dumb- they need help in every way.

Well, I hate to say it, but I humbly admit, I can not reach God except through Jesus.

I am dumb- I need Jesus! and that’s okay by me!

Do you know the voice of Jesus?  

I do, and it is wonderful!  His voice is so gentle.

When God speaks, or reprimands me, He is so gentle, and even though 

I am so ashamed, yet I am so loved at the same time.

When He loves me, and kisses me with His butterfly kisses, I am on top of the world in 

blessings heaped over blessings! 

When He smiles upon me, ah… His smile radiates all the way through me.  

He heals me,

He blesses me

He honors my faith

He listens to my voice, because He knows that I belong to Him.

You see, God knows me, and I know Him too; He is my Abba.

He loves me, and I love Him too; He is my everything, my all.

I love His Son, who is God!  I love the Holy Spirit, who is God.

I love God, my creator- and He loves me! 

He loves you too!

But listen, you have to have room in your heart to receive this message.

God loves humble.   

Do you have a humble heart?  Do you have a contrite spirit?

Are you malleable so God can work in you?  

Do you have an ear ready  to hear the voice of God?

Because He loves you, and wants to talk to you.  He wants to bless you!

Now it is time to realize this- Jesus gave His life up to be crucified.

Not only that- He raised Himself up after He was dead

because of the authority that God gave to Him.

No man took His life- and killed Him.  They were used

for God’s glory.

Look at it this way, Col 1: 15-23

Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.

He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,

for through him God created everything

in the heavenly realms and on earth.

He made the things we can see

and the things we can’t see—

such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.

Everything was created through him and for him.

He existed before anything else,

and he holds all creation together.

Christ is also the head of the church,

which is his body.

He is the beginning,

supreme over all who rise from the dead.

So he is first in everything.

For God in all his fullness

was pleased to live in Christ,

and through him God reconciled

everything to himself.

He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth

by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.

This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.

But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world…..

Now, do you have room in your heart to receive?

Pray this prayer with me, and make it yours:

Jesus, we thank you right now for your LOVE.  Thank you for dying on the cross, and raising in victory for my salvation, Good Shepherd.  Help me, I am like the dumb sheep- I need guidance in everything pertaining to my life!

Let me only hear your voice, and not the voice of the enemy when he calls, for Lord, I know he will.

Let my heart have room for only You, Lord.  You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You,

all the day long.

Thank you for the authority You have in heaven and in earth over me-

I can hide IN You, my Lord, and have rest on every side.  Thank You!

Thank you that because I am Your child, I have the FULLNESS of you

I have the Fullness of your JOY, of your LOVE, and ALL of YOU, precious Jesus!

I believe YOU- I believe you are the invisible God, and the God who lives in my heart.

I believe that You are the God who blesses me with blessing heaped over blessing

because I trust You, I rely on You and lean on You.  Where else would I go to Lord,

who else would I turn? YOU are GOD, there is NONE other!

So with this we say: Thank YOU- Good Shepherd that You are the Gate 

the Way to my salvation, and preservation.  You are my protection,

my provision, and Lord, there is LOTS of room in my heart for YOU.

I love you, Lord. 

In Jesus name I pray.  Amen Jesus