I was six, and my family was spending Easter weekend in southern Indiana with my father’s family. Sunday morning we were headed to Sunday School and church. Cousin Susie told me I would LOVE Sunday School — I wasn’t so sure – I was nervous going to a strange church.
But oh — I did! To this day I still remember two things: the absolute warmth of the teacher (she hugged me right away!) and the little plant we each got to pot and take home as our very own.
She told us to put them in the sun, water them, and watch! From this little plant would spring little branches, and more leaves, because it was ALIVE, just like Jesus.
I took my plant home, and each morning jumped out of bed to see what new growth was there, my heart filled with wonder. It grew and grew and grew!
When Jesus proclaims “I AM the true vine,” so “abide in me,” He was making the point that the only way we can be alive is if we are in Him and He in us. That’s the only way we can bear fruit, because an unattached branch will never be able to do it. You can hang things on a dead branch — but the branch has not produced them.
Tim Keller often contrasts morality with true Christianity. Morality is something you do yourself — hanging things on a dead branch.
You can be moral, and not connected to the vine. You can obey the rules and be quite self-righteous about it. There can even be a certain beauty and order to your life. Keller says you are like a snowflake: perfect, beautiful, symmetrical, and FREEZING. There is no true life there.
In contrast, Christianity is organic. Because you are rooted in One who is ALIVE, The True Vine, as you abide in Him and He in you, you will bear much fruit. If you don’t bear fruit, then you are dead, and you will be cut off and thrown into the fire.
What I see in this wonderful group, and I was particularly impressed last week, is how you are abiding, how you are responding to pruning, and how you are bearing fruit, fruit that will last. I loved seeing the excitement — as in Laura-dancer — of gazing on Jesus as THE GREAT I AM and being in awe. Beholding Him for who He truly is is abiding, is connecting to the vine, and that inevitably leads to fruit.
Real fruit has enemies — “little foxes” that spoil the vines. We’ll consider that.
Catch for us the little foxes that spoil the vineyards (Song of Songs 2:15)Real fruit needs pruning — and it is our Father who tends the vine. All that He cuts is for good. But pruning is painful. (It’s the Stonecutter, or Vine Tender at work!)
To hearken back to Elizabeth’s story of learning to forgive — it was a revelation to her that true forgiveness always involves suffering. Someone has to pay the debt — it doesn’t seem fair that the perpetrator isn’t the one, but often it is the one wronged who must pay. It hurts to let someone off the hook who doesn’t deserve it. And yet that is what Christ did for us. When Elizabeth suffered in order to forgive, she was allowing God to prune, and oh — what beautiful fruit has come from that!
It always hurts to die to our idols — but then LIFE comes. There is never a death without a resurrection.
Last week was important — but oh, this week is too. It’s not as lengthy, because I so want you to keep up.
Sunday/Monday
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
2. How is the Lord wanting to prune you? Are you yielding or fighting? Explain.
3. Last week several of you commented, after listening to the sermon, about how easy it is to slip from abiding to morality. Do you think your abiding has increased during Lent? If so, do you sense any more of the fruit of His Spirit?
4. Choose a Lenten discipline for the week — this study or something else.
Monday-Wednesday: Bible Study (John 15:1-17)
5. What statement does Jesus make in John 15:1 and what are the implications? (There are several.)
PRUNING
6. Read John 15:2-10
A. Which branches, according to verses 2 and 6, are thrown into the fire? What does this mean?
B. Which branches are pruned, according to verse 2, and why?
Last week my friend Rachel said, “I am beginning to welcome trials as friends for they really do help me grow if I have the right attitude. I don’t want idols in my life. I also realize the pruning may never stop, but that’s okay.”
C. Think about the last time you may have been pruned (or you may be going through it now.) Honestly, how do you see it and why? What do you think of my friend Rachel’s comment?
D. What do you learn about abiding from verses 4-5? What are some ways you truly can abide in Jesus? (Include insights from John 15:9-10.)
E. What do you learn about how Jesus is a friend, and also, what He longs for from us as His friends? (v. 12-17) If a verse quickens you, stop there, meditate, and share your thoughts here.
7. Read Song of Songs 2:13-17 (Challenge passage — do your best) Often today Song of Songs is applied only to earthly marriage, but it must also be applied to our relationship with our heavenly bridegroom.) Hudson Taylor, founder of China Inland Mission, comments on this passage, and I’ll paraphrase him at the end. But do your best before you read his interpretation — and apply this to you and Jesus.
A. What does the bridegroom ask of the bride in verse 13? What might this cost in your life?
B. Where is she, according to verse 14, and what does he want of her? What does this mean?
C. What enemy lurks if she does not respond to him and come higher with him according to verse 15?
D. What does she tell him to do according to verse 17?
Hudson Taylor, who knew what is was to take risks (google him and find out about his life) says that this time she refuses him (later she grows and goes higher). He writes: “How many foxes there are in our lives…disobedience to the voice in small things…and the fruitfulness of the vine is sacrificed! … She dismisses him to go to the mountain alone (verse 17) Poor foolish bride! She will find that the things that once satisfied her can satisfy her no longer. (Hudson Taylor, Intimacy with Jesus, Understanding the Song of Solomon OMF)
E. Comments on Taylor?
Thursday-Friday
Choose one of these sermons — the first is 2.50 and is entitled I AM THE VINE —
Click here: http://sermons.redeemer.com/store/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_ID=17294&ParentCat=6
“Click on the link, then click the arrow next to”‘format”, then click on “MP3 $2.50”, then click “Add to cart”, then click “checkout”. Follow the rest of the directions to download onto your computer.
The second free, and is on the fruit of the Spirit and covers some of the same principles
Click here: http://sermons2.redeemer.com/sermons/how-change
8. Share your notes from the sermon
Saturday:
9. What is your take-a-way for the week and why?
472 comments
1. What stands out to you from the above and why? Wow! All of it stood out to me but what i will share is the picture of the Iceicle I feel like I am not living “true life” as it says above.. I just had to jump in on this study this week its exactly what i need!
2. How is the Lord wanting to prune you? Are you yielding or fighting? Explain. I believe one area he is pruning me is trusting him… This past week i didnt work at all for the older lady i take care of and so that hurts me finacially and not even sure when i am needed again.. they said maybe this wednesday but they are not sure. I am having a hard time that God is going to provide for me…In 3 weeks i have to pay 126 dollars to the federal government for taxes. I have done alot of babysitting but that doesnt pay 10 dollars an hour like my caregiving does.. but its better than nothing.. I have ordered some business cards so i can see if i can pick up some more babysitting and maybe even make it a little “business”. But trying to trust in the Lord on this one too and its hard all of this waiting! Sorry so long.. but i have to say i am defiently am FIGHTING!
Good morning, Meg!
You are often the first on! How I pray you’ll slow down, abide, and allow this rich passage to help you face what you must face. Love to you
Hi Dee
Can you tell me where I am going too fast.. I think that i am doing MUCH better than i was this summer i am going day by day. I would like to know so I can slow down.. But i think that I have been doing ok.
Meg, I will b praying for you.
Meg, will pray for His quickening as you study with us this week-so glad you came back on! 🙂
Thanks Rebecca how are you doing?
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
I loved the picture of the young hands holding the new growth little plants. So much potential!
It was easy to imagine those hands as those of us here, holding fast to the word of life.
Philippians 2 14-16;
Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
Regarding the morality being hanging dead things on a branch, our pastor calls it fruit stapling, it can look good from a distance. Sometimes it looks more perfect than the real thing. Man looks on the outward appearance.
The little fox’s portion made me somewhat apprehensive, as does the idea of further pruning. I feel like I have been pruned very hard, nearly cut down to nothing. I hope to abide and keep the vine as my sustenance, I am not in a hurry to be pruned hard again. I have some fear and trembling here I suppose. If I stay close and ready to hear His voice, perhaps hard pruning will be less necessary for me to be fruitful. And yet if it comes I hope to strive against what He is doing less than before.
Oh for grace to trust Him more.
Chris —
I love the application of us each on the blog holding the word of life!
After I’ve worked hard on a blog post, I admit I’m eager to see the first responses, and your response warms my heart, as you read and reflect.
Fruit stapling. That’s good.
Oh my you have been pruned. Your response is indeed one of trust.
So very glad you are here.
I feel so blessed to be your pupil Dee, to have you pay personal attention to us all is beyond measure.
WHEN I think of your story I feel like your life is in more of need of sun and rain and good soil, the pruning has been done and now the new growth is beginning. there is a time for both in our life and I am praying for lots of sunshine and gentle rains in your life, time for the new growth and healthy fruit:)
Thank you Cyndi, I love your honesty in your posts & your energy!
Hard pruning with plants is sometimes necessary to heal a sickly plant and cause it to produce fruit again. But often that is the very thing that forces growth in the plant and glorious flowers and fruit. I pray that God will spare you any more hard pruning, Chris S., but oh I can see the fruit coming and rejoice with your leaning heavily on Him. Thanks for sharing this. “If I stay close and ready to hear His voice, perhaps hard pruning will be less necessary for me to be fruitful. And yet if it comes I hope to strive against what He is doing less than before.
Oh for grace to trust Him more.” Your prayer for yourself is my prayer for myself too.
Oh Diane I love the thought in hard pruning, this really opened my eyes to pruning and why it’s needed so much.
Thank you Diane, I see you ‘leaning heavily on Him’ too!
Chris, I have re-read your post of surrender from last week a few times since–it moves me so. Oh you have been pruned SO hard, more than I can even let myself imagine–and I do pray His protection and grace be poured upon you. Your trust, your clinging to the hope you profess, it lifts my soul, truly.
You are such a wonderful encouragement to me Elizabeth, truly you are.
I am agreeing in prayer regarding your neck, I pray too that whatever God wishes you to learn from it will be a lesson quickly received, so that the trial might end as soon as possible.
Chris, your comments really come deep within your heart and I feel like you have had way too much pruning already too. I pray we can all trust him more.
Me too Joyce, I love you new photo. you are such an example to us all, inspite of your own trials, you remember all of ours and are so faithful to pray!
Chris, Oh, your life!- “The little fox’s portion made me somewhat apprehensive, as does the idea of further pruning. I feel like I have been pruned very hard, nearly cut down to nothing. I hope to abide and keep the vine as my sustenance, I am not in a hurry to be pruned hard again. I have some fear and trembling here I suppose. If I stay close and ready to hear His voice, perhaps hard pruning will be less necessary for me to be fruitful. And yet if it comes I hope to strive against what He is doing less than before.
Oh for grace to trust Him more.”
This post brought me to tears, Chris, God is being glorified so much through you.
Thank you Rebecca.
I think YOUR hunger and enthusiasm for the things of God, glorify Him continuously.
Sunday/Monday
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
All of this week looks so good—the Vine, the source of food, of nourishment, of Life—Jesus Himself is my Vine—I so feel the desperate need to stay connected to Him.
I was struck by both the image of the dead branch, and the perfect yet freezing snowflake. Both are able to present a temporal beauty—and yet, what struck me, is neither can withstand heat. When the flames of trial come, the dead branch is timber and the snowflake melts. The Lord says in Isaiah 43, the flames will not set us ablaze—if we are in Him, He will strengthen us through these trials, He will use them to refine us rather than destroy us.
Hi sweet Elizabeth:) been praying for you! Love you !
Elizabeth,
I love the application you made here with the snowflake and the dead branch, and how the verse from Isaiah confirms it – the branch will burn, and the snowflake melt, but if we are truly alive in Him, “the flames will not set us ablaze”. Thanks for sharing this.
2. How is the Lord wanting to prune you? Are you yielding or fighting? Explain.
I do feel I am being pruned. And I have both yielded and fought at times. I used to say I have a high pain tolerance but the ongoing physical pain has brought out anger and impatience in me that is, or was(!) uncharacteristic of me. My dear husband let me spew a lot out yesterday and then he just held me and the tears came, over and over I said how sorry I was—trying to blame his work schedule on my continued health struggles—I was out of line, and yet, he let me and loved me through it—knowing I am just at the end of me. So that was a moment of fighting it!
But this morning, I looked at my rose bushes I had just to the core in February, already showing growth, and the crepe myrtle we whacked so much you’d never believe they’ll come back—but they will. The whole neighborhood is full of whacked down crepe myrtles because, in theory, they will come back stronger and more beautiful. Sounds cliché, and yet we know it is Biblical. He prunes—He has to cut me to my core, and yet I know, looking at Chris, Dee, others who have been cut far deeper than I, I know He has done relatively, a very small work on me—but either way, no matter how small this trial—He will not let it be wasted. If I stay IN HIM, connected, I can have hope of life beyond it– I can trust Him for that.
I hate this that it is going on and on! I’m thankful for Jon. And for your desire to trust Him in this.
so wish you were here so i could send you to my neck guy!!!! praying you will find a PT or someone who can help!!!
I pray for Elizabeth:
Father in heaven, you know the root problem, for nothing is hidden from you. We ask you to send help, relief and rest for Elizabeth. Reveal answers through any avenue you desire. We plead the powerful blood of Jesus to cover her as you covered your servant, Job. Jesus, we pray you will keep her from evil as you prayed for your disciples in John 17:15 and Matt 6:13. We ask for protection from discouragement for you gave the promise, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” in Hebrews 13:5. Make your face to shine upon Elizabeth. We bless you Lord, as David did we forget not all of your benefits, how you forgive all our iniquities, heal all our diseases, redeem our life from destruction, and crown us with loving kindness and tender mercies. You give us good things to eat, so that our youth is renewed like the eagles, and you have pity on us. I thank You that the angels harkens to the Voice of Your Word according to Psalms 103. We ask this in the strong name of Jesus. Amen.
oh you all humble me so–thank you kim for this beautiful prayer–thank you Dee, Cyndi, Meg–all of you. If you knew how I was raised you’d know just how hard it is to even admit pain or sickness–and how hard to receive this care–thank you. My Dr wants to do an EMG nerve study on Thursday–it may be a herniated disc causing the nerve compression–I’m worried my insurance (which is horrible and we pay all) won’t cover it–and I really just want to not do anything else–just pray for healing, but I don’t want to make things worse–
Kim, I really appreciated the words in your prayer–He does see, He knows and He will lead me. I hate taking up all this attention here with this, but this is my pruning for this season–so I pray He will use it. Love you all and praying for each of you~
Elizabeth — we’ll rally and pray.
Father, how we ask for Your healing hand, for Your provision, if needed, in insurance, for Your wisdom for the doctor. We cry out for mercy for Elizabeth.
In Jesus Name
Amen…praying for you, Elizabeth
and Amen!
I read what you describe here, how your husband let you vent, and then held you while you cried, “he let me and loved me through it”. I dont know how to say it – it fills me with wonder.
I can’t stay on today but I wanted to respond to Susan–I just wanted to say it has only be in the last 2 years I have felt safe enough to get angry in front of my husband, but it is a gift and I pray, I PRAY for you to have that safe place–I am still asking for a miracle with your husband, but I just pray you will have a safe place to pour out your heart and be loved through it. We all love you here so much, Susan-
God is wanting to take that pride away….cut it off that vine and burn it. My NEED to be RIGHTER then everyone, to be the RIGHTEST leads to discontent on every level. it makes me want to always be better then everyone else but also makes me feel like a failure. the comparison trap has me hard in its grips and I am becoming more and more aware of just how insidius it is….those foxes that come and steal the fruit of my abiding come to me in in the form of comparing myself to others.
one main way I see this come out is in homeschooling. i have been really tired, not getting out of bed till 7:30 or 8. this makes me feel like a horrable homeschooler….why, because supper mom friends get up @5 and run 6 miles before im crawling out of bed!! we get all our work done, but I dont want others to think Im lazy. my kids have been my teachers in this. we have our quiet time together and THEY teach ME about abiding in each others presence/in HIS presence instead of just “getting it done and going to the next thing”
this is where HE is trying to take me I think, but im afraid i am kicking and screaming….still believing in my heart that if i let myself and my kids sleep in im being a bad mom/homeschooler. i put so much pressure on myself, and I feel like its a GoOD thing, it makes me better, but im beginning to see that perhaps “better” is not where HE wants me right now. perhaps he just wants me to be content…..I can write that but im not sure I can really BELIEVE that.
so my lenten thing for this week is to try to BELIEVE that I do not have to be better then everyone else…….that sounds horrable, but thats where Im at, where i have always been at. sooooo this is the baby step im choosing to take this week……NO COMPARING MYSELF TO SUPER MOMS!
Your super mom story reminds me of our pastor’s message this morning. He shared how he and his wife tried homeschooling, Christian school and public school all in an effort to make others happy before realizing what they needed to do was get on their knees before God and ask Him what He wanted for their family. Then peace came and confidence that they were following His lead.
I pray you will ask Him about your situation and then have the confidence to do as you are led. You may need a more relaxed morning plan than others.
Glad you’re here, I missed you last week. 🙂
Always glad to see you here Cyndi.
No more comparing to super moms — 🙂 Good plan.
Cyndi, I admire you so much. You open yourself up and put yourseld down, but I think you ARE a super mom! You have five kids and homeschooling and one child is special. I only have one special child and have trouble…how do you do it all? Kim is right, tho…give it to God and he will help you. (I would almost bet, that those other super mom’s are jealous of you!)
Cyndi, I was in the same trap that you are in, I beat myself up all the time about how lacking I was in my homeschooling compared to others (my husband had some pretty firm ideas about how things should run and that didn’t help either.) Since I was working first part time 6PM to 2:30AM then full time 3PM to 11:30PM I had to get everything done before work every day. It took me a while to discover that going without sleep didn’t help things to run smoother, it was counterproductive. When I started getting school underway at 9 and always did devotions first, instead of after all of the work was done, things were a lot better. All of my sons have graduated and scored high in their college placement exams. Two are going into ministry. And believe me, God used the most angry, unscheduled and demanding mother that he could find to work with (me)! 🙂
Elizabeth,
Loved this: “The whole neighborhood is full of whacked down crepe myrtles because, in theory, they will come back stronger and more beautiful. Sounds cliché, and yet we know it is Biblical.”
I see this in you as He is pruning you. You are growing more beautiful- your strength is His beautiful garment on you. (Isaiah 52) 🙂
Can I just say I am not only gleaning from the post, but also from everyone who has commented so far!!! OH MY! I think on Question 1. God wants me to be silent and just glean from you all-man, there is such rich pondering going on.
Wow:
God spoke to Meg: “what i will share is the picture of the Iceicle I feel like I am not living “true life” as it says above..”
I loved all of Chris’ post and commented above already, but I also liked this:
“I loved the picture of the young hands holding the new growth little plants. So much potential! It was easy to imagine those hands as those of us here, holding fast to the word of life.”
Cyndi commenting on Chris’ post: “WHEN I think of your story I feel like your life is in more of need of sun and rain and good soil, the pruning has been done and now the new growth is beginning…”:) —-Cyndi, SO TRUE! Isn’t it amazing to see the explosion of growth in Chris? She is what Elizabeth called the one who is abiding in Him-she isn’t destroyed-but is blooming beauty.
Diane’s insightful encouragement to Chris: “Hard pruning with plants is sometimes necessary to heal a sickly plant and cause it to produce fruit again. But often that is the very thing that forces growth in the plant and glorious flowers and fruit.(LOVED THAT PART). I pray that God will spare you any more hard pruning, Chris S., but oh I can see the fruit coming and rejoice with your leaning heavily on Him.”
This gem from Elizabeth: “I was struck by both the image of the dead branch, and the perfect yet freezing snowflake. Both are able to present a temporal beauty—and yet, what struck me, is neither can withstand heat. When the flames of trial come, the dead branch is timber and the snowflake melts. The Lord says in Isaiah 43, the flames will not set us ablaze—if we are in Him, He will strengthen us through these trials, He will use them to refine us rather than destroy us.”
Finally, this courageous honesty by Cyndi who admits her struggle with pride, yet her desire to yield to God’s pruning her: “those foxes that come and steal the fruit of my abiding come to me in in the form of comparing myself to others.”
AND THIS IS JUST THE FIRST DAY!! 🙂
You are such an encouragement Rebecca–much love to you! And I agree with all these you have pointed out of others’ posts–it give me such hope to see such fruit blooming around me here–the joy from suffering is so beautiful.
“it gives me such hope to see such fruit blooming around me here–the joy from suffering is so beautiful”.
Loved this Elizabeth:)
yes rebecca there is so much to take in already from our wonderful sisters! thanks for the encouraging words, your words bring life to this pruned twig:)
Love this too, Cyndi! “your words bring life to this pruned twig” 🙂
Cyndi, 😉
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
I don’t want to be the dead branch with things hanging from it, beautiful from a distance but DEAD.
2. How is the Lord wanting to prune you? Are you yielding or fighting? Explain.
I know the Lord is pruning me. I am squirming and fighting against the pruning shears, longing for the happier days of the past. Some days I feel I am making progress in submitting to God, but many days I fear I am not. I have far to go in submitting to God. This week, I am so aware of my glaring flaws. Rather than rejoice in what I have, I pout over what I do not have. I still have control issues, approval issues, and pride issues. I tend to want MY way, and get angry when I don’t get it. I can be very critical and also very self-critical. Not that I say most of what I am thinking aloud, but if people could read my mind they would sometimes be very hurt. I hear what is in my head and am very ashamed.
Diane — I have seen so much beauty and growth in you. All these fresh little green edges, like on an evergreen from Canada! Would love for you to see that beauty too.
Diane, I can identify so much with this comment “I am squirming and fighting against the pruning shears, longing for the happier days of the past”.
Also, we are all flawed and have thoughts go through our heads that we are ashamed of. We are human! Thank God for his grace. I learn so much from you…you are great!
Diane,
I think your honesty is beautiful. I just finished listening to Keller’s sermon on How to Find the Way, and he talks about people on the broad path and the narrow path. He said, “A proud person who knows he or she is proud is not all that proud, but a proud person who doesn’t know he or she is proud is incredibly proud.”
Because you are alive in Christ, you see the pride, the issues of control, or approval. I think that is encourageing and hopeful – you have to see the problem to even admit it and then to let God deal with it.
Good comments from everyone so far!
Sunday/Monday
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
I love the sweet little hands holding out their plants – reminds me of the sisterhood here – all with our plants willing to be pruned and wanting maturity – to see what we can become as we trust the Vine-dresser.
2. How is the Lord wanting to prune you? Are you yielding or fighting? Explain.
My little fox’s name is busyness and he wants to keep me from companionship with the one who can bring fruit to the vine. Last week was SO busy and then I didn’t lose any weight at my weekly weigh-in and today as we finished lunch I realized I was full but took another couple of bites anyway (maybe I was a little upset at not having lost this week?). After reading the lesson I thought about why I chose food over Him and realized I wasn’t as attached to Him over last week and as a result I was weak and fell. The satisfaction of a few bites was very short term. How much more satisfying His favor would have been long-term.
So glad for the timely lesson and a new week to start fresh with a repentant heart.
I had an insight about food that has been helping me this week — that it may be, for me, more a control than a comfort idol, because I resist anyone telling me what I can or cannot eat…it was a lightbulb for me and has helped me turn the reins over to the Spirit this week —
Okay, I like this b/c I believe I no longer turn to food for comfort -I truly have had victory since last summer (?) in this area. BUT, I see exactly what you are saying, If I don’t want to be told I am nearing fullness because a control idol is in operation then that is another beast altogether. Right? Yes, this is big. Now I must recognize a new enemy at the door but He can empower me to overcome this as well. Any suggestions for turning over the reigns, like you said?
I like that insight..I can see myself using it as a controll idol over a comfort idol, too!
Seeing the rebellion in me is helping me — for I do want Him to be the One in control — I know that it isn’t healthy for me to eat more than a light supper at night — and then stop — and so since He has shown me that — I want Him to be in control. I don’t know — but it’s helping me! But this is new — so I don’t want be premature in saying this is lasting fruit — but it is helping me.
Oh Kim, I so have the same problem with food and if I goof up, like I usually do, I tend to just give up. I want so much to just desire God and nothing or nobody else!
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
Dee, I love it when you use an example of your own life for us to better understand what your talking about. I liked you remembering when you were only 6 yrs. and going to sunday school and you loved the warmth of the teacher and the little plant to watch it grow!
Kim,
There’s a lot of wisdom in what you said here, that “I wasn’t as attached to Him over last week and as a result I was weak and fell.” Anything that keeps us from spending time with Jesus will weaken us, it is so true!
Kim as i read what you were saying about chosing food because you were not as attached to HIM i realized that I compare more when I am not abiding as I should….good insight sister!
Yes, we must be abiding so we get His strength to power our day. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcEvUjkskoI
In my weakness He is there to let me know…His strength is perfect when our strength is gone.
Great song Kim, thanks for posting.
I am struck by the topic and a book I read as a baby Christian in the mid to late 1970s. Abide in Christ, by Andrew Murray, explores in depth the John 15:1-12 passage, the absolute necessity of remaining attached to the Vine, our Lord Jesus Christ, and of bearing fruit that remains, lest we be cast forth as a branch and wither and be ultimately gathered and burned.
The pruning hurts, but at least our core remains attached to the life-giving Vine. If we can learn from our trials and the pruning, we become stronger and better able to face the trials that will come in the future. We Christians are not exempt. In the world, we shall have tribulation. But Praise be to the Lord, Christ Jesus, who has overcome the world.
The picture that struck me, in its beauty even, was the fox among the vines. Sin can be alluring and captivating. Our testimony, our fruit, can be ruined by sin lurking in the shadows of our lives. My self-righteousness (when Christ alone is righteous)is a fox. My pride (when such is repugnant to God, the only One of Whom I should boast)is a fox, and other vices too numerous to mention, are my foxes. May the many foxes be eradicated, that the fruit be utilized to bring joy and nourishment to others.
Welcome Chris G. Abide in Christ is a wonderful suggestion for this week. That would be good Lenten reading. Good thoughts, too.
So glad to have you!
Welcome Chris G.! I love Andrew Murray and may even have this book in my Kindle. YES! to your final statement.
Welcome to you Chris G. Glad to have you join the bloggers.
Welcome Chris! I love this “The pruning hurts, but at least our core remains attached to the life-giving Vine. If we can learn from our trials and the pruning, we become stronger and better able to face the trials that will come in the future.”
Wow, that says it all! Thanks:)
Welcome from one Chris to another!
Welcome, Chris G.!
I was not able to finish last weeks lesson because I was out of town and could not get ipod to work for sermon. Going back now to listen and catch up. This week looks really good.
So glad to hear from you Meg, and Cyndi too.
1. There is so much there but the thing that absolutely stands over all of it is the love that drew you Dee for that same love is what drew me. So if I do not love as He loves, how can I possibly expect to bear fruit for the kingdom? People want love and that need drives so much of what is wrong in this world but it will also draw them to Christ if they see it in His people.
That’s good Anne. Loving people into the Kingdom.
I am in shock at how satan works…..even though i should not be, he is the master lier and all…. I posted part of what i wrote above on facebook and..I am not kidding….almost every mom that I have compared myself to and come up lacking posted that SHE compared HERSELF to ME and felt like THEY did not measure up!! God has used this day to smash a lie that I have believed for years into thousands of pieces!!! THANK YOU JESUS!
Hmmmm. I suspected as much. Wow, the ol’ devil wants us to run in circles so we’re too tired to run the race before us. Glad for this breakthrough, dear Cyndi!
love you dear Kim:) and by the way, my marriage just keeps getting better and better…..a true miracle! thank you so much for your prayers! Luke (my 19 yr old) just said to me the other day “i forgot you guys used to fight” when i was giving him a little motherly advice about his betrothed, who is lots like me and he is lots like his dad:)
Wonderful! Great marriage is one of the best gifts we can give our children. One time my Brad ran up to me and hugged my legs and said, “Thank you momma… for loving dad!” Both my husband and I got teary eyed. Never figured out what brought that on but it makes us smile every time we think of it.
Loved that , Kim!
Wow Cyndi this is so the moving of God! Thank you Lord for the break through for all of these ladies.
Cyndi, I hate to say I TOLD YOU SO…but read my comment above that I wrote! Thank you Lord for smashing the lie Cyndi has believed for years!!
🙂
I love this Cyndi! and your praise about your marriage too!
I would love to join your Bible study group. I have been a Christian for 46 years, (wow, that makes me feel old!). I have been through a real slump lately. My friend Rebecca encouraged me to join this group, and when I came to the this site and read the latest post, I knew I needed to join in.
Thank you for your consideration.
Mary
WELCOME MARY!!!! So glad to have you with us!
Ladies, I used to work with Mary-for many years at a bank. We just connected on F.B. and I invited her here. She is a major ray of sunshine-such a wonderful woman to be around-always smiling. I just loved being around her at work. 🙂
oh welcome dear Mary! We are so thankful you are here!
Mary welcome, it’s so nice to have more encouragement among all the other ladies here who lift me up.
Happy to have you, Mary. 🙂
Welcome Mary, jump right in. Many of us copy and paste the study questions in Word, then cut and paste our answers here. Dont worry about reading every single comment if it is too much. Glad you are here.
Welcome, Mary. Glad Rebecca encouraged you to join 🙂
We’d love to have you, Mary. Jump in!
Dee
Welcome Mary! You will be loved and prayed for here!
Welcome, Mary!
Welcome, Mary!
Sunday/Monday
1. What stands out to you from the above and why? – For me this weeks introduction was a WOW week. Things that I knew but really didn’t connect until today. The picture of the little hands and young new plant, all eager to grow closer to God and so willing to trust Him. The dead branches with cute little decorations on them and how true too that this will be our life if we don’t abide in Christ and Him us. Our lives will become ashes, and our hearts empty the longer we distance ourselves from Christ. The cold looking icicle that to me represents my heart when I fight the learning lesson that God is trying to teach me thru the pruning lesson. The picture of the grapes on the vine are so fresh looking and ready to continue to ripen but beneath you see the fox/devil just waiting for that opening where we loosen ourselves from the vine, thinking we can do it on our own, he’s ready to ponce and try to fill our minds with his useless nonsense. I know I need pruning, in more than one area, and I’m trying to be open to that pruning. I need to be pruned in the area of accepting who my husband is and not try to compare him to others or expect him to do things the way I’m used to doing them. I need pruning in the area of tiredness, I need to fight this and not let my non working thyroid win.
Oh Lord I ask that you cut these dead branches from my life, help me Lord to fight, to find the strength from you that I need to conquer these areas and to burn them from my life, never again to grow. Lord I ask that in these areas that are burned away you bring new life to fill the void on the branch. In Jesus name I pray.
Thank you, Julie, can I borrow your prayer for me?
2. How is the Lord wanting to prune you? Are you yielding or fighting? I think I’m both yielding and fighting the awful pruning. I have so much pruning to do yet, and want to learn everything the Lord is trying to teach me, but I want to fight the pain of it coming back, too.
Of course you can Joyce anytime.
I want to save this post from you, Julie. It warms my heart so.
By all means Dee. I just want to thank you for the time you take to help us grow. I can’t imagine the time it takes but you diligently follow Gods calling on you life and it really is doing a work in me.
Amen!
Amen from me too, I can relate Julie to your statement about Satan ‘filling our minds with useless nonsense’.
2. How is the Lord wanting to prune you? Are you yielding or fighting? Explain. – I need the Lord to reach down and prune me in the area of frustration. It seems the older I get the less tolerant of people I have become. I know that I need to realize that everyone is different and may not do things like I do or in the time frame I would do them in. This is something I really need to work on and with the Lords help I known can overcome it. I think when I first see it I tend to get frustrated but than I hear the voice of the Lord telling me does it really matter how long this or that is taking to get done, so then I start to not care so to speak, that a simple project takes all week.
5. that even though Jesus is God He places Himself under the Fathers authority.
and that all the branches (us) and fruit (our deeds) ultimately come from Him (Jesus) we are all growing off of HIM.
6. branches that bear no fruit and that willingly remove themselves from the vine (Jesus)get thrown into the fire because that is all dead is good for….fire.
the pruning seems really difficult until you look at why you are being pruned, you have been found fruit bearing!
being the mom of any kids is very pruning but being the mom of 5, 4 with special need of some kind can feel like your being chopped to death:) I feel like God uses every day to remind me that He loves me to much to let me stay this selfish, proud, whiny little girl and so out come the pruning shears…..cuttin at those control freek, needy, selfish branches and the tender new growth seeks the vine for the nurishment and protection they need, for when the old growth is gone and the tenderness is exposed the need for the VINE becomes very very urgent…..desperate!
Four special ones, Cyndi. I hope the new vines grow and reach up and put their vines around you to help hold you up and give you hugs!
its not like with your sweet Kendra joyce! they are not as much work! one has several learning disabilities so that she did not read until she was 11 and at 14 we are trying to get her out of 7th grade:), Emma is missing half of one side of her paranium from an infected rectal absess she has when she was a newborn in china and deals with pain and lots of “skid marks” 🙂 Abby has ciliac and Lily is the most obvious with the arthrogryposis in her arms so that she cant bend her elboes and her wrists are bent in all the time and she was sexually abused by the other kids in china, girls.
I do covet your prayers:) and yes you did “tell me so” but to be honest the ones i REALLY compare myself to are the ones who would not be caught dead on facebook:) LOL
You still have your hands very full with each one’s problems. Love and prayers:)
So man I have to tell you I am sitting outside on my balcony of our hotel (There are only 8 in the whole place!) and I get to view the most beautiful sight! I see a radiant sliver of the moon, directly above it is Venus. It honestly looks like the moon is hanging by a string from Venus. Magnificent! Then to the left of it is Jupiter. A beautifully strange line up but bright enough to see. I feel the awe of God and the wooing at the same time!! I probably would have missed this if I was not living here for this period of time. I love this quiet space of a balcony (again which is a blessing because there are only 8 rooms with them.) It is my special place to get alone with God while living out of the hotel. Still waiting to hear how long we will be out of our home before they make it safe again. But I am strangely at peace about it. It reminds me too how simply life really should be. Absolutely nothing at home am I missing. I really need to simplify more when we are back. Honestly we are blessed beyond measure!
1- I really liked this, “Tim Keller often contrasts morality with true Christianity. Morality is something you do yourself — hanging things on a dead branch.” AND I loved hearing a bit more of how God was wooing you even at that young age.
2. How is the Lord wanting to prune you? Are you yielding or fighting? Explain. Well, I suppose through this fire process we are being purged of many things. I can see it in all of us. Things being exposed. For me I think it is just surrendering control and resting in His capable arms. I am yielding and thanking HIM for HIS grace in this!
3. Last week several of you commented, after listening to the sermon, about how easy it is to slip from abiding to morality. Do you think your abiding has increased during Lent? If so, do you sense any more of the fruit of His Spirit? Probably because of the intentional focus on HIM. Yet more and more I am having trouble reporting the increase of fruit in me. I am just doing what He calls me to do and if it reflects good fruit then all praise and glory to HIM!
4. Choose a Lenten discipline for the week — this study or something else. I will be working on this study. I want to try to be a bright light here. Most people in the hotel are not from Chattanooga. So maybe in our example we can reflect HIM well as we make intentional effort to talk and love people. Also that my love will increase and joy in mothering in this time. Tight quarters brings out the worse in us so I am praying it will be fruitful instead. Opportunity to confess and grow together.
Angela, I love the vibes of your peaceful feeling’s you share here. I think you just had a pruning with your house fire and your enjoying the fruits of it now!
Angela, if you follow Jupiter and Venus’ arc across the sky (Turn and face the other direction) you will also see mars. It is red. Love astronomy! How cool for you!
Love this post — your description from your balcony! So glad for you, dear Angela. So glad to have you here.
Wow, Angela – the attitude you are maintaining through this trial is amazing!
3. Last week several of you commented, after listening to the sermon, about how easy it is to slip from abiding to morality. Do you think your abiding has increased during Lent? If so, do you sense any more of the fruit of His Spirit? –
Today at church we had a special speaker Knute Larson, and he was teaching from Titus 2:1-10 and I think it fits in here….When you confess you are a Christian but your life does not show it, it makes the Word of God junky and not believable. The church is more powerful when the parking lot is empty and you are in the outside world living your life as the doctrine says. Servants – when you serve those in need you are serving Jesus. We need to make the doctrine sound good. When we live out love, help someone in need you are making the doctrine of God our Savior attractive. Everyone is most valuable when we model the doctrine of God in our lives. We can live our lives as we have been forgiven. It’s not enough to live for your self. The goal of life is to reflect Gods glory.
For me just doing this bible study is making me abide more, and want to live a more Godly life, along with Lent and knowing what happened to Jesus the only one who did not sin, but yet died for all of us, is helping me to remember why I need to have a strong relationship with Him.
NO WAY, JULIE! Knute Larson was the pastor of the church I attended for a number of years, after I came out of the Catholic church! I loved his preaching!
Susan how funny, but he was so good, I told my husband I could sit under his teaching.
D. remain, abide, obey, love, be loved by me….Jesus says just keep on obeying, just keep on placing yourself under my love, I am the only one who can produce fruit in your life, YOU CAN NOT MAKE FRUIT ON YOUR OWN, NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU TRY so stop beating yourself up for not being able to make fruit, you were never meant to, I AM THE FRUIT MAKER, you just stay attached to me and I will make fruit through you…..BUT YOU WILL NEVER MAKE FRUIT! obey me, love others and I will produce fruit. I have to believe that the HOLY SPIRIT has got to be a huge part of this, HE is the one who lives inside of us HE is our sap. the life blood that curses through us from the vine to the branch with amazing power.
how do we do that? prayer, reading the word, surrendering, obeying, loving, surrendering, hold everything with an open hand…..did i say surrendering????
im noticing that trying harder, pushing myself to exaustion, being the best, where not in that list….hmmmmmm
This is good Cyndi, I love the sap picture you gave.
thanks Julie!
E. I keep reading vs. 11 over and over agian….”I have told you this so that MY JOY may be in you and that YOUR JOY may be COMPLETE”. Is this why I find joy so elusive? is this the secret, to abide instead of strive? I know this in my HEAD but as I read this vs. over and over I realize that to obey and love….thats all he asks and unless I can REALLY believe with all my heart that that is ALL he requires of me I CAN NOT HAVE TRUE JOY!
could it really be this simple? to abide instead of strive? simple, but not easy! tears stream down my face as i feel this weight lifted once again and I wonder how many times am I going to have to learn the same lessons over and over again….HE LOVES ME HE LOVES ME HE LOVES ME. and I love HIM and that is enough!
Oh Cyndi this is WONDERFUL! To abide instead of strive rings true to me as I read your words! What joy!
Love this, Cyndi! “He loves me…and I love Him and that is enough!”
Several years ago i attended a workshop on bitterness. The whole event I was thinking about a woman I wished had come so that she could receive help with her bitterness, I did not realize that surgery would be performed in my life. I had a rocky relationship with my parents and sister. I had always felt like I was not good enough for my parents, keep in mind my dad is a pastor. My sister was the good one, the one who went to christian college, short term missionary. I had married a non-christian. I had been a christian since I was 5, but never had that real thriving relationship with Jesus. After the conference was over the holy spirit caused me to ask myself some questions like why had I married a non-christian, and I was able to trace it all the way back to a break down in communication with my parents as a young child. Never feeling good enough, never feeling loved. I do not think it was true but satan knows how to destroy a life through inferiority and doubt. I called my parents and asked for forgiveness and then my sister too. The surgery was complete, what a reward. Talk about spiritual revival. Never any signs of bitterness since. I truly love my sister and we have a wonderful relationship and my parents told me they had sensed the problem but never knew what to do about it.
AS to the pruning since lent: I have had vasculitis in my leg for the past two weeks, very painful and I have spent 2 weeks with my leg elevated, sitting on my behind. I have been able to spend countless hours reading this bible study and all your comments and the scripture and praying, with no guilt whatsoever. Before this recent bout with vasculitis I had become lazy in my spiritual life and was not spending much time in the word or praying, minimal effort per week. Did God allow this vasculitis so that I would have the time to search for him? and gave me the desire to seek him (nothing like a problem to stir up desire). I still am not there but I am hungry, I am thirsty, I am listening. Tomorrow I go the DR to see if I am able to return to work, my leg is some better but not totally there yet, I am not in as much pain when I get up, although I am having some swelling and redness when I sit or stand for a while. I will also be taking a friend who is not a christian with me tomorrow. She has been more open to spiritual things lately, I am praying that there will be an opening and God will give me the right words.
Marjorie, I’m so thankful you healed the wounds with your family and I’ll be praying for your leg to get better and better. So glad you have had more spirutal time with the Lord, through this difficult time. Praying for you.
Marjorie, I am so sorry to hear of the pain, but so happy it has brought you peace with God here on our study. I pray your healing is quick and you find just the right niche of time to stay connected on the blog with us. It is a blessing to be here 🙂
Wonderful testimony with your sister.
Suffering is always a mystery — yet He can always bring good from it, as He is in your life. Thanks so much for sharing.
Marjorie, I am praying the same prayer for you as I prayed for Elizabeth last evening.
Lord Jesus we lift Marjorie’s friend to you as they go to the doctor today. We ask for the opportunity for Marjorie to speak your love to this woman. Open her heart, Lord. Give her ears to hear and eyes to see you. Give Marjorie say just what you would have her say. Thank you, Jesus. Amen
This is rich Marjorie, praise God for opening your eyes and for reconciliation.
“Satan knows how to destroy a life through inferiority and doubt” – wow. Thankful for the spiritual revival you experienced, and the restored relationships with your family. Hope your leg gets better, too!
I think I am having a idol problem using the Gravatar (these little square pictures!) too much 🙂
i love them:) dont stop!
Sunday/Monday
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
I think what stands out at first is the visit to the friends church. I also remember visiting a friends church when I was in grade school. I always went to church anyway, but it was fun to go to another church. I always remember the feeling of being loved in any church I visited. That particular day the kids were learning a Bible verse. John 3:16. I learned the verse too. We never really were pushed to memorize scripture at my church. I’ll never forget this verse. God loves me. Having three sons myself now, I can’t imagine giving one up like God gave Jesus to us.
It reminds me of the sermon our pastor gave yesterday. He read from 1 Peter 3:18 about Noah and baptism. He said something profound; that God was so upset with the people for destroying all His beauty, everything that was perfect, but Noah was a faithful servant through it all. God saved Noah. Sometimes I look at my “perfect” children, that I created, and see they are broken. I feel the same way God must have felt. We have a connection. I can’t save my kids, but I can be faithful. Maybe He will see that and save them for me.
2. How is the Lord wanting to prune you? Are you yielding or fighting? Explain.
I was also thinking about the being moral and self righteous. I think I may act that way sometimes. It is hard for me to understand how to be moral but not uphold the morals. I am confused. Is this meaning that I shouldn’t expect it of others, just myself? I don’t think I am cold or unfeeling though. Here’s an example: I don’t think smoking or tattoos are habits I would want for myself or for my children. Not a big fan of either. Wouldn’t you know my 21 year old son continues to get tattoos over and over again. It breaks my heart and I even have trouble looking at him sometimes. I let him know how disappointed I am and how I took such good care of him as a child, and I just can’t believe he did this to himself. Do you mean that I shouldn’t feel that way about tattoos? Even though I believe that he has low morals by getting the tattoos, I should just ignore and not tell him how I feel? I also feel that way about smoking. My daughter thinks it’s ok to smoke. I hope it’s just a phase and she will stop when she realizes how disgusting she smells. She has no money so I guess she just bums cigarettes from her friend and her friends’ mom (!). Again, is it wrong for me to hold her to a higher standard? Just because it’s my moral, should I not expect it of her too?
Is God wanting me to stop judging others because they have different standards than I do? Maybe this is His pruning? These are my kids though. I feel I have an interest in them. I really don’t care if others get tattoos or smoke, although I don’t believe those are good qualities about a person, I just don’t want it for my own kids.
it is so hard to watch your kids hurt themselves! I wonder if its not the behaviour as much as the heart issue that is behind it that is breaking your heart….I make this mistake all the time! yelling about lowcut shirts and high skirts, rolled eyes (my kids are younger:)) but when i look more at thier hearts and less at thier behaviour it helps me pray better and respond instead of react…..does that make sence? I dont have all the answers and Im afraid this looks like I think I do, but I really felt like God wanted me to share that with you. and that the only heart you CAN change is your own, their morality is not under your control, only yours is and you can not abide for them, only for you.
i have almost deleated this 5 times, I dont want to come accross as a know it all, but for some reason im posting it. I hope it is helpful and not hurtful!!!!!
Just to clarify — there is nothing wrong with morals. The point Keller was making that abiding in Christ leads to good character — and good character does produce good morals. But there are many who do morality without abiding — keeping the rules for their identity in in how good they can be — but it isn’t true fruit of the Spirit — does that make sense?
Laura-Dancer, I try to look less at the behavior and more at the heart with great focus on praying for their hearts. I have a good book called Get Outta My Face by Rick Horne that focuses on the heart of teens and looks for the part of them that desires good and builds on that. I think that God has instilled in teens a desire for truth and justice that is amazing. I remember having it as a teen and have seen glimpses of it in both of my sons.
2. How is the Lord wanting to prune you? Are you yielding or fighting? Explain.
With me my near sin is selfishness brought on by my desire for comfort-last week I thought it was control, but it is comfort. I used to get so tired I would have to be in bed by 9:00-no later-I have a 25 year plus history of rigid schedules-order brings comfort to me-but to the extent where I am prone to sacrifice God’s prompting to love and serve others at the altar of comfort.
God gave me four boys and two on the Autism spectrum so extreme order kind of went out the window a long time ago-My van is a trash can-and it is hard to keep up with the boys. He is pruning me and it is painful. He is helping me yield sooner than I used to.
I thought Approval was such a strong hold, but He really did free from Approval-I don’t really hold in high esteem what others think anymore because I am boldly confident of His approval-He is my life, they aren’t-what they think isn’t ultimate-HE IS-so I can rest in the honor of who I am in Him and what He has in store for me. I know it can rear it’s ugly head, but I think comfort has always been my primary one.
Love this Rebecca, ‘He is my life, they aren’t’. Rejoicing with you in this freedom.
I do feel like such a whiny baby compared to Bonhoeffer, Taylor and others who knew what it meant to truly forsake comfort and be abandoned to Christ. Yet I know God wants me to be like these people and desires I abandon myself to Him-I am confident He will grow me in this though-I just desire to yield quicker-as soon as He reveals another lie layer I need to yield..I did yield last night at the store-I never go to the store after dinner! Baby steps. 🙂
🙂
5. What statement does Jesus make in John 15:1 and what are the implications? (There are several.)
Pondering this os very interesting. Essentially Jesus is the vine, the one that gives life the one we need to be connected to or abided in to be alive d capable of bearing fruit, yet the Father is the gardener or vinedresser so He works in our lives to prune and shape like the potter. I see this as only God can make real and lasting change in us as He works in us. He is an attentive and good garndener and prunes and works in His proper timing.
3. Last week several of you commented, after listening to the sermon, about how easy it is to slip from abiding to morality. Do you think your abiding has increased during Lent? If so, do you sense any more of the fruit of His Spirit?
I do feel more abiding and I believe fully it is our study. We are blessed here, the community we share is a gift. I feel encouraged in my walk and inspired by the growth around me. I love Dee’s Spirit-led teaching. I have yet to pull out all my Easter-y crafts (Resurrection eggs, etc..) and yet I feel His Spirit just constant—hard to articulate, but I am thankful.
4. Choose a Lenten discipline for the week — this study or something else.
I really want to put off complaining, even when it feels legitimate, or from true fatigue, this week and embrace the joy—the hope I have in Him.
Elizabeth I am holding you up in prayer for your nerve pain and insurance and thursday…just wanted you to know that and how much you are loved here:)
A. arise and come with ME…this costs me my comfort, he very rearly wants to take me to a place that is comfortable. but I also think HE wants to take me to a point of JOY, a place where only HE can take me and I can only go by following HIM completely…
B. Hiding, wondering that HE could really want HER? and He wants to hear her, to see her, he does not want her to giver her anything or do anything for him at this point….HE just wants to be with her, ABIDE with her.
C. the foxes will spoil the Joy.
D. she told him not now, later….she claims him as hers but then is not ready for him…hmmmm
E. if we are not faithful, if we do not abide, in the small things the fruit will not grow. it will be eaten by the foxes. I believe that it is not in the big things that we lose sight of God, but in the small mundane things of life, we dont let Him be a part of it and we lose the fruit, the joy, the blessing..
in my life its so true, it was easy for be to obey and adopt special needs girls, to teach every wed. and sunday at church, thats the easy stuff, the hard stuff is not letting the mess in my kitchen, or a failed test, or a rolled eye, steal my joy, make me forget that He is HERE too, here in the little, here in the hard, here in the messy and the mundane, HE is here, He wants my little, my mess…..its I that sends HIM away.
How is the Lord wanting to prune you? Are you yielding or fighting? Explain.
A great many things have already fallen off; as a result I am much more submitted to my husband’s leadership I allow him to decide without the fear and anxiety I used to feel when we disagreed. The orderliness of our home used to mean far too much to me, I still like order, but it doesn’t take precedence over people anymore. I no longer feel the great anxiety I used to when I felt I was not doing just what someone else would want me to do. I can decide & as long as it isn’t a sinful choice, if someone else isn’t 100% happy, that’s okay.
My pride has been the biggest thing to feel severed. I used to have all kinds of pride, my whole family, my parents, my siblings, we are all somewhat cynical and superior in our thinking. I did a study years ago when I realized this was my way of thinking and that it was sinful to feel superior to others. I had continued in this sort of pride spiritually though, sort of inwardly berating those who only prayed for safe travels & successful surgeries, those whose pride was in the traditions of their denominations, I felt superior to many. I have been brought low, I know now any spiritual understanding I do have is a gift from God, I should not make my knowledge or understanding (which is in fact so much smaller than I had imagined it to be) my boast, but Christ. I feel concern now for those who seem to be trusting in the wrong things, and more certain that if they are really on the path, Christ will bring them to where they need to be, He is able to make them stand. I am pursuing spiritual things for Christ sake now, not to puff myself up.
Comfort is my most deeply rooted idol & the area I would almost… almost, welcome seeing fall off. I know it has kept me from being useful. I still can’t talk about so much of what we have been through. I keep it in a deep place. I can only really go there when I am alone, as a result, you sisters here know more of my heart on this than anyone else does. If I am to comfort others with the comfort I have received, I need to move past this. It really feels quite terrifying to contemplate. So I guess I long for comfort to be pruned away, yet I shrink back at the same time. My spirit longs for it to go but my flesh strongly clings to it.
Chris, your honesty with yourself is striking. I thank you for what you have shared here with us. We love you, truly. I know and pray that this is only the first step in sharing with those in need.
Thank you Anne, I love all of you truly!
3. Last week several of you commented, after listening to the sermon, about how easy it is to slip from abiding to morality. Do you think your abiding has increased during Lent? If so, do you sense any more of the fruit of His Spirit? No defiently not, Lord help my abiding to be increased help me to bear fruit, fruit that will last and not to give into the enemy and his tactics
4. Choose a Lenten discipline for the week — this study or something else. My lenten disicpline is going to be this study and then prayer I have really slipped on this during Lent i did really well during my vacation and then havent done really well since.. PLease pray thanks.
5. What statement does Jesus make in John 15:1 and what are the implications? (There are several.) I am the true vine and my father is the gardener
Here is a song we sang in church yesterday that i wanted to share!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I17edLkBDCo
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
“Real fruit needs pruning — and it is our Father who tends the vine. All that He cuts is for good. But pruning is painful.” Going through a painful season of pruning as I die to myself. Comforting to know it’s all for my good. I know that, but need to be reminded of that. The accuser would want me to feel like there is no way out of my sin, yet Jesus forgives and carries me out.
2. How is the Lord wanting to prune you? Are you yielding or fighting? Explain.
He is definitely pruning me in the way of health and eating. Trying my best to stay on top of what my kids eat, what I eat. Hard especially with a husband who can eat anything and stay slim. Today my son Ben couldn’t get his school pants on, we finally got them on but he was obviously uncomfortable. It will take all week before his new ones in a bigger size come in (we have to have them shipped from Land’s End). I feel defeated because I am trying to help him lose weight and have failed. He was crying again this morning and not wanting to go to school and I cried all the way home. It’s so hard when you feel you have failed your children. All I know to do is to keep trying and to beg mercy from the Lord. I am definitely yielding but it feels like one step forward, two steps back.
I feel so for you and Ben, I am tearing up. I was a chubby kid and was badly teased. It is so hard to see your child in pain, I am praying.
Thank you so much Chris. I was chubby as a kid too, and I don’t want him to have a lifetime of fighting his weight. Thank you for understanding.
Oh oh oh — praying for Ben. So hard.
Father,
Ben is yours and I know You weep with him. How I pray You will comfort him, protect him from bullying, and help him find his identity in you. Please help him turn to You. Be with Annemeredith too, and comfort her, give her wisdom, and her husband, as Ben’s parents.
In Jesus Name
Thank you for praying. I want him to turn to Jesus too and I hope and pray through these struggles he will.
Amen! Such wisdom required to prevent a child from developing his/her identity in weight — or weight loss.
One out of three people have celiac disease. It puts weigh on you and causes a wheat belly and weight gain. You can get tested for gluten sensitivity at your Dr’s. I’m going to be tested because I have all the symtoms. Google it and see if Ben might have it. Cyndi’s daughter Abby has it. Just an idea. I’ll pray for him.
Oh Lord, I pray you would come now and wrap your arms around this dear Ben. Lord, take the lies of defeat and failure from his mind. We pray he will run to You with this Lord and surrender fully. I pray for friends to come alongside and encourage him Lord and for wisdom for Anne Meredith and Steve.
Yes, Father I pray along with Elizabeth for Ben.
Anne, how old is Ben?
I think he’s eleven. I hope she sees your question! He’s short — from a baby he’s looked like a little suma (sp) wrestler…
Oh, love him already! Amen to above prayers for him. This age is the age of a tendency to be heavy. He is getting ready to GROW. I pray that he will grow tall and strong. May this time be only pruning that will strengthen his heart.
Amen, being teased does teach compassion, but it is so hard.
How was he when he came home?
3. Last week several of you commented, after listening to the sermon, about how easy it is to slip from abiding to morality. Do you think your abiding has increased during Lent? If so, do you sense any more of the fruit of His Spirit?
I think my abiding has increased, as I’m spending more time in the Word and more time at His feet. Not that my suffering has decreased, but that I’m going to Him more with it and getting to the root, instead of eating or shopping or talking to friends to ignore it.
I think I am more aware of others who are suffering, and the ability to forgive myself and others is coming as a fruit of the Spirit. I’m learning about forgiveness, listened to a great devotion this morning…I’ll post the link. One thing my counselor helped me to see is that we Christians can believe forgiveness has to be instantaneous…but when the wounding is deep it takes time. There are layers to forgiveness, and it’s about committing to forgive, forgiving as the Lord heals you.
4. Choose a Lenten discipline for the week — this study or something else.
I’m going to continue to limit my time on facebook, to continue to fight the battle of overeating and eating the wrong things, and to do this study in entirety. I am going in the right direction in all these things; I know I am covered in the Lord’s grace.
This is a Lenten devotional from 24/7 prayer, a ministry that was started in England by Pete Greig. Each day of Lent they post a brief podcast (3-4 minutes) including a time to contemplate the message.
Here’s the link if you’re interested, today’s was especially good and ministered to my heart.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4Itt1y5MmM&feature=youtu.be
Thanks for sharing this link, Anne Meredith. And it comforts and encourages my soul greatly when you share “Not that my suffering has decreased, but that I’m going to Him more with it and getting to the root”. This is where I am too. My suffering is intense just now, but I know he is with me and I cling to him and struggle onward to get to the root and surrender all. Praying for your son as well, that he will know the Lord loves him so much.
thank you, it was very good.
I meant your link, Annemeresmith!
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
The whole topic of fruit 🙂 Last week, when I went to church for Lent services, the sermon was so similar to what God has been teaching me here. Then, at the end of last week, in response to Dee’s question whether people could do the right stuff and still not be saved, I was posting about fruit. I can see that the Spirit of God is preparing me for the Bible Studies — and I am so encouraged.
In particular, the following two sections stood out to me:
When Jesus proclaims “I AM the true vine,” so “abide in me,” He was making the point that the only way we can be alive is if we are in Him and He in us. That’s the only way we can bear fruit, because an unattached branch will never be able to do it. You can hang things on a dead branch — but the branch has not produced them.
In contrast, Christianity is organic. Because you are rooted in One who is ALIVE, The True Vine, as you abide in Him and He in you, you will bear much fruit. If you don’t bear fruit, then you are dead, and you will be cut off and thrown into the fire.
What I just wrote above was what stood out to me yesterday. When I came on today, what stood out to me was the sheer number of posts for Monday — and I was overwhelmed. Sometimes I’ve done the Bible Study before I’ve allowed myself to read any postings. I have learned that I am less intimidated when I answer the first couple questions on Sunday. This week, I will be asking God to lead me in how to best abide in Him and how he wants me to participate / post.
2. How is the Lord wanting to prune you? Are you yielding or fighting? Explain.
At first, I wasn’t sure how to answer this. Much of the time I don’t seem to have much fight left in me and function (or semi-function) in a daze. But I’m not so sure that giving up is the same as yielding.
I can think of a “micro” situation at work. I think He is pruning and I am yielding in an area related to control. As part of a bureaucracy, I sometimes have responsibility but no authority. Today, I do have the authority (and responsibility) to make a decision, with input from others. In the past, the specific input I received would have felt like a power struggle. It didn’t take long for me to realize that my initial inclinations were wrong (but that wasn’t yielding; it was just smart!). As I seek His guidance in making a decision, He is showing me that relationships also enter into the decision. This is a change for me — I’m often likely to do what I think is best (e.g., recommend hiring the person I think is most qualified). Now I see that I can be technically correct, but make the wrong decision if I don’t seek Him.
3. Last week several of you commented, after listening to the sermon, about how easy it is to slip from abiding to morality. Do you think your abiding has increased during Lent?
I think my abiding is increasing — or maybe my resting in Him, seeking Him is increasing, not sure if there is a difference? I like the word “abiding.” Sometimes I “desperately cling,” but that doesn’t feel as trusting or joyful.
If so, do you sense any more of the fruit of His Spirit?
I think so — more joy and peace, and maybe a tiny bit more patience 🙂
4. Choose a Lenten discipline for the week — this study or something else.
this study, and I’d like to get more outside exercise
Just got back from the Dr, I am able to go back to work. Praise the Lord. I did have opportunity to sow seeds and just share. Thank all you for praying. I am going to a specialist in 2 weeks to see what is causing all this, underlying autoimmune disease of some kind. Thank the Lord for sick leave and paid time off.
Yea! Good news, Marjorie!
Marjorie–I am just seeing this, sorry I have not been able to keep up as I’d like–but I will pray with you and for you–I know how hard it can be trying to get things figured out. Thankful you will be able to go back to work and for your spirit.
Wonderful Marjorie! Your not Brad paisley’s mom are you?!
I wish!
I sure enjoy you being on here, Majorie 🙂
(sorry I miss spelled your name, Marjorie)
lol
🙂
Good news to hear you are going back to work. Maybe you are a distant Aunt our some kind of relative, you never know! Lol
So great you can go to work!
Glad your prayer to have a chance to share was answered! I will pray that the specialist will have God given insight.
3. Do you think your abiding has increased during Lent? If so, do you sense any more of the fruit of His Spirit?
Saturday I woke up and I felt nervous and cranky but didn’t have a clue as to why. I tried ignoring it at first trying to stay calm and kind (relying on my morality) but finally realized I needed help. As I was making lunch I talked to the Lord about it and felt immediately that He was helping me, calming my nerves. As I began abiding He gave me the fruit of joy and peace. I have experienced this in the past but have always relied on myself to snap out of it and straighten up – but never again, His way is much better.
4. Choose a Lenten discipline for the week — this study or something else.
Dee’s comment to me about food being a control issue as opposed to a comfort issue yesterday was right on, so, my heart is set on Him today and this week. I have a new awareness of this lurking idol and by abiding in Him He will empower me to surrender to Him moment by moment. One thing I have learned here is that surrender upon surrender is a key to real victory. The more I surrender my will the more easily my will bends to Him. This is my plan for the week.
Kim, I’m so much like you…wanting to fix myself then realizing why didn’t Im ask God to fix me first:)
Monday-Wednesday: Bible Study (John 15:1-17)
5. What statement does Jesus make in John 15:1 and what are the implications? (There are several.)
I have several thoughts spinning on this—but what strikes me most today is simply that He is the TRUE Vine—as opposed to the many false gods of self-help that promise hope and life—only Christ, the One from the Father, is the True Vine—the One that has no beginning or end, only He can give life.
A. Which branches, according to verses 2 and 6, are thrown into the fire? What does this mean?
Those that do not abide in Him, and therefore do not bear fruit, are thrown away.
B. Which branches are pruned, according to verse 2, and why?
He prunes every branch that does bear fruit. He does this in order that we may bear more fruit. He does it motivated by love.
It gives me a smile of hope o think that the pruning could actually mean I have born some fruit—and the hope of more to come—not for myself, but as an offering to Him—a fragrant offering.
C. Think about the last time you may have been pruned (or you may be going through it now.) Honestly, how do you see it and why? What do you think of my friend Rachel’s comment?
I love Rachel’s heart—to see trials as friends—I want that. Growing up, trials were seen as so negative and something brought on your self. In my family, if someone was sick, there was always the question of what did they do to cause it. My family never admits health problems or even asks about them. I instinctively feel guilty and blame myself first for all trials—health, marriage, parenting. So the idea of a trial being my “friend”, or a tool He will use to bring glory to Himself, to make me more like Him is both mind-boggling and life-giving to my soul.
Love this perspective, Elizabeth. ” He is the TRUE Vine—as opposed to the many false gods of self-help that promise hope and life.”
D. What do you learn about abiding from verses 4-5? What are some ways you truly can abide in Jesus? (Include insights from John 15:9-10.)
What I love about these verses is that there are 2 parts to abiding:
1) I in Him: total dependence upon Him, pouring out my anxieties, my fears, my will in obedience to Him.
2) Him in me: letting His Spirit fill me, change my perspective, my beliefs, my actions—allow Him to shape me.
3. Last week several of you commented, after listening to the sermon, about how easy it is to slip from abiding to morality. Do you think your abiding has increased during Lent? If so, do you sense any more of the fruit of His Spirit?
I am very grateful for this season of my life when I have many hours to spend with the Lord – in prayer, study. I believe I am learning patience, to not so quickly jump into a defensive position when I feel threatened, but to give others the benefit of the doubt and perhaps ask questions before jumping to a conclusion.
4. Choose a Lenten discipline for the week — this study or something else.
I will do this study as a Lenten discipline and also continue to try to exercise regularly, and continue my reading for Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Life.
I like that book, Diane
5. What statement does Jesus make in John 15:1 and what are the implications? (There are several.)
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener”
“I am” The first two words demonstrate the power of the statement and the One who made the statement.
“True vine” There are some vines that aren’t true; it’s important to be attached to the TRUE vine.
“MY Father” shows the close connection between Jesus and His Father.
“the gardener” God is in control of the conditions that impact the vine and the fruit.
6. Read John 15:2-10
A. Which branches, according to verses 2 and 6, are thrown into the fire? What does this mean?
-branch that bears no fruit
-branch that is thrown away and withers
Those branches that are not connected to the vine do not bear fruit; because they are not connected, they wither. If we are not connected to Jesus, the true vine, we won’t bear fruit; we will wither and die.
B. Which branches are pruned, according to verse 2, and why?
Those that already are bearing fruit are pruned so that they will bear even more fruit. (Very encouraging perspective on pruning; i.e., it’s not punishment)
C. Think about the last time you may have been pruned (or you may be going through it now.) Honestly, how do you see it and why?
I think that I’m going through the “shaping up” pruning now (and still need more) rather than the cut down to the roots pruning which I have experienced. It’s easier for me to have a welcoming response to the pruning that doesn’t seem as traumatic, because I see the fruitfulness more quickly. But I know that the “cut down to the roots” pruning is more transformational.
What do you think of my friend Rachel’s comment? Hmmm… I’m still not saying “Welcome, pruning” or “Bring it on” but I am trusting that when it occurs, I am safe with the Gardener and true Vine. I do want Him to be glorified in my life, so I will trust Him to do what is best.
Ladies
Please pray for my town we had a 33 year ok women go missing last ugly and they found her body today and she is dead she had a 2 year old son and she was single. Thanks
Praying, Meg.
Oh my gosh Meg how awful. Will be praying for all of you.