Peace, Love, Joy
Beautiful scene from Washington state
Peace, Love, Joy
John 15, part two
If you abide in me and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and It will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love; just as I abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
In chapter 14, Jesus said, My peace I give you. In our passage today, Jesus adds to our abundance and says He will give us His love and His joy. My peace; My love; My joy; I give to you. These He gives of Himself to us. Read more
I AM
This is Kate (left) and Rachel (right). Both adopted from China many years ago and now living in Ponte Vedre, FL. Rachael had heart transplant surgery about 3 years ago. This week Rachel made the Jr. High basketball team as a developmental player.
I AM
John 15, part one
I am the true vine and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away and every branch that bears fruit He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit for apart from Me you can do nothing.
I AM X 7
Seven (the number representing perfection) times in the book of John, Jesus gives a descriptive phrase expressing His saving grace preceded by I AM … Read more
More Promises
More Promises
John 14
These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrances all that I said to you.
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.
If elected, I promise...every four years in America, we hear this phrase over and over. Read more
Promises
Cat cafe in Vienna. What do they feed cats in Europe?
Promises
John 14.18-31
These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrances all that I said to you.
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.
There was a second apostle named Judas. He’s known as Judas (not Iscariot). Now in history, he is recognized as who he wasn’t. Not for who he was. Bummer. He was named Judas before it was a bad thing to name your son Judas. This section is a response to Judas's (not Iscariot) question:
Lord, what then has happened that you are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world? Verse 22. Read more
Greater Works
Leigh with our sweet niece, Emily
Greater Works
John 14, part five
Truly, truly I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because, I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in My name, I will do it.
If you love Me, you will keep my commandments. I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.
A person with aspirations of sensationalism might read Jesus’ promise that they’ll do greater works than He and be drawn to thoughts of healing, calming storms or creating food out of nothing to feed thousands. God can do whatever He wants. And He can do miracles in and through us. But the concept of a miracle worker touring the world performing miracles in Jesus’ name is not what Jesus is speaking about here. I simply don’t trust those that claim such power. Read more
We Need More!
What a precious picture! It's from the household of our dear friends, the Downings.
We Need More!
John 14, part four
If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him. Phillip said to Him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father. Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?’
Have you ever had a loved say, “you don’t even know me!” Or, have you ever had a loved one give you a gift that is not at all what you want or are interested in? With hurt feelings you think to yourself, “They don’t even know me.”
Phillip asks one of those questions that right after it comes out of your mouth, you want to immediately take it back. I bet that after Philip asked this question, the disciples could see Jesus’ body language and said themselves, ‘I’m glad I didn’t ask that question.’ Read more
The Way
My daughter Brooke made this sign for her friends who are Dallas Cowboy fans!
The Way
John 14, part three
Thomas said to Him, ‘Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way? Jesus said to him, ‘I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you Know Him and have seen Him.’
Some of you may say you’re not into Doctrine or Theology, just give me Jesus. I’m going to try to be polite, but that is one of the most naïve and ignorant statements a Christian can make. Sorry, that wasn’t very polite.
The couple of verses above that Jesus spoke are filled with some of the most profound Theological Doctrine in the Bible. Knowing Jesus isn’t just about being sentimental and feeling warm. It’s also about knowing the truth. Theology is the study of God. How can a Christian NOT be into the study of God?
The disciples are afraid, uncertain and a little confused. Jesus gives them comforting words, yes, but He also knows they need TRUTH; and they need to KNOW the TRUTH in order to withstand the pressure they will soon bear. The pursuit of knowing the Truth is the pursuit of Theological Doctrine. Read more
Details Please!
Details Please!
John 14, part two
Do not let your heart be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way where I am going. Thomas said to Him, ‘Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?’ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me.’
I tend to feel certainty and confidence when I know (or I think I know) what is going to "HAPPEN". I look at my schedule, my calendar and I feel comforted. I have plans! I know what I'm going to do and where I'm going to be and who I'm going to be with. I get irritated when my schedule suddenly changes and I can't do what "I planned to do."
Jesus says, believe in Me. My comfort and security should be in God, in the person of Jesus, not in my plans or my physical schedule of events. The disciples had real "faith" issues. They doubted. I sometimes have faith issues. I doubt and fear. Jesus said, ‘Believe in ME! Believe in who I am and what I have promised you.’ Read more
Who Needs Some Comfort?
Who Needs Some Comfort?
John 14, part one
Little Children, I am with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you. Where I am going, you cannot come...Do not let your heart be troubled, believe in God, believe also in Me.
Jesus and His disciples are in the upper room for the Passover supper. This is the same night that Jesus will be betrayed and arrested. He first washed their feet as an object lesson on servanthood. Next, Jesus tells Judas to go and do what you need to do and do it quickly. Judas had been included in all of Jesus’ teaching and mentoring over the last three years. Jesus treated just like the others. But now he tells Judas to go and He turns His full attention to the remaining eleven. These eleven are truly His own.
Jesus is very emotional. He knows what is coming. The disciples do not comprehend what is about to take place. As we move into chapter 14, Jesus begins to teach and comfort them. Read more