Be Still and Know...Then and Now

I have been abiding in the word over the summer, primarily in the Book of John. I have lingered over several small passages over the course of the summer. It has been wonderful refreshing to meet the word in this simple and quiet way. Each day with no expectation other than to let the words unfold into whatever thought or feeling that the day brings. After a few day I began to notice my eyes lingering on specific phrases. One particular kept coming to me each and every day. “the world” over and over again I came upon this two word repetition. I sat down this morning and did a very simple count, I was blown away by the numbers. The phrase “the world” is used 47 times (NIV version) in the book of John. One of the things I know about God is He is a very astute teacher. He relies on some very basic teaching techniques. When there is an important point that He wants to drive home you can bet that it will be a repetitive subject matter in an effort to try to make His point very clear. I ...

Well it was a typical summer week here. It has been so hot (in the 100’s…YIKES!!!) lately that our activity has been confined to spending time with a good book in the pleasant air conditioning of the house. I am loving my Kindle and all the free downloads….. Sunday, June 24 There was a wedding at church on Saturday. I tried to capture the scale of these roses but this photographs just does not do it justice. They were the biggest roses I have ever seen. I pulled one out and laid it across the palm of my hand and it went diagonally across the full span of the palm of my hand. It was HUGE! and Gorgeous! Well they are finally coming in. As predicted I have a gazillion cherry tomatoes. You can bet I will be planting this Sweet 100 again! It has been a HUGE success! No pictures on Monday, June 25… Tuesday, June 26 We met for Prayer Shawl this morning and after our meeting I invited Skoots1mom back to the house for lunch. Ever since my New York Reuben experience I have not been a...

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

  I was listening to Joyce Meyer last week. They broadcast snippets of her teaching on Thursday evening as I am driving to my girls group. I love listening to her, she has such a no nonsense way of dissecting things and whittling it down to the bare bones of scriptural truth. Her message from last Thursday (click here if you want to download a pod cast of the broadcast, look for the link for the broadcast on 5/30) was about abiding in God’s word. She commented about how so many people think they have to have some kind of plan when they approach God’s word, however she also commented that when she spends time with her best friend she rarely has a plan. She allows the time spent with her best friend to flow freely and let’s thing unfurl. There is no plan. It is just time spent with her best friend. I began to think about the concept of abiding. What does it mean. In my NIV translation the word abide is translated into remain. To stay in the same place, to wait, to be still, to li...