A blessed and reflective reading to all (".)
John 15
The Vine and the Branches
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
The World Hates the Disciples
18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me.22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. 24 If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. 25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’
The Work of the Holy Spirit
26 “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. 27 And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.
Praise God!
Here's a beautiful song to give praise to the glorious Father in Heaven that we have- How Great is Our God (by Chris Tomlin)
"...be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord," - Ephesians 5:18-19
How do we start our day?
Start it with a prayer and a meditation on God's words :)
Last night, I contemplated on a reading about "Waiting on the Lord" (by Mark Wheeler). It was such an spiritual boost. He said, learn to wait on the LORD with confidence, rest on His timing, and be fully trusting in Him & in His goodness even in times of confusion and gloom. As we patiently wait for Him, confidence will escalate because of the strength that will also be provided by Him.
"I fully depend on You dear God" should be our battlecry :)
Why? Because He is God, and He is perfect, and He loves us so much, and He is the only one who will be able to fulfill all the promises He gave us.
How can we not wait?
How can we not look forward to see Him?
How can we not long to be united with Him?
How can we not expect with confident hope all His promises?
We are in "good hands- in His hands."
Isn't it fitting to rejoice everyday? God bless :)
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, - Matthew 5:12 (NIV)
How do we start our day?
Start it with a prayer and a meditation on God's words :)
Last night, I contemplated on a reading about "Waiting on the Lord" (by Mark Wheeler). It was such an spiritual boost. He said, learn to wait on the LORD with confidence, rest on His timing, and be fully trusting in Him & in His goodness even in times of confusion and gloom. As we patiently wait for Him, confidence will escalate because of the strength that will also be provided by Him.
"I fully depend on You dear God" should be our battlecry :)
Why? Because He is God, and He is perfect, and He loves us so much, and He is the only one who will be able to fulfill all the promises He gave us.
How can we not wait?
How can we not look forward to see Him?
How can we not long to be united with Him?
How can we not expect with confident hope all His promises?
We are in "good hands- in His hands."
Isn't it fitting to rejoice everyday? God bless :)
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, - Matthew 5:12 (NIV)
Let us rejoice and be glad
and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has made herself ready. - Revelation 19:7 (NIV)
Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before Him with joyful songs.
Know that the LORD is God.
It is He who made us, and we are His;
we are His people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving
and His courts with praise;
give thanks to Him and praise His name.
For the LORD is good and His love endures forever;
His faithfulness continues through all generations. - Psalm 100 NIV
"This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it." - Psalm 118:24 (NLT)
"So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy." - John 16:22 (NLT)
"I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!" - John 15:11 (NLT)
"You have shown me the way of life, and you will fill me with the joy of your presence." - Acts 2:28 (NLT)
"But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me." - Psalm 13:5 (NLT)
"In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name." - Psalm 33:21(NLT)
"But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, 'The Lord is great!'"- Psalm 40:16 (NLT)
"You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands!" - Isaiah 55:12 (NLT)
"When he prays to God, he will be accepted. And God will receive him with joy and restore him to good standing." - Job 33:26 (NLT)
"With joy you will drink deeply from the fountain of salvation!" - Isaiah 12:3(NLT)
"When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart's delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God of Heaven's Armies."- Jeremiah 15:16 (NLT)
"yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!"- Habakkuk 3:18 (NLT)
"How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!" - Luke 1:47 (NLT)
"What blessings await you when people hate you and exclude you and mock you and curse you as evil because you follow the Son of Man. When that happens, be happy! Yes, leap for joy! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, their ancestors treated the ancient prophets that same way." - Luke 6:22-23 (NLT)
"But don't rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven." - Luke 10:20 (NLT)
"Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying." - Romans 12:12 (NLT)
Prayer for Impact (InTouch Ministries):
Please pray with me,
Dear Loving Father in Heaven, we praise you and thank you for the awesome privilege of allowing us to enter in your presence. As we join hands in prayer, please hear our requests. We lift up to you dear Father all the christian churches and all believers around the world, please let us be your hands and feet so that the gospel be preached around the world. May we, as your body of believers, be devoted to you; help us to spend more time with you dear God so that we may discern what you want us to do for you; help us to work together to spread your gospel, and please give us the strength to always stand firmly for the truth- no matter what the cost. Thank you for the assurance that there is nothing insignificant to the works done for you. In Jesus name, Amen.
(WEEK 4 prayer impact)
Dear Loving Father in Heaven, we praise you and thank you for the awesome privilege of allowing us to enter in your presence. As we join hands in prayer, please hear our requests. We lift up to you dear Father all the christian churches and all believers around the world, please let us be your hands and feet so that the gospel be preached around the world. May we, as your body of believers, be devoted to you; help us to spend more time with you dear God so that we may discern what you want us to do for you; help us to work together to spread your gospel, and please give us the strength to always stand firmly for the truth- no matter what the cost. Thank you for the assurance that there is nothing insignificant to the works done for you. In Jesus name, Amen.
(WEEK 4 prayer impact)
Glory to GOD!
May Jesus' love abounds in us all everyday (".)
Bible in a Year:
Read the Bible in One Year- Here's a reading plan where you and I can focus on God's Words everyday....to make it a habit, make it a practice, Amen :)
Read with me; God speaks to us through His words :)
October 25, 2011- Genesis 38-40
Today is the day :)
If you have not received Jesus Christ yet in your heart, today is the day. May you embrace His love and His gift :)
"Lord Jesus, I believe You are truly the Son of God. I confess that I have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed. Please forgive all my wrongdoing, and let me live in relationship with You from now on. I receive You as my personal Savior, accepting the work You accomplished once and for all on the cross. Thank You for saving me. Help me to live a life that is pleasing to You. Amen." (ref prayer by: Mr. Charles Stanley)
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