May 28 – John 15:5

John 15:5a Amp I am the Vine, you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. This bearing fruit is such a natural thing if you stay connected. Your conversation will naturally be full of what you’re living in. You will find yourself doing those “Jesus things” so naturally. No force, no fake, no “ought to,” ... Read More

May 27 – John 15:14

John 15:14b Amp (again!) Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me. He doesn’t say it’s HARD to. He says you CAN’T. We can’t reproduce that Seed-bearing fruit unless His Holy Spirit is flowing in us. Just like in the creation when God made “trees bearing... Read More

May 26 – John 15:4

John 15:4b Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me. Have you thought about what fruit is, Annie? That fruit isn’t for the tree’s benefit; it’s for spreading the seed. It’s for producing more that are like the parent. Even that wonderful, delicious flesh... Read More

May 25 – John 15:4

John 15:4a Amp Dwell in Me and I will dwell in you. — Live in Me and I will live in you. This is it in a nutshell, isn’t it? As long as we keep ourselves attached to Him, Jesus’ life- giving sap, the Holy Spirit, will nourish every part of us, filling our cells, bringing to fruition the promise that was in the Seed planted in us. And our work? We abide. We... Read More

A Packing Push

This morning we’re right in the middle of a packing blitz, a flurry of boxes, a push to the Pod: My regular Wednesday post will be delayed several days. Looking out toward new – and much flatter – horizons! Thirty-four more days!  Read More

May 24 – John 15:3

John 15:3 Amp You are cleansed and pruned already, because of the Word which I have given you — the teaching I have discussed with you. In just a couple chapters — same last talk He has with them — He says, “Sanctify them — purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy — by the Truth. Your Word is Truth. As we read His Word,... Read More

May 23 – John 15:2

John 15:2 Amp Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit — that stops bearing — He cuts away (trims off, takes away). And He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit. Aren’t you glad! If there’s a part of us that is keeping us from producing for the kingdom, He’ll... Read More

Sun Flare

I’m using Lightroom for the first time this week! I’m starting by using presets by One Willow. It makes things so much easier in the beginning – and I’m sure I’ll keep using them even after I’ve learned my way around Lightroom. The presets are truly beautiful. For iheartfaces this week, I took some pictures of my daughter standing in front of... Read More

iheartfaces Photo Challenge: Yellow

This week’s iheartfaces photo challenge is “yellow.” Spring sunshine makes this a great theme for this time of year! I’ve been seeing so many beautiful photos with sun flare lately, so I thought I’d give it a try. My two-year old daughter was a good sport about having her picture taken… as always! This photo was entered into the I Heart Faces... Read More

May 22 – John 15:1

John 15:1 NIV “I am the true vine, and My Father is the gardener.” Amp – “…is the Vinedresser.” We’ve looked at the Father as a shepherd. Now He’s a gardener. Again making sure we have food and water, but now also doing the pruning that makes sure we are fruitful. Annie, I think I could talk about the first few verses of this chapter... Read More