A song:

Pondering Thoughts:

“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. ⁴ Remain 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.

John 15:1-4

This is Jesus speaking.

Where are we? Are we a branch bearing or a branch barren?

We all have seasons.

Things that as we walk must go and things that He will cultivate. What season is it?

And what is it that makes us clean — THE WORD.

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
⁸ The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;
⁹ The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
¹⁰ More to be desired are they than gold,
Yea, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the ^[f]honeycomb.
¹¹ Moreover by them Your servant is warned,
And in keeping them there is great reward.

Psalm 19:7-11

The Word, it has so many aspects, beautiful elements like a diamonds many facets.

It’s perfect – it’s working deep to convert our souls.

It declares what is sure – what is solid – what makes us simple ones, wise.

It has these statements and things we ought to do that make us right and pure. These fill us with rejoicing and opens our eyes to see.

There is a weightiness to it – it rings us right through the washer making us clean forever.

There, in the Word we find his answers that are true and righteous.

THESE are the gold and treasure – these expressing and pointing to the One who is sweeter than any other. They keep us and warn us and lead us to the greatest reward of all. JESUS.

THIS WORD it makes us clean, and keeps us clean and pure it we let it do what is was meant too.

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, ²⁶ that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, ²⁷ that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

Ephesians 5:25-26

Be careful not to trip on the husband loving his wife….

when what you are reading is CHRIST who loved the church and give HIMSELF for her that HE might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the WORD – to present her to HIMSELF a glorious church – no spot – no wrinkle – SHE IS HOLY and with no blemish.

This is what Jesus does for us as we STAY…

Where? In HIS word. When we Abide. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. — why?

 Because No branch

Thats me

Thats you

No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.

Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

DONT RUN! STAY!

Don’t just receive the word and run off. We receive the word, and it’s implanted, and it grows – we abide – we learn to stay.

~Steffanie Gretzinger

Check this out:

I heard Steffanie Gretzinger also say, “If you have a self-worth problem, start beholding the One who is worthy.” I decided to look up the word “worthy” in the bible. Did you know in the NKJV there is only 4 places in the Old Testament with this word and two of them are identical?

I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies.

2 Samuel 22:4

I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies.

Psalm 18:3

Perhaps the reason that David was one who called out to God who is worthy to be his salvation learned that from the man who arrived at his house and who asked his father, “Are these all the sons you have?”

¹¹ So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”
“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”
Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”
¹² So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features.
Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”
¹³ So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.

1 Samuel 16:11-13

I start a class on Spiritual Warfare this coming Thursday – I saw this prayer we can try out this week.

Thanks for Listening,

Starla