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Just a Branch

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I know its a little late, but I wanted to reflect on the conference a bit!

Dr. Joy Greene was a delight!!

I was laughing, crying, and just CONVICTED!

I don't know about you ladies, but every week at church has been magnifying bits and pieces of the conference all over again. Now that is a God thing if I ever did see one!

The very next Sunday(April 30), our Associate Pastor was preaching on some of the very same verses that Joy was telling us about(John 15:5)! He talked to us, again, about Abiding in Christ.

We can do nothing on our own! We must be seeking Christ in our every day life to ensure that we are living according to His will.

It is SO easy for us to get caught up in our plans for our lives...our dreams. But the Bible tells us that we are here to honor and glorify the Father! I am not here to honor and glorify Cheryl!  Wow! What a revelation, right?!

This life is not all about me!

Jeremiah 29:11(also heard in my church recently)
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."(KJV)
We women like to have things all planned out, don't we? We like to know the schedule of our days, weeks, months, etc. We are called to be just a branch!

John 15:5
"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."

The vine(God) continues to grow, branches(us) come off the vine, and grow fruit. The vine produces fruit through the branches.

To abide is to stay, remain, continue, to endure. This is a command to abide in our hearts, souls, and minds.

Say goodbye to WORRY, CONTROL, and FEAR! We have to learn to Let It Go!! God is the one in control.  God is always with us! God has won the victory over the evil in this world!

This worry and fear builds to anxiety, depression and outright PANIC...if we let it. However, if we ABIDE in Christ, he can grant us peace in our situations, whatever they may be!

Philippians 4:8
"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."
2 Cor. 10:5
"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ"
1 Samuel 16:7b
"for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart:"
When worry, fear, anxiety and depression have taken over our minds and hearts, we have underestimated and downplayed the power of the Almighty.  he has given us the tools to do right and abide in Him. We need to "think on these things" "Casting down imaginations...bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ".  We must remember that nothing is hidden from God, for "the Lord looketh on the heart".

Remember this, Ladies, you are just a branch!

How do we make this happen in us?
  • Die to yourself
  • Complete surrender(Not my will, but yours, Lord!)
  • "Whatever" you want, Lord!
In order to Flourish in our life with Christ, it must go DEEPER! We must change our hearts. 

Image result for fully surrendered to god

Ezkekiel 36:27
"And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you  to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgements, and do them."

Are you walking in His statutes?
Are you keeping His judgements?
Are you listening to that still small voice? 

Image result for just a branch john 15:5
 
 
 

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