Statements of Faith - I Am A Fruitful Branch

 

JOHN 15:4

Abide in Me, and I in you. 

As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself,

 unless it abides in the vine, neither can you,

 unless you abide in Me. 

    Abide: remain, stay, wait (I wait for, I stay in, I remain with)

    How are we fruitful branches in Christ? 

• Matthew 4:19 When we follow Christ, He teaches us how to become 'fishers of men', how to draw people to The Light and Love of God's gospel of salvation.
• Proverbs 11:30 & James 5:20 Be a soul winner in His kingdom. Tell your testimony: what Christ Jesus has done for you, how He saved you and continues to walk your life's journey with you. 
• 1 John 3:24 Keeping His commandments causes us to be fruitful branches, for by doing so, we remain in Him and He in us. 
• 1 John 4:15 & Romans 10:9 Speaking out loud that Jesus is The Son of God shows they that hear us speak such Truth that God is in us and we are in Him. 

    What is a Christian's fruit?

• Our disposition, our character, our attitude - We are to have, cultivate and exhibit the fruit of The Spirit - Galatians 5:22-23.
• Our life and conversation - Live a life of love - Ephesians 5:2
• Our intentions, motives - Live a life of faith in God - 1 Timothy 1:4
• Honor God, do good - Live a life that is worthy of God's call - 2 Thessalonians 1:11 and Ephesians 4:1
• Be an example of what we say we are - Live a life that is worthy of The Lord - Colossians 1:10

    And now we must consider: are we, indeed, fruitful branches in The Vine which is Christ? If we are, we must endeavor to continue to do so. And if you are not, what are you waiting for? You have received a personal invitation to be seated in Christ and He in you which requires a personal response from you. Come, come to Jesus Christ and be grafted into The Vine. Today is your day of salvation. 

PROOF OF YOUR LOVE - For King & Country 

BUILD MY LIFE - Pat Barrett and Cory Asbury 

LIVE FOR JESUS - Evie Tornquist

Heart & Soul - - Treasures In Heaven

 

Luke 12:34

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

#Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 2344

Treasure: a store-house for precious things

From the Greek word 'thésauros' (pronounced thay-sow-ros') Literally, "a receptacle for valuables", including (treasured) thoughts stored up in the heart and mind.

NEW CONTAINERS

    When I rise to meet Him in glory, I will be given a new body and I need to live here not only in anticipation of that new body, but to live as if I am already clothed with it. 

    That new body has a new heart, therein is the unbreakable container in which I have stored my Treasures. It doesn't rust. Matthew 6:19-20. 

GRACE

    The Grace of God which saved this poor sinner is my primary Treasure. It is intertwined with my soul and will go with me when I trade this world for my eternal dwelling place. 

    Again, I remind you that after Jesus prayed for His disciples, He prayed for the people who would believe in Him without ever having seen Him. That's me. And if you believe, that's you. (John 17). 

    Having been redeemed, bought back from the bondages of sin and death, through the blood of the Lamb of God, I have laid this treasure of Grace up for myself, that when I am raised to new life in Christ, Grace adorns my soul like threads of love interwoven with threads of righteousness. 

    To apply the Word of God to oneself is to claim it as our own, as He has claimed us for His own. "For by Grace am I saved through faith, Nothing I have done could ever give me this Grace: it is the gift of God to me." paraphrased Ephesians 2:8-9.

GENEROUS SPIRIT TOWARDS GOD

    Luke 11:41 "But give as alms the things that are within you, and you will see that everything is clean for you." 

    What is within me? Everything that Jesus Christ is resides within the Christian who faithfully follows Him wherever He goes, He leads. The Lord is my wealth and I am compelled to share Him with everyone I meet. I can't help it: I just want to talk about all the good things that the Lord has done for me. We call this testifying. And what is my testimony? Christ in me is my greatest Treasure. 

    Paul had written to the church in Rome begging them on account of God's mercies, to "surrender their bodies living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is their reasonable service". This is written to the believer, as well. For we all members of one body, as he wrote to the church in Corinth. Regardless of the year or day in which a believer comes to salvation in Christ, we are all part of the body of Christ. As such, we should be fully committed and willingly giver ourselves to His service.

THE SERVANT'S HEART

    The servant's heart is a willing participant in the glories of Christ. We endeavor, we strive, we persevere; we move ahead, we go forward, we rise on eagle's wings to soar above our enemies. We endure hardships/afflictions, beatings, sufferings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights and hunger (2 Corinthians 6:5). 

    We are able to do so through His Grace (2 Corinthians 6:6, 7) and power. To the church in Philippi (and us) Paul writes this "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13). Because I am in Christ and Christ is in me, I, too, can do all things in His strength, for His Name is Strength: Exodus 15:2; Psalm 28:7; Psalm 118:14; Isaiah 12:2; Jeremiah 16:19; Habakkuk 3:19). 

    I am committed to His purpose. I am surrendered His Will. I am submitted to His Way. I let go of I and become we. 

YOU

    Proverbs 11:30

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.

    1 Corinthians 9:19, 20

What then is my reward? That in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not use up my rights in preaching it. Though I am free of obligation to anyone, I make myself a servant to everyone, to win as many as possible.

    2 Corinthians 4:15

All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is extending to more and more people may overflow in thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

    You who believe because I had a part in seeing you come to Christ are my crown of joy: 1 Thessalonians 2:19 "After all, who is our hope, our joy, our crown of boasting, if it is not you yourselves in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?"

TREASURES IN HEAVEN

    

The Soul Winner's Walk

I walk 

thru' the night

Reflecting the Light

of Jesus

To a lost and 

dying world.

More precious than silver

More costly than gold

I carry a burden

to win Him

more souls.

Spirit Song-Just Call My Name

IAM here
IAM HE that hears your cry
Just call MY NAME
And I will help you
IAM here

IAM HE that fills your wells with water
IAM HE that feeds your hunger
IAM here
Just call MY NAME

IAM HE that brings your healing

IAM HE that fights for you

IAM HE that moves the waters

On dry ground

                     you walk through

Just call MY NAME

     Written during an altar call after the message was preached. God is healing me. I have had some of this illnes thing my whole life. The tremoring of my lips showed up when I was a child. The vision decrease showed up when I was 11: got glasses for the first time. These last few years I have gone from bi-focal lenses to tri-focal lenses. I wonder if there is an upgrade?
     It is 2:45 AM and I am still awake. I am singing to Jesus while I wait to fall asleep. And I am praying for my son, who starts high school tomorrow. I am both nervous for him and excited for him. This is the school he chose to go to and I hope it works out well for him. He will be riding city buses to and from school. This is new adventure for him.
     He needs the prayers of the saints to get him through the next three days and through the next four years. He is our baby; after this child there are no more. Perhaps part of my excitement is because in  a few years my husband and I will be all each of us has; we will get to know each other all over again. There has never been a time when there wasn't a child in our home. But for now, we have Kenny with us.
      Dear Lord, my Lord,
Please watch over Kenny. Guide him from the moment his eyes open in the morning to the moment his eyes close in rest at night. Stir up the gifts within him that he might walk in integrity and grow in wisdom. Give him friends who will encourage him in every way and help him to be a strong support in his circle of friends, too. The seeds of salvation, desire of the Holy Spirit and obtaining the joys You have prepared for him have been planted within his heart. Send someone to water these seeds. And someone to pour sunshine on him.
    Lord, I don't ask You enough to bless others. We always ask You to watch over and guide our children when they are away. Seldom do we remember to pray for them when they are within our walls. So, at this time I would like to ask You to pour out a blessing on Kenny: give him teachers who will actually help him and not hinder him. Give him peace on the bus route and guidance from the right drivers, who also require Your hand upon their lives and routes.
      Bless Kenny and prepare his heart to receive all that You have in store for him. GIve him a desire to be filled with Your Holy Spirit, that our youngest son may grow bold and zealous for You. Father, call our son and tender his heart with Your mercies. Holy Spirit, convict our children when they do wrong and teach them to accept responsibility for their actions, whether they have done right or done wrong. And if they do wrong, I would hope that they are strong enough, meek enough, to admit to wrong-doing and make reparations where necessary.
    Strengthen our familial relationships with each other; and with You in the center of our lives. Holy Spirit, give me wisdom, give me words, give me peace. For in Your wisdom I have spokene words that convict a person's heart, and caused my peace to increase that stress becomes less readily available and love, Your love, is all I have in its place.
    Guide our children, Father, in Your Ways, on Your Paths, in Your Word, through their valleys, over their mountains, and across their deeps. May each child walk upright in Your sight and not be found wanting when You measure them. May we, as parents, continue to lead them and guide them in the right direction, until You call us home. Help us to be better examples to those who are watching us live a godly lifestyle.
     In Jesus' Name, His Beautiful, Wonderful, Powerful, Holy Name. Amen.

Justin
Justin
Andrew
Travis
Keith
Seth
Kenny
Danielle
(Nicholas: RIP 2006) in his stead I am adding his other sister Megan, whom I have only met once, so if I get her name wrong, God knows who I am talking about when I pray for her
Phillip
James
Brian
Kenneth

I also pray guidance and deliverance over my Sunday School classes and Youth Group Bible Studies which I have taught in the past. These people, though no longer children, are my privilege to pray for. Many have children of their own now. Some have made unwise choices for their lives and some are still seeking God for themselves.

I would name them here, but I don't want to embarass them here. You know who you are. Come on back to God's house. He and I miss having you here. You will always be welcome,  you will always be loved, you will always be fed the Bread of Life and the given the Living Water to sustain you.

This is your altar call. These are some of our Prayer Warriors. We will pray for you and help you to pray for yourself. Now is the time to return.............

Hello. It's nice to see you again, mdf. Let 's pray.

 

My Full Potential

If the life you are living is not pleasing to God, 


then you are not living up to your full


potential. ~Me


What do you see 
when you look at me?
Am I a reflection
of God's redeeming grace?
What do you see 
on my face?



Am I living up to my full potential in Christ?

My heart is right with Christ.

I am saved from eternal damnation.

I am filled with the Holy Ghost.

I am serving in God's kingdom.

Tomorrow, March 8, is International Women's Day. 

It is a celebration of how far women have come in the history of the world.

It is an acknowledgement  of how much women have accomplished in their countries.

It is an awareness of the lack of women in business and industry;

of women in politics and science; of women in leadership positions.

The Day is focused on Women Around the World 

and their desire to improve their world 

by having women involved in decision making processes 

that would change the world for the better.

But, in all the articles I have read, from around this world I live in,

not one is written from a Christian woman's perspective.

Though a few were written by women, most articles were still written by men.

And a couple of these articles were dehumanizing to women.

Where are the daughters of God?

I am the handmaid of the Lord. ~Joel 2:29

Our voice is not silent:
In Ministry:

http://bigbible.org.uk/2012/02/strengthened-to-serve-simon-peters-mother-in-law/#.T1fkHsAfSCw

http://www.iamawomanofgod.com/ - shopping

https://www.facebook.com/abundantpeace

http://www.joycemeyer.org/

https://www.facebook.com/AboutChristianity

https://www.facebook.com/unveiledwife

https://www.facebook.com/Katherine.Damore.H.I.S

https://www.facebook.com/pages/She-That-Prays/107991435912978

http://dailychristianquote.com/dcqwomom.html

http://www.ladiesforjesus.com/

http://womenofvalorministry.org/wimba0.aspx

http://graceforwomen.blogspot.com/2009/01/rebekah-virtuous-woman.html

In Music:
http://rsjames.com/
http://nataliegrant.com/#!/ss:facebook
http://www.francescamusic.com/
http://www.barlowgirl.com/
http://amygrant.com/#!/ss:facebook
http://www.brittnicole.com/
http://www.nicolecmullen.com/
http://www.jacivelasquez.com/
http://cecewinans.com/
http://sandipatty.com/#!/ss:facebook
http://www.twilaparis.com/
http://audreyassad.com/desktop/
http://heatherwilliamsmusic.com/
http://www.jamiegrace.com/

In Comedy:
http://www.anitarenfroe.com/
http://www.chonda.org/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Amy-Barnes/134674643271548?sk=wall
http://www.christiancomedyacts.com/Kelly-Swanson/
http://www.christiancomedyacts.com/lena-green/ ` love her!

The daughters of God are actively seeking to improve the lives of all women.

We are joined at the heart in Spirit and in Truth.

We are raising our voice in shouts of Triumph..

Our hands are on our Sword as we wage war on

social injustice, poverty, abuse, addiction.

We are the Overcomers by Faith in the Power of God

to change our world one person at a time together.

We learn from each other.

We teach each other.

Our desire to change the world we live in is expressed by our actions every day.

As we learn from God, through the power of His Holy Spirit,

how to change our lives, we share our values, our journeys,

our joys, our wisdom, our tears and our pain,

our words reach millions on the internet.

And their lives are changed for the better.

God empowers women by calling them, also.

We, too, are called to serve in God's kingdom.

I am His servant.

And I will change the world.

Crown Him with Many Crowns

CROWN HIM with MANY CROWNS

CROWN of LIFE

Revelation 2:10  Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer : behold , the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried ; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

James 1:12  Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried , he shall receive the crown of life, which The Lord hath promised to them that love Him. 

2 Timothy 2;12  If we suffer , we shall also reign with Him: if we deny Him, He also will deny us:

CROWN of LOVING-KINDNESS

Psalm 103:4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving-kindness and tender mercies;

Psalm 63:3 Because thy loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish , but have everlasting life.

Hosea 2:19 And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving-kindness, and in mercies.

Jeremiah 32:17-19 Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:Thou shewest loving-kindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name, Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:

CROWN of GLORY & HONOR

Psalm 8:4,5  What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?  For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor.

CROWN of ANOINTING OIL

Leviticus 21:12  Neither shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the crown of the anointing oil of his God is upon him: I am the LORD. (regarding the high priest)

CROWN of KNOWLEDGE

Proverbs 14:18 The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. (all of Proverbs is a discourse on wisdom, defining what is wise and what is foolish. Prudent means "mentally putting together". [love that], which is the definition of learning. Therefore, the prudent person is the one who learns wisdom and puts it into action)

CROWN of RIGHTEOUSNESS

2 Timothy 4:8  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which The Lord, The Righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.

CROWN of ROYALTY (Grace & Favor)

Esther 2:17  And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti. 

CROWN of GLORY (the LORD IS)

Isaiah 28:5  In that day shall The LORD of hosts be for a Crown of Glory, and for a Diadem of Beauty, unto the residue of his people. (The Lord is our Crown of Glory. How cool is that?)

CROWN of SOUL WINNER

Philippians 4:1 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

Proverbs 11:30  The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

("dearly" implies at great cost) Jude 3 says we are to 'earnestly contend' Ephesians 6:12 we 'wrestle against' 

We are not passive Christians. We are fighters. We fight for the salvation of  our families and friends. They are our crown, also. Our knees bow only to The Most High God and none other. We fight our battles on our knees with our hands clenched in prayer; our hearts are set on the deliverance of our moms and dads, sisters and brothers; strangers, friends and enemies. We are immovable in our desire to see the Salvation of the Lord reach those who are lost and wandering in the darkness of sin. And we encourage each other in this goal. 

At great cost. What is it worth to you to see someone saved? It cost Jesus His will and His life. He surrendered His will and His life, that we might have salvation. How much are you willing to give up? With Jesus it was 

                                                           ALL OR NOTHING