John 15:1-11

Jesus says-
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.
Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full."


Dwelling on Gods love and faithfulness this morning. Praying to be more like Christ -- something I can't do on my own but through trust, faith, and abiding in His love.

Here lately

My nephews are growing up!

Evan is now 10 months!


Ethan is almost 3!


On my days off from work somehow I end up spending time with this little guy.
Me and Toffee at the U.S. whitewater center.


What I'm listening to:
I love this CD- will always be a favorite.



What I'm reading...

I mean what can I say nothing really. I've started a few, but haven't finished them yet. I should get on that.



What the Lord is teaching me lately:

His faithfulness never fades. My worries are nothing in the shadow of the cross. Christ paid for everything, what should I worry about?

Life These Days

It's been a while since I've written anything on here. I should definitely blog more. The past two months have been different for me. In the beginning of December I had two interviews with the City of Charlotte Utilities department. Both interviews went well. I ended up getting a job at a wastewater treatment plant in Huntersville. So for the past month that's where I've been; training to eventually work nights (starting next week actually). It's amazing to finally have a job! With benefits! The thing about working at a wastewater treatment plant is that it has everything to do with environmental health! I look forward to where it will take me in the future.

I miss and love you all. Hope everyone is doing well!

I love this poem

I heard someone read this poem recently and I thought I would post it on here. It's called "Footprints in the Sand" by Mary Stevenson. I've heard it before sometime when I was younger, but I've never really read it until now. It has reminded me that God is always with me and will lift me up when I need him most.


One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed
that during the low periods of my life,
when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord, "You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you, you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life
there have only been one set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most,you have not been there for me?"

The Lord replied, "The times when you have seen only one set of footprints,
is when I carried you."

Through faith in Christ: trust

I hope everyone is doing well!! It really seems like time has flown by since I got back from Michigan. It feels like yesterday I was actually there!! These past few months has been good for me to rest and God definitely has been showing me more of himself. I'll admit some days feel so wasteful considering I'm still job hunting, but I'm slowly learning to accept that even though I'm not where I want to be, I'm still making a difference in this world by helping my family out day to day. Last night I read a chapter out of the book "Strong Women, Soft Hearts" by Paula Rinehart called Trust: The Art of Falling Backward and there were some points that were good for me to hear. I feel like I write and read about trust a lot, haha. But it's a good question to ask yourself daily. Do you trust God? And how I answer that question daily is based on how I live my life daily. God is so amazing and creative in the ways he just wants us to realize that all we need to do is trust him. God is in control and everything happens in his own perfect way. Anyways, here are some points in the chapter that really stuck with me.

A major turning point in my life came when I realized that being able to trust God is grounded in staking the whole of my being on the reality that he loves me.

Before the foundation of the world, in a way you can never earn, beyond the validation of any human being, you are loved.

Trust is rooted in being loved. God loves us and is so faithful. I often neglect/underestimate the depth and height of God's love and it affects my ability to trust him.


Eph 3:17-19 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Quotes

"The real need is not clarity, as we think, but to be able to trust. The path will always appear no clearer than one little step at a time." -Paula Rinehart, Strong Women, Soft Hearts

"The scandal of God's silence in the most heartbreaking hours of our journey is perceived in retrospect as veiled tender Presence and a passage into pure trust that is not at the mercy of the response it receives." -Brennan Manning

All I need

Don't need a thing
My good Shepherd brings me all
You are all I need

You let me catch my breath
Even in the valley of death
You are all I need

All I need to be complete
Is Your love
Your blood that covers me

You lift up my head
You provide the wine and bread
You, You are all I need

There's no need to fear
Even with my enemies here
You are all I need

Goodness and mercy are following me
Your all that I need
You make a home for me
Where pastures are green as far as I see
You are all I need

All I need to be complete
Is Your love
Your blood that covers me



I really love this song by JJ Heller. The song goes on a little, but the point is-Jesus is all we need. It caught my attention and I can't get it out of my head. All I need is Jesus. It's so easy to get side tracked and believe... All I need is [fill in blank] and I will be happy. Even though I KNOW all I need is Him. It's a hard time right now...I have no job and don't know where I'll be next.
God has really transformed me into a prayer warrior these days. Before, prayer just wasn't my strongest thing. My prayer life was like a flat tire (due to lack of faith; sin)... it still rolls (not very often), but needs air (more praying/Jesus). Never stop praying, especially for others. Always pray by the power of the Spirit. Stay alert and keep praying. Eph 6:18 However, I just get really frustrated when I pray and pray about something that's on my heart and it's like God is not even listening. But I've learned that God does hear me and has a reason for his silence. There's a verse I read that spoke to me about this whole issue... and I was floored (literally on the floor). Matthew 27:46 Jesus says "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Jesus was dying and cried out to God! Silence.
God hears us. He wants us to trust him, build our faith, and to keep praying. Because of Christ I'm free, I'm alive, washed by His blood. Jesus is all I need.