"I am the Vine and you are the branches.Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much(abundant)fruit.However,apart from Me--cut off from vital union with Me--you can do nothing."(John 15:5 Amplified Bible)I have not posted in awhile.It's been a busy time here on many levels.I also had a brief reoccurring bout with atrial fibrillation.This was the second time in 3 years this has shown up.My heartbeat gets irregular during times of stress.So I have not been feeling well physically.I am better now after a successful cardioversion.But I have also been feeling uninspired.Void of all original thought.Not really down in the dumps,just kind of numb I guess.When one is under stress of any kind it can affect you on every level.I was dealing with stuff in my body.I was incredibly grieved over what happened to those affected by Hurricane Katrina.I had prayed ALOT in recent days.But I still felt numb.Uncreative.Dull.I wanted to blog.To journal.But nothing would come.As I stood at the kitchen sink this morning preparing to load the dishwasher I heard Jesus speak"Apart from Me you can do nothing."I had been praying to Him but not abiding in Him.I was not"dwelling"with Him.Some synonyms of the word abide are to stay,remain,tarry,linger.It is so much more than a hurried prayer for my irregular heartbeat.So much more than an emotional plea sent heavenward for the victims of a massive and devastating hurricane.It is clearing my agenda and sitting in His presence.Getting my creative spark ignited by time spent with Him.Tarrying with Him.Getting His agenda for my day.Letting the creativity of God flow through me from Him to any lives I may touch.Just"being"instead of always"doing."Not cutting myself off from the One who is the source of all that is creative and the One who is life itself.Father,may we all learn what it means to truly abide in You.And may You find us faithfully doing that very thing.You are life itself.Apart from You we can do nothing that will have lasting and eternal value.Help us to dwell with You daily.To produce beautiful and lasting fruit for Your glory......Amen.
Blessings,Sharon
6 comments:
Sharon,
So many of us fail to recognize the key between abiding in Him and the flow of His work through us. We get caught up in the work of the Lord instead of the Lord of the work! Apart from abiding in Him, we produce little of lasting value; our work lacks His power and purpose. The place of abiding is the place of empowering!
Amen Sharon! Good thoughts!
Blessings, Ellen
Amen indeed. Thanks for sharing and reminding me to take time to be still before the Lord, and to enjoy simply tarrying in His presence. God bless you, Sharon, as you share what He has laid upon your heart.
A sister in Christ,
Brooke
Mary,
AMEN!It has always been so easy for me to work for the Lord( one of my nicknames in my younger years was"Martha"as opposed to Mary...sigh).I have had to accept the fact that I am more of a type A personality and with the Lord's help get that much needed balance there.To gain His power as opposed to my own.Now I could blame it on all sorts of things but I choose not to.I would just rather focus on the Lord of the work and let HIM flow through me than to focus on the work of the Lord and exhaust myself.Bless you and thank you for blogging by.Hope to see you here again and I hope to be a more prolific blogger in days to come(with God's blessing and flow of His spirit).
Blessings,Sharon
Ellen!
I truly hope you and Dianne are having a terific time there in Michigan.I hope you are showing her all of the neat sights and that she is taking many pictures and keeping a journal of her trip.Thank you for stopping by my blog and leaving your comments.You are a constant source of encouragement to me.Blessings to you dear friend.I look forward to more of your posts over at your blog!
Blessings,Sharon :-)
Brooke,
So glad you stopped by my blog.I really appreciate your comments.It is so very easy for me to be busy.Not taking time for the Lord.Or writing.Doing all the responsible things while neglecting the two most important things ....my Lord and my writing.Not that I ignore either.It's just so easy to let life crowd them out.I have really sensed God leading me to write in the last year.And boy has the battle for my time intensified.I believe the enemy of our souls wants to keep me form pursuing that which I feel God calling me to.To further hear from the Lord I must continue to spend time in His presence.Put all else aside that clamors for my attention.And put the enemy to flight.Blessings on you Brooke.I really enjoy both your blog and your comments left here.Keep writing for Him!
Love ya,Sharon:-)
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