OK people my self-esteem is at all time low and I need encouragement!! So send it my way!!
But I have to tell you that I can still laugh at myself!!
Today I sat in a meeting and I asked stupid, I mean important questions. Like where is "so & so" etc. I guess it was obvious or something but I really did not know. Anyway, I had a thought...I am a blond joke waiting to happen, asking stupid questions all the while drinking Smart Water.....oh if there was only a song like "Let's hear it for the boys..." but had words aptly chosen for poor little me. I guess that "She's a maniac" may work.....
Anyone ever been in a tunnel??? Does your family like to honk in it? Well mine does and I think that is encouraging because as you move from blinding sun to darkness or darkness to blinding lights the honk is a great indicator that you are on the right path instead of in the open spaces where the horn indicates you are on the WRONG path. lol
If you have some horns you can honk them my way today as I am in a tunnel!!
Now I will tell you more about the name of my blog............simply because it relates to my current circumstances as well - I am just a branch and I must abide in the Vine!
While in Brazil the term was coined because my uncle, Uncle Brother John, led our devotionals before and at the end of each day. We prepared for each journey knowing that all we do is abide. Well one gentleman and myself(who think entirely too much alike - scary!) started coming up with songs about being a branch - just a branch - I'm a branch - etc. We had several tunes in our heads and played a little red light/green light too. We would freeze a little like "walking like an Egyptian" and yell, "I'm a branch!"
One of my favorites was to the tune of a song where you sing: Baby Jaws doot doot doot doot, baby jaws doot doot doot doot, mama jaws doot doot, you get the point. (Linda I should have done this one on video you guys are missing my animation!! I will admit that I am VERY animated!)
I'm a branch doot doot doot doot
I'm a branch doot doot doot doot
I'm a branch doot doot doot doot
Hangin on the vine doot doot doot doot
On the vine doot doot doot doot
On the vine doot doot doot doot
Just abiding my time doot doot doot doot
Abiding time doot doot doot doot
Abiding time doot doot doot doot
I'm A Branch!
Love to all,
Chel - An Abiding Branch
Friday, August 29, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
John 3:16, "Who Do You See?"
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
I do love this word from the Lord so intensely. Not only did he rescue me from the clutches of death but He also welcomed me after I thought I could do this all on my own. When I, in my rebellion, thought I could ignore His voice - Oh praise be to HIM that He did not leave me to my own devices - but by ignoring His voice I had actually said, "Oh but Lord it is best to learn from experience...and how do I know things are good or bad for me unless I try it."
He astonishes me. This love (agapao) beyond all understanding and without limits is expressed to someone like me, sinful, broken, putrid, and hideous. Yet He loved me and all of us so much that He committed His one and only son to be our sacrifice, bestowing Jesus to us.
I looked up a lot of the words found in John 3:16 in Greek via Strongs, and interpreted this summary:
"Indeed, God loved His creation beyond compare in such a way insomuch He supplied His one and only son in order that each and everyone would put full confidence into Him so they will not be destroyed or rendered useless instead giving the exception to the possession of a full active vigorous life wholly devoted to God without end. "
I don't know about you but that blew me away! Our need, His supply so we will not be useless!!!!
How can we have the full active life without end if we do not first put our trust in HIM?
All because He first loved us! I am speechless and breathless.
It reminded me of a poem I wrote in 2003 titled:
Chel - An Abiding Branch
I do love this word from the Lord so intensely. Not only did he rescue me from the clutches of death but He also welcomed me after I thought I could do this all on my own. When I, in my rebellion, thought I could ignore His voice - Oh praise be to HIM that He did not leave me to my own devices - but by ignoring His voice I had actually said, "Oh but Lord it is best to learn from experience...and how do I know things are good or bad for me unless I try it."
What ignorance! But thank the LORD, Oh What a Savior!
I looked up a lot of the words found in John 3:16 in Greek via Strongs, and interpreted this summary:
"Indeed, God loved His creation beyond compare in such a way insomuch He supplied His one and only son in order that each and everyone would put full confidence into Him so they will not be destroyed or rendered useless instead giving the exception to the possession of a full active vigorous life wholly devoted to God without end. "
I don't know about you but that blew me away! Our need, His supply so we will not be useless!!!!
How can we have the full active life without end if we do not first put our trust in HIM?
All because He first loved us! I am speechless and breathless.
It reminded me of a poem I wrote in 2003 titled:
Who Do You See
O' woman who do you see, for when you look in the mirror you do not see thee!
You view through a filter, a perfecting lens, you are far too blind to see your own sins!
Do you not know that sin will cause your heart to break?
And it will be the very heart of Christ you will forsake.
By driving a wedge in your life you will be destroyed from within,
You must now relinquish yourself so that Christ may come in.
By going on your own way you will not be useful,
While still denying His gifts with your refusal.
For the life you are living is the very life that God ordained
Now may the life you live Reflect His Holy Name!
Chel - An Abiding Branch
I love this tool that I used to find the Greek meanings http://bible.lifeway.com. Click on the KJV with Strong's then click on the words allowable to view the original meanings.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Share a Prayer!
OK, this is straight from my Believing God journal. I really debated on sharing this but you just never know who has the same size shoe as you so always bring an extra pair! Amen or Oh Me!
Lord, I know that the life you have called me to is purposed to magnify and glorify you! That all the trials and tribulations are so that the end result will be more of YOU and less of me.
Lord help me hand it all over to you Father! Cover my eyes so I see only what you would have me to see. Set my mind upon you and the things of YOU. Devour the repugnant in your sight and set my feet upon HIGH HILLS (thank you Tabby) Please move your love, compassion, and understanding through me to others.
Help me to wholly and totally be concerned only with you and to that degree which you know in my heart. Keep me in your very capable hands and put blinders on me so that as I step out in faith I see not the water but YOU (thank you Sister). Help me think on only these things which are listed in Phil. 4:8, "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things."
Protect my family Lord as your refine us to be more like you and reign all over us!
Keep my eyes on you and your Promised Land (Thank you LORD, thank you Jesus, thank you Abraham, thank you Beth - see DidiLyn I did it!) for me. All obstacles and circumstances aside LORD for it is in you along I will abide.
Lord, I know that the life you have called me to is purposed to magnify and glorify you! That all the trials and tribulations are so that the end result will be more of YOU and less of me.
Lord help me hand it all over to you Father! Cover my eyes so I see only what you would have me to see. Set my mind upon you and the things of YOU. Devour the repugnant in your sight and set my feet upon HIGH HILLS (thank you Tabby) Please move your love, compassion, and understanding through me to others.
Help me to wholly and totally be concerned only with you and to that degree which you know in my heart. Keep me in your very capable hands and put blinders on me so that as I step out in faith I see not the water but YOU (thank you Sister). Help me think on only these things which are listed in Phil. 4:8, "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things."
Protect my family Lord as your refine us to be more like you and reign all over us!
Keep my eyes on you and your Promised Land (Thank you LORD, thank you Jesus, thank you Abraham, thank you Beth - see DidiLyn I did it!) for me. All obstacles and circumstances aside LORD for it is in you along I will abide.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
We Can't Go On Together
with suspicious minds....I too was a skeptic. When my daughter and I went to Brazil last year on mission trip, I saw it bring its ugly head to the top of my mind and heart. I truly wondered if all the people I met could truly be that accepting and loving. And truly be accepting the Savior. I had never seen anything like that in my life. I had seen the power of the Holy Spirit in my midst but WOW and Whoa buddy, It WAS true.
God and I spent many many many moments perhaps hours working this wall down to size that could be stepped over. I was so in love with the country and the people yet I had this lingering thought in the back of mind. Too much tv drama??? I don't know.
We saw many lives changed on the spot. I personally was witness to hundreds of people accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior. It took not my amount of faith to be able to see, but all the might from the one in whom I place my faith and my trust. Jesus truly showed Himself powerful to me during that time.
This once, very skeptical heart is here to tell you that indeed it was faith but it was also the LORD!
for the previous story go here: http://abidingbranch.blogspot.com/2008/08/faith-cure-for-skeptical-heart.html
Love, Chel
God and I spent many many many moments perhaps hours working this wall down to size that could be stepped over. I was so in love with the country and the people yet I had this lingering thought in the back of mind. Too much tv drama??? I don't know.
We saw many lives changed on the spot. I personally was witness to hundreds of people accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior. It took not my amount of faith to be able to see, but all the might from the one in whom I place my faith and my trust. Jesus truly showed Himself powerful to me during that time.
This once, very skeptical heart is here to tell you that indeed it was faith but it was also the LORD!
for the previous story go here: http://abidingbranch.blogspot.com/2008/08/faith-cure-for-skeptical-heart.html
Love, Chel
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