John 15:1-14, James 4:7-10

Weeping

How Faithless I Am

How Faithful You Are

Be Miserable and Mourn and Weep;

Let you Laughter be turned into Mourning and 

Your Joy to Gloom

Humble Yourself

Humble Yourself

In the Presence

Of the Lord

The Great Vine-Dresser

Pruning

Painful

Weeping

So That I May Bear Much Fruit

Removing All That Inhibits Bearing Much Fruit

Removing

Apart From Me You Can Do NOTHING....

Nothing

nothing

JOY

We are told these things

Your Joy

Joy Made Full

As You Have Loved Me

So, I must love others...

You Have loved Me

So, I am designed to love others...

becoming more faithful by your hand

pruned to bear much fruit
much fruit
some fruit?
much fruit
Prune Me, Beloved Father 
I trust you, help my unbelief

 

The Faithless loved by You Who Is Faithful

Friend

Thankfulness

water

pictures

husband who loves

deep kids

amazing kids

basketball

people I don't know and feel uncomfortable with

friendship

soul satisfier - Jesus

storm clouds dropping rain

wet dirt

tiny green things growing

fullness of life

honor

money to share

sisters

people to love

words of life

deep treasures in his word

His Spirit in me

forgiveness

grace again and again and again and again and again

intimate words

sweet hugs

being a mother

being a soul mate

erich

joshua

schneider

treats

friends to visit with

loneliness 

drawing close to Jesus

softening heart

laughter

tears

mercy new every morning

great faithfulness

kyla

gentleness

art and words

thoughtfulness in heart

luke

enthusiasm

creativity and curiosity

strength in heart

alek

hugs

joy and laughter

softness of heart

over and over and over... 

I am blessed

Quarrels: James 4:1-10

Fights, Quarrels

Hidden Motives

"Change him/her Lord, so my life is easier."

"I don't want to live there."

"I want their stuff."

vs 3 "You ask and do not receive, because you ask with the wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures."

Who is on the throne of our life?
vs4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God?
 (This friendship involves wanting things so badly we would resort to our own means to try to get whatever it is -vs 2)  This "friendship" is hostility toward God.

And this is why
vs5 Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: "He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us"?

 Something else takes highest priority within us over the Spirit of God.  

We are dethroning him to attempt to satisfy our own desires. 

We are being as adulteresses who go after another spouse when they have their own.  

See Israelite nation's false worship.  

Their hearts were set on something else.  

Idolatry. 

Their trust was displaced.  

God did not have the throne.  

We fight and quarrel with each other.

We strive to get what we want by our own means.  

We piously ask God to grant our wishes so that we can stoke the fire of our passions that are waging war in our souls.
WAR.

We do not receive.  

Our children pine for something, being devious, and selfishly taking it from their siblings.

Would we lovingly grant their request?   

We love them.

We would rather they not have and instead have the opportunity to change their selfish behavior.  

Would I expect less from God, who gives to all perfectly?

What motives drive the struggles we have?  Do we infinitely trust the one who is working all things for the good of us who love him and are called according to his purpose?  Our hearts are desperately wicked above all things, beyond cure... (Jeramiah 17:9)

We must surrender.
We must seek Him.

vs6 but he give a greater grace.  Therefore it says, "God is apposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

He yearns for us.  He pursues us.  He brings us to the pigsty (as Alistair Begg says) so that we will cry out to him and return to him.  Great grace.  He does not abandon us when we fail and quarrel and fight and these passions wage war within us and we fall.  He gives a greater grace.  Praise God.

vs7-10 How can these motives be changed?

Changed Allegiance and Repentance.

Submit to God,

Resist the devil,

Draw near to God,

Cleanse your hands,

purify your hearts,

Be miserable and mourn and weep,

Turn laughter to mourning, joy to gloom

Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord 

(which assumes you are entering the presence of the Lord)

Have you mourned over your selfish motives?  This is what he desires.
Or did we mourn because we didn't get what we wanted?

Humility.  Repentance.  Surrender. 

Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium

We had a wonderful time at Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma, WA.  Very special time together.

 Look at these amazing creatures... so delicate, so full of poison... and beautiful.

 Isn't it amazing to be able to be so close to these huge and amazing creatures.
Someday we will be able to enjoy them without the glass... :)

 God's beautiful creation for us to glorify Him and enjoy.

Beautiful.

My Husband Rocks!

This is a small touch of the husband who rocks in my world.  

Erich Schneider

Allows God to Search His Heart,

Takes Care of All of Us,

Finds Humor with Me in Life,

Opens my Eyes to More Insights in God's Word

Provides for our Home,

Loves My Food,

Treasures Our Children,

Teaches Wisdom,

Shows Kindness,

Offers Hope to Those Struggling,

Admits Failures,

Longs to See Jesus,

 Allows Others to Try Things He Could Do Better,

Relates Well to All People,

Works Hard,

Encourages Others,

Keeps Making Our Marriage Beautiful,

Listens to My Heart While I Go Around the Mulberry Bush,

Dreams With Me,

Looks Out For Our Interests,

Treasures Me,

Is My Soul Mate,

Takes Me Out For Dinner,

Loves Me Deeply,

Honors Me and Our Kids,

Preaches Conviction that Touches His Own Soul,

Walks with Integrity,

Opens Our Home to Others,

Enjoys the Crafts of The Kids,

Someone I Enjoy Growing Old With

Exercises With Me,

Enjoys Our Walks,

Researches Things We Need,

Discusses All of Life,

Opens His Soul to Me,

This is My Beloved.

Colossians 1:11-13

filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.

filled.  

knowledge of what God desires of us.

in all

spiritual wisdom

understanding.

Purpose?

to walk worthily of the Lord -

spiritual wisdom opens our eyes to see the things the way God sees them and the actions that go with those things.

pleasing him in all respects -  

Aren't the religions of the world based upon trying to please the gods they serve... 
God has given us the answers to what pleases him through his word, 
principles laid down so we can walk in them... wisdom from understanding him in his word, 
our eyes being opened by the Holy Spirit to spiritual things, the things of God

bearing fruit in every good work - 

is it astounding to see how God can work all things to bring fruit our of every good work.  
He is the great vine-dresser and is able to bring about fruit in every good work.  
Walking in his ways,
seeking to please Him, 
knowing what pleases him, 
brings fruit in our lives and the lives of others around us.

increasing in knowledge of God -  

All of this brings us full circle to increasing in our knowledge of God. 
We get to know him better.  

How?

strengthened will all power - 

not just some power, all power

according to his glorious might -  

what power is that based on.... the power of Jesus Christ!

Why?

so we become more

steadfast and patient -

Why do we need steadfastness and patience?

What is it we wait for?

Home with Jesus... 

patience and steadfastness in our faith to the end.

joyously giving thanks

Why Give Thanks?

He qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light -

We begin to catch a glimpse of what we have received in Christ, 
where we have come from, 
and who exactly it was that rescued us.

     

How?

He rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son

When I was even barely aware that I was bound in the dominion of darkness, 
he rescued me and then has let me see by his grace how great a salvation I have been given.  

Lord please let it not become ordinary to me how great a rescue you have accomplished for me.  

You have given me everything I need.  

The wisdom to live the way I should live, 
the path to walk worthily before you, 
making every good work bring fruit, 
deeper knowledge of you, 
strength to accomplish this life according to your ways, 
and a renewed person becoming steadfast and patient... 

Waiting for the wonderful hope that is laid up for me in heaven... 

all because of the hope of being with you someday, 
no longer constrained by the weight of sin and death in this world, 
but completely renewed and freed from all that so quickly entangles.. 

the beautiful hope and yet given so much to sustain me through this beginning of eternity with you.  

You are not far. 

You are near to those who call on you.  

Thank you for it all.  

My heart cannot express or even fully conceive all you have done for me.  

Continue to reveal it to me moment by moment with you.