
“I am writing to all who have been called by God the Father, who loves you and keeps you safe in the care of Jesus Christ.”Jude 1:1 NLT
“I am writing to all who have been called by God the Father, who loves you and keeps you safe in the care of Jesus Christ.”Jude 1:1 NLT
“I am writing to all who have been called by God the Father, who loves you and keeps you safe in the care of Jesus Christ.”Jude 1:1 NLT
A couple of years ago our family was taking a road trip from Sacramento to Anaheim California. On the way down we passed vineyard after vineyard.
After about the third one, I thought, “the vineyards look ready to bear fruit”.
Why? Because they had been pruned back, braced up and almost stripped bare.
That is what Jesus said happens in the life of a believer. Not just once but over and over.
When God wants to grow you, He will prune you.
I’ve seen vineyards in all the seasons:
The most fruitful vines are those that are cared for and pruned back.
You may not equate being cared for with being pruned back but the best Vine Dressers do.
They lovingly get the vineyard ready to bear fruit by cutting all the dead branches off. They sweep up and clear up the dead leaves that have fallen to the ground. They strip down the main vine to its essence.
They have braced up each one with wood or wire so that it will not break under the weight of its fruit later in the season.
Jesus called himself the vine, you the branch and the Father the vine dresser:
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”
John 15:1-2 NIV
If you feel like God is pruning you, it is because He is preparing you.
He is getting you ready to bear more fruit.
He is caring for you and nurturing you.
He is cutting off dead things that will rot and bring disease to your soul.
He is simplifying your focus and prompting you to define more clearly who you are in Christ.
He is pruning you, even cutting off some good branches that are stealing nutrients from the main one He wants to grow.
Your Heavenly Father loves you just the way you are and loves you so much that He won’t leave you that way.
He wants to see you grow into your full potential and knows that dead things must be cut off and good things that distract must go as well.
Don’t panic because you’re being pruned, stripped bare and braced up. Recognize it for what it is- God preparing you for the next season of your life.
It’s going to be good, my friend, so hold on and trust God!
“I am writing to all who have been called by God the Father, who loves you and keeps you safe in the care of Jesus Christ.”Jude 1:1 NLT
As you begin the weekend, I wanted to remind you that you have a place of refuge in Christ to live from. A fortress of strength to love from. A tower of trust to give from.
Live from the truth of who Jesus is and what he has done for you on the cross.
You are restored and redeemed.
You are accepted and forgiven.
Ypu are cherished and loved.
When the strong sun of adversity beats down, rest in Shaddai’s shadow. Tuck yourself into His side and remind your soul whose you are.
“You who sit down in the High God’s presence, spend the night in Shaddai’s shadow, Say this: “GOD, you’re my refuge. I trust in you and I’m safe!” That’s right—he rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards.
His huge outstretched arms protect you— under them you’re perfectly safe; his arms fend off all harm.”
Psalm 91:1-5 MSG
When fear screams the loudest, run to the refuge of the cross. Jesus died for you so that you could have this: an unhindered relationship with your Father in heaven who has strong arms and strong love.
Hide in Him.
Fear nothing.
He’s got you covered.
In order to cast ALL your anxiety on Him, you have to move your focus from your anxiety to your Savior.
You focus on what your worried about, what you can’t control, what you are not strong enough to carry. You focus on the problem and how heavy it weighs upon your shoulders. You focus on your own hands when God is asking you to focus on His heart.
He cares for you.
He cares for more than you even realize.
When you are in the middle of a fierce storm feeling out of control and tossed around, you ask Jesus, like the disciples did in Mark 4:38, “Do you even care that I’m in this storm? I didn’t see it coming, I didn’t cause it to happen and I’m not sure if I’m going to make it through.”
The answer is yes, He cares.
When you are burnt out and overwhelmed with life, you go to Jesus like Martha did in Luke 10:40, and ask, “Don’t you care that I’m doing all the work and no one is helping me?”
The answer is yes, He cares.
In fact, the Hebrew word used for “care” in both the above passages is the SAME word used in 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV) –
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
1 Peter 5:7 NIV
Does God care?
Yes, He absolutley does.
You are more than cared for in Christ- you are called, loved, kept and cared for.
You have been invited to live in this relationship with God Almighty: as a trusting child to a faithful Father.
You are loved.
You don’t have to strive to take care of “number one” or stress to win the approval of mankind. You are God’s and in the care of Jesus Hismself.
He will walk with you, guide you, bring you back when you wander off and challenge you to trust more, believe more and let go of fear more everyday.
Accept God’s invitation to live as His cherished child. Live loved. Let Jesus take care of you.
I am writing to all who have been called by God the Father, who loves you and keeps you safe in the care of Jesus Christ.”
Jude 1:1 NLT
Are you living in the invitation of God?
Are you receiving His love or so caught up in what you are doing that you are missing it? He is loving you, are you recognizing it?
Are you living like your cared for or like you have to take of yourself?
I am writing to all who have been called by God the Father, who loves you and keeps you safe in the care of Jesus Christ.”
Jude 1:1 NLT
When I read this verse, It makes me ask myself these questions:
Am I living in the invitation of God?
Am I receiving His love or so caught up in what I am doing or how I am feeling that I am missing it? He is loving me, am I recognizing it?
Am I living like I’m cared for or like I have to take of myself?
When I read this verse it reminds me of the things I seem to forget when life gets overwhelming:
He will walk with me, guide me, bring me back when I wander off course and challenge me to trust more, believe more and let go of fear more everyday.
Accept God’s invitation to live as His cherished child.
Live loved.
Let Jesus take care of you.
You are called, loved, kept and cared for.