Do Not Seek Revenge

“‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.'" — Leviticus 19:18 

Today is our bluegrass Sunday at church.

And afterward, we have a courtyard fellowship with more bluegrass music plus pies!

So I spent the morning baking pies for the fellowship time and for our friends who share their fresh fish with us.

Blueberry and cherry. Yum!

This verse hit home with me last week as I was struggling with a colleague who has not been treating people well.

Even so, God really convicted me about not holding a grudge.

And not excluding them when we invite others to join us to celebrate our anniversary in October.

It's so easy to hold a grudge.

But God commands us to love our neighbor as ourself. Even when they don't treat us well.

Help me, Lord, to obey.

You Are the Branches

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." — John 15:5-8 

We are the branches attached to Jesus.

He gives us our sustenance.

He provides us with living water.

Everything we need to survive comes from Him.

Jesus is the vine.

If I remain in Him and He remains in me, I will bear much fruit.

Even when I feel dried up and tired.

When I drift apart from Him, I can do nothing.

Forgive One Another

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. — Colossians 3:15 

This is a tough command.

I don't always want to put up with everyone.

Some people just seem unlovable.

But then I realize that God puts up with me.

And I'm often not very lovable.

And God sent His only Son to die for me, before I'd ever turned toward Him.

God went ahead and forgave me before I even asked.

Knowing that, I realize that through God's love, I can show love to others.

And even forgive those who've wronged me.

After all, God paid a much. higher sacrifice for me.

Thank you, Lord!

Remain In Me

Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”  — John 15: 3-4  

Jesus lives in us.

And He commands us to remain in Him.

We cannot bear fruit on our own.

We have to remain connected to Jesus.

To drink from His living water,

So that we can bear fruit.

No branch can bear fruit by itself, cut off from the tree.

It much remain in the vine to be fruitful.

When I'm connected to Jesus, I can be fruitful too.

Bear With One Another in Love

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. — Ephesians 4:2 

As we approach February and Valentine's Day, this Scripture verse is a fitting reminder:

God calls us to love each other, just as He has loved us.

He commands us to be completely humble and gentle.

At best, I'm only partly humble.

And He asks us to be patient with others.

I'm not very patient, but God has been extremely patient with me.

God calls us to bear with one another in love.

I often have a hard time putting up with others.

Lord, please help me to follow you in showing these traits to those around me.

God Will Provide a Way

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. — 1 Corinthians 10:13 

God does not send me temptations beyond what I can handle.

Unfortunately, I tend to give in to them and then turn to him afterward.

Even though God is faithful.

And He provides a way for me to get out of it when I'm tempted.

Sometimes He sends others to remind me not to tell the white lie.

Other times He sends my family or coworkers to show me how to do the right thing.

If I just stay in touch with Him and follow the Holy Spirit when He nudges me in the right direction, He directs and guides me.

Thank you, Lord.

We Do Not Fear

They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. — Jeremiah 17:7-8  

Those who trust in the Lord are like a tree planted by the water.

It does not fear the heat.

I have no need to fear since God is with me.

It's leaves are always green.

God keeps me nourished so I can grow in Him.

It has no worries in a year without rain.

I don't need to worry since God will guide and direct me, even when things look bleak.

It never fails to bear fruit.

I can keep sharing the love of God with others.

Bear With Each Other

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. — Colossians 3:13

Put up with each other.

Forgive each other.

Talk out your grievances.

God forgave us while we were undeserving.

Now He asks us to forgive others in the same way.

Even if I have a grievance against someone,

God asks me to forgive them.

Actually, He commands me to forgive them.

It's not a question but a statement.

Forgive them as the Lord forgave me.

God Will Also Provide a Way Out

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. — 1 Corinthians 10:13

God has provided us with a way out whenever we are tempted.

He will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear.

God is loving and merciful.

He provides everything we need.

Here's the orange blossom dessert we tried at Mister A's.

Delicious.

Bear With Each Other

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. — Colossians 3:13

It's not always easy to put up with each other.

People can be frustrating and grate on our nerves.

Even those in our own families.

But God calls us to forgive others as He has forgiven me.

If I have a grievance against someone, God asks me to be the one to start ironing it out.

He forgave me even when I didn't deserve it.

I can do the same for others, even when it's hard.

Sit Alone in Silence

It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young. Let him sit alone in silence, for the Lord has laid it on him. — Lamentations 3:27-28

It takes a lot of fortitude to bear the yoke of hardship.

But it is a good thing to experience when we are young.

It is hard to sit alone in silence.

I want to be up and moving, trying to accomplish something.

But God calls me to be still and know that He is Lord.

He asks me to sit alone in silence and bear the yoke He has given me.

Help me to obey You, Lord.

God Is Faithful

God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. — 1 Corinthians 10:13

Tomorrow we will hold a garage sale to sell some of Kirk's dad's things.

He had given us his mom's dressers and bed, which we used in our guest room.

But since we don't have that many overnight visitors, we are turning that room into a study.

Instead of the bed and dressers, we will now have a couch, our sliding rocker, and a couple of tables.

It will be a place where I can read my Bible while the rest of the family is watching TV.

When people come to visit, we will get out the air mattresses.

God is faithful.

He will not let me be tempted beyond what I can bear.

And when I am tempted, he will also provide a way out.

With God's help, I can endure temptation and flee from it!

The Spirit of Truth

When the Counselor comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness to me  and you also are witnesses, because you have been with me from the beginning. — John 15:26-27


Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to us from his Father.

The Spirit of Truth.

The Counselor.

Who bears witness to Jesus.

And who comforts and convicts us when we are going through hard times or temptations.

When we accept Jesus as our savior, we receive the Holy Spirit to guide us in our daily lives. 

We are witnesses of the grace of Jesus and the love of God and the comfort and guidance of the Holy Spirit.