Enjoy the Journey

John 15:11–21 KJV 1900

11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. 16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. 17 These things I command you, that ye love one another. 18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.

The ladies have done some bible studies that revolved around the theme - Thriving or Surviving...

I am confident, that the Lord wants us… in every situation and circumstance to thrive - not just survive...

I know there have been times where I have just held on…

just surviving...

ABIDE IN CHRIST

John 15:4–7 KJV 1900

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

LOVE ONE ANOTHER

John 15:11–12 KJV 1900

11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

John 15:17 KJV 1900

17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.

BE A FRIEND

John 15:13–15 KJV 1900

13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

ENDURE THE PRESSURE

John 15:18–23 KJV 1900

18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. 23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also.

Job 23:8–14 KJV 1900

8 Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; And backward, but I cannot perceive him: 9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: He hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: 10 But he knoweth the way that I take: When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. 11 My foot hath held his steps, His way have I kept, and not declined. 12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. 13 But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? And what his soul desireth, even that he doeth. 14 For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: And many such things are with him.

Poetry: The Refiner’s Fire

A.F. Ingler

He sat by a furnace of seven-fold heat, As He watched by the precious ore. And closer He bent with a searching gaze, As He heated it more and more.

He knew He had ore that could stand the test And He wanted the finest gold, To mold as a crown, for the king to wear, Set with gems of price untold.

So He laid our gold in the burning fire, Tho’ we fain would say Him "nay." And watched the dross that we had not seen As it melted and passed away.

And the gold grew brighter and got more bright, But our eyes were dim with tears, We saw but the fire, not the Master’s hand, And questioned with anxious fears.

Yet our gold shone out with a richer glow As it mirrored a form above, That bent o’er the fire, though unseen by us With a look of ineffable love.

Can we think it pleases His loving heart To cause us moments of pain? Ah, no! But He sees through the present cross The bliss of eternal gain.

So He waited there with a watchful eye, With a love that is strong and sure. And His gold did not suffer a bit more heat Than was needed to make it pure.

Proverbs 17:3 KJV 1900

3 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: But the Lord trieth the hearts.