Our Oikos

I had an extremely eventful weekend—boots in the house! cousins drove out for the day, Christmas program Sunday morning, and work at night. It was a busy, but extremely exciting!

Something we had to do while our cousins were here was go bowling—it’s almost become a tradition. But while we were on the way there—I cannot remember how it came up—but my cousin was telling me what she had been studying in their small-group Bible study at their church. She said they had been studying the word or the concept of oikos.

Oikos is a Greek word that, according to Strongs and BibleStudyTools.com, is defined as:

1. A house

2. The inmates of a house, all the persons forming one family, a household 

3. Stock, family, descendants of one

My cousin explained it to me as more of number two. She called it “the people you do life with”. She said they learned it was a group of usually 8 to 15 people that make up your every day, people you see, talk to, deal with, on a regular basis, and our big parts of your life (whether they’re “good” parts or not ;). I found a similarly minded article which I’ll add to the end of this post :D She went on to say how, yes we are to take the share the Gospel to our Judea and the “uttermost parts of the world” but also our Jerusalem, and our oikos is our Jerusalem. How we need to be impacting, loving, and leading/pointing the people in our oikos to Jesus.

It was a very interesting and new concept to me, and I really enjoyed learning about it. 

I usually work Sunday nights, and this last Sunday night, after they had our candlelight Christmas service, nearly our entire (yes, it is small ;) church came out to eat where I work. They filled up the lobby, gave me a hard time as I took their orders ;) sang a Christmas carol, and honestly rather made my night :D

After everyone was sitting down and fellowshipping, I was back behind the counter, cleaning up a mess, when I just tuned in to the conversation and laughter behind me. Sure, I hear this type of thing whenever I work, but this time it was familiar laughter, familiar voices. And I realized something: they were my oikos. That group of about 40ish people are literally the people I do life with. The ones I consider my family, closest friend, people I can trust for Godly counsel or simply encouragement; the friends I can be completely crazy with, but serious too; the ones I would miss extremely bad if I were to switch colleges and attend another out-of-state; the ones who love and accept me (and my family) for who I am.

They are my oikos.

And I love them and appreciate them very, very much!!

What about you? Who is your oikos at this stage in your life? What do you appreciate about them? :D How was your weekend? What random, awesome things has God been teaching you?

Merry Christmas, everyone! 

Here is the link I referred to earlier: I haven't read it thoroughly, so I'm not saying I agree with/condone everything it says, and it is taken from a specific church's site; just sharing it for interest and the sake of further study :) 

http://www.granitecreek.org/oikos-defined/ 

http://biblehub.com/greek/3624.htm 

http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/nas/oikos.html

Being Wearied with The Journey

"Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well." {John 4:6a}

So....

We {the ladies of our awesome little church!} had our Ladies Fall Fellowship/Bible study last week. It was such a blessing, and full of laughter, but when my pastor's wife began to bring the devotional, I was totally not paying attention. 

"Wanna know why?"

Because after we'd turned to the Scripture from which God had led her to bring our study, God arrested my attention so completely, inspiration hit, and I was scribbling this from-God's-heart-to-mine encouragement in my journal before I lost it! 

(Don't worry! What God gave me actually had a lot to do with our Bible study anyway :) And my pastor's wife forgave me ;-)

But here are those notes, from my heart to yours. Not sure if they are all doctrinaly sound lol but it was if a light-bulb clicked on and I was seeing this Scripture in a slightly different hue than normal!

"Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well." {John 4:6a}

(seriously. that small, simple sentence was all God needed to use to encourage me and inspire three pages of writing. Isn't He amazing??? <3 )

"It stuck me as my pastor's wife read this verse aloud that John would include that Jesus-- king of the Universe; wholly mighty in strength-- became weary. 

Weary is a word I know well. Too well. 

Maybe you as well are far to familiar with that word :( 

Maybe I'm reading too much into it, I thought. 

But...

Maybe not.

Maybe, God wanted us to know that it's okay to be tired. 

He knows. He gets it. He KNOWS where we have been and where we are. 

It was Jesus' journey that caused Him to become weary. 

Could we, perhaps, use this as a parallel to our spiritual lives? 

Jesus understands.

Could we also equate this with our daily walk in general??

Jesus gets it. He got tired. 

So He sat down. 

Maybe God put a subtle hint in here that in our life's journey, when we get tired that it's okay to sit down, to take a break... 

as long as we don't intend to QUIT!!!

{{ouch!!}}

Jesus was planning only on taking a break. Not on STOPPING!

Also this break Jesus was taking? 

It didn't stop Him from encouraging  another even when He was tired. 

Maybe we can even encourage others better when we're taking a break. because at that point?? HE GOT IT! He "got it" well! He was taking a break at the time! So maybe we can encourage others better during or after that break because "we've been there too" and therefore are better equipped to encourage them. 

Another thing. We know as believers that because He took this break, a woman's-- a TOWN's-- spiritual needs were met. 

We know it was a scheduled divine appointment on His part ;-) 

Maybe God slows us down-- has slowed YOU down-- allows struggles, sorrows, trouble, depression, discouragement, unfair/overwhelming circumstances because we can reach certainpeople during our hard spots, because of our trials, that we may never have been able to reach had everything continued to be hunky-dory, smooth-sailing. 

We (YOU!!!) can meet the spiritual needs of others because we've had this struggle, because we're going through this problem

It's okay to be tired.

It's okay to take a break!

Just take that break intending to get back up after you are rested!!!

Take that break cognizant of the fact that others need breaks too!!!

Take that break knowing that because you're taking it, God may be able to use you in a way He never could have otherwise!!

Knowing that God can use that break to encourage someone else down the road. 

You can encourage someone from a sitting position! ;-) 

First picture mine, edited from movie Mom's Night Out; rest of pictures courtesy http://www.freebibleimages.org/

Constant Giving

I learned something I already knew last Monday! (And you already know it too, but it bears repeating so I'm gonna remind you anyway *bwah ha ha!* *winks*) 

My parents had been out a lot that day—spending time with each other and running errands—so Joseph and I were “in charge” while they were gone. I had a very busy day--a day leaving me with very little “me time”. My goals for that day? Well, they didn’t get done… exactly…

After dragging myself out of bed and eating breakfast, I helped Nathan with his History homework. Then, before I’d finished my coffee, Nathan eagerly whisked me off to the living room to play Lego’s (so the coffee came with me *winks *). We played for a while, I made lunch, we played some more, mom and dad came home. I was then able to work out, eat lunch, and shower. Mom then gave me the run down of whose schoolwork needed to be checked and who still owed her what, before she and dad headed off again :D I wanted to go shut myself in my room, mess around on the computer, and get the grading/checking done, but Bethie so badly wanted to play Nancy Drew (PC games) with me, (and I had this blogpost poking around at my conscience *winks *) so I agreed to play with her. As she started to play, everyone decided they were hungry for dinner! :D So I finished potatoes (mamma started them!), heated up corn, and ‘sliced’ (read ripped) the meat off a rotisserie chicken mom and dad had brought home for us earlier. Bethie brought the computer up to the kitchen table where we continued our together time, as I went back and forth between watching her play, eating my dinner, supervising, and doing bits and pieces of kitchen cleaning in between. The winter Olympics came on, and as we watched them Hannah ironed clothes and I folded and delivered them, and Heidi did dishes during commercial breaks. Hannah made Puppy Chow and a (HUGE—I mean, seriously! She made them in cupcake tins!) Homemade Reese’s for me with my natural peanut butter for filling *smiles dreamily *. Nathan and Joseph played some battle game and watched the Olympics back and forth. It was fun. Not perfect—there were the sarcastic comments and sibling squabbles here and there—but overall it was a fun evening! When mom and dad came home, I settled down with those answer keys and homework notebooks and checked and corrected the kids’ work… … and then I was finished.

*Phew! *

A full, busy, productive, even fun day!

But I felt a tad bit weary!

I realized I hadn't really done much of what I had personally (selfishly?) hoped to accomplish today, (But, with such a good workout and long, hot shower, I really could not complain!:D) but it had still been a great, fulfilling day.

I also realized something about MOTHERHOOD. I had a head knowledge of it for some time, but today, I had a better heart knowledge of this fact: 

Mamma’s GIVE

They give A LOT

A lot of themselves,

A lot of their time,

A lot of their energy

Their focus

Every day

All. Day. Long.

And they don’t just GIVE.

They GIVE UP.

Not “give up” as in “wimping out” –huh uh!!

(they can't do that, although surely there are moments when they want to LOL!)

No! They give up their goals, their to-do lists, their time, their lives

To invest love, learning, and life into their families!

It’s fulfilling and wonderful <3

But at the end of the day it leaves a woman weary!!!

So for all you young ladies reading this right now, I encourage you to take a minute, go find your mom, and give her a hug. Thank her for all she gives every day in a million tiny ways (and moms are so good at giving of themselves to make the lives of their husbands and children better, that often, we don’t even notice all the work she really does, because she does such a flawless job!) And if your mom’s not around to hug and thank right now, purpose to do so later!!!!!

And, sweet sister, if your desire is to be a mother some day should the Lord will it, it would be an awesome idea to begin preparing for this constant giving of oneself by “practicing” a little! See if there is anything you could do daily or even just weekly around the house to lighten your mom’s load or to lift up your brothers and sisters! It would be a blessing to all those involved! :D 

And while most mothers are great examples of “constant giving”, and while it is great to follow their examples and even prepare to set our own—bear in mind our greatest Example of living a Life of constant giving! :D

"Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others." 

~~Philippians 2:3-4~~ (verses 5 through 7 could also be applied!)

 PS!! I need your help! What other verses that apply can you add? After/while reading this post, what Scriptures (about Jesus being our ultimate Example of giving) pop to mind? :D

A Fun Sister

Hello, dear readers!

Since my last post, a handful of ‘mini-posts’ have been collecting into a little puddle in the back of my mind. I’ve been kicking myself to get back on here or to simply sit down, take time and write. them. down. *Sighs at self *

One of these inspirations came in the form of my Dad, my youngest brother, and mountains of snow.

You see, I work weekends at a consignment shop in a nearby town. I usually drive to and from work, but because of all this winter weather (AKA adverse driving conditions!!!) my Daddy drove me to work last Saturday. When he came to pick me up that evening, he brought my youngest brother, Nathan, with him :D

After Daddy puttered around a little with a router he wanted to buy and Nathan “shopped” and goofed off with me as I chatted online with a friend, we packed up and headed to Wal-Mart before heading home.

By this time it was about 8 o’clockish, dark outside, and snowing—fat, luscious flakes!—once again.

As we pulled into the parking lot, we were met with a mountain range! The snow once covering the parking lot had been plowed (probably numerous times!) into giant mountains of snow in several matching rows!

“Whoa! Look at that!” Nathan exclaimed from the back seat. “It would be so cool to climb one of those! I bet I could do it!”

It’s cold.

It’s late.

It’s dark.

It’s past dinnertime… so we’re hungry.

It’s a public parking lot.

We have more important  things we need to do!

Any of these statements could’ve been used as perfect “reasons” (read excuses) for a parent (or older sister!) to deflate Nathan’s enthusiasm, brush aside as unimportant, or shoot down as immature.

But my daddy didn't do that. :D

He said something to the effect of ‘well, let’s get our shopping done first’ (which was followed by ‘do you have on boots?’ ‘Any gloves?’—he, he! :D)

We completed our errand, and as I paid, Dad and Nathan headed out to the parking lot to conquer the snow peaks! Well, Nathan scaled their frigid heights. Daddy stayed in the car and supervised lol.

But this struck a chord in me. It blessed my heart, as the observer. I found myself thinking, I want my husband to be like that—a fun daddy. One who lets the kids go with their fun impulses (within reason and Biblical parameters) and goof off once in a while, whether or not it’s convenient in the moment or “grown up” enough. In fact, I want to possess those qualities as well as a {future} mother! The ‘fun mom’. Not the one who doesn't let her kids be kids because she’s so concerned with making them ‘perfect’. :(

Climbing Parking Lot Mountains could be considered a silly thing to do…

…But Nathan sure had fun!

And daddy let him. <3 :) <3

As I got in the van, I thanked Dad: for being the dad who let his kids climb in the snow (where every other customer could see that ‘crazy kid in the snow’ *wink *) jump in the puddles, play in the play place, stop for an unplanned play at the park, Take a short break from our schoolwork to goof off and get the squirmies out.

For letting us be kids.

What is the point, you may ask?

How often do we as elder sisters squash that enthusiasm in our younger brothers and sisters? :( How often have they come to us while we are knee-deep in a project (or project bent) and begged us to play Legos or a game of Set with them—but we were too busy?? Watch a movie or play computer together—but that wasn’t as important as what we wanted to do? Or how often have we been so ‘concerned’ with them behaving ‘properly’ that we missed out on a chance to bless them? How often have we been so insistent they ‘do things right’ that we forget that kids are and will be kids and probably need to be nurtured in that and loved because of it!? How many chances have we missed to invest in them, love on them in a random, silly way… yet a way they’re likely to remember the rest of their lives!? :(:(:(

I know I am so. guilty. of this :(:(:(

I want to be a fun mom one day.

But I need to be a fun and loving sister right now! It is the now that is preparing me for the future!!!

And it means. The. World. To our younger brothers and sisters when we take time to set aside our agendas (however valid and genuinely important as they may be!) for a while and focus—all of our attention, all of our love— on them! They may not even consciously think, “wow! My sister loves me! I’m important to her!” but rest assured it is buried deep within their subconscious! They won’t have to think it.

They will KNOW.

And no, I’m not saying we should not handle wrong behavior when it arises; that being silly or constantly goofing off is the standard we should seek to emulate; or that we should just chuck encouraging our siblings to be mature. No! I am simply saying, once in a while, as my sister Bethie would tell me, “Everything (or everyone) does not have to be “perfect” (what is perfect anyway!? lol).

So I encourage you today, big sister! Set aside ‘me’ time for a while. set aside ‘adult-ness’. And go love on your sisters! Go wrestle with your brothers! Invest (your time, energy, and love) in them and let them be kids (and o my soul, YES! I AM PREACHING TO THE CHOIR!!!! Ask nearly anyone!) And HAVE FUN!

"But I my sister and I don’t get along."

"Talking to my brother is like pulling teeth!"

"You don’t know my little sister! She is so weird!"

"But my brother can be so annoying!"

Trust me I know. :D

And they’ll be the first one’s to tell you that you’re too bossy. 

That you never play with them. that the things you do are weird to them too, and that they find it annoying when you hum while they’re doing math.

I once read a quote by a sister concerning similar thoughts: “God gave us siblings to develop patience… not because we already have it!” *winks * Your relationships with your brothers and sisters are some of the most important ones you will ever have! I promise you that they are so worth pursuing!

And one more thing: please! Don’t! Ever! Let your peers pressure you into feeling as though a close relationship with your sibling is uncool. :( Ever. :( 

What are some ways you ‘practice’ the art of being a fun sister? What are some ways you are preparing to be a mother? (Yes, you can even do this now as a single young lady!) Do you ever see good/Godly qualities in good, Godly men you hope your husband will one day possess? Please share!

When the Rubber Meets the Road...

Monday evening, I had a ‘rubber meets the road’ moment. 

It was one of those convicting, “ouch” moments.

My mother was planning to go shopping at Sam’s with a friend the following day, and I wanted ssooooo badly to go with her! 

But my Dad was going to be gone on-call, so if I did go with Mom and her friend, the kids would be left home alone—with the potential to pull a ‘free-for-all’ (you know the bit, no schooling would get done, there would be lots of noise and chasing each other around the house… :-)) and the would need someone to get them lunch.

In a whiny way and with a ‘poor me’ attitude, I told my mom I would ‘just stay home’.

I could have pushed it, but I could tell that my Dad didn't love the idea, probably as a whole, and mom wasn't keen on leaving the kids by themselves.

It would have been inconvenient if I had gone with my mom, and so I decided to stay… but I was sooo bummed.

I went back to mom and dad’s room to recant telling them “it was fine- I’d stay home”, but I was stopped by overhearing Dad (who didn't know I was there) tell Bethie (my 11 year old sister, who was looking right at me) how ‘it was good for me to be staying home, so mom could go do what she wanted and needed to do (go get food to feed her family!! :-D ) and to not have to worry because I would be there to just step in and take over’—keep things humming smoothly until she returned.

(And, apparently, Bethie informed me later, that he had said something to the effect of how ‘you don’t always get what you want’—which made me mad, but I knew he was right! Which is probably why it hurt so bad lol/;-/ I needed to hear it!)

I had a pity party and invited God—lol.

 I told Him I KNEW I was being selfish and asked Him to help me put Him first; others (namely, my family!!!) second, and reserve the few remaining crumbs for myself. I realized that I've been living a very ‘me-centric’ life lately :-( I so often do get my way or get to do what I want that I’d grown spoiled :-(

God helped me realize something.

Here I am, being all “passionate” about, involved in, and say I am and believe in being a Biblical, stay-at-home-and-heart daughter (who *clears throat* loves and ministers to her family…)(and by doing that is preparing for wife-and-mommyhood) but when it really comes down to it—when I encounter the HUGE test to act upon and actually LIVE OUT what my head knows and my heart believes…

Even when it comes to being a good example as the big sister—Bethie was right there watching and hearing the entire thing! (She mouths to me -and in a sweet, respectful way!- “but isn't that kind of selfish?!”… Um yeah. OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) I was not so hot on the performance end.

When all is said and done, when it comes time to PRACTICALLY LIVE OUT what I believe, do I selflessly submit and practice what I preach?

Do I lay down my desires to defer to another’s (A HUGE, integral part of wife and motherhood, BTW!!!)??

Or do I push, twist, and maneuver circumstances to get my way—what I want—at the inconvenience of others?!

As you can imagine, this was a big light-bulb moment for me. I can romanticize about and expound upon the virtues of being a virtuous daughter, but daydreaming and talking :-) are easy things to do.

Selfless, virtuous living?

Yeah.

That’s TOUGH.

But by the grace of God, it’s not impossible! (Matthew 19:26) (Matthew 10:27) (Luke 1:37) (Luke 18:27) (Philippians 4:13)

What about you, dear daughter? Have you (like me :( ) allowed selfishness to creep in and derail you from what you know and believe to be true?

What about you, dear sister? Have you been a less-than-stellar example lately (like me :( )?

What about you, dear Princess? Have you allowed the enemy and his minions to convince you that holy living is impossible—so why bother?

Please know that I do not condemn you! I’m guilty as well. 

But by God’s grace, let’s get back up, learn from this, and keep going forward!

We can talk a good talk—but when the rubber meets the road, can we, can I, walk a good walk?

Musings from Michal

Last Monday the Lord used a rather unfamiliar and infamous woman of the Old Testament to teach me a lesson on my own femininity. As I wrote in my devotional journal (as so often happens) my mind went to ‘blog-post mode’, and ever since it’s been in the back of my mind, on my ‘to-do list’, to rewrite and post on here. By God’s grace, here it goes!!! J Let’s do our devotions together! :-)

(Please begin by asking the Lord to speak to your heart and make you ‘speak-to-able’! :-) ♥)

1 Samuel 19:11-17 

“Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David's wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain. So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped. And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth.  And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick. And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him. And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster. And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped?”

As David’s wife, Michal now had a perfect opportunity to shine the truthful and very best possible light on her husband, flesh of her flesh.

Yet to the person with whom it would actually cause the very most damage (her father Saul, David’s self-proclaimed enemy—(1 Samuel 19:17)) she told a lie and said that David had threatened to kill her had she not aided him in escaping from her father.

“And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee?”

First of all, we know enough of David’s character at this point to be able to safely assume that he would do no such thing as to threaten to kill his very wife!

But secondly, we know that this is a lie because the Bible tells us what went on before Saul and his men came on the scene, and no threats were involved. So, clearly—and sadly—Michal lied. :-(

Michal had the perfect opportunity to soften her father’s heart toward her innocent husband (as her own brother Jonathan did early on in this very same chapter!!!) by reminding her father of all the good and right things David had done by God’s grace and how the Lord had clearly used David time and time again to aid Saul’s kingdom! But instead, Michal drops the ball and tells a lie—one that instead of building up her husband in the eyes of her father tore him down—one that no doubt only cemented in Saul’s mind the self-consuming mantra “David must die!”

Most of us probably know what it’s like to hear someone close to us tear down another person who is dear to our hearts. Perhaps you have heard parents disagree with each other in front of you and your siblings, or had one parent disagree with the other in his or her absence. And surely we’ve all had friends (or should we say “acquaintances”!? J) tear down our other friends (AKA GOSSIP) when they are conveniently not aroundL. We know what it’s like to hear people tear each other down with unkind words.

We know what that’s like. I know what it’s like to hear someone gossip about another (out of pure or selfish spite) and I know how it’s done—I’ve done it before, and sadly because I am a fleshly human shall surely do it again :-(

But this is so wrong.

(I’m not telling you anything you don’t know! :-( )

And what about the way I tear down others at church in front of my younger siblings??? :-( Or (worse yet! :( ) how about how I tear down one sibling (‘s behavior) to another?!? :-( :-( :-( OUCH!

Now, of course, we need to be extremely careful because, even though the world likes to misquote Scripture to make it sound otherwise, we are, as Christians, to exercise righteous judgment, (as opposed to biased, or ‘judgmental’ judgment :D). The judgment we pass may be righteous, just, and even necessary judgment! (See Matthew 7:1-6, James 2:12-13 (and Psalms 37:30?), for more in-depth study on Godly judgment!) So before we open our mouths ‘against’ another sibling or church member or friend, I need to pray for wisdom and righteous, Godly judgment and think ‘is this TRUE, NECESSARY, and/or KIND?’! And if it passes those three tests and is backed up by a prayer for God’s guidance, we may safely proceed.

We don’t normally think of Michal as someone we can learn anything from, because she doesn’t set a positive example; but we can learn from her mistakes and use her not-so-good example to help us make good decisions! :D

What we can learn from Michal in the passage is, in a BROAD SENSE, to speak of others in the BEST POSSIBLE LIGHT. I would say especially fellow believers to non- and other fellow believers alike. But, even more personally, and as Daughters at home (if that happens to be how the Lord has led you! :D) and definitely as Future Wives, we, as young ladies, need to learn to speak of our husbands (to everyone—our friends, our children, our parents…) in the best possible light. How can we learn to speak well of our husbands while we are still unmarried, one may ask?  While we are still unmarried and in our father’s house, we need to practice this by speaking of our fathers (and our mothers) in the best possible light! To speak to your friends, extended family, and your younger brothers and sisters with respect to your parents and their decisions, whether or not you agree with them. Not to speak derogative things about them to others (complain that you can’t go over to so-and-so’s house; gripe over the fact that dad doesn't like how low the neckline is, or how mom wouldn't let you buy that tight skirt…etc…) , but to promote their attributes—the good things they do—when given the chance! (Which means we need to be on the look out for those attributes!

We need to see the good in others! Don’t just always see and focus on the bad!!!)

Also, we can learn to speak to (and of) our siblings (as if they were our future children!!!) about other family members and church family in the best possible light and/or with Godly, righteous judgment!

May we, by God’s grace, seek to see and praise the good in others—not to zero in on and publicize the bad! 

Abiding In Love {Loving Others}

“If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.”

John 15:10-12

In verse 10, Jesus wants us to A.) Abide in Him (verse 7) and B.) Continue (keep going) in His love. Then He tells us how to Abide-in-Him and Continue-in-His-Love! “If we keep His commandments, we shall ABIDE in His LOVE!!!” ‘Just as He (has) kept His Father’s commandments and abide in His love’ as our Ultimate Example!!! BUT! What are His commandments? What is His commandment? Jesus includes the answer to that as well as we shall see in verse 12! But I am getting ahead of myself! J

Another principle we can draw from verse 10 as well, is that Jesus isn’t asking us to do anything that A.) He hasn’t already done (Hebrews 5:14) or B.) that is impossible! Difficult, surely; but doable by God’s grace and through the power of His Holy Spirit! ♥

In verse 11, Jesus tells us that He has told us all these things (according to a Bible commentary I read, “these things” refers to chapter 14, as well as us being fruitful in, by, through, and for Him) because He knows that living for him, abiding in Him, His Words abiding in us, and our being obedient and in constant communion with Him, brings (fullness of) JOY to the Believer’s life! Our lives!!! JJJJ

Then, finally, in verse 12, Jesus gives us His commandment He desires us to obey in verse 10; the commandment that the keeping of brings ability to ‘abide in Him’ and enables us to ‘continue in His love’. The commandment is that we…

Love one another (or, applied personally, love others) as Christ has loved (& continues to love) you and I!!!

That’s a pretty BIG love!!!

But, by the grace and power of God, it is not an impossible one!