Bible Passage for the Week

John 15:5 - "I am the vine; you are the branches.  Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."

The strength we can pull from this verse is comforting.  Take a moment to consider how a branch survives.  The branch must stay connected to the vine.  If it does not stay connected the branch will wither away.  Well, Christ is the vine and a branch connected to that vine will thrive!  Abide in the Lord, stay connected to the Vine and thrive in Him!

Cheryl  

Bible Passage for the Week

My apologies for being late!

Philippians 1:3-4 - "I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy."

Is there someone in your life that you are thankful for?  Make sure you let them know as well as pray for them.  Let God know you are so thankful for the people He puts in your lives. 

Cheryl

Does God Ask Too Much?

Deuteronomy 6:6-9

“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.  You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.  You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.  You shall write them on the doorposts on your house and on your gates.”

 

Do you ever think sometimes God asks too much of us?  Take Deuteronomy 6:6-9 for instance.  God is asking us to take the commands He has given us and put them on our hearts.  Teach them diligently.  Talk of them when you are sitting.  Talk of them when you walking.  Talk of them when you lie down and when you rise.  Bind these commands on your hand.  Put these commands between your eyes.  Write them on the doorposts of your house and at your gates.  Good grief!  Is there ever a time to step away from it – to just be? 

The answer is no.  God commanded these very things for a reason.  In fact, He commanded them multiple times.  If you take a look at Deuteronomy 11, or Proverbs 3:3, or Proverbs 6:21, or Proverbs 7:3 they all talk about binding God’s word and commands.  So it must be something we should take to heart.

There is another section of scripture that talks about the devil lurking.  1 Peter 5:8 notes, “Be sober-minded; be watchful.  Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”  The devil would love to devour you.  He wants to take you away from the Savior.  However, if you are putting the Lord’s commands on your heart; teaching them diligently; talking of them when you are sitting, walking, or lying down the devil has no space to “get in”.  You see, filling your time with Christ and being in His word fills you with all you need.  He will give you His guidance, His peace, His promises and the devil doesn’t fit anywhere in that equation!  “The Lord is faithful.  He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” 2 Thessalonians 3:3

Each week there is a bible passage to ponder on this blog.  This is one way to fill yourself with His word and pass it along to others.  Whether there are children in your house or not we are all teachers of His word.  We can demonstrate to others; we can share with others; we can fill our lives with Christ!  Christ has conquered the evil one and we have victory through Him!  “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” I Corinthians 15:57

Cheryl  Durheim  

Bible Passage for the Week

2 Chronicles 16:9 - "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward Him."

This verse provides such comfort!  The eyes of the Lord are constantly watching the whole earth to be able to give the support needed to those who love Him.  When we have that kind of support we have nothing to fear.  The Lord will provide, guide, and take care of us!

Cheryl

Bible Passage for the Week

Isaiah 43:11 - "I am the Lord, and besides me there is no Savior."

Sometimes simplicity is nice!  There is no Savior but the Lord and it is as simple as that!  We don't look to anyone other than our Lord for the truth.

This is a great passage to memorize, post around the house and simply repeat over and over again.  No matter what anyone else tells us, we have one Savior!

Cheryl

Intimacy - There Is More To It...

 

1 Corinthians 7:5 –“Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer, but then come together again so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”

Intimacy – or should I say sexual relations.  Many times when the word intimacy is used that is the first and only thought that comes to mind.  We will take a look at that aspect of intimacy but I want to begin with a different verse.

Psalm 139:1 – “O Lord, you have searched me and known me.”

The first definition of intimacy in the dictionary is… “Close or warm friendship or understanding; personal relationship.” (dictionary.com) To be intimate with someone you are really close to them.  You know them in and out; just as it states in Psalm 139:1 – “O, Lord, you have searched me and known me.” 

That definition paints a whole different picture to intimacy.  Do you know your spouse in and out?  Have you taken the time to listen, to understand, to find out the little details in every aspect of your spouse?  There are years of things to discover within each other! 

Let’s go back to 1 Corinthians 7:5.  This verse is clearly talking about the sexual intimacy in a marriage.  But what if we deprived each other of getting to know one another in a close intimate friendship?  What if we didn’t take the time to talk with one another?  What if we didn’t spend quality time together with our clothes on?  Do you think satan would use that opportunity to divide a relationship?  YES, he will!!

Intimacy entails a great deal of trust, time, and dedication to one another.  Take time to discover things you didn’t know about your spouse.  Laugh together; cry together; share together; pray together and the intimacy of the friendship will grow.  The trust and dedication between each other will be stronger and satan will not have the ability to come between you.  

Finally, back to 1 Corinthians 7:5 – “Do not deprive one another…”  God created man and woman to be together in a married relationship.  When that intimacy is not there, the devil has an open door to tempt you.  Leave him out of your relationship and grow together in all definitions of intimacy!

Cheryl Durheim 

Bible Passage for the Week

Psalm 92:5 "How great are you works, O Lord!  Your thoughts are very deep!"

The last couple of weeks the bible passages have dealt with following the Lord's plan.  Psalm 92:5 speaks to why we should follow the Lord's plans.  The works of the Lord are great and His thoughts are very deep.  They are beyond what we can comprehend.  So when God asks something of us that seems crazy or the world thinks is crazy - remember the Lord's works are great and He has truly thought everything through!

Cheryl