There is a story about a guy who moved into a small wooden house that had just a stove and some simple furnishings. Winter hit and the little house just stayed cold and guy felt like he was going to freeze. So, he decided to pry some boards from the outside of the house and stoke the fire with them. The fire was warmer, but now the little house, without some of the outer boards, was colder. So, he went out to pry off more boards to create a larger fire. But the house grew colder. So, he went out to take off more boards from the outside to create a larger fire…but the house grew even colder. Finally, the man just hated the weather, hated the house and even hated the stove. And in complete frustration, he gave up and moved somewhere else. Have you been there? There are times when the more you try, the harder things get…it gets worse rather than better. God never promises an easy life for his followers. But we need to remember that if we try to do this life on our own, Jesus warned us that apart from him, we can do nothing (John 15:5). On the other side of the coin, the Apostle Paul wrote (Philippians 4:13) “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” And there is the secret and the power to not just surviving this life, but thriving in it, even when it gets hard. We can’t do this Christian life by ourselves. And we cannot live successfully in God’s economy without this Jesus of the Bible in our lives. So, reach out to the God who calls you to grab the life preserver that he is throwing you. Let this Jesus be your rescuer. For as the Bible says “With people it is impossible, not so with God. With God all things are possible.” (Mark 10:27). You were never meant to live this life without him. All it takes is your invitation to him to come and be with you and lead you from futility to fruitfulness. Here’s our Bible verse for today…
John 15:4-5 NLT Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. (5) “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.
Remember I’m praying for you…
PJ
John 15:4-5 NLT Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. (5) “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.
Remember I’m praying for you…
PJ