Power filled Positive Living—Chapter 18C—5 Steps to Abide in Love no matter what

In Christ we have everything that we need. Resting (Abiding) in Christ, we have the power of the Holy Spirit within us. We have the very presence of God’s Love for Christ and Christ’s love for the Father flowing through our being with all the power and might that Perfect Love can bring. That is the transforming power within us to lift us up—cause us to continue in Joy. Look, what Christ told the Apostles, “⁹As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. …¹¹These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full” (John 15) He is telling the very men who are about to have their whole world turned upside down by the death and crucifixion of Christ. At first, they will scatter confused until He appears to them in His resurrected body. Christ is telling the very followers who will be facing persecution, hunger, loss, beatings and even death to further the gospel that by abiding in His Love they might have His joy remain in them and their joy might be full. How?

The picture is used with permission of Good Salt, the writings I have added.

How do I have joy or hope when everything I had dreamed of or hoped for has fallen apart? How does one trust when their job is gone and they don’t know how they will provide for their family? What about when your children are sick, how can you have joy? Or when that dreaded diagnosis of cancer comes like a thief in the middle of your night to steal your joy—How? What about when your heart is broken? How do you abide in love and joy when all you want to do is cry?

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Power-filled Positive Thinking-Chapter 18B-The Life Giving Vine-my Greatest Treasure

To rest in God’s love, joy, and peace; we must first rest in the truth of our salvation by faith in Christ. That is what Christ was saying in the parable about the vine. Let’s look at those verses once more: “^“1I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. ²Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. ³Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. ⁴Abide 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. ⁵I 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. ⁶If 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. ⁷If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. ⁸Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. ⁹As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. ¹⁰If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. ¹¹These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full” (John 15)

At first glance, one might think this supports the idea of losing one’s salvation, since the branch can be taken away and burned; but that would be contrary to the rest of the Bible’s teaching and even the remainder of what Christ is saying here. If we look throughout the Bible historically the grape vine and the fig tree were at times representative of the spiritual standing of the people of God. Just as salvation in the New Testament is by faith, so was salvation in the Old Testament. Without faith, there is no hope of salvation for fallen man. The Jewish nation were chosen by God to be His people; yet, many branches (including the Pharisees and Sadducees who were too blinded by self-exalting pride to recognize Christ as the Messiah) would have to be removed from the vine. Meanwhile, salvation came to the Gentiles through faith and all we who accept Christ as our Savior are grafted into the true vine. So the first question is:

Do you know Christ as your Savior? Do you have the life-flowing sap in your branches? If so, then you will bring forth fruit. It may require a lot of pruning; but, you will. We can rest in that truth. Christ has said that He is the true vine, the sap—the energy flows through Him into the branches. No branch has any life without the life-giving power of the vine.

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Power-filled Positive Thinking-Chapter 18 A-Resting in Christ-Abiding in Him

It was mid-November, 2000 Melissa had returned to her home in California, Alberto was at the University of Missouri, Ronald was at the Kubert School of Art in New Jersey, and I was all alone, still recovering from the surgery in which my colon was removed. I had planned it that way. I felt my children had been through and seen enough of suffering, illness and even death. I had not expected the setback, the high fevers which had required my driving myself 4 hours back to the hospital and then home a week later with all the equipment in hand to administer the antibiotics myself. I couldn’t afford home health nurses, so I knew I could do this and I did. Besides, I was never good at asking for anyone to help me—somewhat of a “do it myself” kind of girl. It would be soon that I would go back for the final stage of surgery where they would “take down” the ileostomy; but, for the moment I had a very unruly ileostomy. Awakened each night in the middle of the night because the bag broke, I would be forced to get up, take a shower and surrounded by towels, attempt to replace it. That ordeal could take hours to accomplish. Shivering with cold, tears pouring down; I felt desperately lonely in those moments. Yet, I had made the choice to do all this alone.

Artwork used by permission of Ronald Barba

Very often, in this Christian journey; I have done that. I have looked into heaven and said, “I can do it.” So often, I have wanted to prove to God that I was worthy of His love. If I just tried a little harder I would make God proud of me. What has taken me a lifetime to learn is that the only way I can bring Him Glory is to learn how to rest in Him. Abiding in Christ is the only way I can live forth a life that honors Him. There is nothing that these hands of mine can do apart from Him that could bring Him Glory.

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In Christ, Sweet Victory is Mine

By Effie Darlene Barba

In Christ, Sweet Victory is mine

Resting in Christ, Such Joy sublime!

In Christ my hope eternity

Redeemed, Beloved in Christ I be

Beauty and Grace in Christ I found

Glorious Hope in Christ abound

 

A heart so filled with pain and grief

How deep I plunged with no relief

From battles fought and battles lost

My search for joys whate’er the cost

I could not bear my weight of shame

My heart cried out “I am to blame”

 

Then in that deepest darkest hour

Rays of light did hope empower

It was the truth of God’s dear word

A whispering sound of grace I heard

Glorious hope did then abound

Love’s arms engulfed me all around

 

I gazed upon a cross of pain

While tears fell down like pouring rain

His hand reached out to set me free

As sorrow turned to joy filled glee

I realized in God’s dear Son

The greatest treasure I had won

 

And herein lies the mystery

The one the world doth shun to see

That in the midst of sorrows here

I’d learned to see His Glory clear

I lay all else as loss behind

The one true source of joy is mine

 

His Glory shining brighter still

As I conforming to His will

Rejoice amidst my darkness hour

Weakness turns to mighty power

While drenched beneath torrential rain

My spirit singing this refrain:

 

In Christ, Sweet Victory is mine

Resting in Christ-Such Joy sublime!

In Christ my hope eternity

Redeemed, Beloved in Christ I be

Beauty and Grace in Christ I found

Glorious Hope in Christ abound

©2015 Effie Darlene Barba

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post.  I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Power filled Positive Thinking Chapter 17C- The Validity and Reliability Testing of Faith

When we evaluate anything in our life we search to know whether it is valid and whether it is reliable. This is true of relationships, thoughts, new ideas, inventions, items we purchase, new “breakthroughs” in science, the cars we drive, and even, the diets we choose to eat. We don’t wish to look gullible or foolish. We test things in order to find out if they really are valid and are really reliable. We want to know, “can we trust them.”

How then can I hold firm to peace when all around me there is chaos? When all my human desires lay broken and shattered at my feet, how can I move forward knowing that “all is well”? When my heart is crushed by the weight of this world’s sorrows, where do I find that fountain of joy that allows me to tenderly, genuinely smile?

Where is the power that allows me to live positively and to think positively in every situation of this life? That is what I have found in Christ. As my Savior and King, He has purchased and sealed for me a relationship with God—one that has been tested and tried throughout my lifetime and been proven both valid and reliable.

It has been through the trials that I have come to know how faithful God is. It has been through dark valleys that I have learned how to feel his presence ever with me. It has been in the silence of my loneliest and darkest nights that I have heard His gentle, soft voice whispering a word of comfort or singing a song of joy over me.

But you might ask, “Where is the proof that the gospel is true?”

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