Where are you staying?

In John 1, the disciples asked Jesus, “Where are you staying?” They wanted to know where He lived and lodged.

In John 15, Jesus flips the question and asks us the same, “Where are you abiding? Where is your abode?” This is absolutely vital for unless we abide in Him we will never bear fruit. We must live, hang out, dwell and remain in Jesus and make Him our home base. Like the branch and the vine we must:

  1. Stay Dependent on Jesus

  2. Stay in Love with Jesus.

    Then and only then will be fruitful followers of Jesus!

Who is Jesus?

And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God (Re 3:14–15).

Jesus is the Finality, “the Amen”

Jesus is the Reality, “the Faithful and True Witrness”

Jesus is the Vitality, “the Beginning of the creation of God”


~ source Stephen Olford

Two Kinds of Storms

Storms of Correction

When Jonah disobeyed God he went in the wrong direction, the oppositve direction of what God wanted. So God corrected the wayward prophet by causing a fierce storm to bear down on Jonah and the sailors. This was God’s loving way of helping Jonah get back on the right path. Jonah was wrong and God redirected him by sending him back in the right direction using a “Storm of Correction.”

But sometimes believers experience hard times, not because they have done anything wrong. Sometimes God puts believers in a storm for another reason. These are called . . .

Storms of Perfection

The disciples enjoyed a postcard perfect day with Jesus. There were miracles, parables, and dramatic deliverances. Then the Lord said, “Let’s go over to the otherside.” A storm came up so violent even experienced fishermen feared for their lives. The Lord calmed the storm inspiring the disicples to respond, “Who can this be that even the wind and waves obey Him?” It was scary at the time, but the Lord was using a disturbance to grow their faith. They were spiritually strenghend because of their “storm of perfection.

Wise Christians must discern the nature of their trouble, praying “God is this a a storm of correction? Or a storm of perfection?” Different storms require differenct responses!

When God wants to Drill a Man

“When God wants to drill a man,

And thrill a man,

And skill a man

To play the noblest part;

When He yearns with all His heart

To create so great and bold a man

That all the world shall be amazed,

Watch His methods, watch His ways!

How He ruthlessly perfects

Whom He royally elects!

How He hammers him and hurts him,

And with mighty blows converts him

Into trial shapes of clay which

Only God understands;

While his tortured heart is crying

And he lifts beseeching hands!

How He bends but never breaks

When his good He undertakes;

How He uses whom He chooses,

And with every purpose fuses him;

By every act induces him

To try His splendor out

God knows what He’s about.”

~ Anonymous

How to Live a Blessed Life

According to Psalm 1, we can live a happy life! And the way to do so is simple and straight forward:

  • WE MUST BE SEPARATED FROM THE WORLD, v 1

watch where we step, stand, and sit

  • WE MUST BE SATURATED WITH THE WORD, v 2

  • WE MUST BE SITUATED BY THE WATER, v 3

water is a symbol for the Spirit of God


Source: Jack May