John 15:5 NASB “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”

Earlier today I turned on the TV in our guestroom while straightening up, but when I tried to turn it off, it wouldn’t turn off! I thought the batteries were dead in the remote, so I found new batteries and put them in, but it still wouldn’t turn off. I tried to use the buttons on the actual TV, but it would NOT turn off. I was seriously considering leaving the TV on and just shutting the bedroom door when I thought “Duh! Just unplug it! No electronic device can work without a power source!

If we want to “bear much fruit” for God’s kingdom: if we want to have an effective ministry, if we want to speak truth to our neighbors, if we want to live redeemed lives, we have to be plugged in to the power source! Without the Holy Spirit in us, we “can do nothing!”

-Kevi

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Matthew 13:15-16 NASB  "'FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL, WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR, AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES, OTHERWISE THEY WOULD SEE WITH THEIR EYES, HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN, AND I WOULD HEAL THEM.’ But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear."

The last few times I have been to Sam’s Club there has been a big machine that gives out free samples of fruit snacks (I love fruit snacks). As I pushed my cart toward the kiosk today, there were two ladies that appeared frustrated that nothing was coming out of the machine and they walked off. The machine said to me (yes, this machine really talks) “Today’s free sample will be delivered by email.” Of course it wasn’t fruit snacks, it was a free code for the Photo Center, which is a nice freebie so I put in my email and walked away a happy customer. Apparently the ladies there before me were not listening to the nice machine, so they walked away disappointed!

In Matthew 13 the disciples were asking Jesus why he spoke in parables and He told them that not everyone would understand what He had to say, because not everyone was willing to listen! Everyone would hear the same parable, but only his followers would understand it.  

If we are truly listening to God’s Word, we will be blessed by it. If we aren’t listening to what God has to say, we may walk away disappointed!

-Kevi

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John 14:26 NASB   But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

Last night was a particularly trying and sleepless night with my almost one year old son. So I started off the day grumpy and with little patience. Throughout the day the Holy Spirit used many different ways to remind me that my son is a blessing! That I prayed for the opportunity to be a mother, and that I am blessed to spend my days at home with him. As the day went on my mood went from disgruntled to joyful. There is no other explanation for this change than the Holy Spirit.

I am grateful for the Helper! I need Him each and every day.

-Kevi

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Deuteronomy 9:4-6 NLT   “After the LORD your God has done this for you, don’t say in your hearts, ‘The LORD has given us this land because we are such good people!’ No, it is because of the wickedness of the other nations that he is pushing them out of your way. It is not because you are so good or have such integrity that you are about to occupy their land. The LORD your God will drive these nations out ahead of you only because of their wickedness, and to fulfill the oath he swore to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. You must recognize that the LORD your God is not giving you this good land because you are good, for you are not—you are a stubborn people.

Moses gave the Israelites a reality check right before they were going to cross the Jordan River and begin to conquer what would eventually become their land.

When I read this passage last night, the Holy Spirit gave me a reality check, too! After more than 20 years of being a Christian, it’s easy for me to start thinking I deserve some of the blessings God sends my way. In reality, I deserve death and destruction for my sins, but Christ has made the way for my salvation. May I never forget that God does not bless me because I am good, but because He is good.

-Kevi

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Revelations 1:17-18 NKJV   And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death”.

Have you ever watched an action movie when you had a general idea of how it would end? Maybe someone spoiled the ending for you, or maybe you knew the main character couldn’t die, because they’ve already announced they are starring in the sequel! When that happens I still feel the suspense of all the ups and downs of the action, but ultimately I’m not worried, because I know how the story ends.

I was reminded in a Bible study on Revelations yesterday that we already know how the story of this world will end! We know Christ was raised from the dead, we know He is coming back for His church, and we know He holds “the keys of Hades and of Death.”

Although I still feel all the ups and downs that I go through in this world, I can choose to accept the peace that comes with knowing Christ, because I know how the story ends.

-Kevi

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Hebrews 13:7 NASB   Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.

When my niece had her 10^th birthday this summer I decided to do something special and take her shopping for clothes to pick out her own birthday present. I did it because I still remember as a little girl when one of my aunts took me to Toys R Us to pick out my own birthday present (I got a Barbie hair salon set). I’m learning how to be a great aunt by imitating all the loving and supportive aunts I have in my life.

Likewise, I am learning how to live a God-centered life by imitating the people of faith I have known throughout my life (aunts included).

-Kevi

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II Kings 5: 10-11; 13 NASB   Elisha sent a messenger to him [Naaman], saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored to you and you will be clean.” But Naaman was furious and went away and said, “Behold, I thought, ‘He will surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.’ Then his servants came near and spoke to him and said, “My father, had the prophet told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child and he was clean.

I was really upset the other day to find a rebate check in my wallet that I forgot to cash, and had now expired. A check isn’t worth anything if you don’t cash it! (Now, it was only $12, so don’t feel too sorry for me.)

When Naaman the leper sought out someone to cure his leprosy, the prophet Elisha wrote him a check for a cure. God would heal his leprosy if he would just follow some simple instructions. And Naaman almost didn’t cash the check! Ultimately he had the humility and the faith to follow Elisha’s instructions, and he was completely healed.

God offers His children many blessings throughout the Bible. If we have the humility and the faith to follow His instructions, we can receive these gifts. Don’t leave those checks uncashed!

-Kevi

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Matthew 18:8-9 NASB   “If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be cast into the eternal fire. If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it from you. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, than to have two eyes and be cast into the fiery hell.

A few months back I spilled some water on my laptop. I wasn’t too concerned about it until my laptop started typing the same letters over and over…without my help. So I figured the computer was a goner and I’d need a new one. But my IT guy (my wonderful husband) thought he would try something drastic first. He opened up the laptop and disconnected the keyboard from the mother board. He set up a wireless keyboard for me to type with instead. So the physical keyboard was “cut off” from the rest of the computer, and though it looks a little odd to have another keyboard sitting on top of my laptop, it works great and it saved my computer from the landfill.

Jesus is saying that if we have sin in our lives that is keeping us from serving Him, we should take whatever drastic measures are necessary to cut it out! The drastic measures may not be appealing (like losing a body part) but the temporary pain pales in comparison to the pain of eternal separation from God.

-Kevi

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Luke 10:38-42 NLT   As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Have you ever gone to the store for “just one thing” and ended up with a cart full? Yeah, me too. One thing becomes just one more thing, and my quick trip is sidetracked. If I really want to get in and out of the store quickly, I don’t let myself get a cart. After all, there are only so many “one more things” I can carry!

I think most of us leave church Sunday with the idea that sitting at Jesus’ feet is the “one thing worth being concerned about.”  But as the week goes on we pile more and more things into our cart, sidetracking us from our God-given purpose.

Lord, help me to focus more on You, and cut out the distractions that fill up my days!

-Kevi

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Luke 10:38-42 NLT   As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

My son is learning to walk, and he is really getting around now! I had high hopes that walking would bring this “mama’s boy” some more independence, but most of the time walking (like crawling) just brings him straight to me! You see, he has already discovered the “one thing” in his life that is most important to him. He uses all of his newfound skills to bring him closer to that “one thing.”

What is your “one thing?” What are you using your time, your energy, and your resources to get closer to?

-Kevi

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