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Guest Post: Mark's of a Disciple: Allegiance to Christ's Compelling Leadership.

May 23, 2018 by Stephanie Leave a Comment

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Jesus provides our identity: life in the vine.
Jesus is the vine to supply our identity, life and growth.
We are the branches connected and resting in Him;
we have all we need for life and godliness.
Fruit is naturally produced from the branches.
It is not a matter of effort-it is a matter of identity.
John 15, Luke 6:45
~God is the Caretaker of the Vine.
Jesus’ identity is in the Father;
He only does whatever He sees the Father doing.
The Father in His supreme authority planted the vine,
and then tends the vine until the coming of the age when all things are revealed.
~The fruit we bear depends upon the Vine.
Apart from the vine,
we can do nothing.
We are not independent agents of good,
earning our way to the top of the kingdom food chain.
We are wholly and utterly dependent branches of the vine,
and therefore all we are and all we do, is His work in us.
Apart from the vine, says Jesus, you can do nothing.
~Every good branch is pruned on the vine.
Fruit producing branches are going to get pruned.
Pruning are necessary endings.
Pruning requires that we cut something away.
Pruning is painful.
Pruning involves hardship,
loss or trial, make no mistake.
~Remain in the Vine.
To be in the Vine is the ultimate contentment and joy.
Both bearing fruit to the glory of God yet, dually it can be a place of loss, pain and persecution.
With God, there is no compromise in His counsel and leadership through Christ.
Remain in Christ, fix our gaze upon Christ, all allegence to Christ, who is the Vine and glory alone.
 
http://mightyrighthand.com/2017/08/5-marks-of-a-dis…lling-leadership/
Mary Beth Anderson
is a soul care counselor, consultant for leadership, and she
writes about theology, poetry, and discipleship within a biblical worldview.
This excerpt is taken from her website in the series, “Marks of a Disciple.” 
Mary writes of God’s grace and mercy working all things
for good in and through her life from childhood memories in the beautiful,
northern state of Michigan with great waterskiing and
delicious blueberries; to living the desire, pursuit and favor
of a professional modeling career.  
Although God’s hand of favor was sought, 
she’s grateful while in New York City our merciful God quietly,
yet strategically wooed, revealed, and challenged the focus of her heart. 
Questions echoed and surrounded the meaninglessness of life;
specifically within the American dream. Yet, with Gods reputation to hover over and be on the move,
He pulled her out of the world’s parade to breathe His eternal air.
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.

The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” ~Galatians 2: 20

You can find Mary Beth Anderson 
on Twitter @maryanderson312; writing @ www.mightyrighthand.com 

 

Mary Beth Anderson

maryanderson312@gmail.com
www.mightyrighthand.com
The Anderson Group
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When my first child was born 20 plus years ago, I envisioned taking just a few years off from my role as Pastor of Youth and Family. While that didn’t exactly unfold as expected, God used my gifts and skills in other ways. Read More…

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s2thomp

Oh my goodness! I made red lobster biscuits as a l Oh my goodness! I made red lobster biscuits as a loaf! So good!
Lena ( who is vegan) prepared an herbed butter roa Lena ( who is vegan) prepared an herbed butter roasted turkey. We collaborated on vegan side dishes including rolls (amazing!), sauteed green beans with shallots, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes and of course dessert. Thankful for her culinary coaching and help today. How is your Thansgiving?
My recent reads. Three female authors who expanded My recent reads. Three female authors who expanded my recognition of the character of God and what it means to belong to the bold sisterhood of image bearers. I long to have their words coursing through my veins at all times.
“Are these good for baking?” asked the man sha “Are these good for baking?” asked the man sharing space in front of the bin of potatoes. I had navigated around the maze of vegetable stands in the produce department of the grocery store on a Saturday afternoon, and arrived here at this moment. As I looked up, he continued, “I’m new to this.”

 I answered his question, my mind reeling with the scenarios playing out in his life right now. He appeared in his 60’s. Did his spouse recently die? Divorce? “Sure. These are what I use. There is another bin over with more,” I replied as I pointed away from where we stood. 

My answer felt inadequate to what was conveyed seconds before. But it is what he needed. Humanity. A recognition that we see and hear each others as companions in this place wrought with both beauty and pain.

As he parted, he thanked me and I remembered: I have encountered this situation before. Another time in a different store, an elderly man asked me where to find an item and commented that he had never done the grocery shopping before. I walked away wishing I could do more than identify an aisle.

These encounters remind me that “we are all walking each other home.” At anytime, any one of us is harboring invisible struggles. None of us is immune to the realities that we live in a place this side of Heaven. 

But we have the opportunity to offer grace and love in the most ordinary of moments. We share out of what has been given to us. It’s not ours to hoard.

Read more: https://stephaniejthompson.com/2020/10/27/seeking-gods-transformation-of-our-interactions-with-others/  #graceupongrace #sacredconnections. #loveyourneighbor
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s2thomp

Oh my goodness! I made red lobster biscuits as a l Oh my goodness! I made red lobster biscuits as a loaf! So good!
Lena ( who is vegan) prepared an herbed butter roa Lena ( who is vegan) prepared an herbed butter roasted turkey. We collaborated on vegan side dishes including rolls (amazing!), sauteed green beans with shallots, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes and of course dessert. Thankful for her culinary coaching and help today. How is your Thansgiving?
My recent reads. Three female authors who expanded My recent reads. Three female authors who expanded my recognition of the character of God and what it means to belong to the bold sisterhood of image bearers. I long to have their words coursing through my veins at all times.
“Are these good for baking?” asked the man sha “Are these good for baking?” asked the man sharing space in front of the bin of potatoes. I had navigated around the maze of vegetable stands in the produce department of the grocery store on a Saturday afternoon, and arrived here at this moment. As I looked up, he continued, “I’m new to this.”

 I answered his question, my mind reeling with the scenarios playing out in his life right now. He appeared in his 60’s. Did his spouse recently die? Divorce? “Sure. These are what I use. There is another bin over with more,” I replied as I pointed away from where we stood. 

My answer felt inadequate to what was conveyed seconds before. But it is what he needed. Humanity. A recognition that we see and hear each others as companions in this place wrought with both beauty and pain.

As he parted, he thanked me and I remembered: I have encountered this situation before. Another time in a different store, an elderly man asked me where to find an item and commented that he had never done the grocery shopping before. I walked away wishing I could do more than identify an aisle.

These encounters remind me that “we are all walking each other home.” At anytime, any one of us is harboring invisible struggles. None of us is immune to the realities that we live in a place this side of Heaven. 

But we have the opportunity to offer grace and love in the most ordinary of moments. We share out of what has been given to us. It’s not ours to hoard.

Read more: https://stephaniejthompson.com/2020/10/27/seeking-gods-transformation-of-our-interactions-with-others/  #graceupongrace #sacredconnections. #loveyourneighbor
Follow on Instagram

Categories

  • Advent
  • Easter
  • five minute friday
  • Help! This was not in the book!
  • Sacred Connections

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