Kindle Notes & Highlights
Limiting her to my narrow perspective—as just a nice, good teacher—didn’t limit her; it just limited my relationship with her, how I responded to her and interacted with her.
they left it all behind in an instant—even the largest single catch of fish they’d ever collected in their lives. Not because fish and fishing no longer mattered but because it no longer mattered as much as following Jesus,
What is the essence of discipleship? “Deny yourself.” How do I accomplish this? “Take up your cross.” How often must I do this? “Daily.” Who is my model? “Me, follow Me.” What will the result be? “Lose your life for My sake, and you will find it.” Why is this important? “What do you profit by gaining the world but losing your soul?”
During those times when He allows us, by God’s grace, to live in the relative ease of stability and normalcy—as the disciples felt when surrounded by the sweetness and goodness of grapes—it’s imperative we use the opportunity to practice a particular spiritual habit that is essential to all those who want to remain steadfast in Christ. Abide.
Our sole focus is to “remain” in Him, to abide in Him, to be aligned with Him—with His purposes, His ways, His character, His perspective through the regular rhythms of everyday life.
But everything can’t be accomplished through abiding, Priscilla. Yes, everything. Here, dear disciple, is everything you need. Everything you need comes from Christ. The branch, simply by resting and receiving, gets everything it needs.
His pruning is not a problem; it’s a promise.
