Category Archives: Gospel of Matthew

Gospel of John, Gospel of Matthew, Guests, Philippians

An Elm Tree

30 Mar 2017 Kathie Whitestone Thompson Leave a comment

Writing has been sparse but not my thoughts of you all.

All too often, Christians seek to “grow spiritually” without realizing that the call of the spiritual life is first and foremost to abide in our union with Christ. Day 6 Closer Than Close by Dave Hickman

I dare say many of us would describe ourselves as Christians striving to grow to be more like Jesus. It’s exhausting! And often disappointing and frustrating — at least it has been for me. But I’m learning! :)

It was not meant to be this way. We did not learn that from Jesus. Matthew 11:29-30 (KJV) ²⁹Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. See?

We have an elm tree; given to us by a dear friend a few years ago – just a little thing. Today it is well on its way and it is absolutely lovely. Here see for yourself.

In all these years though I have not seen that tree striving and worrying and wondering what else can I do to grow; what else can I do to be like other Elm trees. Nope. Not once.
The tree just received.
She received sunshine and rain and a little fertilizer from time to time when we remembered to give it to her. We’ve pruned her a couple of times and as I said she is lovely. And what did she do to be so lovely?

Just BE. Just Receive.

I know we are not elm trees. Elm trees do not get to choose their nutrients or their gardeners. We Do!

We began our life in Jesus by choosing Him. That is when He offered us Eternal Life purchased for us by His very own Blood we said yes. We chose Him. Now the abiding part and the growing part and the trying to be close to Him part that gets us all bent out of shape the wrong way.

John 15:5 (KJV) 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. source

So what is abiding anyway? I have an answer for me and I am so satisfied with it that I am here to share it with you.

Abiding is simply continuing to choose Jesus!

Okay. I hear ya. What about Paul and his striving for the mark? I thought of that too. What if?

^{Philippians 3: 12}Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. ¹³Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, ¹⁴I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. source

What if that mark, that goal, that pressing on; that lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me IS ABIDING IN CHRIST?

What if what Paul is saying is I have not attained the place of perfectly choosing Jesus each time but that is my goal to choose Him, to choose His Way with every choice I make? To keep on keeping on choosing Jesus every day, moment by moment if need be, especially when all kinds of junk is going on around me; and on those days I mess up, I put those things behind me and I start again fresh — choosing Jesus?

Could this be what it means to abide in Christ? Simply continuing to choose Jesus!

And then another question arises. How do I know I am choosing Jesus?

2 Timothy 3:16 (KJV) ¹⁶All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: source

2 Timothy 2:¹⁵Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. source

So there is some doing in our abiding – but if the choosing Jesus is first the abiding yoke is easy and the burden is light.

I am satisfied with this! :)

Salt and Light,
Kathie

Matthew 5:13-16

Gospel of Matthew

Confidence

Gallery 28 Feb 2017 Kathie Whitestone Thompson Leave a comment

I found some quiet confidence relative to this culture that I am living in today in Matthew 15.

¹²Then the disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard this saying?” ¹³But He replied, “Every plant that My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. ¹⁴Leave them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.” source

Do you see the Disciples were concerned about political correctness? They were so concerned they came to JESUS to advise Him that the Pharisees were upset. Seems He had offended them with what He said. I was not surprised and I am completely delighted that JESUS was not quaking in His sandals. And since He did not, neither should I when folks are offended by the TRUTH of GOD I say or write. However, I am reminded it is crucial that the words I speak or write must be GOD’s Truth and not some made up human stuff.

Next.

Blind leading the blind He said. I am convinced this is not a physical blindness. And no He was not being insensitive or uncaring here. You see this is spiritual blindness. Moreover, it’s not that they COULD NOT see, it was that they WOULD NOT see. BIG DIFFERENCE! I shall remember this in this culture in which I live.

Until next time . . .

Keep Pursuing Him ΑΩ
Kathie

Authentic, Christian Living, Gospel of Matthew, KWT Paraphrasing, You Tubes

Defining the Word

Gallery 12 Jan 2017 Kathie Whitestone Thompson Leave a comment

Well y’all In A Word didn’t even get to its scheduled posting time before some defining came.

Authentic

I watched a movie last night: Nikki and the Perfect Stranger.

I am no stranger :) to this line of movies. This is the third one by this group that I have eaten up deliciously!

To be authentic this year it cannot be about me; if I FOCUS on me, authentic or not, I will miss the point.

The minister was asked how do you do this Christian Life thing? Nikki eluded that it had become burdensome – like a check list to her. (And I have had more than my share of checklists.)

He answered: “I don’t allow myself to stop seeing how amazing HE is.”

¹⁵While he was still speaking, behold, a shining cloud [composed of light] overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, This is My Son, My Beloved, with Whom I am [and have always been] delighted. Listen to Him!⁶When the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were seized with alarm and struck with fear.⁷But Jesus came and touched them and said, Get up, and do not be afraid.⁸And when they raised their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. source  Matthew 17

Here’s my sign: Listen to and see Only JESUS!

Matthew 16:24-26 (TLV)

²⁴Then Yeshua said to His disciples, “If anyone wants to follow after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. ²⁵For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. ²⁶For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world but forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? source

Shall I paraphrase for this posting?

Whoever concentrates on herself; goes on and on with a what about me lifestyle; or she who indulges in childishly wailing: I am so stupid; or is repeatedly lamenting: I mess up all the time; (give me a bucket!) and then there’s the I got to do this, I got to do that dirge — I get the idea! As long as I do this life this way, the Life He has for me I will lose! I will not be the authentic me He has envisioned me to be.

In summary, for me to be authentic, I must practice what I write!