Live 4 The LORD

Lectio Divina: read, reflect, respond, rejoice!

My Lectio Divina: Matthew 3:8-10

Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

{Repentance means I have turned from my ways and started to follow God’s ways. If I am to bear fruit from repentance that means I must bear fruit by being a branch united to the vine that feeds. If I am a branch I am not the life source. I Am not the food. I am not the fruit either. I am resting in both the food and the sustainer. The fruit comes through me not by me. It is His fruit. It is His Food. It is His Vine. All I can do is remain, not fight or turn away, not cut myself off!

I cannot claim being his child as my rights. He does not need me. The rocks can be changed to be children of God. I am after all, made from clay. If I choose to not stay united by allowing Him to feed, sustain, and flow through me I will not bear any of His fruit and if I don’t bear any of His fruit, I will be cut off and burned in the fire. Even if I bear some fruit, if it is not His fruit, I will be cut off! It must be the fruit of repentance! This is the new life. 

Thank you Jesus for setting me free. I cannot do anything to get fruit. I have to be! You are the one that sustains, feeds, and creates fruit through me!! I only need to get myself in my thoughts out of the way and let you have your way. I am a conduit not the creator nor sustainer. Thank you Jesus for being willing to do all the work. Help me surrender to you. Help me not fight you. Help me not put up any barriers. I know my flesh wants to fight. You alone can help me remain.}

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Matthew 3:11b

He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Fire? Love? Righteousness?

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Lectio Divina: read, reflect, respond, rejoice!

My Lectio Divina:  Matthew 3:16-17

And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

{Jesus was baptized - I am baptized into Jesus

The Heavens were opened to Jesus - The heavens are opened to me. 

The Spirit of God descended and rested on Jesus - the Spirit of God descended and rests on me. 

The Father said Jesus is a beloved son and He is pleased with him - I am a beloved daughter of God and the Father is pleased with me. 

Thank you Father for loving me and calling me your beloved daughter. Thank you for being pleased with me and not angry. Thank you for baptizing me into Jesus so I can live a new life in with and through him! Thank you Holy Spirit for being willing to live in me and guide me all the way home, while I am in this strange land. I will hope in you Almighty Trinity all the way to heaven! Amen}