Angela Parlin

So Much Beauty in All This Chaos

{Day 24}: When Opportunity Knocks

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Proverbs 31 Ministries Contest Winner Devotion

I learned about the contest a few days before the deadline, but knew right away I would enter. The biggest reason? FEEDBACK.

It’s not often a writer gets valuable feedback from an editor. So I’m told. The truth is, I don’t think I’ve ever submitted anything to a contest in my adult life. Shame on me.

Proverbs 31 Ministries, through COMPEL, their amazing writer’s training ministry, hoped to give each writer editorial feedback.

So when I opened the email during the middle of a school-at-home Wednesday, and it said ~ Angela, you won, as well as a couple paragraphs of positive feedback from the editor, I could not stop crying.

My kids sat there, confused.

Mom, what’s wrong?…But isn’t this a good thing, Mom?…I think this is a good thing!

This good thing is a blessing to me, and I’ve been praying it will bless others also. Click here to read my devotion, The Slavery of Striving.

Have a beautiful end-of-October weekend!

~Angela

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{Day 23}: True Vine & Real Good Fruit

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31 Days Jesus red letter words true vine good fruit

In the Old Testament, Israel was sometimes symbolized by a vine. As in Psalm 80, You brought a vine out of Egypt. You drove out the nations and planted it.

The vine produced both food (grapes, raisins) and wine for celebration. But the vine had the potential to produce a sweet harvest, or a rotten one.

Jesus speaks to His disciples in John chapter 15, hours before He was taken to the cross. He contrasts Himself with Israel, giving us the last of His I AM statements~

I am the True Vine, and my Father is the Gardener.

He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.

The Greek word for cuts off also means lifts up or redirects. Scholars believe the meaning here is that branches bearing NO fruit represent those who are not true believers. But some believe Jesus is saying His branches that bear no fruit have to be redirected, that something has to change, because His branches must bear fruit.

The word prunes comes from a Greek word which also means cleanses. Those branches which already do bear fruit will be cleansed by His Word to bear even more fruit. You get the feeling here, that we are here–we live–to bear fruit for the glory of God.

31 days Jesus red letter words true vine good fruit

Which begs the question, what does it mean to bear fruit to God’s glory?

Growing up, I thought the phrase bearing fruit meant one thing–leading people to Jesus. As in, getting them to want to pray THE PRAYER. That was the simple definition of bearing fruit I had heard. Talking through the way to salvation and praying with a person is absolutely bearing fruit…fruit that will last. But it’s not the entire definition.

Several New Testament passages compare the fruit of sin and death with godly fruit. The fruit of sin is most obviously, sin: idolatry, hatred, jealousy, fits of rage, sexual sin, selfish ambition, disunity, drunkenness, greed, and other behaviors motivated by the sinful nature. See Romans 7 and Galatians 5 to study this further.

The OT speaks of good fruit God desires, fruit like justice and righteousness.

In the NT, the Fruit of the Light consists of goodness, righteousness, and truth. (Ephesians 5:9)

The Fruit of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5)

So then, how do we bear good fruit?

Let’s pick up there on Monday.

Tomorrow, I will share with you my contest-winning devotion from Proverbs 31 Ministries. See you then…

~AngelaProverbs 31 Ministries Contest Winner Devotion

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{Day 22}: When Everything Is Awful

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31 Days red letter words Jesus

Sometimes, things go from bad to worse and the bad news just keeps coming. Sometimes when it rains it pours.

Jesus’ disciples learned He would be leaving them. His leaving would be full of suffering.

“I am with you for only a short time, and then I am going to the one who sent me. You will look for me, but you will not find me…” John 7:33-34

One of their close-knit group would betray Jesus. Then Peter would disown Him before men.

To make matters worse, Satan wanted to test them. He would work hard to take them all down. To destroy them.

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31-32

They would all scatter, leaving Jesus’ side when He needed them most.

“This very night you will all fall away on account of me…” Matthew 26:31

Soon, the Light would leave this world, and things were going to get worse for these men. They would be exposed and hated and persecuted. What a bitter pill to swallow. This wasn’t the coming kingdom they expected to see.

Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in Me.

After all this bad news came like a blow, Jesus spoke to His closest disciples, His dearest friends. He observed how it felt to be in their shoes. He noticed the state of their disillusioned hearts.

Jesus knows “all our secret undiscovered sorrows, the wounds that bleed inwardly; He knows not only how we are afflicted, but how we stand affected under our afflictions, and how near they lie to our hearts…He knows our souls in adversity.” ~Matthew Henry

The remedy for their sorrows and discouragement? Trust in God, and trust in Jesus. It wasn’t cliche’, but it was truth.

31 Days Love Red Letter Words Jesus

He encouraged them that He’d go prepare for them and later return to bring them home, where they’d always stay with Him. He said, You know the way to the place where I am going. But they didn’t. They didn’t understand, so Jesus told them again. Here’s who I AM~

I AM the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me. (John 14)

When your heart is troubled, and the blows add up, or one heavy blow shatters life as you know it…rely on Jesus. Cling to Him. He knows your heart, where it’s broken. Hold Him fast. He is the way to life.

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord Himself, is the Rock eternal. Isaiah 26:3-4

31 Days Love Red Letter Words Jesus

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{Day 21}: Walking Dead

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31 Days red letter words Jesus walking dead There’s no way to talk about LIFE without also talking about death.

But most people don’t really want to talk about death. Until it’s upon them, or upon someone they love. And then they want to know, what happens from here?

When Jesus’ friend Lazarus died, Jesus wrestled with Death, and defined Himself, again, as the Life.

Lazarus fell sick, and his sisters sent word to their close friend, Jesus. They knew He held the power to heal Lazarus, and they expected He would do it.

But Jesus responded with a delay. He stayed put for a couple more days, saying this sickness would not end in death. Its purpose was to bring God glory.

Jesus knew things they didn’t know. He knew the ending to this story.

But then Lazarus died.

Jesus arrived at the house, and Lazarus’ sister, Martha,  came out to meet Him first. “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”  Jesus responded,

I am the Resurrection and the Life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?  John 11:25-26

Evenso, Jesus was moved, and He wept. His spirit was troubled, which is also translated, angered. Here we see Jesus angry at the tyranny of Death–angry that Death has long ravaged and ruled over mankind. Wrestling with Death, He weeps over the tragic consequences of sin.

Just before He transcends the laws of this world and triumphs over Death.

Jesus orders the stone of the tomb rolled away. He confidently thanks the Father for granting His request. Then He calls Lazarus out of the grave, to life.

Wrapped in strips of linen, Lazarus walked out of the grave just like that, after having been there four days dead.

“Take off the grave clothes.” Jesus called the man to life and then directed his friends to free him completely.

As the Resurrection and the Life, Jesus brings the spiritually dead to life again.

31 Days red letter words walking dead Jesus

“If the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36

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{Day 20}: The Lord is My Shepherd

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31 Days fall red letter words Lord is my shepherd

YOU GUYS. This weekend, I found a button. I think it’s going to revolutionize blogging for me. Because I now know how to turn words another color!!!

I know, I know. This seems pretty elementary. I always meant to figure it out, and now that I’ve just happened upon a button, I don’t even have to. How fun! Too bad I didn’t figure this out before I started a series about RED LETTER WORDS. But here we go anyway…

Welcome back to {the new and improved and in-color series} 31 Days of Love in Red Letters. 

Is this month cruising by for you too? But what gorgeous fall weather we were blessed with this weekend! Truly a gift. I hope you were able to get out and enjoy it.

In the book of John, we find the fourth answer to this question ~ Jesus, Who are You?

Previously, He answered, I am the Bread of Life. I am the Light of the World. I am the Door.

Now, I am Good Shepherd.

I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

I am the Good Shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.

John 10:11, 14

The people Jesus spoke to knew shepherds. Both shepherds who cared for flocks of sheep, and kings called shepherds, who led God’s people.

Unfortunately, they were used to false shepherds. Religious rulers, Pharisees, and chief priests ruled over them with an abundance of burdensome rules and harsh punishments. Long before that, kings ruled over the people of Israel, failing to obey God or respect the role He had given them.

31 Days red letter words Jesus fall the Lord is my shepherd

Jesus comes on the scene as a great contrast. He is the Good Shepherd. Who knows. Loves. Cares for. Guides. Protects. Feeds. Provides for His own.

He risked danger for them, the way a loving shepherd would do for his sheep. Ultimately, He died to pay all the penalty not only for them, but for all who would come after them. For any who would believe in Him and receive Him. For us!

Just before Jesus says He is the Good Shepherd, He tells them something about thieves. Thieves come only to steal, kill, and destroy. Like the false shepherds, and the evil one. These were not out to serve the people. They cared only for themselves.

In contrast, Jesus came to give a rich and satisfying life to His own. His main concern was for His sheep.

Like the old Psalm says, Jesus shepherds us still.

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

~Psalm 23

31 Days Jesus The Lord is my shepherd red letter words fall

For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; He will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Revelation 7:17

Thanks for joining me here today. Have an amazing Monday.

~Angela

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