ABIDE IN LOVE
As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. (John 15:9)
This new year has barely begun, bringing new opportunities as well as new lessons to learn. No matter how old we get, there is always something new to learn. As mentioned in my previous post, my words for #oneword2023 are ABIDE and SAVOR. I want to learn to abide in love more and more! Yet, not just any love but that of Jesus. He is the reason for our sure hope.
As I learn more of what it means to abide in Christ, I want to savor the moments of each day. I want to be more aware of the presence of the Lord in everything I do, taking time to meditate on His word and actions in my life. Though I’m often busy, without a lot of alone time, I will try to carve out little snippets of time to sit still, notice, savor, and give thanks.
SLOW DOWN AND SAVOR
Taste and see that the Lord is good. How happy is the person who takes refuge in him! (Psalm 34:8)
A synonym for savor is the word, taste. How do we go about tasting to see the goodness of the Lord? I think when we pause and marvel at the beauty of the earth – a rainbow, a glorious sunrise or sunset, the change of seasons – and so much more, we are tasting of the Lord’s goodness. I’m sure we could think of many other ways.
One way is through creativity. Since we are created in God’s image, I don’t think it’s too far-fetched to think that as we create we are in a way tasting of His goodness.
One of the ways I find to slow down and savor is to work on collages in my art journal. I fill the page with assorted pictures cut from magazines, sometimes adding words. It calms me and gives me joy to spend time with this type of creativity. Here is one of my latest, reminding us to savor the moments.
ABIDE IN CHRIST
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
(John 15:4-5)
This year I want to begin exploring what it means to abide in love, to abide in Christ. He is the source of strength, the nourishment to help us bear fruit in our lives. In John 15:10, Jesus tells us:
If you keep my commands you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
Does that mean we find a list of commands and then check them off as we do them? No, it’s not a matter of “keeping the law.” For one thing, that’s impossible. Jesus already told us that we can do nothing without Him. In 1 John 5:3, we are told that his commands are not a burden. Besides that, in verse 11 of John 15, we see that joy is one of the results of obeying Him. Then He goes on to give us a command. Loving others is a way to share the love we have been given.
“I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. “This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:11-13
Here’s another art page I finished today showing the areas I’d like to cultivate in my life this year.
Do you have a #oneword for this year? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
I’m linking up with: #TellHisStory, #Let’sHaveCoffee, #TeaAndWordTuesday, #oneword2023 with Lisa Burgess.
Thank you for giving us a peek into how God is moving in your life through your onewords! I love the creativity that you find as you pause with Him. You inspire me so much dear friend! Blessings and love to you today.
Thank you for your encouragement, dear Bettie! I love the inspiration that comes as I pause and work on my art journals. It helps me to get away from the busyness and have this time alone. Blessings and love to you, dear sister/poet/friend! xoxo
What great words for the new year, Gayl! You definitely cannot savor without slowing down, and you cannot abide in a distracted hurry. I know the Lord will teach you much this year through those two words!
Thank you for your encouragement, Donna! You are so right, so I HAVE to make sure I slow down often. I’m looking forward to what God will teach me this year! Blessings to you!
Gayl, I am so glad you shared your thoughts, your creativity, and the beauty you have created here with me. Savor was my word in 2020 and while it taught me several lessons, I am sure there was more for me to learn.
My word this year is “Guide”: “The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life, I will advise you and watch over you.” (Psalm 32:8, NLT) I want Him to guide me each day in His truth, and on the paths He has for me.
“No matter how old we get, there is always something new to learn.” You are so right, Gayl, and may we both learn much and share the lessons we glean! Blessings!
Thank you for your kind words, Joanne! Guide sounds like a great word to focus on. I want Him to guide me, too, in truth and the way He has for me. Yes, let’s remember to share what we learn to encourage each other! Blessings to you! xo
I loved seeing your creative work and reading about what God is teaching you through the words you are focusing on this year. I haven’t chosen a specific word for the year, but my goals do include being intentional and undistracted in my walk with the Lord and finding joy and contentment in WHATEVER my circumstances. Visiting from Let’s Have Coffee #22
Thank you, Kym! Intentional and undistracted are great goals as you walk with the Lord and find joy and contentment. It’s so easy to let things distract us, isn’t it? May God help us keep our eyes on Him. Blessings to you!
Abide and Savor will be such wonderful words to journey with the Lord this year, Gayl. I’m excited for you! Thank you for sharing your creative art collages and they are so inspiring.
Yes, I think they will be great to help me focus on slowing down, resting and abiding in Him, savoring the blessings. I’m glad my collages inspired you! Blessings to you, Lisa!
Gayl I am in awe of this gift you have. Thank you so much for sharing. It came at a great time, a much-needed time. It’s hard to say it all in the comments, but I think it boils down to being grateful to see and reconnect with people who know who they are. One thing you never held back when writing was your creativity. It is a breath of fresh air!
My One Word this year is Clay. I know it’s to serve as a reminder that I must be willing to be moldable in His hands. I have done a lot of wrestling and questioning over where we are in life, how we got here etc, and I know this word was to be a comfort too, that He already knew I would have these ponderings, but to remember to trust in Him when things don’t make sense.
I pray you and I get to savor this weekend with joy. Bless you!
Dear Meg, your words are so encouraging! Thank you! I can see how Clay can also be a comfort, because it reminds us to trust our Creator. In this day and age things often don’t make sense, but we can rest in the knowledge that our God has it all under His control. We may not understand but He knows what He is doing. Blessings and love to you! xoxo
Oh Gayl, I love your collages. Brings back memories of the many I’ve made along the way especially in my younger years. It makes me smile to realize this isn’t just a creative venue for teenagers!
And the snowflakes falling here are just too cool! Thanks for keeping me company on this cold winter’s evening!
Linda, thank you so much. Yes, collage can be fun and meaningful at any age! 🙂 I’m glad it brought back memories for you. Also glad you enjoy the snowflakes and glad to “keep you company” through my blog. Blessings to you!
Gayl, what wonderful words for 2023. I’ve got to tell you I love your art pages. That’s a great idea to help cultivate living your word.
Visiting today from Let’s Have Coffee #19&20
Paula, thank you so much! I’m looking forward to see how God uses these words in my life this year. I’m glad you like the art pages. I love making them. It causes me to pause and think about things and enjoy them at the same time. Blessings to you!
Gayl, your collages are beautiful. I also love the words you shared. “Abide” has been on my radar for years as a possible One Word for the year. I am certain there will be much to learn and discover as you abide with Jesus and savor the moments!
Thank you, Jeanne! I had fun and it was so relaxing making the collages. I wasn’t really looking for a word, but abide just jumped out at me, and then savor joined right along. 🙂 I know I will learn and discover a lot, and I’m looking forward to it. Blessings to you! xo
I see a lot of ways in which our words could work together. There’s certainly no lack of activity going on when we abide in Christ, even in situations where we have been called to be still.
Yes, I think our words work together quite well. Even when we are still, we have to actually “be” still and not try to to something else. 🙂 Blessings to you, dear Michele! xo
Gayl: in going through some things just yesterday, I ran across a list of words and, up in the corner of one of the sheets was the word “Abide.” God seems to want to lead us through these times by giving us wonderful words.
I love how the word “abide” randomly showed up! He does give us wonderful words and helps us see them throughout the year. Blessings to you, Cecelia!
Abide, savor, cultivate – taste and see that the Lord is good! Wow! You are going to have an amazing year with the Lord, Gayl! My WOTY is leadership.
Yes, I think those words will be a help in learning to see God’s goodness throughout this year. I’m looking forward to learning more what it means to abide in Him and enjoy His goodness, savoring the moments. But I need reminders to SLOW DOWN. 🙂
Leadership is a great word! There is so much to learn what it really means to be a leader. I’m sure you’ll come up with a lot to share! Blessings to you, Lisa!
This combination of words is such a great fit, Gayl! Your beautiful creativity in so many different mediums always astounds me.
Lisa, thank you so much for your encouragement! I appreciate it! Blessings to you! xo
I discovered art journaling a couple of years ago. I love it and find when I do it right, the end result is encouraging and prophetic. Love your pages.
Thank you, Jodee! Isn’t art journaling fun? Yet, it’s much more than that, isn’t it? 🙂 Blessings to you!