Near the End of Summer and the Start of a New School Year: Stand Firm

Our focus

at the start of a new season,

a new school year,

or wherever we find ourselves ...

Stand firm. Let nothing move you.

Always give yourselves fully

to the work of the Lord,

because you know that your labor

in the Lord is not in vain.

(I Cor. 15:58)

Our focus is not the fruit;

our focus is the standing,

in the depending on God alone.

In the depending solely, completely

on Him to produce the fruit;

on giving ourselves fully to

whatever He places in front of us.

"We stand firm because our identity is secure: we keep standing because the outcome and fruit are His alone to produce. ... Keep standing, keep serving, keep working diligently unto the Lord." (Ruth Chou Simons)

Yes, I am the Vine; 

you are the branches.

Those who remain in Me,

and I in them,

will produce much fruit.

For apart from Me,

you can do nothing.

(John 15:5)

(Sharing thoughts from my journal at the start of a new school year of ministry with Cru, serving and loving middle and high school students, introducing them to the greatest love they can ever know ... to Jesus. The fruit comes from God alone as we live and work in Him ... no matter what God has called you or me to do.)

Photo above: taken of a page of the beautiful and inspiring Gracelaced book by Ruth Chou Simons.