Superintendent's Thoughts

Recently I was blessed by a devotional given by a friend of mine to a group of educators.  As he shared I was struck with two words he used which seemed to be exactly what I needed to hear in these uncertain times.  Abiding and abounding – words probably translated in other versions of the Bible as remaining and overflowing – but I think and maybe it is just me, but abiding and abounding seem to have a greater richness and depth in meaning that the other words do not. In John 15, Christ speaks the powerful words about the relationship between the vine and branches.  It begins with, “I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener.”  And continues, “Abide in me, and I will abide in you, no branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.  Neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in me.”  A few verses later it goes on with the same theme, “If you abide in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.” Remarkable isn’t it?   The promises we have avai