"He transforms creeping caterpillars into flying butterflies."

"Despite how he felt, Jesus always chose to abide in and rely on his Father." 

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. (John 15:1-11, ESV, emphasis added)

"The essence of abiding is staying connected and allowing the life of the vine to produce its natural fruit through us. All our striving and struggling and seeking dissolve in that one quiet verb: abide. That’s how we prove to be his disciples. That’s how we become more like him. And that’s the essence of the Jesus Experiment."

"Because the words of the Bible express the mind of God, when we read it, meditate on it, and memorize it, we infuse our mind, soul, and spirit with the thoughts of God. It recently occurred to me that the Scriptures are a visible expression of the invisible God. When we hide it in our hearts, it becomes invisible again. Once within us, the invisible words of God are energized by the Holy Spirit to produce obedience."

"Abiding in Jesus consists of three elements:

• Living in a state of relaxed reliance on him

• Meditating on God’s Word so it abides in us and through it we abide in him

• Obeying the commands of God so we abide in his love"

from The Jesus Experiment by Bill Perkins