I have spent several months meditating on John 15:1-5 which says: "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[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.". I am still attempting to understand how it is possible to "remain in Jesus" but what I have discovered is how much I desperately NEED Jesus' direction and guidance every moment of the day.

Because of my desperate need to be near Jesus I am frantically looking for him in every situation! I recognize that I am deficient in my own strength. In the busyness of life I have found that I can't do anything without Jesus' strength, wisdom, and courage. Everything we do is all empty without God's power and direction behind it. It is God who gives me the strength to smile in the midst of enormous loss. I need God to keep my mouth closed when the only thoughts I can think are negative. God gives me inspiration when I look in the bare cupboards (because I didn't get to the store like I should have) to create a healthy meal. It is God who imparts knowledge on how to best teach my children. I am NOTHING just like the Bible says without God. When I turn away from God and his plan I find that I am frustrated, I can't restrain my tongue, all I feel is emptiness, and all I see is failure and defeat.

God in his mercy recognized that we need him desperately so he graciously devised a plan to save us from ourselves. He gave us an infant king, Jesus, born in a simple stable among the animals. Jesus healed, taught and ministered to all around him regardless of rank or stature. He demonstrated unconditional love to those who, according to their own laws, should have been stoned. Then he was willing to be sacrificed on the cross in order for us to be near to God.

Many years later we struggle with that sacrifice on a daily basis. We forget that it is BECAUSE of that sacrifice that we can stand confidently before God. Jesus made a way for us to “remain” in him by giving us the Holy Spirit to live within us. The Holy Spirit guides us, teaches us, and reminds us to listen to him. Remaining means staying close and keeping our thoughts focused. The more we desire to stay close to Jesus and focus our mind on him we become more and more like Jesus. We, like Jesus, are patient and loving and gentle even when the children disobey or refuse to learn. The fruit is being displayed - Jesus is changing us to be more like him. As he changes us we become more in tune to his direction. We see the people in our world the way he sees them. We demonstrate the compassion that he would. We bear HIS fruit in abundance. Every part of us can bear amazing fruit because we have become new in Jesus. We are forever changed into his likeness.

When people see us they see the very presence of God. It is hard for them to distinguish the two because we have become likeminded. We treat our children differently because we are able to love them like Jesus does. We are able to train them up to serve Jesus because they have been watching our example. We respect our husbands more and are willing to be under his leadership. People around us begin to flock around us – not because we are so special but because of Jesus within us. They are drawn to his goodness, his love, his compassion, and his righteousness. They want that for themselves and pretty soon they are on the road to “remaining in Jesus” and you get to walk with them down that path and spur them on during the difficult yet rewarding journey. There is nothing better than walking next to someone through life as they change into Jesus’ image. The fruit begins to grow and you get to watch it all happen!