Originally published Tuesday, 19 February 2013.
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.
A few days ago, I was pondering and praying about a post regarding this verse. A post about reconnecting with Jesus so we could love those around us.
I felt my chest crack open with conviction.
I love my Jesus. But looking at my schedule and my thought life, I haven't been spending much time with Him. I'm near Him, around Him, beside Him, but not with Him.
I read and pray and ponder all these other Scriptures. Stories of Abraham and his many sons, walls crumbling down in Jericho, slingshots and giants and the like. Adventures of old.
All the Epistles and New Testament letters. Instruction on how to live like Christ, be like Christ, love like Christ. But what about Christ?
It's all supposed to point to the main event. The resurrection of the Son of God.
The Vine.
Apart from which I can do nothing.
And here I am, like an idiot branch, spending time with other branches. Like they know anything about sustaining or mending life. My life. Like these other idiot branches have the foggiest idea how to create fruit.
I'm giving up on branches for a while.
Of course, there is much to be learned from the many noble characters of the Bible, as well as all the wonderful Christians in my life, pastors, friends, authors.
But I need to sit at the feet of the source. Not hear a second hand or third hand story.
I need to go back to the Vine.
Leading up to Easter I'll be reading the Harmony of the Gospels in 40 Days. You can download the reading list HERE if you want to join me.
I'll also be reading other books and thoughts on Lent. Check out Kirsten Oliphant's e-book, Consider the Cross: Devotions for Lent. It's just $2.99 right now on Amazon, and will lead you through one reading per day for 40 Days.
You may also want to check out Kris Camealy's e-book, Holey, Wholly, Holy: A Lenten Journey of Refinement for $4.99. It's a book of Lenten readings, but not one per day for 40 days (a little more leeway for you).
Hope you join me as I reconnect with Jesus over the next 40 days. Listening, absorbing every word from the lips of my Lord. Like old friends, sitting across from one another, sharing a cup of coffee, flavored with tears and triumph.
Let's sit again with our God and really drink in His life, His love, His friendship and sacrifice. Figure out how that friendship should live in us, move us, change us as a women, wives, and mothers.
40 days reconnecting with Christ.
Back to the Vine.
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