"Live in Jesus"

As I mentioned a little on the first post, I just started the Bible study by Melanie Shankle "Church of the Small Things." In the first lesson, she mentioned some of my favorite verses in John 15. I read them in the NIV and then in the Message. Wow, how beautiful they are! Let me show you.

John 15:4-5- 4 “Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me. 5 “I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing."


Isn't that beautiful! I don't take advantage of "living in Christ" as I should. I waste the time with Him and abide in self-centeredness or confusion or worldly desires. But I must remember I have all this open to me and waiting for me. I can be joined to Christ and He to me and so can you!

Just as a side note, do you ever feel like your emotions are so fragile and sensitive and that you can start crying at the drop of a hat? I do. Not sure if it is fatigue or hormones or just God's spirit, but I start crying at moving stories and touching needs. Today I burst out crying after listening this wonderful story on the Moth (a program of personal stories on NPR). The man talked about growning up being very non-athlete but becoming a great writer. His father wanted an athlete but tried to understand and support. Now he has a son who is an athlete, and while he does not understand sports, he is trying to love and support his son, just as his dad had done. It turned out it was Neil Gaiman, the author I had just researched for my book club. I loved the story and cried for his frustration and success but also because the Lord has been pushing me toward writing and it was a tiny message of "Go for it!" So listen to your emotions- cry with those who need tears and feel something with a poignant story of movie. But use the tears to clean your heart and draw you closer to God, who gave us all these great emotions as we "live in Him." God bless!