John 15 ~ abide in Me

John 15

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.
2 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.

3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 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.

5 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.

6 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. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.

10 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. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin,[c] but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’

26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.

Isaiah 6:3
And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."


On Good Friday - How can we do less than consider Heaven - God's Gift and Promise to us?

God Displays to us small glimpses of His Glory.

If We Abide in HIM...

The botanical truth is that grapevines live 50 to 70 years depending on their variety. At age 3, they begin to provide fruit, as the grapevines age, they diminish - not producing as much fruit.

Rita Lotti was born in 1381 in Roccaporena, Italy. In the Province of Umbria, Italy. Rita had an amazing and difficult life.

A 600 year old grapevine, planted by Rita is a live today. The only other grapevine in the world to even come close to this amazing miracle is 400 years old and located in Yarra, Slovenia. Perhaps it would be a good time to tell you, Rita's Roses are also still alive and bloom in the garden. Yes, you know it, this woman is a Saint. Saint Rita of Cascia. Link - to her live of devotion and the fruit still alive today. Rita's life is too amazing to believe, but the proof is still alive. If you still feel a little sceptically, you can google the photos from the vine in Yarra, Slovenia and you will know Rita's vine is the real deal.

Rita's Grapevine grows from under her window and covers the convent.

Psalm 80:14-15 

Turn again, O God of hosts! Look down from heaven, and see; have regard for this vine,  the stock that your right hand planted, and for the son whom you made strong for yourself.

We pray our  lives hold the actions & power of God. On Good Friday, we consider Jesus and what He has given His Life for - for you.

1. Believe God specifically creates us to live within His plan. 
2. Believes in the success of our godly desires/lives, even with insurmountable circumstances. 
3. Want to give God's love, to shepherd the people around them. Give love and care.





Genesis 1:12
The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

The idea of God Himself having gratitude -  How can we do less than to be cultivators of gratitude. Realizing our lives are gifts.

Genesis 3:8
And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day

Revelations tells us God's plan, from beginning to end.

Revelation 21:3
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God."

Acts 17:28
For “‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “‘For we are indeed his offspring.’


Psalm 23:6
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.




 Father God, each day, we put our hands out to You. Give us Your love to do the plan for us. In the power, love and glory of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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