What kind of Vine are you?

The True Vine

John 15-11

1.) 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 bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3) You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4) Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5) I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6) If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7) If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8) By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. 9) As the Father loved Me, I also have 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 remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

This was from the PWOC lesson on Thursday. It really stuck with me. We were asked what we visualized or thought of after reading this passage. All of the women gave some very good input. One was that we are a tree and God's love is a vine wrapped around the tree. I really liked that one.

When I read this I think of parenting. I think of how important it is to start our children early in the Word. That we as parents must lead by example. We must show them how to love the way that God Loves Us. We must nurture them and lead them. In the world today parents give children lots of luxuries without limitations. For instance tablets; we have one for our son. But there is a two hour limit on it, and only after he does good at school, eats dinner and gets a bath. Very often it is under two hours that he uses it. Because we encourage him to play with his toys or outside, he very often will choose not to even play the game. We also monitor what they watch on television. We Don't watch anything that we wouldn't want them to watch. Now my husband likes those raunchy movies and the slasher flicks, but usually watches them when the rest of us are no where around. That is his decision and between him and God. I cannot make him not watch them. It goes according to his convictions and what God is working with him on.

As a mother I try to be submissive and consult my husband in all decisions right down to making out the grocery list. We try to have open lines of communication, but there are sometimes that it doesn't work out that way. We don't argue in front of the kids. We are fair with each other and with the children. I try to be patient with the children, though I will admit this can be challenging. I stay home with them, so I run the house. My husband helps where he can, but overall the home front is my stage. I clean and cook and do the laundry. I try to teach the kids to be nice to each other, to use manners. It is hard sometimes when you are at a playground and other children aren't being nice, or using manners. Your kids see this and often asks why it is okay for the other kids to be that way and not for them. It is frustrating when you have older kids who ask for cell phones and newer and better electronics. We just don't feel like paying over $500 dollars on something that they don't really need it beneficial. We would rather use that money on a family vacation.

Neither my husband and I grew up with all the gadgets. The first VCR brought into my house was my senior year in high school. We had to game systems. I learned at an early age to appreciate being outside, reading books, and using my imagination. We had rotary telephones with the spiral cord. We didn't have remote control televisions, the cable box was manual. My husband went to work at an early age.

Because of this we both learned early that hard work gets you the rewards you want. That your manners and work ethic will go a lot further than the amount of material things you have. And it is our hope that our children will grow into God fearing individuals who will be leaders in the community and the church.

I struggle with the amount of time put into actually reading my Bible. I struggle finding the balance between what needs to be done, reading a book I want to read,and  reading my Bible. I am praying hard for guidance from God on how to be a better, wife, mother, sister, and daughter. On how better to be involved in church. PWOC is a great fit for me. It is bringing me to the edge of my box and encouraging me to step out of it.

The part of this passage that scares me is where it states that a vine that doesn't bear fruit withers and is cast out and burned. To me that signifies Hell, a place I don't want to be and I don't want my family there either.

John 15:12 This is my commandment, that you love one another as much as I have loved you.