Why the Vine and the Branch? The name is inspired by one of my life verses – John 15:5. In it, Jesus says: “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.” (ESV)

When a branch is connected to its’ vine, it thrives. New leaves are formed, flowers blossom, and fruit grows. But, when a branch is cut off from the vine, it withers and dies. Nothing comes from it. We are the same way. If we are not living in Christ, connected to Him, then what we do is nothing. We may think we are accomplishing quite a bit, but for what? What eternal purpose does our work have if we are not connected to Jesus?

Many times in my own life, I have been disconnected from the Vine. I have lived my own purpose, seeking my own worldly desires (such as safety and comfort). What has it accomplished? Nothing. But, when I do live my life in Christ, when I seek His ways, His truth, and His love, then my work is fulfilling the calling the Lord has put on my life, an eternal purpose that brings glory to God.

I created this blog to share my story to encourage you and offer you hope as you live in Christ Jesus. There is no condemnation here. I will also share what I’m learning as I grow in the Word of God. Let me be clear about one thing, I am not a theologian, but I love talking about my Heavenly Father. Also, I am not one for political debate, so you will not find that here (though there may be discussions about current events, I will approach them from a Biblical viewpoint, not a political one).

I hope this blog encourages you as you grow in your faith. My desire for all of us is to live a vibrant, fruitful life, firmly connected to the Living Vine, Jesus Christ.