Connected?

Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5, 8)

As we close out another year, let us keep in mind two things Christ asks of each of us - two things that will give us the best start to our new year. First and foremost, connect with him. We cannot expect to make wise decisions about our future, much less our present circumstances when we are not actively connecting with him. Secondly, we need to remain in a close relationship with him. The branches of a vine are no good without connection, but when connected, they have a source for life. Branches that are intertwined will actually grow stronger than those that are just trying to do things on their own. One vining branch may attempt to grow in the opposite direction of the rest, producing just a bit of fruit, but in time, the heat of day will scorch it, the birds will pick it clean, and the landscaper will lop it off!

The vine always has a 'trunk' to which it is connected. That 'trunk' is what has the root system attached to it - the means by which all the vine requires for growth will enter into the vine. Without connection to the 'source', the vine cannot expect to find nourishment, fruit will become non-existent, and it will soon wither and die. Perhaps the best thing we can do as we enter this new year is examine where we are finding our connection. If it is in the things of this world such as the value of our bank accounts, the upward mobility of our career, or the 'steadiness' of a hoped-for relationship, we may find ourselves a bit 'dry' and the fruit of the Spirit pretty much non-existent in our lives. If the source of our lives is the connection we find with Jesus each and every day, the fruit may not always be evident, but it is on the way!

If we want a strong start to our year, we will refocus our attention toward making the 'right connection' - that which is found in relationship with Jesus and nothing else. Then we will find that the strength that comes as we 'intertwine' with others who have also made such a commitment to remain connected to the source of all life (Jesus) will be exactly what we need in order to realize the growth and development of true spiritual fruit. Connection is paramount - to Christ first, then to others who also follow him. We may experience seasons of 'leanness' at times, but as long as the connection remains secure to the source of all life, the 'leanness' of what appears to be a non-fruit bearing season in our lives will reveal just how much prep has gone into the development of the fruit that is just about to break forth! Just sayin!

Life Hack #30: Take Focused Steps, Not Calculated Ones

Life Hack #30:

Do you know where your future lies? Our decisions TODAY impact out outcomes tomorrow, but we don't control ALL the possibilities of either day. We can "manage" as much as possible, but there are just "unknowns" we cannot really plan for. Knowing our future is important - especially in terms of where we are headed spiritually. If we haven't really made an "about-face" from doing things our own way, under our own terms, and for our own benefit, we might just be "play-acting" at this "Christianity" thing. Our future is as secure as our focus - that which we set our eyes on the most becomes the direction we take, and it also becomes what fills our "head".

Don’t bother your head with braggarts or wish you could succeed like the wicked. Those people have no future at all; they’re headed down a dead-end street. (Proverbs 24:19-20)

We might allow things we see or hear to fill our heads with ideas and images which really don't do a lot to help us move forward. Focus on what gives you the greatest worries or problems in this life and that is what you will be constantly moving toward. If we want to move beyond those worries or problems, we have to change our focus - do an about-face. Unless we truly have eyes in the back of our head, that about-face maneuver will bring things into a new light simply because we cannot look forward and still be looking back. Focusing on our worries and problems leaves us with a pretty miserable future.

We get "bothered" a lot of times by the things which really don't amount to much. The braggart boasts about what he thinks makes him look important - things he uses to puff up his pride and show off. The wicked get along pretty well, seeming to avoid all the pitfalls which should await them because of their dishonest ways. All the while we get a notion in our mind that life isn't fair, and somehow, WE were overlooked for the blessings or the goodies. We see the one with the goodies and we begin to wonder why it isn't possible for us. We see the one with all the success and realize the "littleness" of our present position. Focus on them long enough and we will learn to live a pretty dissatisfied and ungrateful life.

It is time to keep our focus on the things and the ONE who really matter in the long run. Once we realize how important focus is in determining our ultimate future state, we begin to consider making change in our posture. Have you ever found yourself just looking down at your steps? The problem with looking down at is that we miss the obstacles in our path! We don't get a clear picture of where we're heading, just of every step we're taking. We don't need to make a continual effort of focusing on each step if we are focusing on the principles God teaches us to live by as we 'step along'.

We can focus so intently on each "step" in our journey, but in so doing, we often fall head-over-heels into the obstacles in our path. We need a broader perspective which only comes by looking at the objective out in front of us. Today's objectives will differ from last week's because we are taking steps forward. If you are trying to develop in your intimacy with Christ, you don't need to focus so intently on the "steps" such as Bible reading, prayer, and the like - you have to focus on him - he helps you take the steps without even realizing you have taken them. Maybe some of our closest experiences with Christ would come if we just kept our eyes intently on him and not so consumed with whether we read two chapters a day, prayed fifteen minutes, or memorized twelve verses this month. Just sayin!