Welcome to the Two Thousand and Seventh Year of our Lord. As you can see we even orient our calendars around Jesus. It is all about Jesus!
Well that was our theme for last year and as we step in to 2007 our theme is:
Branching Out
You probably already noticed it in the picture header for the email. This theme comes from this picture of our connection to the Vine–Jesus. Check out the picture Jesus paints here:
“I [Jesus] am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you.
Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. “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.
Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. John 15:1-8 NLT
We want to be those true disciples of Jesus. Not half-hearted followers, or part-timers, but those who are truly devoted to Him. Our connection with Him gives us the power, energy and strength to produce any fruit at all. Our sap has to be exchanged with His to bring about the fruit He desires.
To be honest this will take a lot more than a year for us to do! But we can make it an emphasis for the whole year! And that’s the plan, to connect to the Vine and see what He does in and through us!
Press on,
Mike