My scripture reading this morning reminded me of a branch I saw that had been broken off a fruit tree by wind. It still had fruit on it but it would never develop any further because it had been cut loose from the tree that supplied its ability to produce fruit. (John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.) It’s so amazing to realize that when we give our lives to Christ, He takes us just as we are and in exchange, gives us His nature, making us a new creation. It’s just the beginning of a lifelong journey we take with Him to become everything God created us to be. In this process, God doesn’t give us a list of rules to follow and then stand on the sidelines watching us fail, but He gives us a new heart and then helps us do all that He has given us a desire to do. We can learn to depend entirely on Jesus to give us right standing with God and to help us do what is right in His sight. We can form the habit of leaning on God in all things. With God nothing is impossible, without God we can do nothing. Pastor Don [image: image.png]