Have you ever wondered how you can pass the same way over and over again and feel like nothing ever changes? Then suddenly you are traveling that very same route when there it is!  Your attention is drawn to an obvious change and you cannot believe that before your very eyes, there it is!

This happened to me on our evening trail ride through the vineyards. We take this trail frequently and I love the way the scenery changes from fields full of grazing cows to perfectly formed rows of grape vines!  

Suddenly, yesterday I spotted it! Huge clusters of grapes, ripe and hanging from every vine. How had that happened? It seemed like it was overnight! Of course I know that it is scientifically not possible that the grapes grew overnight, but it sure seemed like they did!

The Truth is, I was not paying attention to the vines.  I was getting my exercise, checking it off my list, and moving past the vines as I pushed myself forward to accomplish my goal.

The fruit had come, the vines had done their job, as well as the sun, rain and atmosphere around them. 

But was I doing my job? I am not just talking about riding my bike and exercising. As I stopped to take the picture of the beautiful, ripe fruit hanging in clusters so heavy I thought they may fall to the ground in a gust of wind, I was touched in my spirit with the thought of “clinging to the vine!”

“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

I am afraid I tend to rush through life so quickly sometimes. I can make my list, check it twice and move through it at record speed. I fool myself into thinking that I am doing a pretty good job until I hit a roadblock. Suddenly, both tires fall off the bike and I find myself in a pile on the trail looking up. There it is, the vine, standing strong and full of fruit, just waiting for me to attach myself to it and stop straining in my own strength!

This is a frequent exercise of mine, as I find myself getting on and off the track or “trail,” and having to re-attach myself to the True Vine. The only way I know to do this is to cling to the “I AM’S” of Jesus. The statements that He makes about Himself. 

One of my favorites is,

“I AM THE TRUE GRAPEVINE, AND MY FATHER IS THE GARDNER.” JOHN 15:1

The “I AM’S OF JESUS,” are who He is! Friends when we cling to these we can keep the tires on our bike and roll through this life with confidence, TRUE CONFIDENCE from the TRUE VINE HIMSELF!

TRUTH BOMB

Meet me back here next week as we take a look at another “I AM” statement.

Have a great week and keep on rolling!

Speak Truth Love