Yesterday’s meditation.. today’s elation..

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‘I am the real vine, kind of tree in truth.

My Father is the gard'ner; not too soon

he cuts off every branch that bears no fruit, 

while every branch that does, he's sure to prune

so it will be more fruitful. You've been cleaned

up by the word I’ve spoken unto you.

No branch bears fruit itself; if it’s just leaned

up on the fence, beside the vine. It’s true.

It must remain within the vine, and too

the vine must stay and still remain in it.

I’ve shown you how I do that here with you.

Now you must stay with me, and benefit

not just yourselves, but all who walk on by.

And maybe some will come to get the grapes

‘I am the vine; you are the branches, high

or low, it might depend how they’ve been traipsed. 

If you remain in me and in you I

remain also. Much fruit will then be gained.

Apart from me, there’s nothing you can try

that will amount to near where you have aimed

at. If you don't remain in me, you’re like 

a branch that’s thrown away and withers up.

Such are picked up, and burned, not just in spite

(why do we throw out rubbish, broken cups?).

If you remain in me, and my words too

remain in you, your asking's not in vain.

Whatever you wish will be done for you. 

This glorifies my Father just the same.

You’ll bear much fruit, & show yourselves to be 

my true disciples. ‘As the Father loved 

me, so have I loved you. Now to be free

(as branch is when it stays where it’s been shoved 

within its vine, by forces it can’t change; 

as fish can be when it stays in the sea)

remain within my love, and that’s arranged

when you’re responsive to the words of me.

When you treat words as carriers of will

and set yourself to do what can be done

to bring the will of whose goodness could fill

the cosmos up & instigate all fun..

When you keep my commands, to live them out,

you will remain within my love, as I 

have kept my Father’s words (not just his shouts) 

and keep that love aflame. This love is fire.

As I remain within his love, I call

you so to do with me, that love be spread,

and joy be in you full, and not just small.

So take my clear command right through your head,

into your heart, and will, and body too:

with love enough to lay your life down for

them, love each other as I have loved you.

Of what I’ve learned from God, this stuff is core!

I chose you, and appointed you to go

and stretch into my world, bearing good fruit.

The bond between us is this love you know.

Keep yourself in this love. All will be beaut!

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‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. ‘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. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. ‘As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no-one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last – and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: love each other. John 15:1‭-‬17 NIVUK

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