Week Twenty-Four, 2026

“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.” (John 15:5-8)

God told Joshua how the Israelites would take possession of the Promised Land. He included a vital instruction: to meditate on His Law day and night and to obey everything it said.

Living a Christ-centered life filled with peace and joy depends on our commitment to focus our mind and heart on Him regularly.

Our life flows from connection, not from effort.

John 15 focuses on Jesus as the “true vine,” urging disciples to “abide” in Him to bear spiritual fruit, emphasizing love, obedience, and warning of worldly hatred.

He is the Vine; we are the branches. The secret of life is connection.

Eliso Mejia, in his latest book, Online but Not Connected, emphasizes the need for spiritual connection.

Union (connection) with Christ is the Christian life. It is the foundational doctrine that believers are spiritually joined to Jesus, meaning His life, death, and resurrection become theirs.

Life flows from connection, not from effort. Ministry can give you the illusion of friendship, but Jesus truly loves you.

If the Word has not changed you, perhaps it hasn’t saved you. If we hear the Word and don’t do the Word, we are lost. The final test of salvation is fruit. The test of Sunday is how we talk on Monday.

The fruit of connection with Jesus is love. Stay connected with the source of life. He is the Vine of life.

Sometimes True Stories

God is always with those who believe, even though it may not seem that way at times. God sees the big picture, while we see the daily snapshots. As humans, we often cry out for help for short-term issues while God is sculpting the big picture. He often allows us to go through temporary difficulties because He is sculpting our long-term future. Trusting in the Lord is not always easy, and we may even feel abandoned at times, but that is simply not true. It is important to understand that even though God may not give us what we want, we can be assured that what God wants is what matters.

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There is only One—to believe and follow.

The One Who hung from the cross while soldiers threw dice gambling for His garments, as the last of His blood dripped to the ground below Him.

The One Who was the long-awaited Messiah—surely to take over control from the Roman government and make their lives easier.

But His mission and purpose were more eternally life-changing.

Only One—Who hung on the cross for each of us, creating the path for everyone then, today, and tomorrow to embrace Christ as their personal Savior, assuring their eternal spot in Heaven.

His purpose for coming to earth was beyond His personal self-interest and all about our best interest.

The One Matthew depicts in a rapid string of passages, some set out above, demonstrating Godly supernatural powers, coupled with a heart and sensitivity to hear, help, and heal those around Him—always pointing them to Hope.

There is only One. The Son of God.

Only One—Jesus Christ.

It was never about Him, but always all about others.

Finding people where they were and taking them where they should be. People like you and like me.

Calling them to believe, and then to follow Him and His example, and touch and bless life after life in the world around them—hearing, helping, encouraging, lifting each one to a better place.

Pointing them to the only One—Jesus Christ—to believe, embrace, and follow as their Savior and Lord.

The only Hope for their lives for here and eternity.

The Hope of the only One—Jesus Christ.

Then, with Him, lifting lives, one life at time to a better day.

By the example of the only One—Jesus Christ.

Only One to believe. Only One to follow. Jesus Christ. Scott Whitaker

Quotes You Can Use

The way to silence the whining of the flesh and the whispering of the enemy is to remind yourself of God’s great love.

The mission of God never changes, but the world in which we live is rapidly changing.

Listening is a big part of communication with people.

Our story makes sense only when presented within God’s story.

Plan your work and work your plan.

Seek the Lord and allow the Holy Spirit to direct.

Don’t be so organized that you out-organize the Holy Spirit.

Resources are not just about money.

No fruit can reproduce itself without being connected to the vine, which for us is Jesus.

We are not defined by the world, but by Scripture, the Holy Bible.

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