A Magnolia's Heart Beats

The Fruit Project

I was reading in the book of John. I was reading where Jesus was talking in Chapter 15:1-17:

"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[o] so
that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I
have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will 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 a man remains
in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
If anyone does not remain in me, he is 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
given 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 obey my commands, you will remain in my
love, just as I have obeyed 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, that he lay down his life for his 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 to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last.
Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command:
Love each other."

I began to think, what fruit do I bear? I know I must bear some, but is it enough? Am I actively trying to bear fruit? I am now.

My project:

1. Read John 15:1-17.

2. On 9 different post-it's, write each of the fruits of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23, which are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

3. Each time I practice one, take the sticky and put it in front of me - in my case, that's on my monitor, or somewhere I can see it. If I want to practice one in particular or need special help in one or the other, I will take that sticky and hold it in my hand while I'm practicing it.

Wish me luck!