John 15:2-4 The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us!

Ephesians 5:26

that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,

We abide in God in the person of Christ Jesus, the very Word of God made flesh. We are transformed, precept by precept, by Holy Spirit into the character of His Son. Faith keeps us firmly planted and in the manner that we believe God we can receive from Him. May our Father who is in heaven allow His perfect will to  be done on earth. Carla

John 15:2-4

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine•, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.NKJV

Every branch is said to be in Christ. Paul uses the phrase “in Christ” to speak of a Christian’s legal and family position as a result of God’s grace. The emphasis of in Me in this passage, however, is on deep, abiding fellowship. Jesus’ purpose was to move His disciples from servants to friends (verses 13–15). This would involve a process of discipline in regard to His commandments. No plant produces fruit instantaneously; fruit is the result of a process. Such is also the case with believers. Prunes means “cleanses.” Once the fruit is on the vine, the vinedresser cleanses the fruit of bugs and diseases. The spiritual counterpart is cleansing which is done through the Word (verse 3). For the branch to produce more fruit, it must abide, which means to dwell, to stay, to settle in, to sink deeper. The way to abide in Christ is to obey (15:10; 1 John 3:24). The believer who lovingly obeys the Word of God produces much fruit. The NKJV Study Bible

Grapevines are more plentiful if pruned. The pruning may refer to hardship that (eventually) produces faithfulness and closer relationship with God, such as the disciples are about to experience (Romans 5:3–5; James 1:2–4). Jesus also could be referring to the pruning of dead branches, which would entail removing what is undesirable. Faithlife Study Bible

John 15:5–7

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned…

John 6:56

He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 

John 13:10

Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” 

John 17:17

Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 

Today, let us hear the voice of Grace, telling us that we are no longer confined (prisoner) to any label. Let us reintroduce ourselves to the dancer inside, inviting and empowering us to live without fear, to give life and spill joy.
There is no doubt that labels conveniently serve many purposes... I play it safe, I hide, I live small. But all of the labels are fashioned by fear; a fear that dismisses or restricts.
So. What does it mean to dance... to live with arms wide open…live without fear…in spontaneity, vitality, innocence, passion, and delight.

“May God's life dance within you as you pause for quiet places and prayer in your busy life.” Joyce Rupp  “Sabbath Moments”