When it's not raining, which has been most of the summer, I walk my dogs on a dirt road that runs behind my house.  My walks are a time for me to reflect and to pray.  My walk takes me past a robust vine of Muscading grapes.  I have been watching these grapes grow since July.  They have been green and very sour, but just recently after sampling weeks of sour grapes a few have turned purple and sweetened.  When I read the passage below I thought about God's patience with me on the vine.  The grapes of my branches are often green and sour as I learn to walk his narrow road.  But occaisionally, when I abide in him and the spirit fills my life, I produce a grape that is ripe and sweet.  Oh sweet Lord, I know that without you, I can do nothing but produce sour grapes.  I pray that your spirit lives in me, that I may bring forth much fruit, that I may be clean through your word.  I know that without you, I will wither and my life will be cast into the fire.  Oh Lord, help me love others as you have loved me.
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. 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. John 15:4