The other night our family was enjoying the summer evening in our back yard gathered around our small fire pit.  My son Nels & daughter Joslyn had been gathering sticks and branches from our yard all day.   We cooked smores and had a great time.  The fire burned steady and the dry tree branches went up quickly. 
 
Then I looked at the trees in our yard the next morning.  What a difference between the branches that were still attached and full of leaves from those we had burned in our fire the night before!  It made me think of this verse.  John 15:6   "If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, cast them into the fire , and they are burned."
 
What a useless end for a branch to simply be burned in a moment of flames.  What a useless end for a life that is disconnected from the vine of Jesus.  We were created for connection with Christ.  We were meant to get our strength, nourishment, identity and life from our source - Jesus!  When we are separated from the true vine, our lives will be lived completely in vain.  Our end will be as quick and certain as those branches that burned in our fire-pit.  I must remain connected to continually be fruitful.
 
Lord, I thank you that you've given me the privilege of knowing you.  I thank you that you have revealed the uselessness of my life apart from you.  Show me the path to abide in your love.  Help me to find that place of sweet rest and have the patience to stay there.