Fruit anyone?

Whatcha know 'bout me, whatcha, whatcha know 'bout me?

Hm, well, for starters, I'm very sorry to inform you that I am not as gangster as I may come off to be--shocking, I know.  Maybe you should have sat down for that statement.

And yes, I did say "gangster" by the way.

But I am also not quite the typical college student--you know, the stereotypical one you hear about in say...Katy Perry's song "last Friday night" or whatever.  I'm probably what most would call "boring."  And you know what?  I'm pretty down with that statement.  I am incredibly boring.  I find that my favorite thing to do on a Friday night is curled up under the covers with my dog and a good book in hand.  The only thing that would make the previous sentence better is if there were a slight rumble of thunder and raindrops falling on my (imaginary) tin roof.  Picturesque.  Why, oh why am I so "boring" you may ponder?  Well my friends, I am so glad you asked!

Okay, I'm really not all that boring, but that really was my kind of a Friday night--although, I'm pretty game for a movie cuddled up on the couch with my four-legged child and boyfriend.  But that's not really the point.  It all started back in high school when I was taken to a Baptist church--um, waaaaaaay at the opposite end of the spectrum from my Catholic church that I attended (the church label is of no importance).  I started learning more about this pretty awesome guy named Jesus, and man did he capture my heart and run away with it (sorry Steven, I guess you're really my second love).  Now, I wasn't a bad kid, but I sure as heck was a little on the strange side--I mean, I'd give myself funny looks if I saw myself as I was then.  I think it was after an evening at a friends house that really started the wheels upstairs turning.  I was not in a place that I wanted to be at the time, and I about ripped my thumbnail off the next morning when I went to church--I mean, I really went to town on my nail listening to our youth pastor at the time talk.  Lightbulb!  Change of course for 200, please?

My obvious about-face wore a bit on some friendships, but I am absolutely overjoyed with the outcome of it all.  My soul, my faith, my life rests with my unbelievably incredible Savior.  That to me is worth more than anything I ever own, ever have owned, or ever will own.  I'm not quite sure how I ever managed to make it through life without Him.  Was I some crazy nut or what?

I was reading through my little discipleship book tonight, and I read a verse that I think would be fitting for this post.

"You didn't choose me, I chose you.  I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name."  John 15:16

Think of your absolute favorite fruit in the whole entire world.  Taste that goodness.  Oh boy, you should probably stop salivating and drooling all over everything--that's a little disgusting (or disturbing).

Imagine taking the biggest bite you possibly can.  You anticipate its sweet sugary-ness, but wait for it....YUCK!  Rotten!  Spoiled! Wormy fruit.  You wouldn't want to eat that.  You could get some serious nasty-ness from that.  Like, you might need some serious tetnis shots or something.

Now, why in the world would I do that to you?  Because we're all rotten fruits.  No one in their right MIND would come anywhere near us--even people not in their right mind.  We are all so wicked and deceitful, I'm surprised we all have any friends at all.  But then, remember the verse.."I chose you."  

Say whaaaaaat??

He chose us even though we clearly shouldn't be allowed out in public.  He takes us as we are and cleans us up so that we can produce lasting fruit--the good kind that you were thinking about earlier.   The good kind that everyone wants to keep to themselves but can't because it's just too good not to share with someone else!

Shut your mouth!  That is pretty flippin' sweet.

Or at least, I thought so :)