Jesus is the Vine, and we are the branches. John 15:5-8 "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."

The Greatest Commandments: The two greatestest commandments we are to live by are written in Mark 12:29-31 "The most important one,"answered Jesus," is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'  The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'  There is no commandment greater than these.''  Right here are the ten commandments from Moses condensed into two commandments by Jesus reemphasizing there importance. 

Jesus made the ways of living so simple for us to understand.  They are basically spelled out for us to learn.  Jesus shares this with us all out of love and to free us from the burdens of this world.  While living in love, He also wants us to flee from idols.  1 Corinthians 10:14 "Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry."  1 John 5:21  "Dear children, keep yourselves from idols."  1 Thessalonians 1:9-10. "They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead-Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath."

What is Idolatry? Relying on anything or anyone ahead of the Lord Jesus is idolatry.  The word idol is within the word idolatry.  Putting anything or anyone before the Lord is idolatry and leads you to crossing a dangerous line.  He deserves all the love we have to give because He first loved us and showed us the way.  He first loved us when he died for us even when we were still sinners.  He has always loved us, but we have to believe and open the door.  Our children and others  are observing us, so we need to do the right thing by relying on the one who really counts, our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.  God has blessed us with responsibilities to ourselves, to our children, and sometimes to the needs of others who cannot care for themselves.  We need to care for them because it is the right thing to do; and while we are doing this, we can be praying and talking to Jesus and asking him for the strength and peace every step of the way.  Our children and others will surely learn something from this process.

Practice moderation or just plain giving up some things for the Lord.  Do not let your flesh overtake you and over-indulge in any one thing. Paul  discusses in the Bible how he had a thorn.  God used his weaknesses to make him stronger, and he did not give up.  Keep going and living your life for the glory of the Lord. There is a fight going on each day between the flesh and the Holy Spirit because the two are in conflict with each other.  If we always aim to do what is pleasing to God and keep in tune with the Holy Spirit, our faith will prevail and help us to win the race.  Remember to do everything in a way to please Jesus through it all.  It is written, 1 John 4:4 "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world."  Jesus is the example; and through him we can overcome the flesh (sinful nature),  the world, and the evils around us.

Do not give up.  Keep going and trusting in Jesus; He will not leave or forsake you.  Proverbs 2:1-5 says:  "My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord."  Matthew 6:33 "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."  Acts 5:29 "Peter and the other apostles replied: 'We must obey God rather than men!' "If you want to indulge in anything indulge in the Lord."  Living your life for Jesus will enlighten you.  Do your best to live for him each and every new day.  Seek first his kingdom and watch your life start to change.  Jesus is alive and hears every single pray.  Your time in prayer is not waisted. God arose Jesus from the died so we need to arise when faced with hard choices in life.  Take a stand for what is right with Jesus always in mind, first.  When making decisions or choices in life, keep in mind if He would be accepting of those choices or decisions you are making or about to make.  Would these decisions or choices be pleasing and accepting to God.  Jesus died for us so we can rise above hard times and have him with us every step of the way.  He will see you through whatever you're going through.  Just keep your mind set on Him alone.  

You are not on your own anymore: We are not alone anymore.  We have the power of God within us.  Praise the Lord!  1 Corinthians 6:19-20 "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?  You are not your own; you were bought at a price.  Therefore honor God with your body."  Your body is special to God so treat it in a special way.  When Jesus returned to heaven, he sent his Holy Spirit to live within you.  What can be more beautiful and precious than that?  Hold on to this.  Philippians 4:5 "Let your moderation be known unto all men.  The Lord is at hand."  Do everything in moderation.  This can be hard to achieve sometimes; just take it one day at a time.  Stand on Him and His word and pray through every situation that may be hard for you.  Remember He knows right where you are and what you're dealing with. He gave us only one body, and he lives in you through His Holy Spirit.  Keep hold of this truth about His Holy Spirit that is within you.  You are special to God and your body is a temple.  Because once you believe, He take up residency along with your spirit.  He loves you just as you are.  Keep walking in his ways and he will give you the power and strength to get through all obstacles even making a way out of a tight situation.  Romans 8:37 "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."

Do not rely on anyone or anything more than the Lord Jesus Christ.  There are things in this world working in every way to block us from living righteous lives.  Things and even people can become idols in our lives.  You can call on Him anytime day or night in prayer, and He will be there to help you through whatever you're going through.  Take the time to ask him for the help you need at any given moment, and He will answer your prayer  and see you through.  If we rely on someone and are following what they are doing all day long, it can be unhealthy if they are not believers.  Turn to God for help in all things and ask him to lead you to the right people.  Ask Jesus for help because He wants and is there for you to call upon.  

Regularly attend a Bible-teaching Church, where you can find godly counsel. That is why we have Church; it is a place for us to go and fellowship with other Christians.  It is a house of prayer for all to worship God the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.  Jesus is coming back for His Church, by instruction of our Heavenly Father, God.  The Church is also called the bride in the Bible and it is without spot or wrinkle.  Make sure to find a Church, that teaches according to the Word of God and does not waiver from it.  The world around us is ever changing but we as Christians are not changing.  We are living out the Word in our everyday lives because we are in the world, not of the world.  Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."  John 1: 1-2 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning."  That is exactly why the Word of God is so important to us.  It is living just like God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are all living.  The Bible, should be the main book of study in Church because it is never changing and it stands true to whatever you're going through in life.   Hold on to this great truth.  The Church should value all God's sound doctrines in the written Word of God and rely closely on them, not waivering to the worldly views.  The fear of the Lord must be seen in each pastor, minister, or priest.  Sound doctrine should be seen in their everyday lifestyles and/or their family lifestyles.  Prayer, studying the Word, asking our Father for help and even fasting or giving up some things to the Lord is always the answer in achieving victory in all situations throughout life.  Do not take time for granted.  There is work to be done for God's kingdom so make every second count for something.