Dave and I sit and visit most every evening about how happy we are with our decision to sell our house and make this RV our home. We look at each other, smile and say “God has truly blessed us”.
We felt that way when we moved from our home in Idaho and went to Montana, and we felt that way when we left Montana and moved back to Arizona. Ours isn’t, nor has it ever been, a stationary life. Now it has wheels.
There is one thing I miss from our home in Rio Rico. It’s my flowers – especially my chrysanthemums and my geraniums. All year long they bloomed and flourished. I loved the color they added to the yard. Some of them I acquired when we first moved there in 2014. Of course, I couldn’t take all of them with me when we moved but I did manage to keep a few.
I have one mum that showed such great promise when we moved. It was loaded with buds and I was sure they would come to full bloom shortly. However, the relocation and a unexpected cold snap thwarted its growth. For the last two months, it has been somewhat neglected. Oh I’ve watered it, when I remember, and have trimmed the undeveloped buds as well as the stock that was frost bitten yet, no new buds appeared until this week.
New growth!
In this morning’s reading Jesus gave instruction to his disciples about their growth.
“‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the vineyard keeper. 2 He removes any of my branches that don’t produce fruit, and he trims any branch that produces fruit so that it will produce even more fruit. 3 You are already trimmed because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. A branch can’t produce fruit by itself, but must remain in the vine. Likewise, you can’t produce fruit unless you remain in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, then you will produce much fruit. Without me, you can’t do anything.'” John 15:1-5 CEB
Perhaps you feel like that mum I was talking about or like the branch that Jesus is referring too. Are you in need of a good trim? Has your fruit been a little sparse or your buds not fully blossomed?
Notice that Jesus said it is the word that does the trimming. The book of Hebrews tells us that God’s word is sharper than a two-edged sword and it is capable of dividing the soul (selfish ambitions) from the spirit (God led purpose).
If we remain in God’s word, we remain in Christ. He is the Word made flesh. Interesting how it all ties together, isn’t it?
“The Word became flesh and made his home among us. We have seen his glory, glory like that of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 CEB
When we remain in Him, he promises we will produce much fruit. Expect it – there is new growth coming to our lives!