Harvest time is here! The plants and seeds we planted in early spring are now producing their fruits and vegetables. Nothing tastes better than a fresh tomato, especially when it is accompanied with bacon and lettuce. Another one of my all-time favorites is a fresh sweet potato. I have never grown sweet potatoes myself, but my family has grown them for the past few years. Did you know a sweet potato planted in water produces stringers and these are what is planted to produce more sweet potatoes? I was talking with my cousin and she shared with me that one sweet potato has provided enough sweet potato plants for five families and could have done more. It is amazing to think how productive one little potato can be, how much it can produce and how many it can feed. It started with one potato in some water and now has the capability to feed many. For as many stringers as you cut off the plant and give away, more will grow in their place.
In the same way, God has planted a seed within our hearts. This seed also needs to be nourished with God’s living water. As God’s seed grows in our hearts it produces the fruit of God’s Spirit living in us, which then produces our own “stringers” to plant in other people’s lives while keeping us spiritually growing.
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22-23
When we are thriving and the Holy Spirit’s fruit is produced within us, we have the ability to help others flourish by allowing them to see Christ in us. We have the potential to sow God’s seed in the hearts of many and help bring them to the place where they produce their own fruit. This all began with one seed when Jesus’ tears hit the ground and His death gave us the victory over death. If it were not for the seed of His love planted within our hearts we would die on the vine.
We have choices each day to decide what we are going to do to expand God’s kingdom with the seeds we plant. A good crop yields rewards beyond the growing season and satisfies needs beyond our own. This is what God does for us too. Often times it can seem like we are not producing anything, but I have found this is when God is doing His greatest work in our lives and those around us. Sometimes we never know who we are impacting, but God does and He is working in ways we don’t anticipate.
Gardening is a labor of love. For those of you who garden I am sure you can relate. It is hard to grow a garden when faced with all of the various elements of nature. The good news is despite the elements of this world we have the ability to produce incredible fruit for the Kingdom and bring God great glory!
“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. John 15:1-8
Just keep yourself watered with His Word and allow your fruit to grow and share it! Remember pruning is necessary in order to produce more fruit. It isn’t always fun, but the reward is great.
What you feed your soul has the power to make you Whole!
The message of John 15:1-8 has always been one of my favorite passages. It’s humbling, at times, to look back in the rear view mirror of our lives to see all He has had to prune in order to keep us growing. The pruning process is often painful, but His plan is always best.
God bless you Sheila!