9-10-2018

Good Morning All,

               John 15:4; “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.”

    So far, our garden has been a success.  We expanded a little this year and added some watermelon, squash, zucchini and pumpkins.  They have produced a lot of produce.  I even participated in “National sneak a zucchini onto your neighbor’s porch Day” (Aug. 8^th).  There were only a few marring and disappointing setbacks.  We battled a few bugs and some very hot and dry weather but the greatest disappointment was with one of my pumpkins.

    It was huge already early in the season.  It had the makings of a whopper but it was starting to get very flat on the one side.  I googled it and the guy on the Youtube video said to turn it.  So I turned it but in the process; I broke the vine.  It didn’t take long for a great pumpkin to become mush. 

    In our verse, Jesus tells us that unless a branch stays connected to the vine it cannot bear fruit.  As I looked at that broken tomato vine and the potential tomato, thinking of my disappointment; I wondered how many times I disappointed God.  How many times has He formed and shaped a wonderful fruit within me only to have me break away from Him and have it die?  How many times have I read and preached on compassion, only to walk away from the opportunity to be compassionate?  How many times have I written about mercy, only to hide and run away from the time to show it?  How many times am I the branch that tries to “un-attach” itself from the true vine?

    I don’t really want to count that number; it is higher than I would want to really see.  I deserve to be cutoff, “pruned”, and tossed in the garbage; all the while with that potentially great piece of fruit left to rot away.  What a disappointment to God that must be!  Yet we are most blessed because not only is Jesus the vine; he is also the physician.

   When my pumpkin vine broke, I had no choice but to dispose of it.  Yet God, through Jesus, takes my brokenness and heals me.  God re-attaches me to the true vine to let the fruit continue to grow.  God always gives me a chance to let the fruit grow.  He always gives me another chance to have compassion or to show mercy.  His desire is for me to show his love to others.  It is my desire as well but sometimes I fall short.  Yet through his grace, he restores me and he restores you, no matter how broken your vine; God restores you.

    So take heart and courage, a failure or a misstep does not end your relationship with God.  His healing is for you and forever.

God of all love, too often I am broken away from you.  Too often, I seek my own way.  Forgive me, renew me and restore me.  Guide me to produce the fruit that it may be a benefit to those around me.  Help me to bring healing and comfort to this world.  Help me to find those in most need of your mercy.  In the precious name of Jesus, our risen Savior, we pray amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret