Producing Fruit

I don't know much about growing trees but for some reason I began to think about the apple tree when I saw the one my neighbour has in her garden.  

It doesn't appear to produce much fruit but it got me thinking that after a long hard winter a lot of trees look as if they are dead. There doesn't appear to be any life in them whatsoever and I often wonder at the miracle of seeing, as the months go by, new life appearing - leaves beginning to appear on the trees.

 I'm sure that as the ground has become warmer these first signs of life begin to appear and I read somewhere that the warmth encourages the flower buds to swell and they are flushed with pink before pure white flowers appear.  This is called blossom.  

It reminded me that we need to blossom.  Galations 5:22 says that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. When we have this fruit in our life we will begin to show the pureness of the one who lives within us.  The warmth of Jesus love encourages us to grow and as we do we will be like the apple tree producing a good crop.  Our crop will be the fruit we share to others, the love we show in helping our neighbour and everything else that comes with living a spirit filled life.     

When the tree begins to bud and blossom then the one who cultivated the tree knows there will be a bumper crop and the more blossom there is the more fruit there will be.  

The apple tree is much like the vine and we know who the vine is, it is Jesus and we are but the branches.  It is those branches that the Lord enables to produce the fruit so let us never tire of producing more fruit in our life as we follow our Saviour. As we listen to him and as he cultivates each area in our life. Let's think of ways in which we can be a blessing to others as we bud and blossom.

Rose Bud - Hope

 A few years ago I bought a rose bush from Hope for Justice, a movement that exists to bring an end to modern day slavery/human trafficking. I noticed a rosebud last week clinging to one of the branches. It's seen wind, rain, hail sleet, snow and is looking rather wet and weather beaten. 

As I looked out of the window the Lord seemed to be saying that no matter how harsh conditions are, there is always HOPE. He reminded me of my need to cling to Him just like the rose bud was clinging to that branch, and we will get through these uncertain times.

I read John 3:16 a number of years ago in the Amplified bible  - For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in, clings to, trusts in relies on him, should not perish but have everlasting life.  

That word CLING was like being glued- sticking tightly to Jesus just like this little rose bud looked glued and was sticking tightly to the branch 

In January, after prayer, I named my year REFLECTIONS and FLOURISH. I realised that first word wasn't about reflecting on what's gone - on the past - but it's reflecting on the HOPE to come - the hope in Jesus.  As I cling and hold tight to him, I also need to be a reflection of him in the days ahead. However  harsh the conditions, in Jesus, I will continue to grow and flourish