Grow

It's basically rookie hour around here as far as veggie gardens go, but this summer we are attempting to grow food. It's always seemed intimidating to figure out what to grow, where it would thrive, and the constant maintenance. But this is the year.

Seasons of life are like this, too. The constant figuring out how to thrive under the current conditions, and the consistent monitoring and pruning back of unnecessary things in our lives. It can be confusing and exhausting! The Bible sheds some light on growing:

In John 15:5 Jesus says, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

Apart from the gardener the plants won't grow properly. Apart from Jesus we can do NOTHING. Not some things, not most things, but nothing. Period. These verses help us understand how to thrive—and makes it sound pretty simple, doesn't it? But how does it work? Back up to verses one and two with me:

In John 15:1-2 Jesus says, "I am the true vine, and my Father {God} is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.

The plants in the garden are dependent on me to give them enough water, prune out the weeds, and put them in a place where the sun can shine on them. My soul is dependent on connection with God for living water, His pruning out of things hindering me from His plan, and putting me in my place where the Son can shine through my life.