Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Vines (11/21/05)
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TITLE: The Great Vineyard | Previous Challenge Entry
By Teresa Hollums
11/21/05 -
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In the tenth year of my trying to find just right vine for my prayer garden, I had almost despaired of finding any flowering vine to surround my fountain without overgrowing and covering up all the other flowers. My trellis cried out for a good vine. My gardening abilities are often sporadic and I knew I had to find just the right vine. To grow a wanted vine in West Texas is really not as easy as it seems. There are plenty of unwanted ones. The best ones require money to invest into buying them and lots of care and love that includes time also. Finally this year I actually had a glorious beautiful vine that I could rejoice in and remind myself of God’s great love in giving us such a touch of his glory in the flowers of my new prayer garden vine. But I also saw that I must prune it.
Jesus’s parable of the vines has become even more real to me. Our Christian lives can be just like that vine—beautiful and growing and a blessing to all around us. But it is also true that we, like that vine, need pruning by God to become that blessing that God wants us to be. Just as it hurt me to trim a glorious vine to make it conform to the space I had in my garden, so God looks at our lives and sometimes causes a pruning and cutting back in our plans and dreams. In his infinite vision and purpose he knows that in the pruning we are often hurt and bleeding, but that we also can come to our knees to once again acknowledge his control and sovereignty in our lives. There has to be a great need for us to always be open and receptive to God’s pruning in circumstances that disappoint us and hurt us. We cannot see God’s greater view for his whole great vineyard of spreading Christianity. God says he loves every one of us and that we each have a special gift that he imparted to each of us. May we be the pliable vine that he can prune, cut, and mold for his enfolding love for mankind to come to know and acknowledge his Kingship over all mankind. And may our prayer be for His Great Vineyard to enfold everyone.
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This was straight from the heart, thanks for sharing!