Tag: God

Wonder & Mystery

~ Steve Vandop ~ 1 Comment

There are times in life and faith that we all put on our detective’s hat and dive deep into the mysteries that occupy our minds with the question of why. The author of a good mystery story reveals certain (sometimes very specific or intentionally vague) pieces of information to keep its reader yearning for more, keeping them on the edge of their seat while they frantically read to discover the ending. As an avid mystery reader and writer my oldest daughter says there is an incredible tension (and satisfaction) between revealing all to the reader or leaving them “hanging on a cliff”. 

Whether it is a detective novel about murder, a cozy mystery, or a grand caper, we typically find an end to the story, the answer to the question of “whodunnit”, and why. When we come to reading and studying scripture, we are at times left “hanging on the cliff” wanting more, expecting more, and at times, even demanding more. 

God in his infinite wisdom has authored for us an incredible story that continues from the first days of creation to this moment in time right now and reaches into the future, a future to which only he knows. As the author of the greatest story ever told we as his creation are characters with limited understanding as we are placed somewhere into the timeline of this grand narrative. 

For me, one of the greatest mysteries in this story that we are all a part of as followers of Jesus (and perhaps even those who are not) is that of the relationship between the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Through His inspired word to us God reveals to us pieces of information that create in us a great sense of wonder and mystery of who he is.

One God, “three persons”. It is a lot to wrap our minds around. There is a lot that do know from the words of scripture and yet there is still plenty of mystery surrounding this incredible God that we have. Many have dedicated their lives to the study of the doctrine of the Trinity over centuries of time and I in no way can explain much here in less than 600 words. One thing I can do is share this thought. 1 John 4:6-21 talks about God’s love and ours; simply stated, “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.”

At the beginning of time God walked with Adam and Eve (3:8), he was present with them and desired to be with them. When sin entered the world that loving intimate relationship was broken. Yet, God still desired to be with his people, so he sent Jesus to be present with his people; to show us how to live in love with him and one another. Jesus showed his love for us through his life, death and resurrection. When Jesus left to be in heaven we were not left alone, he sent the Holy Spirit to guide us, to know how to live in love, and continue to know the love of God and so that others could know him. 

In each expression of who God is, we as followers of Jesus will experience his incredible love. He is present in our lives each and every day through the Spirit, who is God. When we live in love, we live in God who is love and he lives within us. (is your head spinning yet?) 

For me, I love that there is wonder and mystery around this incredible truth. I don’t have to have it all figured out, to know every little detail. I have faith in the words of scripture that reveals to us who he is as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I am okay with sitting on the edge of my seat waiting to know more. How about you? Are you living in love; in God, who is love? Do you wonder about this incredible mystery?

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Wonder & the Holy Spirit

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12v, 18v, 24v or 40v?  What is the best battery capacity for the job? How much power do you really need? Well, it all depends on the job. You might be a contractor looking for a larger capacity battery so you can work faster and longer. Or you might be a DIY kind of person who only needs a smaller capacity battery. No matter the job, batteries have the capacity to supply the power needed to get the job done. 

In my last post I talked about the idea of wonder as a powerful response to something bigger than you and me. I recently listened to a sermon presented by my friend and fellow pastor and was inspired to think more about the power of the Holy Spirit in my own life. He commented that “power to live has to come from an external source.” His point was this, as followers of Jesus Christ we have been given the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives “to do what we were created and then redeemed to do.” 

Do you ever wonder what this means for us as believers? What is it that we are created and redeemed to do? Acts chapter 1:8 has helped me understand better the wonder of the work of the Holy Spirit in my own life. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” In life, the power and work of the Holy Spirit is so much bigger than who I am, but at the same time, is the “external source” that leads and guides my life and actions. In general terms, the power that you and I receive from the Holy Spirit is the ability or capacity (the gifts of the spirit) to carry out our purpose as participants in the Missio Die, the mission of God. What capacity do we have to affect change by the power of the Holy Spirit?

In Acts chapter 1:8 we are reminded of our mission; these words echo the commands of the great commission given in Matthew 28:19-20. In slightly different terms, Jesus calls his disciples to be a witness for him to Jerusalem and to the ends of the earth. This role as witness is to testify about the life, death and resurrection of Christ; to speak about the kingdom of God and to know Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. God’s gift of the Holy Spirit gives us the capacity and drive to actively be on mission, to teach, to preach, and lead others to Christ. 

The mission we are called to like any good mission, is well planned with purpose and intent. The Holy Spirit is the one who renews us each and every day (when we pray and ask) with the knowledge and understanding of all that Jesus has taught us through the words of scripture. The Holy Spirit guides us into the truth of the Gospel, convicting us of our sins, bringing us before Jesus to seek forgiveness so that we can continue to grow in our understanding of the incredible love and compassion that is poured out for us into our lives. 

Knowing and trusting in the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives comes when we put our faith, hope and trust in Jesus Christ. You and I were created by God for a purpose and gifted by the power of the Holy Spirit to be a witness to all the world so that they may see and know of him through us.

The power we have through the Holy Spirit is not our own, it is a gift from God that is so much bigger than you and me. Yet, God in his infinite wisdom gives it to us so that we can partner with him and others of like mind to continue the work of Jesus and his disciples. Have you experienced the wonder of the power of the Holy Spirit in your life? Are you a witness to the wonder and truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, doing what you were created and then redeemed to do? 

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Rooted in…

~ Steve Vandop ~ Leave a comment

Anyone living on the West Coast of BC who has attempted to dig a hole in the ground for a fence post or drainage line knows the irritations of digging around roots. These intricate networks of tenacious tentacles work their way into the pathway of most ground projects. As frustrating as they may be to us, they are the life-giving support that sustain the life and growth of the tree above. 

Recently in my studies I was given a question to reflect on and answer, “What is the root of the gospel?” Our mandate as Christ followers is to share the “good news” of the gospel with others; to invite them into the truths and the promises that come when we put our hope and trust in Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. The core that gives power to this good news is the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But what is at the root of the core, the root of the gospel? 

Before we can answer that question, we need to know what the gospel is. The word gospel translated from “euangelion” means good news, it is the news or message of God’s salvation for his people. Salvation is the rescue from sin and death.Full of grace and mercy it is the reconciliation and restoration of a once beautiful and trusting relationship between God and his people. 

We all live in a world that has been affected by the power of sin. Sin is the “bad news” that tries to overshadow the message of the good news or gospel. For the good news to outshine the bad, its roots must be grounded deep into a life-giving source. So, what might this be? 

The root of the gospel, this good news is LOVE.

John 3:16 is probably one of the most well-known Bible verses that describes this incredible love that the gospel is rooted in. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” 

This verse captures the message of the gospel in a few short yet powerful words and presents love as the catalyst that ties the events of Jesus’ death (the core) to God’s incredible love (the roots) for the world He created. 

God’s love for us is incomprehensible on a human level. The world has defined love in so many ways that many have dismissed the power and truth of God’s love for them. God’s love for us needs to be the love we reflect to others so that they will see and know him. As stated previously our mandate as Christ followers is to share the gospel. As the gospel is rooted in God’s love, then we are to love others just as he loves us. Easy to say or write, hard to do sometimes.  

When the root (God’s love) of the gospel takes hold in our lives, when we accept that what Jesus did for us through the cross, our sins are forgiven and our relationship with God is made right. Our lives should reflect that change. How do we share the good news with love? 1 John 3:18 says “let us love not with words or speech but with actions and in truth”. 

We have all heard the term “actions speak louder than words” before. God proved his love to us through the action taken on the cross through Jesus. Knowing that the gospel is rooted in love what action(s) can you think of that will see those roots grow into the lives of others?

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Opposites

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People who have not been identified by name are considered anonymous. For almost every word in the English language there seems to be a way of expressing an opposite idea, these words or ideas are usually called antonyms. So, what is the antonym or opposite of anonymous? “Onymous”, this uncommonly used word means “bearing a name”. Seems obvious once you see them together yet not many people make the connection. 

Jude boldly lays out for us a definition for those he describes as “ungodly”. They are people “who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.” (Jude 4) The Greek word “asebēs” translated as ungodly in verse four describes someone who is impious (not showing respect or reverence, especially in context here to God), wicked, or ungodly. “Asebēs” underlines the idea of living without regard for religious belief or practice in one’s life. 

Remembering that Jude is writing this letter to the church, to his dear friends in Christ, we should take these words as a sort of warning. For Jude to use such powerful words there must have been visible signs of trouble within the church. He does not name names, but these people are not anonymous. As he explains, “they have slipped in among you”, they have inserted themselves into the life of the church, into the lives of the people who share in the gift of Christ, salvation. 

These onymous people in this verse do bear a name and it is “ungodly”. They are individuals whose hearts, minds and motives work against the will of the Lord, against the work of the Holy Spirit to further grow the kingdom of God. 

If we know from scripture what it means to be ungodly, we can then determine by opposite expressions what it means to be godly. Scripture is full instruction on how to live a life following God will, if we look at it in contrast to what Jude says in his letter, we have a sort of measure to compare. 

The ungodly pervert the grace of God in this case by “accepting” this gift of grace with grave misunderstanding. In their own minds, no matter how they live, the fulness of grace gives them even greater opportunity to participate in immoral activity. Jude describes their lives in verse 12. “These people are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm – shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown about by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and are unrooted – twice dead. They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.”

In contrast to or opposite to this life, we as redeemed sons and daughters of God, through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ on the cross become loving participants in the family of God. We have reserved for us a place in heaven with our Heavenly Father. We are stars that shine brightly to others so they may see the father of lights through us. Like the waves of the ocean, we share in the rhythms of life that bring praise, honor, and glory to God. Our attitudes and actions bear the fruits of the spirit that are firmly rooted and grounded in the love of our Father. 

We may wish to be anonymous in life, but as followers of Jesus we are all onymous. Our lives bear his name. It is my prayer that you and I live our lives people see the complete opposite of what is means to be ungodly.    

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Do Not Ignore This Call

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It’s dinner time, you are all seated around the table, the food is being served and just as you are ready to take the first mouthwatering bite of food, the phone rings. You put down your fork to answer the call and like many times before, silence. The line is dead, no one is on the other end. Or, on the flip side you are hit with a long verbal stream of words that leaves everyone around the table curious about what is being said. Either way, you hang up and continue with the task at hand. 

Judes short letter in the New Testament letter was addressed “To those who have been called, who are loved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ:” If you investigate the Greek word “klētos” translated as “called”, you get a better understanding of its purpose in the text. “Klētos” implies a meaning of relationship and/or task. In Romans 1:1 Paul introduces himself as “a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God.” In Matthew chapter 22:14 the word is also used as an invitation into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. 

 So, if Paul, who identifies as a servant of Jesus Christ and Jude who follows suit, have been “called” (like the recipients of the letters they have written), who is doing the calling? And what is the “call” all about? 

God is the one who is calling! 
Why? Since the fall of man, when sin became entangled in the fabric of human life, (causing separation between God and man) God has been calling his children back into a right relationship with him. 

What is this call all about and what does this have to do with us today?  The pinnacle of the creation story comes when God masterfully created and walked with and talked with man and woman. Unfortunately, their perfect relationship was severed by sin and shame. God, in his infinite love for humankind offered up a way for us to be in relationship with him. Through the death and resurrection of his Son Jesus on the cross we experience his incredible grace, mercy, forgiveness and promise of eternal life in relationship with him again. 

The message of the Gospel continues to be the “script” of the call that God has for all his people. “klētos” is a call to relationship, this bond we have with our Father in heaven is also a call to action or task.  As we grow in our relationship with Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, we become image bearers of who he is. We become agents (disciples) of Jesus with the task of speaking the good news of the gospel to others. 

Jude accepted and understood God’s call in his life in a much different time than we live today. The message of the gospel is timeless. The call from God to his people (then and now) is the exact same. There is no time and place that I could imagine where God will not be on the other end of that call. He is always present, waiting and listening to begin a new and beautiful relationship with anyone who answers. 

Many have answered the call from God, finding peace and promise in his message.  Some have “hung up” on the caller and chosen to ignore this life-giving news. Others, for many reasons have not even received the call yet. It is our job as the “called” to be the extension for the “divine operator”. Who is your next call going to be to?

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“Hey Jude”.

~ Steve Vandop ~ 1 Comment

Written by Paul McCartney, the ballad “Hey Jude” was penned to comfort and encourage a young man as he experienced turbulence in his life. Julian (Jude), son of John Lennon, was working through the hard changes in life as his father left his marriage relationship to be with someone else. The song was a letter thoughtfully written by a friend to a friend in need, written with emotion, and care. 

Have you ever been in church and the pastor comes up to give the message and he says something like this, “this past week I worked on a message to give today but last night God laid it on my heart to share something different with you this morning.” 

If you have read the short letter of Jude in the New Testament you will experience this exact notion. Verse three reads, “Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.”

Jude wanted to write about the incredible promise of salvation that each follower of Jesus shares in as a brother or sisters in his name. He introduces himself to us in this letter by identifying himself as a servant of Jesus Christ. Tasked with the responsibility of sharing the good news of salvation given to them through the death and resurrection of Jesus, he also felt the burden of speaking to the dangers that threatened to break apart their faith. 

In the NIV translation much of Jude’s letter follows the heading, “The Sin and Doom of Ungodly People”. There were persistent, observable, and not so obvious problems (I will explore some of these in future blogs following this one) creeping up in the life of the church. The truth of the gospel message was slowly being twisted by false teachings; people (posing as friends) were purposely leading others into denying that Jesus was the anointed one, the sovereign Lord over their lives. 

Jude was a friend, writing to friends in need. The Greek word translated “dear friend” (agapētos) can also mean beloved. There was a sense of deep connection, tenderness, care and love that Jude held for those in the church. The salvation they shared together served as a type of bond, both through their relationship with Jesus and then with one another as brothers and sisters. A true friend in Christ will always point you in the direction of Christ. 

I am reminded of another song, “What a friend we have in Jesus”. Originally written as a poem by a pastor to comfort his mother while he was away, the song reminds me that we also have friends in Jesus. The church is like a home for people, a place where they seek comfort, safety and encouragement, a place where friends and family can come together because of their common faith and salvation. 

Jude thoughtfully wrote this letter to urge his friends to contend for their faith, to stand up for what they believe in. When was the last time you encouraged a friend to stand firm in their faith or shared an encouraging word? 

You don’t have to write a letter but don’t be afraid to try. With so many digital platforms that keep our lives connected, think about sharing an encouraging word with a friend today. Who will you say “Hey” to today? 

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Being Called by your Full Name

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Have you as an adult ever been called by your full name? Maybe by a grandparent, parent, or spouse? If you have experienced this sometimes-startling call, you know the power it has to stop you in your tracks and grab your attention. It has not happened often, but I cannot tell a lie, it has happened to me.

Over the many years of listening to sermons, lectures or simply reading scripture, my attention is peaked when the speaker or author refers to Jesus as our “Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ”. For me, there is a sense of having to stop and pay attention to what is being said and who it is being said to.

Three times in Peter’s second letter to the church he speaks of our “Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (1:11; 2:20; 3:18) The context of these words in time and place of writing would likely have had more impact on the hearts and minds of the people than they do today. In our abundantly different contexts of our Western culture, many “Christians” have distanced themselves from the reality of Christ as Lord in their lives, the need for a Saviour, and for some, even turning a blind eye to the name of Jesus Christ all together.

Peter communicates through his words that Jesus was so much more than just an extraordinary human being, He was the incarnate Son of God, coequal to and coeternal with God the Father. Understanding the triune nature of Father, Son and Holy Spirit has been an ongoing quest of humankind since the day Christ entered this our world as an infant. For you and me, understanding who Jesus is through reading scripture strengthens and grows the relationship we have with him. 

When I hear the name of Jesus in this context, I am reminded that He is the Lord of my life, that I need to live in obedience to his will and calling, to carry on his mission through the work and power of the Holy Spirit in my life. I am forever reminded that as my Saviour, Jesus paid the price for all my sins, that only through him may I have a relationship with our Father in heaven.  

While Peter speaks to many different powerful themes in his letter (the authority, truthfulness, and inspiration of the word; salvation, judgment, and the final days to come) the foundation on which our faith is built is the relationship we have with Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. 

In chapter 3:1 Peter states his purpose for writing this letter along with his first. They are written “as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking.” The written words of Peter are reminders for the people of the church to “stir up” or “wake up” the truths (the foundations) of their faith that had been taught to them. “I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.” (2 Peter 3:2)

Words like “Lord” and “Saviour” certainly stimulate my mind when I hear or read them. How do you feel when the name of your Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is spoken in word or read in scripture? Are you reminded of the truth of the gospel message that has the power to forgive, save, and promise eternal life?  Stop, listen, and reflect on the gift we have in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  Allow the words of scripture to stir within you, to inspire, comfort and challenge you, then share those thoughts with those around you.

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“Here’s Looking at You…”

~ Steve Vandop ~ 2 Comments

Some people might say that certain forms of modern-day technology are always watching, listening, gathering, and storing information about us. Some, they say, are tracking our every move. Can it or “they” really know when you wake up in the morning, what route you take to work, what you purchase at the grocery store or what you order for dinner? 

I am not a conspiracy theorist, yet I am not completely naive to the fact that many of these things are true. The question I often ask myself is: what is the motivation that fuels this kind of action? 

Genesis chapter 16 records the story of Hagar, an Egyptian slave that served Sarai, the wife of Abram. When the events of her life became more than she could bear, she ran and hid from all that was going on. Without any hope or promise of what the future held she encountered an angel of the Lord and discovered an incredible truth about who God is. 

The place where Hagar met the Lord was named “Beer Lahai Roi” which when translated means “well of the living one who sees me”. “She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.”” (Gen 16:13)

Hagar’s life changed in that moment. With a new hope she returned to Sarai and lived out the life that God had called her into, albeit with a new perspective. Knowing that God had a plan for her life and that he was watching over her, she became a significant part of the promise God gave to Abram and his people. 

Psalm 139 describes in very specific detail the incredible depths to which the Lord’s knowledge and understanding of who we are is, a deepness that no advanced technology or AI could ever know us.

“You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar… Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely… If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there… for you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” (Ps 139:2,4,8,13) 

As I read these words, as I reflect on the depth of God’s power, knowledge and understanding I once again find myself asking the question, what is the motivation that fuels this kind of action? 

Despite what most of the world thinks, “God is love.” (1 Jn 4:16) He knows us completely because he loves us completely. Even greater than that he loves us unconditionally. His actions, thoughts, and plans for us are all motivated by love. 

We may hold onto a certain amount of fear (in small amounts this is healthy) when it comes to a worldly kind of “knowing and understanding” as our lives are “seen” through the lens of technology and human interpretation. When it comes to God’s love we should not hold onto any fear, perfect love from our Father in heaven drives out any fear (1 John 4:18).

The same God who saw Hagar in her time of need, who comforted David as his enemies tried to destroy him is the same God of love that is looking over you and I today. It is my prayer that you have experienced God’s unconditional love in your life. May His love be the motivation for your life. 

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Bread… so, so Good.

~ Steve Vandop ~ 1 Comment

Sourdough is one of my favourite types of bread especially when it is toasted, slathered with butter, and topped by a generous layer of Hagelslag (milk chocolate sprinkles). I have recently discovered that sourdough bread has a very short ingredient list. Basically, all you need is flour, water and if you like, a pinch of salt. Beyond these simple ingredients there comes a process to shape them into an edible loaf of bread. 

In the context of scripture what is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear or think about the word “bread”? Do you think about the provision of mana God sent from heaven to feed his people? (Ex.16). Maybe your thoughts go to the account of the last supper where Jesus broke bread with his disciples (Luke 22). Maybe like me, you think about the five small barley loaves that fed 5000 people in John Chapter 6.

John chapter 6:35 is where Jesus declares “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” After Jesus meets the physical needs (hunger) of the people through this incredible display of his power, he draws them into a spiritual conversation using the words, “I am the bread of life”. 

The group of people Jesus is talking to in this verse seem to be missing the message intended for them, so he breaks it down into relatable terms that they can understand (using a metaphor). He is referring to himself in this verse both as “I am”, the God of their forefathers, and the “bread”, the source of life; the promised one sent by God as their Saviour and Messiah. The words that follow are two “simple ingredients” that speak to their spiritual needs, to their life in him.

The first ingredient, “come to me” is an obvious, point-blank call to faith given to the people. Jesus, the Messiah was right there in front of them and just having performed an incredible miracle they did not believe in him. “You have seen me and still you do not believe” (John 6:36). Second, “whoever believes in me” is another call to action (ingredient) much like the first. There is a decision or choice to be made. 

One commentary on this verse summed it up beautifully, “Christ shows that he is the true Bread; he is to the soul what bread is to the body, nourishes and supports the spiritual life. He is the Bread of God. Bread which the Father gives, which he has made to be the food of our souls.”

The bread metaphor used in this verse was rich with meaning in its original context because it was a staple of life. Today, especially in western culture this may not be the case. But the message is still the same. Jesus is still the source of life, both spiritually and physically. The call still stands, “come to me… believe in me”. Have you answered this call, is Jesus the bread of your life?

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The Gardener

~ Steve Vandop ~ Leave a comment

When it comes to pruning there is a right way to do it and a wrong way. One independent review of my pruning technique leans heavily towards the wrong way of doing things. In my defense, it was a big tree. I figured big tree, big tool, a chainsaw. In the end the tree survived, as I did when my reviewer returned from work that day (just barely). 

The opening words of John chapter 15 record the words of Jesus as he shares one of his last “I am” statements, giving us a glimpse of not only who he is but his Father in heaven. 

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 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… 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”. (John 15:1-2,5)

Much can be said about these words regarding the relationship between the Father (the gardener, or farmer), the vine (Jesus), and the branches (you and I as disciples of Christ). These relationships are foundational to understanding our place and purpose within the kingdom of God. 

As I seek to know God better through the names given to him in scripture, I could not help but focus on the role of God as the gardener or more definitively translated “farmer”. A true gardener or vinedresser has the necessary skills to tend to a vine in a way that yields the most fruit possible. For me, to hear and think about God from this perspective draws me into understanding how much he cares for his people. 

The illustration of the vine used in these verses from John has a long history and connection with the people of God. Throughout the Old Testament the vine and gardener illustrations depict God’s commitment and care for the people of Israel (at that time, the vine). 

Isaiah writes the words of a song about the deliverance of Israel in chapter 27 that speak to the characteristics of his love and care for his people.  “Sing about a fruitful vineyard: I, the Lord, watch over it; I water it continually. I guard it day and night so that no one may harm it… In days to come Jacob will take root, Israel will bud and blossom and fill all the world with fruit.” (Is 27:1,6)

Under the new covenant (New Testament) Jesus becomes the life-giving vine that connects us to our Father in heaven.  As the gardener of our lives, I am thankful that God in his grace and mercy “prunes” and cares for us in a caring and loving way. Unlike my ill-fated chainsaw approach to pruning, God has an incredible plan for our lives.

With great care and purpose, even before our branch began to grow on the vine God knew what was to come, he knows what kind of fruit will be produced and continually works to prune or shape the lives of his people today. 

God’s word to us proves that he cares. John 3:16 says he cares (loves) us so much that he gave his one and only Son for us, Philippians 4:9 states that God will supply our every need. What an incredible loving and caring God we serve. 

It is my hope and prayer that the fruit we produce through the vine (Christ), and the loving care of our Heavenly Father will inspire and bear witness to others the goodness of God.  

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