"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." John 15:5 NKJV
Growing up in a family of builders and farmers, I heard and saw a lot about what life really is all about. My family wasn't educated by the world of books, but they earned practical doctorates in their level of understanding about the laws of nature and what a person needed to know to survive.
Grandpa constantly told me words of wisdom such as: "If something misses you, an inch is as good as a mile, so let it go, you're safe." "A dog can smell whether you are afraid or not, and you're not safe if you are afraid, so be brave." "Look people in the eye because they are deciding about you." And, one I came up with later that was based on what he didn't understand very well: "Women are not men; learn the difference or you will pay the consequences."
One of the phrases I heard growing up was; "A Bumper Crop" (a crop that was abundant). Bumper crops could save the farm when droughts and insects took the farmer's security away.
Recently, I opened my heart up to the Holy Spirit as I remembered: "No one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God" (I Cor. 2:11). The words "Bumper Crop" came over and over to my soul. I claimed today's verse that if I abide in Jesus, I would constantly produce abundant Kingdom fruit.
Oh, the joy to know that if God's children abide in Jesus, they will produce the Heavenly Vine-Dressers' heartfelt desire - bumper crops. I claim this right now. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!
This has been a very good day!
Help us Father to realize that each day your children can bear abundant fruit. We yield to our Vine, Jesus. Let the power of the Holy Spirit produce the life He came to give through us. We pray in Your Son's name. Amen!
Dr. Bob (AZ)