Be the Branch...Be the Branch

I know it has been a while since I have posted some original thoughts. Plant season is gearing up and it usually takes me a week or two to get accustomed to all the physical exercise. We received four trucks of plants yesterday and it took six of us all day to get everything unloaded, priced, organized, and displayed. The place is BEAUTIFUL and no matter how tired I am at the end of the day, I have an amazingly wonderful time.

My main focus is the vegetable and herb house. I want everything "just so" and my nieces tease me because everything is alphabetized and organized the way I like it...and if they help I tell them, "Put that there, no, I don't want it there." Funny...they are the bosses!

Easter is an important time in gardening and any farmer, old or new, will tell you to plant your gardens on Good Friday for good growth and bountiful harvest. Needless to say, business has picked up quite a bit over the past couple of days. I spend most of the time filling in the holes where customers have picked through for the right plants for their gardens.

As you can imagine, Good Friday/Easter is the topic of most of my daily conversation... sometimes it is what kind of weather we might be having, or do I think it is too early or will there be one more frost, but sometimes... sometimes the conversation moves to the reason for Easter. I love those conversations!

As I straighten and restock I cannot help but think about the days leading up to the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior. No one but Jesus really knew and understood exactly what was about to happen and the impact His death would have for all humanity. Read John Chapter 17 for a glimpse of the heart of Jesus as He prayed in the garden.

“Crucify Him” and “Free Barabbas” bubbles to the top of my mind… to outsider looking in… to the world… His death must have looked like it was surrounded by hate… caused by hate... like He had no control… like God had looked away… turned His back on His only son but to the Christian heart we know it was the purest act of love and obedience. Salvation through His death and resurrection for all who would believe and accept Him… an unconditional love that we, His followers, are to pass along.

We shouldn’t be surprised that God turned an act of hate into an action of love but we can hardly fathom the concept. The Bible is full of ordinary people doing extraordinary things when faith and obedience are applied. WE are ordinary people… you and I… and we can accomplish extraordinary things when we walk, live, and love… in faith and obedience. A simple act of a hug and a prayer seemingly coming from out of the blue can change a life. We may never see the results but we know without a doubt that when we instinctively reach out to those around us… demonstrating HIS love… the Holy Spirit does the rest.

I love that part of being a Christian, don’t you? Today… I am going to surprise someone by being the hands and heart of Jesus! I can hardly wait to get started!

John 15:1-5 “I am the true vine, and my father 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. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”~NIV

Now let’s go out there and have a fruitful day!