John 15 ~ My Father is the Gardener

 

John 15

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. 3 You are already clean because of the Word I have spoken to you.

 

Remain in me, as I also 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.

5 “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. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, 

ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 

8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 

10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, 

just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 

11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 

12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 

13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, 

for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 

16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 

17 This is my command: Love each other. 

Jesus is fascinating. He doesn't control His Beloved with pleas, they do better and better. He says Love makes us fruitful. Jesus asks us to find Love to give. Jesus asks us to do what we do with Love. 

Cotton Mather said God sees us as an insect over the abyss.  It's His Mercy that keeps us alive. And in fact, Jesus says the Way, the Truth and the Life is Love. Why would God want to save the world if He sees us as so pathetic and unworthy. In His Love, Jesus finds hearts worthy.

I know a missionary to Japan that fell away, many, many years ago. Actually, two missionaries that went to Japan. One was an elderly woman, who loved the people so much and came to appreciate them so, the Church knocked on the door in her retirement years and asked her to come home to the USA to allow more fruitful, younger missionaries to make more of Jesus known. And she cheerfully returned home to her family farm. Glad of God's Journey.  She didn't find this shameful, she felt God had returned her to her beginning. And when she returned to the farm, the place had languished in her parents' old age. She brought new gardening ideas, new joy in being home, and her home bloomed. She continued on to her childhood Church and the Church was pleased she was home. Her joy in her new circumstance made everyone pleased with her. Love was what she was constantly putting forth. 

We visited my grandmother's hometown, and my grandmother had to find time to take all of us over to see her. An afternoon was planned to drop by.  We did. Everyone was delighted and she took us inside, where she had made a cake. 

We had cake and visited.  I was surprised to find, she was a generation younger than my grandmother. But being the same denomination, they found plenty of things to share in great joy. I found, at the end of the visit, they actually barely knew each other. But the adventure in Jesus made my grandmother want to connect.  The retired missionary was delighted we had come and said she had many similar visitors weekly.

In the car back to my aunt's house, I said to my grandmother, it looked as if her missionary work had picked up again, just being a Light in her hometown. Grandmother said, never underestimate the power of Jesus because my Anita Grandmother said anyone serving Jesus is doing so, even in quiet ways. Anita held forth, the missionary had never ceased.

Grandmother was probably right.

On Edward's side of the family, his family had a dear friend who had also been tapped to go home from Japanese missionary. Once back in the USA, he changed careers and flourished quite apart from the Church in everyday matters. Yet, having known him for decades, since I was 16 years old, I could tell you, he practiced overwhelming kindness and truthfulness.

The Light still shines when Jesus is there and the darkness does not overcome.

Once we are in the Garden Jesus gives us in Life, we can find a way to be a Light in a darkened

path, never leaving the Garden Jesus gives us. Because Jesus is the One who understands Hearts He nourishes.

I think, today we think, the Jesus Revivals, created more Bible Studies and works.  Seeing and hearing of my great aunt Eloise's baking and cooking to be given to the ill in the Church. How many times do you hear about the works of someone from the 1930s, 40s and 50s? Not very often.

Before there were paper plates...

Aluminum pie tins were kept as fast dinner plates

for things like picnics

My grandmother Anita fed 20 or more people a day from her small house during the Great Depression. And adopted, by Police request,  a special needs son.  We always provide bio information on people, quick and dead, but how rarely we remember their good works they walked in. It's as if we invented good works for the present day doers.

The Garden is alive and well!

Even dry Almond Walking Sticks that Bloom

to be placed in

the Seat of Mercy

Ark of the Covenant,

God's Chair

Abba, in Jesus Christ, 

We have found our Salvation in You.

Thank You for holding us firmly here.

Let us always respond to You with Love and trust.

Lifting Up those we Love and are given - in Jesus Christ.

Lifting Up those we see in the news - in Jesus Christ.

Lifting Up our cares to Jesus Christ.

Being Lifted Up believing Jesus Christ for ourselves, this nation, our cities, our communities, our Church, our schools, this Nation and the believing World. 

Making us the Communion of Saints  and 

our prayers going around this earth. 

Held firmly by You. 

Dwell in us, Father,

Dwell in those we Love,

Help us to seek You first,

And in Jesus Christ, we will finish well.

Thank You, Abba. 

Thank You, Jesus. Amen.

Philippians 2:16

as you hold firmly to the word of life

1 Peter 1:25

"The Word of the Lord remains forever.”

And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yay Jesus