engraven purpose.

John 15. Such a rich passage in Scripture - filled with FRUIT. "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you, that you should go and bear FRUIT - FRUIT THAT WILL LAST." (John 15:16). So, what is this FRUIT? Well, being that Scripture interprets Scripture, we can gather from Galatians 5, that this is FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT. Jesus is telling us that He chose us, APPOINTED US, to go and bear fruit - fruit that lasts. Well, what on earth does this mean..?

Well, we can clearly gather that we are to be bearing fruit. Bearing means to give birth to. Ok, so we are to give birth to fruit, and we know that this is Fruit of the Spirit... So, what is the fruit of the Spirit..? Back to Scripture interpreting Scripture! Galatians 5 tells us exactly what TYPE of fruit (evidences) we are to be bearing - love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Wait, what?! Even after a day like TODAY, I am to bear this fruit? Yes, we are called to such a purpose. Even in the harsh winter seasons of life? God swoops down and reminds us... YES, even then, my child.

​Hmm. I don't know about you, but I feel that I fail OFTEN at this calling. Are you with me and feeling quite abandoned, discouraged, and quite honestly - hopeless? Well, take heart, lift your eyes. God does not stop there. See, He has sent us HIS SPIRIT, the Holy Spirit - to equip us for such a high calling. During the winter seasons of life, the dark times, the struggles, the stress, the overwhelming moments, the enemy wants to come and rob you of your purpose. Yet, we have a plan out of such temptation and coercion! We have the VINE - Jesus Christ - at our side. In these dark moments, we need to allow our roots in Him to grow deeper and deeper. Use these hard times of trial to draw closer to the Lord and drink deep of His goodness and faithfulness. We have a life-source, and we must remain connected to Him!

Difficult seasons need to be seen as a time of growth and maturity in Jesus. In the natural, the trees all around us actually grow down deeper into the earth in the winter time. This is a radiant example of what should happen to our faith in the trials of this life! Establish your "root system" in the Lord and surround yourself with solid and mighty "oaks" of righteous, believing, and faithful people. Do NOT isolate yourself from the fellowship of other believers, and do not stop digesting the proper nutrients from God's Word. Being around other believers in the hard seasons of life is crucial to sustain your spiritual health. Their roots can feed us and lift us when we are struggling and barely hanging onto the Vine. NO MATTER OUR CIRCUMSTANCES, we must allow our fruit to ripen or mature, and even when it may seem hopeless, you are anchored to Jesus, and there is endless, infinite, sky-soaring HOPE to be found in Him. Matchless and bountiful!

Rest assured, you will come out of this trial shining, shining bright - bright with the Light given from God's own SON! All trees flourish the best after being pruned. God has every good intention in mind as He prunes you, molds you, and shapes you. Be grateful - in all things, and always remember, that seasons will come when it is a struggle to bear even the smallest amount of fruit, but stand tall, oh struggling child of God, the Vine-dresser cares for you, and one day you will be blossoming again, even strong enough to care for and help lift up others struggling around you. Tis the great paradigm and cycle of life for the believing soul. Trust GOD, even in the darkest of nights, and love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and self control will meet you in the morning. Amen!

If you have believed in Jesus Christ as your Savior, you have been given the Spirit in seed form, and now it is inevitable that you will grow, for He who began a good work in you is faithful and just to complete it...you need only to BELIEVE! We cannot control the circumstances we will face in this life, BUT we CAN control how close we cling to the VINE in these storms. We CAN control how much we drink the Living Water and eat of the Daily Bread. We CAN control what comes out of our mouths. We CAN control who we surround ourselves with. Abiding in the Vine requires humility, trust, faith, and great patience. We are called to protect and guard our hearts - the very wellspring of all we are. Protect our hearts from anger, bitterness, impatience, unclean words and thoughts, the cares of this world, the snares of the flesh. If our hearts go unkept, weeds will creep in and overtake us. This is NOT the will of HIM who has engraven your Name on His Hands. He is pruning you, for your GOOD! Pruning leads to a harvest of righteousness.

It may look like everything is falling apart around you, but this may be exactly what God wants to happen, to accomplish His good and perfect plan for your life. The end of the story will be better than you ever could have imagined! Rest in Him! Trust in Him! And never stop living your engraven purpose - to bear fruit worthy of His Name's Sake! Endure this pruning process, and you will see a bountiful harvest of LASTING FRUIT! Bearing lasting fruit is a lifelong process, and by keeping and abiding in the Vine, your life-source Jesus, you are equipped for all you EVER will face! "Onward, Christian Soldier, marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus, going on before!"