Hello Tony and good morning to you too! Look through the forums to find an interesting discussion then join in. You should soon have many Christian friends here.
What do you write? Perhaps you could include some of your writings here in your postings. Hope so. Welcome!
Hi, I do plan to share. I have written many poems and treatises and enjoy enlightening others. Since you ask:
Fruit
The small green shoot emerges boldly from the ground. Roots now webbing out for nutrients and life giving water. In just a few short seasons the small seed the gardener planted transforms to a vibrant young tree. The now expansive roots feeding the strong trunk. The trunk feeding the branches reaching out to bathe in the sunlight. Nutrients travel in an exchange with the leaves where the tree reaches completeness of stature able to thrive and produce fruit of its kind.
When maturity has reached readiness, the reproductive process begins. Small buds appear until the tree is covered over with blossoms filling the air with fragrance. Not long after, the baby fruit emerges as the blossom’s purpose is fulfilled. Nourished from the bosom of the trunk, through the branches, the baby fruit grows and begins to fill with juice. Soon, the outer layer of this fruit becomes readily identifiable and unique. This layer is tough and is required to bind all the compartments together and contain the essence of the fruit so that it is not lost or damaged from weather and storms. It is tightly bound to the inner fruit’s many compartments. It shares and distributes strength from and to the whole making it able to heal, cover over, and prevent wounds. The fruit grows and matures nestled in a grove where the master gardener provides constant upkeep. Pruning, keeping the pests away, and the many other tasks required.
This is the life cycle of a tree. A seed is planted in fertile soil and it strives to reach for the sunlight. Then, as it bathes in the light, the nutrients flow from the roots, through the trunk, and into the branches. Whose job is to produce fruit containing seeds so that the cycle perpetuates.
What a great analogy the life cycle of such a tree is when compared to the Body of Christ. The groves representing churches or groups of believers. Gathered together and intermingling. Separated and protected from everything outside the grove. The master gardener, God, constantly tending to the health of not only the entire grove, but the individual trees within it. Always looking for signs of disease, non-productiveness, and decay. Endlessly toiling to prune and provide the environment for growth and fruit.
Carefully planting the seeds in the fertile ground of His Word. When the roots are immersed in the fertile, life giving Word they confidently sprout and begin to grow. Christ is the vine or the trunk, and we are the branches. All our Christian walk begins with the planting of a seed of Truth that becomes filled with the Word and grows into a branch able to produce fruit. Only through Christ who is the center of things, like the trunk of a tree. God provides the Word – soil – and looks after us.
Then there are the branches – us. Some branches sprout from the trunk, but their connection is lacking. Withering and falling away in but a short time. Others bow under the weight from weakness, they did not draw strongly enough from the trunk.. Some shoot off in random directions interfering with the overall purpose, butting heads with other branches or trees, preventing fruit from developing: pruned… Most branches, when properly connected, grow strong and orderly. That comes by learning discipline through discipleship and behaving as one should. Discipleship is key to the health of every branch and comes from other branches, guiding and demonstrating.
The Fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-control. This fruit contains the seeds of our testimony of the Truth of the Gospel message. These qualities should be as easily identifiable as the skin of an orange, for example. Possessing an attractive and desirable substance to share so that seeds of Truth are planted in those you meet. Tough like the skin of that orange that protects the seeds of your testimony by keeping them saturated in the essence; ultimately from the Word of God through Jesus. He will plant seeds in His time, be ripe and ready.
So, what kind of branch are you? Asking for a Friend…