Last week I had the privilege of spending time with a good friend and our boys. We made plans to pick apples but the boys I don't think were as excited as we were. The branches hung heavy with sweet red fruit. As you can see, I couldn't resist sampling one of these beauties! Perfect, juicy, tart and sweet. Somebody pass me the caramels! As I walked between the rows upon rows of trees thick with fruit, I started thinking about how God tells us about bearing good fruit. The fruits of the spirit. You know "love, joy, peace,forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control". I started wondering if I was bearing good fruits. Just like the apple growers, we have to take care of our fruit. Examine it carefully for bad spots, worms (?), is it a little rotten? (I know I could use a little pruning so that the areas that aren't bearing good fruit can have another chance. I want to be like these trees with good fruit. I want to see the branches heavy and the fruit ripe and ready.  |
| 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. John 15:2 |
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| Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. Matthew 12:33 |
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| From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things, and the work of their hands brings them reward, Proverbs 12:14 |
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| From the fruit of their mouth a person's stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied. Proverbs 18:20 |
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| For the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth Ephesians 5:9 ** I also had the privilege to chaperone a field trip to the local creek (or crick depending upon where you're from!). I happened to catch this picture and the sunlight streaming in through the trees was too beautiful not to capture!** |
This season we call Autumn, Fall, Winters eve has begun. This year is different.
I'm still coming to grips with the loss of a dear sweet friend. The shorter days and the green turning brown and the greyer skies feel fitting.
I know that grief takes time and maybe, in time this sense of loss won't hover so close to my soul. But, I will make it a point this season to examine my fruit. I will allow the Father to prune me so that when the time comes, the fruit will be heavy, abundant, and sweet!
Linking up today with Holley at Coffee for your Heart and Bonnie Gray The Faith Barista.
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I miss our creek! We used to live near one in KS. Our boys, my husband, and I really enjoyed that peaceful spot. We now live in FL. No apples...no creek, but we do have a natural fresh water spring in our backyard...not complaining! I love you analogy of good fruit! The fruit of the Spirit is alive and well in us and our kids if we look and develop it. I pray you have a wonderful weekend! Hopping over from Holley's blog. p.s. Not to be critical, but I have a hard time reading your blog font. It may be better to up the size or change the style?!
ReplyDeleteI loved living near a "crick" when I grew up. My brother had great times fishing and getting the cows from the pasture, sometimes having to cross the creek. I love the pic of the sunlight streaming through! Thank you, Krista, for your reflections today. Pruning can be difficult to go through, but oh, do we ever need it. Hugs!
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