My husband kept adding extensions to the stakes that supported our cherry tomato plants. He didn’t have a choice. The plants kept growing higher and higher until we needed a ladder to pick the ripe tomatoes.
I found it ironic that these plants reached such heights when the bottom part of the plant was so ugly. Withered leaves were constantly falling off to expose a seemingly dying vine. Despite real threats of disease and insects, the plants continued to grow and bear good fruit for us.
It is a timely lesson. We are to keep growing and bearing fruit for God in spite of disease, attacks, or circumstances out of our control. It is possible because we are in Jesus Christ! Jesus is the vine that supports us with His strength, sustains us with His nourishment, and protects us with His life.
Jesus’s strength was in His brokenness for us. His death on the cross was brutally ugly and is difficult for us to imagine. Yet, His scarred body is what gives us eternal life. May we recognize the security we have in Jesus Christ. May our response be to remain in Him so we can reflect God’s glory of eternal fruit through our lives.
John 15:5
“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.
1 Peter 2:24
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
Snowdrops for faith 
Lovely and perfect timing post. God is absolutely my support and I strive to rely on Him 100%, sometimes I forget and try to rely on myself.
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Good to hear from you Mani. We find out quickly when we are relying on ourselves, don’t we?!!! I look forward to when my striving is no longer necessary because my natural reaction is to rely on Him!
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Yes, very well said!
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I think, too, about how our bodies decline with aging, and our hair may turn gray, our eyesight fail, our joints need replaced, skin wrinkle — but there are so many things we can do for the Lord with His help.
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We never retire from our work in and through the LORD. I heard a long time ago that even if we can’t do anything else (physically able), we can still pray for others right where we are at!
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Your words seem always to arrive just when I need to be lifted up. How much I enjoy your postings!
Ginene
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I am so encouraged by your comment! I try to write posts ahead of time and then go back to pick a particular post to publish for a given week. It is wonderful to hear that God guides my decisions to bless others right when they need it! I love when God gives me analogies between nature and His lessons for me! (P.S. I hope all is well in your corner of the world. I am looking forward to seeing your latest projects.)
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What a great metaphor, D.
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Thanks Diana! There was only one other year that we can remember where our cherry tomato plants reached those heights. It was over 18 years ago! Kind of crazy to see, so it caught my attention.
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Sorry Debbie it has taken me so long to get back to you I had a health issue which I will be Posting about soon but there was some good news too, we don’t always know when God is using us to do the good works He has planned in advance for us but He knows what our heart focus and our response will be and He equips and empowers us.
I Loved your message, how very True and how wonderful the Truth that you shared…..
Jesus is the vine that supports us with His strength, sustains us with His nourishment, and protects us with His life.
Thank you Debbie – Christian Love – Anne.
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Annie, I look forward to hearing your “God story!” The cherry tomato plants reminded me that my life can look “ugly” at times, but I can still bear fruit for my LORD because Jesus is my vine!
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