I Heard It Through the Great Vine

"I Heard it Through the Grapevine" is a classic song from the 1950s that also became popular in the 1980s and 90s through the California Raisins commercials.

As I was taking a morning walk recently, I noticed a group of vines stretching up and out over a fence.  There was nothing nearby for them to cling to beyond the fence, so each vine just suspended itself firmly and straight out into the open air.  They were slightly curved at the end as if they had fingertips grasping upward.

It was truly an interesting site, especially because I had recently noticed a vine clinging to the railing on my front steps and I began wondering about what vines do when there's nothing for them to cling to. 

There was my answer, live and in 4-D, right in front of me.  When there is nothing to hold on to, vines will just keep reaching onward and upward--because that's what they are designed to do.

If those vines could talk, it seemed as if they were saying to themselves, "I know there is SOMEthing out there for us to hold on to.  Let's just keep strrretching and reaching until we find it!"

The Apostle Paul said, "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 4:13-14)

Paul's words are inspiring, but some of us complain that we can't see the prize anywhere in sight--reach for it anyway!  Some of us have come a long way but are tempted to turn back to the comforts of what we have actually outgrown--stretch forth into new territory anyway! 

Others of us don't think we have the strength to stretch out and stand on our own--stand firm anyway through Christ who gives you strength! Some of us are stuck on the fence, entangled with things that have been clinging to us and making us believe we have to use our bodies as sex objects, art canvases, or pin cushions to feel accepted--get off the fence and reach for a higher love!

We are designed to bear much fruit, and fruit that remains.  Some of our lives haven't been fruitful, because we have been disconnected from the true vine, which is Jesus Christ.  How do I know this, well, let's just say, I heard it through the Great Vine, Jesus Christ:

"I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." (John 15:5)

Stay true to your diVINE design!

BNcouraged!

Rev. Karen