OzThoughts. Wednesday 14th July, 2009

OzThoughts. Wednesday 14th July, 2009

“"I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you're joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can't produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.” (John 15:5-8 The Message)

I am probably what could be called an “academic gardener”. I have read the books and magazines, watched the TV shows and listened to the radio shows on the subject of gardening. I joined a “Do it yourself” email list and I found that I became the resident expert on gardening.

One of the things I like is a lovely garden with flowers and coloured leaves and various sized and shaped plants. In the vegetable garden it is lovely to see the prospect of a good crop. A few fruit trees complete the picture of a nice garden. Now, if you talk to my wife she will tell you I like to see it but she does a lot of the work to achieve this good result.

Now spiritually, too, we can know a lot about what a Christian should do and should be. However, Jesus warns us in the above verses that it only happens through our connection with him. Without Christ we are but dead wood. Without Christ, our lives become unproductive as far as our Christian spirituality is concerned.

[Listen: Songsters: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_553.mp3
or
Band: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_2478.mp3 ]

I am thine, O Lord; I have heard thy voice,
And it told thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith,
And be closer drawn to thee.

Chorus
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,
To the cross where thou hast died;
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,
To thy precious bleeding side.

Consecrate me now to thy service, Lord,
By the power of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,
And my will be lost in thine.

O the pure delight of a single hour
That before thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with thee, my God,
I commune as friend with friend!

There are depths of love that I cannot know
Till I cross the narrow sea;
There are heights of joy that I may not reach
Till I rest in peace with thee.
Author: Fanny Crosby (1820-1915)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 585

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