13 May, 2011
Survival
A 500 Year old Grapevine survives vandals. the vine a vandal's attack and is sending out new shoots after being hacked into pieces two months ago.The vine, a great grape-grandparent of the popular gruner veltliner, was found chopped down — and then chopped up — in February. Local vintners said it was unlikely to recover. But the website of state broadcaster ORF quoted them Thursday as saying the stem had recently begun to sprout new shoots.
Article courtesy of wavy.com and Photo courtesy of Google images.
2 Corinthians 4:7-9
"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed."
John 15:1-4
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 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. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."
What does today's God's Story Scripture teach us about survival?
His story continues on like a crimson red thread through scripture and our lives.
His Power is unfathomable.
He is broken down but our God is not destroyed.
No matter what people have tried, Christ love, and life have prevailed through out time. What a powerful God we serve. Picture the lives that God redeems, lives that people gave up on and years later, God brings life back into them. How beautiful is that.
How can we connect today's God's Story Scripture to our lives?
"God will never leave you or forsake you" Hebrews 13:5 no matter how much someone tries to destroy you or the name of God His power is strong enough to fight against it and He will be by your side. God will survive whatever comes in your life. Will you choose joy, will you choose life? Like this grape vine, it was hacked down to nothing, people thought it would not survive, but they had to wait. People waited years before they saw life again. But God was faithful to grow the vine again, and even once there was signs of life there still needed to wait 3 years for fruit to grow.
Has God pruned back the branches? Take time to understand that God is not a vandal and does not wish to destroy you. He has plans to prosper you (Jeremiah 29:11), that he wants to see life in you. Pruning as it speaks of in John 15 can be hard to deal with, but God does it so that we may be more fruitful. He wants to abide with you, he wants to see you grow & be fruitful, and you may only to that if you cling to God and deepen your relationship with Him.
Has a vandal attacked your vine? Has someone or something destroyed you? Take time to ask God to show you His power. Even though you may feel like you are, you are not crushed, not in despair, not abandoned, and not destroyed. allow God to make that true for you.
If you have never gone through something where you feel like you have been destroyed, ask God to protect you this week. Ask God to prepare you for a time in your life where you may face such a struggle.
How can we connect God's Story Scripture & My Story, to others?
Do you know of people that a vandal has destroyed "their vine"? Speak truth in there life, come along side them with hope for them to once again grow. Time is what we don't do well with, we don't want to wait for the sprouts of life in ourselves and especially others. Be that hope for people, wait with them, believe that God will restore them, believe that in time they will produce fruit in their life again. Show them that the Lord restores His people.
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