Tuesday, October 25, 2011

A Lesson from the Pumpkin Patch



It's no secret my favorite season is Fall.  I love the slightly cooler weather, the changing colors of the trees, the decorations, and of course the smells which depict the season.  Even now, the smell from crunching fallen leaves in the woods can bring back memories of jumping in leaf piles as a little girl.  By far one of my favorite smells of the season is that of pumpkin.  Every Fall, my usually frugal self rushes to Yankee Candle to purchase the best pumpkin spice fragrance in all of creation... I admit I'm a bit biased. If it's a really good day, I make a Starbucks run just to order their famous Pumpkin Spice Latte.  With my new fall candle in one hand and the best seasonal coffee drink in the other, I can believe for a moment that the whole world is right.

This Fall, God nudged me to study pumpkins further.  No doubt, there was something to learn about Fall's famous fruit.  After researching a bit, I found that the main thing that God wanted to show me was that pumpkins are nourished by the vines which they are attached.  So, it seems the pumpkin is a perfect picture of the first few verses of John 15.  “Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you.  Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me.  I am the Vine; you are the branches.  Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much fruit.  However, apart from me you can do nothing.”  (John 15:4-5)  Just as the pumpkin gets its nourishment from its vine, we must get our nourishment from God, through the power given by the Holy Spirit which comes from believing in Christ Jesus.

The scriptures in John 15 had special meaning for me this week, as I have recently interacted with more rude people than I care to count.  Realizing that I can not love on my own but must draw nourishment from the “holy vine” is definitely a requirement when dealing with non-loveable people.  If we can remember where we draw our nourishment from in difficult times, surely we will grow to our fullest potential and produce much fruit. When we bear much fruit, Jesus says God is honored and glorified.  Not only that, but we show ourselves to be true followers of Jesus. (John 15:8)  As a Christian, isn't that the point?

4 comments:

  1. I love the Fall as well. I also appreciate a good object lesson. The pumpkin truly represents a person tethered to Christ for his or her life and growth! Thanks for sharing!

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  2. Amanda, you commented on a couple of my blog posts a few months back and I never told you what an encouragement it was to me. So I just wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you. Thank you for your words, thank you for your faith, and thank you for your encouragement. :) May God richly bless you and your family in this new year.

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  3. Hi, Bethany! Thanks so much for the uplifting comment. Your blog posts have been an encouragement to me, as well. I would love to visit the places you've travelled and minister God's love to people in those cultures. Seeing the pictures you posted and reading about your experiences inspired me. I hope you have an equally amazing and blessed new year...with many more adventures with God!
    :)

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