Stories about hope

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them and cast them into the fire and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.”

John 15:1-8 

 When we moved into one of our houses in Anaheim Hills, we had a glorious orange tree. Every spring the smell of orange blossoms would fill my bedroom, the front yard, my neighbor’s yard, and every season it would bear the most wonderful oranges.  A few years ago, it all but stopped. What had once been vibrant and alive was gone. It was all but dead and I knew why.

My tree was dying, and it was my fault. I became complacent it was once a full vibrant tree and I left it to its own and assumed it would continue to produce fruit. I didn’t tend to it, I didn’t prune it, I didn’t water it. And then the drought started – and my tree wasn’t ready 

 My husband said, “Let’s just cut it down.” I couldn’t bear the thought I had to do something to try to save it. So, I pruned it back, cut off the branches that grew around the base, their only purpose was to suck the life out of the real tree, I cut off the branches that were dried and dead from years of neglect. I looked at the finished product and it was pitiful – certainly wasn’t the same full tree glorious tree it used to be. It was all but gone on one side. My heart was sad at what I had done. Neglect has a way of changing things. 

Next, I dug at the dirt – I turned it over with the shovel. I took out the hose – Turned it on low and let it soak the roots of the tree. Day after day I let the water seep in – eventually I started to see new little life in my half dead tree. Bright green leaves where there had only been emptiness, new stronger branches started to grow, and then one spring night as I was drifting off to sleep, a glorious aroma filled my room. I grabbed my phone for a flashlight and went outside. My pathetic little half an orange tree was in full bloom. There were little white flowers all over the tree. It was coming back. It looked different than it used to, but the aroma was unmistakable. 

That season I picked bag after bag after bag after bag of the sweetest, juiciest oranges in the tree’s history. I gave them to my neighbors, I brought them to work, I brought them to church. A young man at work asked me how many orange trees I had. 

Just one, I had just one. And a “half “of one at that. 

I say all this to say, because I’m wonder if you feel like my half dead little orange tree – have you lost your fragrance have you stopped bearing fruit? Have you neglected your walk? Are you well-watered in the word? Are you allowing God to prune you of the things that are sucking the life out of you? Are you cutting off sin? 

Mike Swanson was my boys Youth Pastor. He lived a short but impactful life. One of my favorite Mike Swanson quotes is:

“Sin, kill it before it kills you” 

Don’t take your faith for granted. Work it out with fear and trembling. The good news is, even if you feel like you are a half dead and all but forgotten orange tree, submit yourself to the master gardener. Give him control again. Spring will come, the blossoms will bloom. It won’t be the same as it was. But I promise it will be glorious. 

If you have business to do with God – do it – there may be sin that you don’t think you can ever overcome. I promise Jesus will help you cut it off. Find someone to stand with you – even if you can’t tell them anything because it’s too much to say out loud. Let them stand with you as you stand before a Holy God who wants tolovingly give back what you thought was lost forever. But you must take the first step