ABIDE = V.B.F. Hindsight

"Abide in Me and in the Word" is a lesson I learned in hindsight.

Two years ago we bought a house in Alabama. A seven year journey came to an end two years ago. It was a difficult one of much growth more of an inward change that reflected outwardly. So many amazing stories in the process of this grand adventure; never having Alabama as a destination to visit in my younger years let alone to make a residency. But then the Lord does work in mysterious ways and this whole journey was a mystery surprise all along. Probably because if we were to have seen it before hand, we wouldn't have handled the idea at that time. But in hindsight, so many things I would have loved to have known the lessons sooner by listening the inner voice more attentively.

To abide in the Greek language is to; live or conform to, and to dwell, inhabit, reside and await.

Abide, I thought I knew and was excising its meaning; but not at all! Just a word with no meaningful substance, let alone to live it out loud.

When we bought the brick ranch style home here, there was a scuppernong vine overgrown in some trees. It had many grapes that my son loved to eat that were unknowingly healthy. Even friends came and picked big plastic cups full to take home. But for me, I saw a big mess of mesh branches that made the yard look cluttered, over grown, and a hiding place for snakes, spiders, and lizards. So I tore it down, cut, axed, and mowed it all down to the ground.

Would you believe the following spring that the vine grew, and grew, and grew. I was going to cut it up again to keep the yard nice and tidy but my son said he wanted to keep it and gave me the education of a Horticulturist of the scuppernong/muscadine vine. So, I agreed only if he also was willing to help me care for it.

I have always loved vineyards. In fact, our first home had a vineyard themed kitchen as if it were a Tuscan kitchen in Italy. Also, when we first moved to Alabama in 2011, the home we lived in had a small vineyard. But I was so wrapped up in anxieties I failed to see the importance. And even recently, I missed that opportunity to recognize the importance the Lord was showing me. Until my son opened my eyes to it.

As I gathered and new vines that grew all on the ground again, I raised them up to a pole. Not knowing how to even care for it, I took to YouTube for many educational videos from the professional locals here. But what got me was the book Chasing Vines by Beth Moore I recently read. And more importantly, the book of John 15 in the bible.

Verse 4 says, "Abide in me, and I in you. As a branch cannot bear fruit of itself, no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

Verse 7 says also, "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

Along the way the message and hints were there but I was so ignorant to the spiritual meaning of it until recently. So many years gone by and my Lord would hint along the way, speak, and show me. Yet it didn't register in my spirit.

As I began caring for the vine today I looked back at how big the vine use to be before I cut it all down and mowed it. I wondered why I didn't get the revelation sooner...I realized caring for it was like the Husbandman. To nurture the vine back to health and care for its fruit. The revelation of how we must abide in Christ. The Father is the husbandman-the caretaker of the vine and the branches and the fruit. So many revelations of, without Him we can do nothing and, through Him we can bear much fruit.

I told my husband, Why did I cut the vine down to the ground the first time?" He lovingly said, "Perhaps to learn the lesson. But now care for the fruit it will soon bear and not taking it for granted this time."

In hindsight, God knew then the lesson I'd learn so He kept putting vineyards before me until I finally received the revelation of The Vine, The Branch and The Fruit. Once I learn it, I will never ever forget it!

 Abide in the Word as we abide in Him to produce much fruit. He's not only The Vine, He's Divine Almighty to love both you and I so patiently throughout the years. We so matter to Him each and everyone of us. Choose Him daily. Commit our ways to Him and He will lead us Home so we can forever Abide in His Everlasting Love. New season, new wine! We can't put new wine in old bottles. Yesterdays anointing won't carry us through this new season. Get a new mindset, a new bottle, because HE'S making New Wine. But that's another story. In the meantime, Abide in Him and in His word to bear much fruit. It's harvest season...