One of the most common analogies that are found throughout the Bible and used in Christianity is one of a tree that bears fruit. We are called to abide in the Lord and bear fruit for His kingdom. “ Abide in me, and I in you for the branch can not bear fruit unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me.” John 15:4. God has used my love of nature to connect with me in the past, and is continually blowing my mind with all the wonders He created on earth. One of these wonders is known as a Fruit Cocktail Tree, this tree is a fruit tree that actually bears multiple types of fruit from one trunk and root system. When I learned about this tree this past spring, I was blown away, the different fruit are breed together based off the conditions they grow in, so that each branch off the trunk is able to grow successfully and bear the fruit it was meant to bear.
Every Sunday Church Z gets together for worship and a teaching from a squad mate. It is a chance for us as a unit to pour into each other, and refill before another week of ministry. During one of these talks my squad leader made a comment about the Tree of the Lord, and through Him we are all called to bear the fruits of the spirit that He has gifted us with. We all have different fruits, and as one church together we bear all the fruits of the spirit. God instantly brought the Fruit Cocktail Tree to my mind. We are all individual branches on God’s tree, bearing the fruit He has gifted us with, but we have one trunk, and one root system, in Christ.
God brings people together that He knows will grow well together and creates trees that will bear His fruit according to His will. So often I find myself comparing my walk with the Lord to others on my team, or back home, but God is showing me that even though I am one the same tree as the rest of my church, and we have the same root system doesn’t mean my fruit is going to be the same. He is using each one of us different, we are all here for a purpose and there is a reason we all were called to bear fruit together. Unity under Christ leaves no room for comparison, only love.
I am so grateful for all the support and pray everyone has given me and my team. I can’t believe we have been on the field for over two months now, our time in Costa Rica is coming to an end, and soon we will be continuing on to Cambodia. With that transition coming around the corner, we also have the last fundraising deadline coming up in January . I need less than $2,000 to be fully funded, and members of my team are still fundraising as well. If you feel called to donate to me or members of my team, we would be beyond grateful. More importantly just keep us all in your prayers, lots of growth, healing and movement in each of us and it’s only going to continue as we move to Cambodia. Thank you again, it means more than words can say.
