The Vine

I do love vines, perhaps because they are so graceful, the way they climb and trail. There is one I'm particularly fond of growing and always plant more when we move to a new house. Huge star-shaped flowers with an exotic center make the clematis my very favorite. To keep it from getting too "leggy," it must be trimmed back each spring; the new shoots then come back full and strong. But, almost every day they have to be checked to keep the twineing limbs and leaves going in the right direction. Otherwise they will just keep wrapping themselves together and not spread out to cover the whole fence. Sometimes the tendrils of one branch will even wrap around another's bud, preventing it from opening and blossoming. So, in the spring when it is growing fastest, I must unwind and redirect the new shoots almost daily. Lord, please check and redirect our path each day, that we may grow in the way most pleasing to you, and help us to never prevent another from "blossoming" in any way.

Song of Solomon 7.12 - Let us get up early and go out to the vineyards and see whether the vines have budded and whether the blossoms have opened.

Ezekiel 17.8 - He transplanted it to good soil by abundant waters that it might bring forth branches, and bear fruit, and become a noble vine.

Psalm 80.8-9 - You brought us from Egypt as though we were a tender vine and drove away the heathen from your land and planted us. You cleared the land and filled the soil, and we took root and filled the land.

John 15.1-4 - I am the vine and my Father is the vine dresser. Every branch of mine that bears no fruit, he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.

Isaiah 27.3 - On that day the Lord will say of his pleasant vineyard, "I watch over it and water it continually. I guard it night and day so no one will harm it.

1 Corinthians 3.6-7,9 - My work was to plant the seed in your hearts, and Apollo's work was to water it, but it was God, not we, who made the garden grow in your hearts. The person who does the planting or watering isn't very important, but God is important, because he is the one who makes things grow. You are God's garden, not ours.

Ephesians 3.17 - May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love.

James 3.18 - Those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of goodness.