12 March 2015

MARCH LINK-UP: THE STORY BEHIND MY BLOG

I am joining the wonderful community of bloggers at The Circle to share the meaning and stories behind our blog names for the March Link-up.
So what's the story behind Refining the Wild Grapes?

It all begins in Isaiah 5:1-6. Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill. And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, And planted it with the choicest vine, And built a tower in the midst of it, And also made a winepress therein: And he looked that it should bring forth grapes, And it brought forth wild grapes. And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, Judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. What could have been done more to my vineyard, That I have not done in it? Wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? And now go to, I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; And break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: And I will lay it waste: It shall not be pruned, nor digged; But there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.

 These verses were spoken while I was at a conference for young women called to ministry. Basically, this man had a vineyard that he cared for everyday and he made sure nothing harmed it. He did everything he could've done to keep it perfect but the vineyard still brought forth wild (or bitter) grapes. Instead of giving up and leaving it to die, he destroyed the vineyard to start a new one. He got rid of the wild grapes to start fresh, to make new, to refine.

The greatest compliment to a grape is to be crushed and be made into a new wine. The same goes for us. Our greatest compliment is to allow God to destroy and refine us of all those wild grapes in our lives (anger, immorality, lust, hatred, sadness, envy, lying, the list could go on forever) so we can be made new. That's where I'm at, allowing God to refine me into something better for His glory and His kingdom. It's not an easy process but it's worth it.

That's why I started this blog. To share His love through my own trials, blessings and lessons. What's your story? Comment below or visit The Circle join the link-up!

THE CIRCLE LINK-UP



12 comments:

  1. You have a beautiful blog!!!! Your name had a lot of thought put into it too. :) I just finished reading through the Old Testament and I am amazed at God's loyalty to His cause. I mean...I couldn't help but read about all of the sin, the warnings to repent, the continuation of sin, and His judgment without seeing how seriously He takes sin. It made me appreciate Jesus Christ more than ever before. It has caused me to stop and think and to rejoice in my great God for all that He has done, is doing, and will do!!!

    The name of your blog can serve as a constant reminder that God is in the business of making His Name known throughout all the universe and that He will not every stop! :)

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    1. Victoria, thank you for your kind words!! I absolutely love this. Like John 1:16 says, "For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace." It's always sufficient for us. Thank you for that reminder!

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  2. I love the story behind your blog name!

    This is really interesting that I came across your blog because I'm trying to read through my whole Bible and I'm in Isaiah right now. I just read that story and thought it was really interesting.

    I also took those verses as a warning that when God spends time molding us we need to respond in obedience to him because we don't want to be those fruits that get cast out and majorly disciplined.

    So glad I stopped by here from The Circle. Your blog is super pretty! Did you design it yourself?

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    1. You're so sweet, Beka! Isn't that wonderful how we seem to meet up with a blogger who writes into our life at that very moment. That's happened to me a lot!
      I visited your blog too and loved the colors! I did design it myself but the flowers I bought online from Creative Market for only a few dollars. I love meeting new bloggers! I'm so glad you stopped by.

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    2. That's fun!

      Also, do you read from the KJV? The verses sound like they are from there.

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    3. Yes, I tend to alternate around between KJV and ESV. Those are my two go-to translations. I recently got an ESV Journaling Bible for Christmas so I've really been into studying them both side by side.

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  3. Your blog is beautiful as is the girl behind it (which I can tell just from this one post!) and the story behind your blog name as well. I love that it holds meaning into your life but that it challenges your readers (aka me!) to really be refined and let Him make us new.

    Thanks for linking up!

    p.s. Do you follow Julie's blog, too? That girl is a gem and it's another reason why I knew you were one awesome blogger! :)

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    1. Kiki, you are TOO kind! I was so happy to be able to link up with this great community of women. I do follow Julie's blog! I was so happy when she finally got back into it by starting a new blog. She really is a sweetheart.

      I'm excited to follow your blog and create a new friendship. These blogger friendships sure last a lifetime!

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  4. You have a beautiful space - and I love the thoughtfulness you put into this blog. I'm extra glad I read this today because I have to prepare devotions for the teaching team at work next week, and now I'm inspired. :D

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    1. Kelly you are seriously the sweetest. You just made my day! What kind of team are you planning devotions for?

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    1. Thanks for taking the time to read, Chelsea! I've sent you an e-mail if you haven't received it already :)

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