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!

OBEDIENCE

Matthew 21:28-30 ESV; [KJV]

What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, "Son, go and work in the vineyard today." And answered, "I will not," but afterward he changed his mind [repented] and went. And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, "I go, sir," but did not go.

Have you ever read this parable and literally placed yourself in either son's shoes? The first son said he wasn't going to go work that day, then repented because he knew he had done wrong, and went to work in the vineyard like his father asked. The second son said he would go, but didnt. Which son have you been? Has God been asking something of you and you say one thing but do another? Or are you the son who repents and follows His father? 

Casie Geuin Photography

What is your reply when God asks you:

Will you go teach a Bible Study? I'll go. But I don't want to teach someone the Truth who may not agree with me so if that's the case I don't think I'll be able to do that. I'm not ready to carry that cross. I'm not ready to put myself out there like that. What will people think of me?

Will you love me? I will. But don't ask me to do anything too hard. Don't make me step out of my comfort zone.

Will you spend time with me today? I will. Just as soon as I finish my morning routine. I might get distracted and run out of time though.

Will you follow me even when it's hard? I'll go. But don't make me give up too much of my time. I already have a lot on my to-do list. I may go astray along the way so please take it easy on me.

Do those responses sound familiar? I ran across this quote the other day from Elisabeth Elliot:

“Does it make sense to pray for guidance about the future if we are not obeying in the thing that lies before us today? How many momentous events in Scripture depended on one person's seemingly small act of obedience! Rest assured: Do what God tells you to do now and depend upon it, you will be shown what to do next.” 

Place yourself in this parable. Which son would you be? Which son are you going to be?