Women of Reverence welcomes guest blogger Nelisiwe Ndobe.
Nelisiwe is an Educator by profession with over 5 years experience. A UNISA graduate with a Bachelors in Education, she also holds a Diploma in Human Resources Management however her work and passion lies in the education field. Last year she went to India to train teachers and teach in Mumbai state of Maharashtra. She believes that all children have their own intelligence and should not be put into the same box of IQ.
Her dreams and hopes have always been to volunteer to do teachers without borders soon, which goes with her love to serve others. She is a deacon in training, leads worship and co-leads a homegroup at Breakthru Boksburg. On her spare time she loves listening to Apologetics, spontaneous worship and going hiking.
What are some of the thoughts or words that come to mind when you hear the word “SPRING”?
Is it Seeing different colour flowers bloom? The warm weather? Increased daylight hours? Taking jogs or walks? Swimming? Wearing open shoes? The fresh breeze? Setting up a picnic? A braai with friends and family? What about an ice cold drink? A delicious scoop of ice-cream? Fruit in season? Or perhaps spring cleaning?
I don’t know about you but Spring is my favourite season of the year, I sometimes want it to never end and yes partly because I was born in October, but a second reason would be because it is a reminder that everything in nature is changing and promising new life and new hope.
Last reason it reminds of me of John 15 verse 1 to 8 titled The Vine and branches. 15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
I think of God in the garden taking care of His precious garden, Watching the fruit that comes out of His vine, lovingly tending to it, cultivating it by removing thistles and weed, anything that hinders the growth trimming out, giving it what it needs to grow and bear fruit. Smiling as He sees branches that are bearing fruit under His care.
Here Jesus reminds us that we like the branches are in continuous need of Him, the branches that need constant pruning to bear fruit in and out season. It is Impossible for us as believers to bear fruit without our Source the True Vine. The fruit that we need to bear are the fruit of the spirit (Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, Faithfulness, Self-control) which the Father grows in us and prunes all that is incompatible. These fruit help us become better Christians and thus better in our relationship with God, better in loving God’s people, better in our interaction with people, better in our jobs, better with our families, better grandmothers, mothers, daughters, aunts etc.
So How do we have a spiritual spring every day?
Abide in Him realizing that apart from Him you can do nothing. Whatever the season, He will never leave nor forsake you.
Total surrender allow Him to prune even the areas that you’ve sheltered over the seasons.
Allow Him to spring clean your heart by cleansing you with His Word. (Aren’t you glad you do not have to do all the hard with this cleaning?)
As God continues to prune us this spring season may we allow Him to freely do so, understanding that He knows how to cultivate all parts of our life after all We are planted in His Son the True Vine. We will come out changed for the better, renewed, refreshed, blooming and ready to spring up for His glory.
So whether you are looking forward to the warm weather or spring cleaning this Spring! I pray that you more look forward to the pruning that will help you grow and bear fruit in and out of spring.
Grace & Peace
Nelisiwe Ndobe