“A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. . . . Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” – Matthew 7:18, 20 (NIV)
“Fruit takes time to develop and grow. Over time we will get to know others by the fruit that the Holy Spirit grows not only in them but in us as well. The apostle Paul lists that fruit: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Gal. 5:22-23, CEB).”
*art by Rena Oynes -garden fruit grown by Chris Holton 2016
thedailylily.com 
Rena Oynes painted the wood plaques’ names above, IDed them from scripture and shipped to us to display on a walk among freshly young planted fruit trees and berry bushed in a little country spot. (Planted by Debi Chaves) I had to leave the tags from growers in order to identify the trees and some of its fruit.
The photo by Tammy Holton of 2016 garden vegetable/fruit of her husband’s garden is first from the vine. She had given me a sneak preview of the growing vines at various stages leaving me wondering; will the fruit miracle really happen? It did! Was I able to ID the fruit? Yes! Why? My Mother, many years before had following the same pattern as Chris Holton, of seed, planting, care and harvest rendering our dinner table with the exact tasty, healthy, and glorious yellow delight. How could this be? How does scripture principles remain true to standard from generation to generation?
I have been thinking; are others able to ID the fruit, gift of God in me amd me in them as easily as I could ID the fresh picked fruit from Tammy’s photo? The thought of the garden-table exercise caused me to relive the hands, love and care of my Mom. And, I yelled with delight letting Tammy and Chris know I would really like to try this year’s fruit!
When we take the time to garden and ID the people around us, we see the real fruit they possess and share. We may just discover we have been entertaining angels.
I am much aware it’s time sharing to enjoy the table set before me!
The painted reminders of fruit and then seeing the picture of the actual beautiful fruit harvest is a great mental imprint.
Responding to Sara’s comment “My Mother, many years before had following the same pattern as Chris Holton, of seed, planting, care and harvest rendering our dinner table with the exact tasty, healthy, and glorious yellow delight. How could this be? How does scripture principles remain true to standard from generation to generation?”… I see a scripture pattern in Sara’s mother’s fruit and Chris Holton’s fruit: Same gardening pattern:
Seed: “You will always harvest what you plant.” (Gal 6:7)
Planting: “As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.” (Luke 8:15)
Care and harvest: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Gal. 6:9)
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I have watched my husband labor over his garden, tilling up the dirt, pulling grass and weeds, planting, fertilizing, watering, etc. Gardening is, no doubt, WORK! I have heard Chris say, “I really enjoy it, it’s good therapy to watch something grow.” Looking at those beautiful paintings Rena did, sure looks like WORK, as well.
I was talking to Chris about this blog and he said, “it requires work, but without God it would never happen. It has to have sunshine and rain. And there is no water, like God’s water.”
Sara, you have said above: “Fruit takes time to develop and grow.” Would it mean the same to say, “it’s WORK……… sometimes, for the fruits of the spirit, to be manifested in our lives?”
Chris just reminded me that bees pollinating the garden, has a lot to do with how well it produces too, and God created bees.🐝
And, he created the bees with purpose. Wonder if we could think of the Body of Christ doing the work of bees in our lives helping to produce fruit. Our gifts are to be used and shared with one another. A lot happens when we share and others share with us.
Chris mentioned the bees and I’m sure he has heard there seems to be a shortage of bees in our areas due to unknown reasons is the way I understood it last I heard. Seems to be a shortage in the Body of Christ as well or that’s the way I am hearing things. Just thinking….
Tammy says, “It’s Work! This thoughts comes to my mind: “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed – not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence – continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his purpose.” Philippians 2:12,13
‘…work out” means to continually work to bring something to completion or fruition.
Sara you asked, “Wonder if we could think of the Body of Christ doing the work of bees in our lives helping to produce fruit.”
As I have been re-reading from your book, “The Four Bees, Finding Your Spiritual Gifts”, I saw this in Lesson One – Bee of Burgeoning – Meditative Writings/Writing Power and I thought it pertained to your comments and was great advice:
” Gathering Together: Gather together with the family of God, wherever you may find them. Beelong to a group that you beelieve in. Picture it like the Legume Family. All kinds of people there, pods, peas and pea(nuts), all gathering there. All kinds of gift(s) coming together. And each gift having a different purpose. Think of the Mimosa Tree, a stimulant! Think of a person who has the gift of encouraging, one that lifts your spirit when you are around them. At times we need our spirits lifted, don’t we? We need to gather together with others who will encourage and lift our spirits.”
Wow TH Your Chris sure knows a lot about the good earth.
How wise is our God. He says, ” the life is in the seed”. And that’s WORK tool. Sara’s favorite word…WORK. But nothing gets done without the WORK. The seed must die and the soil must do its WORK. So that must happen when the ‘seed’ [Word} is planted in our hearts. It takes time and effort to bring forth the fruit of that seed. Jesus taught a whole chapter practically on this issue.
It’s interesting to note….the life is in the seed. But the seed must die.
Guess that explains what Tammy was saying…it takes our WORK and the HOLY SPIRIT’S WORK to produce and manifest the fruit of the Spirit. It can’t happen unless we cooperate with Holy Spirit to manifest love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness faithfulness AND THE most difficult fruit of all to manifest is SELF-CONTROL. Now, that is REALLY ‘WORK’!!
MG, I just have to say it, keeping working and self control becomes easy! Idle hands gets one in trouble.
Proverbs 16:27-29 (TLB)
27) Idle hands are the devil’s workshop; idle lips are his mouthpiece.
28) An evil man sows strife; gossip separates the best of friends.
29) Wickedness loves company—and leads others into sin.
And, always remember to pray; Matthew 5:16 let your good deeds shine out for all to see so others will glorify Our Father which is in heaven.
Keep working!
Hah! Sara…shades of Sister Grandma!! She always told me…”Keep working, Honey, we need the money!” And so I did! The WORK ethic of our parents is just about lost in this generation. But those of moral rectitude follow the WORDS of Jesus Christ Who said…” I must do the works of My Father…My Father works and I work.” That’s pretty clear. No idle hands here.
As Sara says…’keep working’…..while there is still light!