Lessons from a Tomato Vine

Earlier this spring, some wild notion possessed my dad to plant fourteen . . . yes, fourteen tomato plants in our backyard. I still haven't dug deep enough to understand his initial reasoning behind this course of action. At any rate, with summer in full heat, the tomatoes have been ripening left and right. We are very blessed.

When the harvesting first started, I would pull the red, but still hard, tomatoes off the vine and set them on our garden table for them to continue ripening. On the other hand, my mom would take scissors and cut a little piece of the vine along with the fat, juicy red sphere and set it on the table to allow it's ripening to complete.

Well, yesterday morning, Mom came in and exclaimed, "Rebeka, look at these!" I glanced up from reading the local newspaper to see her holding the vine-ripened tomatoes. "You know what this reminds me of?" she asked. Mentally I replied, I know what it reminds me of. Food. Yum. Without waiting for an answer, she explained.

"Remember in the Gospel of John when Jesus talks about how we are to abide in Him? Well, this is a perfect demonstration of that. These tomatoes have ripened better than the ones we picked directly off the plant. And it's the same with our relationship with God. When we abide in Jesus and surrender to His Lordship, He grows us to be a mature branch, enabling us, by His grace, to bring forth blossoming fruit for His glory."

With that, she left me, leaving me to wonder how she could have gotten such a deep spiritual truth from a gnarly tomato vine.

How true it is. I must abide in Christ in order to bear fruit to His Name. I cannot bear fruit on my own authority, thinking that somehow my words and actions will pique others' interest in the Gospel. Only by abiding in Jesus Christ can I have any assurance that my faith is indeed secure.

"Abide in Me, and I in you.

As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself,

unless it abides in the vine,

neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

I am the vine, you are the branches.

He who abides in Me, and I in him,

bears much fruit;

for without Me, you can do nothing.

If anyone does not abide in Me,

he is cast out as a branch and is withered;

and they gather them and throw them into the fire,

and they are burned.

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you,

you will ask what you desire,

and it shall me done for you.

By this My Father is glorified,

that you bear much fruit;

so you will be My disciples."

~ John 15:4-8 ~

May I always seek the shelter and protection that comes from abiding in the Vine. And, possibly, may I bear much fruit to His Name.

Casual Elegance



Photo courtesy of Meant for Silence

When the phrase "casual elegance" is uttered, a handful of names come to mind - Audrey Hepburn, Selena Gomez, Kate Middleton, and Julie Andrews, among others. All of these women embody the combination of a carefree, relaxed attitude that allows them to appear just as pulled together and sophisticated in a pair of blue jeans as they do in a fresh-off-the-runway designer gown. They don't appear rushed or as if they are trying too hard. They seem very comfortable in their own skin - almost a take-it-or-leave-it attitude without going overboard and still exuding a nearly indescribable quality that makes you just want to enjoy their company. A relaxed refinement or grace, I guess you could say.

So the question I've been trying to figure out is how can I too carry off this casual elegant persona and welcome it into my life, creating a calmer, more relaxed environment that beckons a more playful, yet dignified and purposeful way of life? Here's what I've come up with so far.

Having Manners and an Engaging Sense of Humor

Being elegant requires that you have manners and exhibit proper etiquette, but becoming too refined eliminates the ability to be relaxed because there is so much stress on behaving correctly. By finding the balance of being able to behave respectfully, but being comfortable enough to have a chuckle, you help put others at ease. You set the example of what is expected, as well as what is tolerated because people do make mistakes.



Photo courtesy of Of All Loveliness. . .


Comfortable in a Dress as well as a Pair of Jeans
Now, I have never had the opportunity to wear a specially tailored designer down a red carpet like the talented Natalie Portman, but the idea here is to be able to be confident enough in your body to pull off a beautiful dress and turn around the next day and look smashing in a perfectly sized pair of jeans.

Able to Mix High and Low Fashions with Ease

Staying on the topic of fashion, someone who is casually elegant isn't about labels, but is instead aware of what looks best on their figure. Pairing ballet flats with Levi denim jeans and a navy cashmere sweater reveals to onlookers that you clearly have taste, but are not bragging about how much money you have - in fact, the sweater may be a consignment find you discovered last week while perusing the city, but no on will ever know. In other words, you have style because you know what works well together and what looks best on you.



Photo courtesy of Urban Weeds

 Neutral Decor with Cozy Elements

I like to think of casual elegance in the arena of home decor as the blending of English traditional and French country. By understanding that, a keep-it-simple approach is best for big ticket items - walls, sofas, floors, you name it. A homeowner can then have fun with accessories and create a home that is welcome to everyone, but home-sweet-home to its inhabitants.


Photo courtesy of Google Images

 Able to Converse with a Prince and a Pauper

Casual elegance can quickly be displayed in a person's behavior, but it also reveals itself in the words and conversations each person involves themselves in. Elegance is having a depth of knowledge to enable you to discuss concepts, ideas, and be informed of history and current events. Being casual allows you to recognize when to take it down a notch and make sure whoever you are talking with is comfortable.



Photo courtesy of Google Images

A Quiet Self-Confidence

A person possessing self-confidence isn't arrogant, but calm. Neither are they boisterous, but even-tempered. Having casual elegance in this case is not needing an audience, but attracting one because of a winsome, honest, and non-threatening quality that piques others' interest.

Ability to be Spontaneous without Losing Control

The term casual elegance is itself a balancing act of two somewhat opposing ideas, and so is this last point. Being elegant suggest that almost everything must be planned and adhered to, while casual reflects a more lackadaisical attitude. I believe that the two ideas, when melded together, create a healthy balance, that if anyone stuck to it they would find themselves taking chances that lead to great discovery and moments of unexpected delight. By being spontaneous for those moments that capture your attention and curiosity, but at the same time being able to notice the difference when the idea is just absurd, you are striking a balance that is the essence of being casually elegant.



Photo courtesy of Meant for Silence

The Irreplaceable Beauty of Trial

[Disclaimer: This post is something I like to call a get-it-out-of-your-system post. Therefore, it is more personally related than anything. Though, while it may be random, rambly, muddled, and unclear, I pray someone will be blessed by it.]

This summer marks the three-year anniversary of our family moving to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

See, my family and I had been living in Oklahoma for about eight and a half years. I grew up there. The majority of my childhood memories are located there. It was where I "fit." The regional atmosphere and culture seemed to tailored especially to me. It was my home.

A little over three years ago, the Lord directed my parents to move back to Lancaster (my life has been lived between Pennsylvania and Oklahoma). We had family living around there. Some of our life-long friends were there. My parents' roots were there. My father decided that our time in Oklahoma had come to an end for reasons that perhaps I'll explain in a different post. So, we sold our house, packed up our bags, and headed East.

The first 4-5 months went by pretty smoothly. Once it hit 5 1/2 months, however, the move began to wear on me. Finding a church who's doctrine was Biblically sound; the job-hunt for my dad; various illnesses that set our family behind; the need to step out of my little bubble and meet new people - it all began to bog me down. I started to question God's sovereignty. As much as I regret to admit it, I really did hate living here (and in some ways, though to a lesser degree, I still do). If a few months before someone were to tell me my life would be a mess, I would have scoffed. Now it was a reality.

Just last night I was having a chat with myself. I talk to myself. A lot. Laying on my bed, I began to mutter how slow, yet fast, the time has gone since moving. While going through all the things that have happened since moving, I began to see this move in a new light.

Moving here has been the hardest thing in my life. It's been difficult. It's been challenging. It still is difficult and challenging. I most definitely am not at a point where I can say that I am ready to accept Pennsylvania as my home. But over the past year and half, I have been learning that, while I do have negative feelings towards my outward surroundings, I cannot allow them to dictate how I will fulfill God's purpose for me while I'm here. God has planted me here for this season of my life. I don't know how long I'll be here; maybe until I graduate from high school, maybe until I get married, maybe it will be for the rest of my life. But while I am here, I intend, by God's grace, to use my time to fullest. To reach out to those He has placed in my life. To influence those around my for Christ. To take full advantage of the opportunities He has given me. To know that I have lived here and lived here well.

Everyone goes through trials. Some are temporary, others long-lasting. Some can even be akin to what the apostle Paul would describe as a thorn in the flesh (see 2 Corinthians 12:7). Yet, we can choose how we will resource these trials. We can determine whether we will fight against them or allow them to grow us.

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,

knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

But let patience have its perfect work,

that you may be perfect and complete,

lacking nothing."

~ James 1:3-4 ~

I still buck against the reality of living here. These three years have been the longest three years of my life. I have begged the Lord to take this burden away from me. And, if not allowing me to live elsewhere, at least to let me get used to living here. I've become angry at Him when it seems He has not answered my prayer.

But He has. Through the pain has come a healing that, without it, I can't imagine where I would be. By entrusting me with this trial, He has entrusted to me the boundless limits of His mercy and grace. I can honestly say that I would go through the whole ordeal again to know the Lord would grow me as much as He has. Should He choose to bless me with this burden my whole life, so be it. I have tested the grace of God and found it not to be lacking. I have tested His mercy and kindness and found it to be in constant supply. I have tested His faithfulness and it is very great. I have eaten the fruit of His goodness each and every day and have found it to be very sweet.

His Ways Are Past Finding Out

A couple days ago, Carissa and I were having what we call a God-is-awesome-chat. The content of such chats is pretty self-explanatory. Basically, we talk about how awesome God is - His character, His love, His redemption and grace, Him. During this particular conversation, Carissa stated how amazing it is that God would choose to love through us - a holy, infallible, and perfect Creator loving through sinful, fallible, rebellious human beings. It truly is a mind-boggling concept. Later, I started mulling another related concept over in my mind: why would God entrust any form of Himself to me?

He promises me His faithfulness . . . even when my heart is turned away to idols. Even when I shake my fist at Him and question His sovereignty.

He gives me both physical and spiritual blessings everyday . . . and yet how often I forget to thank Him.

He has plucked my life from eternal damnation in hell . . . yet, oh, how my heart always lingers on the edge of that fiery pit.

He has set my feet upon the Rock that shall never be moved . . . and I still allow myself to wallow in the sinking sand of false doctrine and diluted post-modern theology.

He has given me His grace . . . but daily I take advantage of it by returning to my sin. How often I make it's power ineffective in my life. How little I have tested its limits by being content with a mediocre level in my work, not pushing myself beyond my capabilities and striving towards a higher standard He has called me to.

His mercy is new every morning . . . oh, how often I tempt Him every hour to turn His hand of wrath against me.

He calls me to be His ambassador . . . worldliness is in my heart and my ability to remain a pure witness for Him has been marred.

He forgave me when I was a helpless sinner, openly defying His name; He didn't expect me to receive it or even take it kindly; He gave it to me freely . . . how seldom I forgive others in that manner.

He gave up His life out of sheer love for me . . . am I willing to die for my love of Christ?

Oh, my soul - live for God!