An interesting metaphor/simile (I'm too lazy to look through and check which one it is, lol).
In verses 2-5 we get a picture of God having planted a vineyard, and then seeing what's in it. God is diligent in watering it and keeping it. He does everything the gardener should; however, what yield does God receive? He still gets thistles and thornbushes.
Isn't that interesting? God plants the vineyard... He gets thistles and thornbushes. Did He plant those types of things in His garden? Was He negligent in caring for it? We can say with absolute certainty... that the answer is, "No." God has cared for it... so what's up with it?
Well, just like sin in Genesis -- we don't have an explicit telling of how it began, where it grew, etc. There are things we can look to for clues, but nothing explicitly stated. The origin... doesn't matter so much as the fact that it's (or they're) there. It was not planted like that, but those plants got in.
So what does that mean for the vine? Will it be choked out? Forgotten? Taken out along with the undesirable parts?
No way! If it clings to God, then it will find a good and whole life with God. Otherwise, it will be pulled out and burned up. Those are the two ultimate choices. We can cling to God for life, or we can be burned up otherwise.
This, indeed, is likely a source of inspiration (I'd guess) for the "Vines and Branches" (John 15) chapter.
So let it be noted! Though we may not know the origin, the more important thing is to figure out where WE are now. Are you a part of God's vine, or are you a thornbush?
Heavenly Father, You have a way with words. Go figure, since You kind of invented them. Help us to, when confronted with Your Word, make the right decisions and turn to You. Help us to turn from our own desires and ways, and turn to Your desires and ways. Help us to live and find our source of life abundantly in You. Let us cast aside the petty things we think are better than You, and realize just Who You truly are. Abba, we love You. We praise You and thank You for being so wonderful, awesome, and amazing. Help us to glorify You in all we do, day after day. May all the glory, honor, and praise be unto Our Exceeding Great Joy -- You, Lord! Thank You, Abba. We love You.
Amen. Day Off State: Good
Today was my day off. So... I relaxed.
I went and looked for some of the groceries I didn't get yesterday, but they weren't found today, either. The great deal on beef turned out to be the "we're not going to carry this anymore" kind. So they're all gone.
I took lunch to my wife at work. Otherwise, I stayed at home all day and dabbled in playing Chrono Cross. I got started into wanting to play it again (I own this one for the Playstation, and it's sitting at home right now) after I watched this YouTube clip of the opening scene. It gives me chills when I listen to it. It's so... the music is beautiful. It's a great game, too.
Anyway, that's what I did until supper-time. Then we ate, practiced swing a bit, and then went to our final (*GASP!*) class. This was week 10, and we learned the last bit to the Lyndie Hop (I think that's how you spell it, that or Lindy) to help us close out the swings we'd learned. So now we know at least some to all of the important basic steps for swing dance! Amy and I are still a little... shaky and whatnot in some places, though. ;P We're not ones much for complete improvisation. Well, I'm not, at least. I prefer to have set ways to move so that things don't get thrown off (by too much, at least).
This week was good, though. For the first time I finally felt the swing-outs from open/closed positions working like they should have. Before I wasn't able to really feel the "tug" you're supposed to be able to feel, but tonight I did. The teacher helped me right off the bat by showing me 2 important things I'd been doing wrong, and once I changed just a bit of my footwork, it started to click; however, for the girls who didn't trust me and wouldn't be the "force of nature" they were supposed to, I wouldn't get pulled around, and it'd make the rest of the steps a bit harder, but so be it. Thankfully, my wife wasn't one of those girls. She and I actually started dancing better towards the end, as opposed to worse. ^_^
I hope we can continue, perhaps, with some more intermediate lessons in the future. I at least hope we'll get to use it a few times before we die. ;P Maybe I'll try to convince Amy to let me take a video of us doing some of the stuff and then post it online. ;3
Then we came home and watched the latest episode of Heroes. It's... just getting to be more than a bit ridiculous. Their treatment of the "space/time continuum" is just... horrid. They do things they shouldn't, and limit things they can't. Bah, oh well. I still enjoy (most of) the characters, though!
