GROW.
Websters Dictionary defines growth as:
1. spring up or develop in maturity
2. to increase or expand in wisdom
3. to pass into a condition
growth is just that. an expansion of our world.
to grow we need:::
* a life source
* energy
* a gardener
growing in Christ is very much the same:
* We need God to rain down his grace and mercy
* We need him to shine his love upon us.
*And it should come as no surprise that we need him to prune us as well.
An unpruned tree is spread out in many directions.
It does not bare much fruit.
It is weak.
It is wreckless and out of control.
Like a tree, we too must be pruned by the hand of God.
We must be focused on Heaven.
We must bare the finest fruits.
We must be strengthened.
We must be taught self-control.
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, so that it will be even more fruitful.
You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
Remain in me, and I will 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.
I am the vine; you are the branches.
If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers;
such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.
This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."
-Jesus Christ
John 15:1-8