One warm summer evening, summer of 2003, I sat across a candle lit table from my love, reveling in the significance of the verse above. Only days earlier, as I was seeking the Lord concerning my love for Whitney, and what He would have of it, this verse came into view. Upon my request we had met that evening, for I wanted to explain in detail all that God had shown me through this passage. Whitney brought out her Bible, and with an intriguing smile turned to the selection. As I leaned in I was blown away that we were both looking at her underlined version of 7:11-12!

    "Three years ago, when I gave up the dating scene and decided to wait on God to bring my future husband in His timing and in His way, He gave me this verse, that my future husband should give it to me, and I would know that God is leading us to marry," she said. (WOW SHE REALLY WILL BE MY WIFE! BEYOND A SHADOW OF A DOUBT, THANK YOU LORD!!!!)

    This confirmation set our hearts at rest in His will, and a year later in that day, the 7^th month and the 11^th day, my glistening bride walked down that isle to be forever mine! God is so amazing, and His ways are so much higher than ours.

Through this verse God showed me clearly His plan for our future:
The countryside and villages speak of the mission field He has for us... not to live in one place permanently, but to be always ready to move on when He says so.
Jesus is the True Vine, and His Father is our Vinedresser, to whom we run every morning for guidance.
Only through Him will we see fruit spring up in our lives. He is also the One who we need to proclaim to others so they can know life and that abundant.
And the blooming speaks of our total reliance on Him for our ever need. As Jesus told us in Matthew 6:
"See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these... But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (NIV)