I sat with a precious group this past weekend delivering a message the Lord sent with me on the “Vineyards in the Valley.” Honestly, until the Lord began to show me such nuggets of truth about vineyards I had no idea what He was about to unfold…not just to the other women, but to me. I have shared with several churches regarding the beautiful lessons I have learned through the valley season, but it was time to share the “vineyards.” I thought maybe I would begin sharing here as well. Take a look at this passage of scripture..it was one I held tightly to while in the valley:

“Therefore, behold, I will allure her,
    and bring her into the wilderness,
    and speak tenderly to her.
¹⁵ And there I will give her her vineyards
    and make the Valley of Achor^[a] a door of hope.
And there she shall answer as in the days of her youth,
    as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt.

Hosea 2:14-15

Again… “And there I will give her her vineyards?…” This truth has sunk so deep into my heart that I can barely contain it. I think today alone after a weekend of ministry I have shared it at least twice with those who have been pondering their past valley seasons. There are many in this place. This weekend we talked much about Vineyards and also the Lilly of the Valley. Anyone who does not believe in a Creator has not looked very far. For did you know the Lilly of the Valley has medicinal properties? Did you know ancient teachings share that it was known to “RESTORE A LOST VOICE.”

Now that’s a HalleluYAH moment! For those who have been allured to the wilderness we understand very intimately this statement. In the depths of the darkness in the valley you indeed feel you have lost your voice.

One of the most beautiful truths regarding vineyards is they are categorized by their “Terrior” (pronounced Terre’) which is a French word meaning “land.” It is also loosely translated as “sense of place.”  (another HalleluYAH moment!!!!!!!!!!!!)

I could barely wait to share with the broken hearts that in the valley He was giving us our land. Our place. Our vineyards…the place where the fruit is! It was my deepest heart cry that the Lord would pour it out of me as passionately as He poured it into my own heart! For much of my life I have longed for a “sense of place.” Most times it has been difficult to find. While Christ is my home..He has also a particular “land” for me…and you. No two vineyards have the same Terrior:) Oh tell me you are dancing… Please tell me you get this!

In the vineyards the vines have to be trained to grow the way the vinedresser wants them to ..many times by using a trellis. Certainly, I have felt bound to a trellis in the valley wondering what in the world was happening. Yet the Father was repositioning His child. It’s what He does in the valley or wilderness. He must position you and align you to grow the way He desires and in the direction He has chosen for you.

The vines must then be pruned, thinned, or cut. Not always because something is wrong. Some times because something is very right. The Lord is after MUCH FRUIT! When there is potential for more….He will thin things out.  He knows we struggle with what to do and when to do it. He knows we get comfortable in our current and familiar season and space. He knows we are pulled in many directions. So mercifully He helps us with this…and it can be very painful. It seems we are afraid to cut away, thin out, or just cut back. We are afraid to walk forward away from the old. The new seems so frightening at times..yet He beckons us to grab His hand and walk forward.

Let me leave you with a couple of beautiful quotes and then in the next post I will share more regarding His truth on valleys and vineyards. I pray you are seeking for your vineyard…it’s where your fruit is…and that fruit is also HIS fruit through you for the Kingdom.

•  Vineyard (Strong’s H3754) in the above scripture is translated to mean “a field set with plants of nobler quality.”
• A common saying is ” the worse the soil, the better the wine.”
• Vineyards need RAIN to grow…

Until next time friends…remember the vineyard is in the valley..and there in that place resides much nobler fruit:)

 

Love Much,

Shelly