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Written by Paulina C. Lux, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in New York

By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. (Matt 7:16-20 NIV)

My father was a farmer and fruit grower in my native country, Guatemala, known as the eternal spring. As a child, I enjoyed a special fruit he harvested. It was called Anna, a crisp, juicy apple. According to him, this fruit was produced in Israel by agronomist Abba Stein in 1950; the apple was named Anna in honor of his daughter. Since I was little, I saw how Dad took care of fruit trees, growing them in good soil so they would have deep roots hydrated by rain and could produce good fruit. He had many fruit trees, and each tree produced fruit according to its species.

A tree is known by its fruit. Jesus spoke to His general audience, and more specifically the religious scribes who knew the Mosaic law to the letter and were strict in their observance, but whose words were not consistent with their actions.

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. (Matt 23:23)

They made themselves known by their fruits.

The questions I ask myself now are: What kind of tree am I? How do I know I'm a good tree?

Thales of Miletus is credited with this phrase: "The most difficult task is to know oneself." It's difficult because it takes humility and wisdom to accept my shortcomings. It's easier to hide my true self so as not to be criticized or corrected, and I pretend to be a good Christian. But I can't maintain appearances for long; my actions give me away. Because the fruit Jesus speaks of is our actions, words, or children, I have three princesses. They look like me, only in mini versions; they have my character, and they expose me to my spiritual sisters. That's right: they are my fruits. The written word exhorts us to introspect, self-evaluate, and see what kind of fruit we are producing.

How can I produce good fruit? First, we look for fertile soil to sow the seed. The soil is my heart, which is willing to receive a good seed, which is the Word of God, and be watered by the Holy Spirit, which is the fountain of living water. A seed sown without being watered by the rain dies. When Jesus was coming from Judea to Galilee, He passed through Samaria, met the Samaritan woman, and asked her for water.

Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?” Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (John 4:10-14)

A good tree bears good fruit, and a bad tree bears bad fruit. You know, my beloved reader, each tree bears fruit according to its kind. The thorn in the desert also produces thorns. When our heart is dry, it is like a desert that produces only thorns and hurts our loved ones: family, husband, children, spiritual family, friends, etc.

It is important to prepare the earth first, healing our emotional wounds (inner child), so the soil is fertile, and the seed of the gospel can germinate in our hearts and be watered by the Holy Spirit so that it produces good fruit in worship to God and for the the edification of my neighbor.

For the bad tree bears bad fruit, but the good tree produces good fruit. Like the apple tree, Anna, its fruit is juicy.

What kind of tree would you like to be?

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Written by Leylane Bertoldo Campos, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil

The saying "practice makes perfect" is a classic across many cultures. Whether you are reading this blog post in Portuguese, English, or Spanish, you have surely heard it before. But is it really that simple? I have heard that some psychologists and neuroscientists prefer to make a slight correction to this adage. They say that "practice leads to permanence," but not necessarily to perfection. This is because, if you practice something the wrong way, your brain will reinforce that error. With this in mind, we can apply this logic to our walk with God, as the risk is very similar. When we try to practice a godly life in the wrong way, we may pursue a perfection that will never come. Instead, we can seek a godliness that pleases God—not to become perfect, but to become mature and fruitful.

It is common to see a simplified view of spirituality within our community. For some, regularly attending church activities, mechanically reading a chapter of the Bible, and saying a quick prayer before bed make up a sort of “holiness combo.” While these actions are essential when performed intentionally, reducing faith to a checklist can be an unwise and haphazard way to nurture our spiritual lives. We need to understand that biblical faith is not passive. God’s wisdom also manifests itself through strategy and planning—and this is precisely what the woman of Proverbs 31 demonstrates.

She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. (Prov 31:16 NIV)

The woman of Proverbs 31 has a very clear vision of her future. Notice that she does not buy a property on impulse; she examines it before making that decision. When examining a property, it is necessary to patiently assess its suitability for the intended purpose—in this case, planting a vineyard. There is a principle of biblical wisdom here. In Proverbs, the wise person observes, ponders, and acts with discernment.

In this verse, we also see a woman who devoted her efforts to planting a vineyard—an undertaking that requires long-term vision. An experienced winegrower knows that the entire process of planting a vineyard demands patience. In the early years, the project may appear stagnant. Yet, it is beneath the soil—hidden from our view—that the real work takes place. That is where the plant expends all its energy, driving its roots as deep as possible to absorb the necessary nutrients. If it were to bear fruit without deep roots, its entire structure could be compromised. This reminds us that Christian maturity also requires the patience of cultivation—a practice that will lead us to become like Christ.

At first glance, we might view this verse merely as guidance regarding business or finances. However, God’s wisdom is reflected in our everyday lives. The way we examine our choices also reflects the state of our hearts. The daily actions we take are deeply connected to good habits that can draw us closer to God.

Have you ever stopped to consider how you make your decisions? How you manage your resources? How you plan your time, handle your money, or use your talents? Do you seek to make decisions based on God’s wisdom, rather than on a desire for instant results or emotional neediness?

Just like a vineyard, spiritual growth requires daily consistency, pruning, and great patience. A truly worthwhile spiritual life does not happen overnight, nor does it arise from vain repetitions devoid of purpose or planning. Whether at home, at work, or in the church, we need to apply God's wisdom to every decision we make—examining matters and planning for the long term.

Christian women seek the success of the Kingdom of God above all else; they examine their attitudes and manage with discernment what God has placed in their hands. Which "soil" do you need to examine more mindfully right now before making a decision? Have you been planting vineyards for the future, or living merely for present impulses? Have you been spending your energy planting vineyards that will nourish your future, or have you spent your days reacting only to the impulses and urgencies of the present?

James 5:7-8 says: “Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.”

Begin today what you hope for tomorrow. Prepare yourself for the coming of Christ. Pray today for the future of your marriage. Pray today for your baby’s teenage years, or for the future spouses of your young children. Seek today the spiritual growth you desire for your future. Practicing a godly life may not lead to the perfection the world seeks, but it will certainly lead us to a fruitful life—a practice carried out in the right way, as God desires and has taught us, so that we may strengthen our hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.