Hello New Hope Family,

The other day I tasted the sweetest strawberry ever!  It was amazing. So sweet and juicy. my daughter-in-law Jess had given it to me, so I had to find out where it came from. It came from Farmer Mike's U-Pick in Bonita Springs.

I asked her if they were expensive. They had to be because they were so good. “No,” they were cheaper than Publix,” she replied. That’s it, I thought, I’m going to Farmer Mike’s!

And that’s how good things become well known. Someone tastes it and says “This is amazing. Where did you get it?” Jesus also spoke about amazing fruit. He said this:

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing."

Jesus is the sweetest, most satisfying person to be with in all creation. In this verse He says that He is the vine that reproduces Himself in others. His character, His kindness, His willingness to love at any cost, His passion to honor His Father. When we “remain in Him,” He reproduces something in us that looks a little more like Him every day. 

God is doing something at New Hope. People are intentionally seeking God through worship, reading the Bible, and coming together in groups to love one another and to serve others. People are praying and believing. All this is bringing a sweetness to our church that is attractive.

This sweetness is the Presence of Jesus in us. Even when I write these words, I’m in awe of the reality that I am stating. Don’t miss this. Jesus is among us. But we must intentionally cultivate our relationship with Jesus by putting Him and His mission first.  

Because Jesus also said..."apart from Me, you can do nothing."

No fruit. No Jesus producing Himself in our lives. By pursuing your relationship with Him, and being on mission with Him, we will bring the sweetness of Jesus into everything we do. 

And people will continue to say “This is amazing. Where did you get it?”

~Pastor Chuck