But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on
you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in
all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
(Acts 1:8)

*** APPLE TREE STORY ***
Getting to the Heart

This is a story about a man that bought 25 apple trees for
his family's acreage. Four years later, all but one of the
trees had finally begun to bear fruit. The orchard keeper
loved caring for the trees and picking the apples. He did
it for a dozen years.

One summer he decided to visit a nearby orchard to ask
about the tree that had never born a single apple. The
horticulturalist there explained the mystery. When orchard
workers tilled the ground around the trees, they made
sure to hit the trees' roots, sometimes even until the
tree --wept--. The popular idea was that apple trees must
be wounded and --weep-- before they could produce fruit.

The man went home and drove a 16-penny nail through
his barren tree until the sap flowed from the wound.
The next year that one tree bore more fruit than all
24 others combined!

Do wounds mark your life?

For God so loved the world that He
gave His only begotton Son, that
whosoever believeth in Him, should
not parish, but have everlasting life.
(John 3:16)

Jesus' story--which has through faith become our story,
also involves a tree. That tree rose up from the ground,
taking the shape of a cross. No one drove 16-penny nails
into that tree--Roman soldiers drove spikes into it,
spikes that also pierced through the flesh of the one
named Jesus. Those wounds also continue to pierce hearts
and turn lives toward the Savior in repentance and faith.
Yes, the tree of Christ's cross bore blessed fruit.

That fruit is personal. Because of what happened on the
cross, God has brought blessing upon blessing into our
lives. God has poured out His grace upon each of us,
and He now considers you His beloved child, and heir
of heaven's incredible riches. On a tree Jesus gave His
life for each of us.

The gift of GOD is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(Romans 6:23)

If thou shalt confess with thy mouth
the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in
thine heart that God hath raised him
from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
(Romans 10:9)

AMAZING GRACE LYRICS
John Newton (1725-1807)

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

For by grace you have been saved through faith,
and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of
God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
(Eph 2:8-9)