Ministry Marketing: Are You A Red Or Green Tomato?

Are You Ripe For Your God Given Destiny?

So you’re ready for your God given destiny to be fulfilled. You are ready to go through the door to the fulfillment of all that you know God has called you to in regards to your ministry, your music, your service, or maybe a product such as a book.

And it’s just not happening. What do you do?

Wait. And trust your God given destiny will be a reality soon. And grow where you are planted.

A great example I have found comes from my husband’s garden and a tomato plant.

Are You A Red Or Green Tomato?

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After Dave planted the beautiful tomato vines in the rich Georgia soil, I waited with great expectation for the tomatoes to appear. Before long they did, and then it was an another wait process for them to turn red.

The growth process seemed rather slow as I was eager to have a good ‘ole Southern tomato sandwich, complete with Blue Plate Mayo, of course!

While we waited for the tomatoes to turn red, my husband decided to go ahead and fry up some southern specialty “fried green tomatoes”. While they tasted ok, what we really wanted was a ripe red tomato for a sandwich or to slice up in a salad. So this got me to thinking about one’s God given destiny in life. You have a vision of what you know God as called you to, and often you have to wait through the process of that vision becoming reality.

You might feel as if you are sitting there...wasting away...as if your dream is dead. It may be because of lack of resources. It may be because of frustration or overwhelm. You may think to your self, “Is there any hope?”

May I encourage you with the tomato plant in our garden?

So, it’s like this. The tomato plant just stands there, in the fertile soil that my husband faithfully waters. When the tomato appears, it stays put clinging to the vine.

The plant stays rooted and grounded in the soil.You are like this tomato plant. You need to cling to the vine...cling to Jesus as you grow.

You need to be rooted and grounded in the Word of God as you go through the process of growing and bearing tomatoes (fruit), allowing the Holy Spirit to strengthen and refresh you.

Now you could go ahead and be a green tomato trying to make your vision happen on your own. You go ahead rushing your God given destiny, and It may get real hot with trials and messes along the way.

Some people may really like you, some may not, just as some people like fried green tomatoes while others do not.

I believe the majority of people like a ripe red tomato!

You are meant to be ripe for your God given destiny. Sometimes that may mean you have to wait and grow. But I encourage you with this simple thought:

Stay clinging to the vine--Jesus. (John 15) Stay rooted deep in God’s word and go through the process of simply growing, being nourished and trained by His Word.

Do you hear a tomato grunting and groaning as it grows?

No!

You don’t either. You don’t have to grunt and groan to be what God has called you to in regards to your vision.

Stay clinging to the vine, stay rooted in the Word. Keep believing in the vision. Be patient with God’s perfect timing...

I love what Oswald Chambers says:

"The vision is not a castle in the air, but a vision of what God wants you to be. Let Him put you on His wheel and whirl you as He likes, and as sure as God is God and you are you, you will turn out exactly in accordance with the vision. Don't lose heart in the process."

Don’t lose heart in the process of being ripe for your destiny!

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Help Along The Way To Being Ripe!

If you enjoyed the video above, and want more encouragement amidst your pursuit of your destiny, I have created a FREE video series. The videos range from instruction from the Word to basic instructions on ministry marketing to help you harness the power of the internet for preaching, promotion, and profits.

Click here for more Kingdom training ministry videos!