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What happens when God asks you to surrender something you don’t want to let go of—especially when what He is asking doesn’t seem to make sense?

Donna Kirkwood and her husband believed God was leading them to open a winery. But in the middle of that journey, God began dealing with Donna about her own relationship with alcohol. She wrestled, negotiated, and questioned: How could God lead me to own a winery and then ask me not to drink?

When I read Donna’s story in her book, He Is the Vine: From the Vineyard to the Tasting Room, I was stunned by how closely her story paralleled my own journey of surrendering alcohol more than twenty-five years ago.

In this honest conversation, Donna and I share our stories and then dig into Jesus’ words in John 15 about the true Vine, the Vinedresser, pruning, abiding, and bearing fruit.

Drawing from Donna’s experience as a winery owner, we talk about the beautiful spiritual parallels found throughout the winemaking process—from cultivating the soil and pruning the vines to fermentation and finally the tasting room.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Surrendering to God when His direction doesn’t make logical sense
• Our personal struggles with alcohol and the conviction of the Holy Spirit
• Why God sometimes prunes even good things from our lives
• The responsibility we carry as Christian leaders not to cause others to stumble
• What it means to abide in Jesus rather than striving to produce fruit on our own
• Finding a rhythm of time with Jesus that fits your season of life
• Trusting God through the slow process of spiritual growth and sanctification
• How trials and difficult seasons can become part of our transformation
• Why our testimonies are meant to be poured out and shared with others

If you are walking through a season of pruning, surrender, waiting, or change, I pray this conversation reminds you that the Vinedresser knows exactly what He is doing. Stay connected to the true Vine and trust Him with the process.

Scripture References:
John 15:1–8
Galatians 5:22–23
Revelation 19:6–9
Psalm 139:14

Donna Kirkwood is an author, speaker, Bible teacher, and marriage ministry leader. She is the author of He Is the Vine: From the Vineyard to the Tasting Room.

Connect with Donna:

Website: https://donnakirkwood.com/

Book: He Is the Vine: From the Vineyard to the Tasting Room
Available on Amazon or as a signed copy through Donna’s website.

Facebook: Joyphyl Words

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