Pruning...
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit." John 15:1-2
A few days before the snow storm that hit us in this area, it was a beautiful clear day, chilly but just seeing that blue sky and sun encouraged me to go out and do a little yard maintenance. One of the things that really needed to be done was a large bush that desperately needed trimming. I had put it off long enough and decided to dive into the job. Pruning can be a tedious process, different than trimming where you can go in with clippers and just whack away the overgrowth to re-shape the hedge or tree; on the other hand pruning involves cutting off the dead, infected or unproductive branches and leaving the good ones.
While pruning, with the removal of the "bad" branches it gave me a better view of the things in the bush that should not have been there; small limbs that had fallen from a neighboring tree and numerous poison ivy vines. The pruning also allowed me to uncover and make room for a small holly bush that was being dwarfed by the overgrowth. Though I was happy about the good job I had done, I did feel a little guilty at first that the cardinals that loved the bush would have less branches on which to lounge, but I also knew it would not hinder these resourceful birds from enjoying nature.
Of course you know where I am going with this right? LOL When it comes to our lives, there are times when we need some pruning. Things may appear swell and great on the outside, but we know that in order to further our growth and to be fulfilled, there are things that have to go. When we submit to God to help us in this process, it is not always easy and can be a vey tedious process. Some things , attitudes and relationships that we have held on to for years,they have to go for many reasons. By cutting back and letting go, it will give us a better view of the things that we have hosted in our lives that should not be there, things that may have been passed down to us and some even have become "poison" in our lives. The pruning also will uncover things that have been dwarfed and need more "Son Shine" in order to develop and mature; and by letting go it also will encourage those that were dependent to spread their wings and be more resourceful in fulfilling their own purpose. It is a matter of trust...
Do we trust God enough to give Him the pruning shears...do we trust that He wants the very best for us...do we believe that less IS really more when there is less of you and more of Him? That bush doesn't look so good right now, but I know that this spring it will flourish, produce beautiful, healthy foliage and bask in the sunlight.
A few days before the snow storm that hit us in this area, it was a beautiful clear day, chilly but just seeing that blue sky and sun encouraged me to go out and do a little yard maintenance. One of the things that really needed to be done was a large bush that desperately needed trimming. I had put it off long enough and decided to dive into the job. Pruning can be a tedious process, different than trimming where you can go in with clippers and just whack away the overgrowth to re-shape the hedge or tree; on the other hand pruning involves cutting off the dead, infected or unproductive branches and leaving the good ones.
While pruning, with the removal of the "bad" branches it gave me a better view of the things in the bush that should not have been there; small limbs that had fallen from a neighboring tree and numerous poison ivy vines. The pruning also allowed me to uncover and make room for a small holly bush that was being dwarfed by the overgrowth. Though I was happy about the good job I had done, I did feel a little guilty at first that the cardinals that loved the bush would have less branches on which to lounge, but I also knew it would not hinder these resourceful birds from enjoying nature.
Of course you know where I am going with this right? LOL When it comes to our lives, there are times when we need some pruning. Things may appear swell and great on the outside, but we know that in order to further our growth and to be fulfilled, there are things that have to go. When we submit to God to help us in this process, it is not always easy and can be a vey tedious process. Some things , attitudes and relationships that we have held on to for years,they have to go for many reasons. By cutting back and letting go, it will give us a better view of the things that we have hosted in our lives that should not be there, things that may have been passed down to us and some even have become "poison" in our lives. The pruning also will uncover things that have been dwarfed and need more "Son Shine" in order to develop and mature; and by letting go it also will encourage those that were dependent to spread their wings and be more resourceful in fulfilling their own purpose. It is a matter of trust...
Do we trust God enough to give Him the pruning shears...do we trust that He wants the very best for us...do we believe that less IS really more when there is less of you and more of Him? That bush doesn't look so good right now, but I know that this spring it will flourish, produce beautiful, healthy foliage and bask in the sunlight.
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