Pruning

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. John 15: 1-2

"Pruning is essentially the act of discarding old plant materials to allow the plant's resources to build new growth. Another way of saying that is when a plant has been alive awhile it usually has parts that are older and less vibrant than other parts of the plant. You probably have seen plants that look tired and have a dichotomy of looks. Part of the plant looks vibrant and green and other parts look dark green or brown.

This is due to the fact that these older "stems" are not able to maintain what is fed to them by the root system as well as they once could.

The idea is to identify branches or stems that are dead or have slowed down in their functioning. Once they are identified, then it is time to remove them by cutting them off...

What now happens is that the root system can more easily feed what is left on the vegetation or the plant/ that is the stems and/or branches.

So pruning then is the the act of removing damaged or old foliage from a plant in order to strengthen it. This ongoing procedure will make a garden or landscape get stronger and stronger." - How and Why we Must Prune Plants (published March 05, 2009 by Gary Davis).

Father God, we know that you are the good gardener and that you want us to be strong in you and to occupy the land. You want us to grow to be vibrant, and to flourish like a beautiful landscape. I pray that we could participate in the pruning process of our lives, so that these things could be true of us. We love you and we trust your gentle, yet firm loving hand...Guide us as only you can...

The Cracked Pot

A water-bearer in India had two large pots. Each hung on opposite end of a pole that he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other one was perfect. The perfect pot always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house. The cracked pot arrived only half-full. Every day for two full years, the water-bearer delivered only one and a half pots of water.

After the second year of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, the unhappy cracked pot spoke to the water-bearer one day by the stream.

"I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you."

"Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of ?"

"I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house," the cracked pot said.

The water-bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion, he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path." Indeed, as they went up the hill, the cracked pot took notice of the beautiful wildflowers on the side of the path, bright in the sun's glow, and the sight cheered the pot up a bit.

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, not on the other pot's side? That is because I have always known about your flaw, and I have taken advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day, as we have walked back from the stream, you have watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are , he would not have had this beauty to grace his house."

The story of the cracked pot is from an unknown source in India and is found in Brennan Manning's book: Reckless Trust

God, I thank you for the flaws and that you take advantage of them...Help us to see the life and beauty that stems from your cross as we submit the flaws, cracks, and weaknesses to you....

ONLY A FEW FIND IT!

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7:13-14

I was thinking about what it means to be in relationship with Jesus today. I guess, when I was young in faith I was so focused on the fact that Jesus saved me out of sin. That is very true and daily I am reminded of my need of Jesus to save me from what is a lie...

Though the older I get and the more I am in touch with my reality, need, and struggle, and the more I have encountered personal failure and crises in my life, I now realize that Jesus did come to save me from my sin and self-centeredness, but the goal for his coming, or the higher purpose to which he was called was to speak, give birth, and deliver a message of Life in, over, around and among us. He came to resurrect what was once dead in us in order to bring life to us and others. He came to challenge us to find Life in and around him, in and around us, and in and around those beloved and sometimes lost ones among us...

This should be the goal towards a Life worth fighting for....

"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10

"Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life..." John 11:25

"Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life." John 14:6

Begin today and ask yourself, what does it mean to have more life?? Then wait on Jesus...and when he answers you run towards that life!!!

The Sower

"He told them another parable: The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches." Matthew 13:31-31

Whatever you have that is small (which could be so many things) entrust it to God, by planting it, watering it, and nourishing it and in God's time and God's way it will grow into something special for you and hopefully for others...

I want to learn how to garden. If anyone out there could help me. I'd appreciate it!!!

A Detached Heart

God wants us to live with a detached heart-Detached from all people, places and things....When your heart is bound up in God alone you can go anywhere, do anything, engage anyone....

(When I say detached, I mean a heart with good boundaries...Please Pray for me in this area!!!)

"To be able to enjoy fully the many good things the world has to offer, we must be detached from them. To be detached does not mean to be indifferent or uninterested. It means to be nonpossessive. Life is a gift to be grateful for and not a property to cling to." Henri Nouwen

Broken Body

I was thinking of Jesus' Broken Body yesterday and was reminded of the words:

"For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you. The Lord Jesus on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me...

In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, do this, whenever you drink it in remembrance of me..."

In taking communion we receive his death, the broken body, but also his life (the blood) the new wine...There is death and resurrection in communion Life and offering!!!

God, how much I want more Life in and with You!!!

I could have danced today...

I feel my heart awakening; coming alive...
I listened to a song, and was reminded
of a previous time and I remembered
the movement of that time, that song,
that dance...I could have danced today,
but instead I stopped still and listened
to my need: to be seen, and to be
acknowledged...I could have danced
today in the midst of that need and
acknowledged publicly my true
reality...