OUCH...THAT HURTS

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

Just came in from my front porch where I was reading my Bible. I was a little distracted but couldn't quite put my thumb on the problem. I stood up and peered over the porch railing to view my rose bushes. They were radiant with the varied colors of beautifully formed roses and rose buds. It was more than I could remember their looking so beautiful and full of life.

It dawned on me that about 7-8 days ago, I was sitting on the porch in the same chair and noticed there were all sorts of rose bush branches making their way through the slats of the porch railing. It may seem odd, but I felt I really needed Brian's permission to cut away at the bushes like I would always do, before taking on such a task. However, it had to be done.

In the garage I found the large scissors Brian used for such a task, stood on the porch leaning a bit over the rail and cut the branches that had grown to being offensive and out of control. It was also noticeable as I walked into the yard viewing the bushes that they really didn't have many flowers or buds on them. I didn't want to kill the bushes but knew that pruning had to be done and I did it.

Tonight out on the porch is where those bushes appeared to be really healthy, flourishing and so pretty. I couldn't easily count the flowers and buds. We planted these five bushes when we moved into this house when it was new. The bushes have done us well. I hate to say this but perhaps the older they are, the more pruning might be necessary for them to be their beautiful best.

Jesus was speaking to his disciples at their last supper when He shared with His disciples the importance of the pruned life. Spiritual pruning is far from fun or comfortable but it brings growth in the Lord and a beauty we may not even notice. I have seen in these days from my front porch what the price of pruning in our lives can be, and how God will use it to bring a growth in Him, and a beauty as well. With taking shears in hand and lovingly doing a miraculous work in our lives, may God see us even more able in loving and serving Him after the pruning process. May we then also bear the sweet aroma of Christ that will honor Him and be a blessing to others.

Father, we know although pruning our lives is going to be painful, You don't mean it for harm but for our good. We can only go through this in Your strength and want You glorified in it all. In Jesus' name...Amen