Pruning is a Blessing

For so long, I viewed pruning in my life as a punishment. As a sign I wasn't measuring up and I needed to be disciplined in order to bear fruit in my life. But I was missing a key principle from this verse in John. The verse says God prunes the branches that DO bear fruit. Why? So they can be even more fruitful.

When we experience pruning in our lives, it isn't because we aren't doing anything right or aren't having any impact for the Kingdom. It is the opposite. It is because we are bearing good fruit and God wants to use us to make an even greater impact. He prunes us to continue to mold us into people more closely connected with Him and people who shine His light even brighter in the world.

I think I resist the pruning when I see it as a punishment. I feel ashamed and discouraged. I associate pruning with failure, and that deflates me since my heart so desperately wants to please God and live according to His will. But this verse gives me great hope. God disciplines those He loves, those He wants to use. He prunes those who hearts are dedicated to Him and open to His working in their lives.

The next time you feel God pruning something in your life, rejoice! Praise Him for His good work in You and His desire to bear even more fruit in your life. Give Him thanks and ask Him to continue what He has started in you. 

Pruning isn't punishment. Pruning is a blessing.

Up or Down

"The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down."

Proverbs 14:1

Are you building up or tearing down your relationships?

Lights, Camera, Action!

"But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness."

1 Timothy 6:11

Paul's use of the words flee and pursue call us to action. They aren't things that just happen, but rather, we have to make a decision to act.

One Bible commentary states it this way,

"This traditional formula of exhortation compels the readers to "escape" from the dangers of sin...(and) to pursue a righteous life...The tone is that of an emergency. Both flight and pursuit, however, require not only a conscious decision but also a sustained, lifelong effort; the emergency ends only with the appearance of Christ (6:14).

God really spoke this to my heart the other day when I read this. It is time for me to make a conscious decision to flee sin and pursue a balanced spiritual life. To pursue qualities like love and faith, not just sit around hoping they will magically appear in my life.

Paul's words to Timothy involve two imporant actions that all of us can apply to our lives. Flee sin and pursue righteousness. Escape temptation and follow after godliness. It won't just happen to us; we must (with God's help) cultivate those qualities in our lives. God is faithful to meet us and walk with us, but He will not force Himself nor those qualities into our character and our lives.

Get ready - lights, camera, ACTION!

What's Up Dog?

"As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly."

Proverbs 26:11

 

My brother and sister-in-law have a cute little puppy named Manny. The problem is he is just that, a puppy. Even though his toys are scattered around the house, he always goes for what he can't have - a stuffed animal, blanket, a hat. Yet, while I was taking the same glove away for what felt like the millionth time, this verse popped into my head, and I realized, sometimes I am a lot like Manny.


Even though I have so many good and life-giving options available, I keep choosing those things I can't have. I choose the gossip rather than the encouragement, the judgement rather than the love, or the shame rather than the freedom. As Solomons describes in Proverbs, I am a fool repeating my folly. 2 Peter has some harsh words for those who get stuck in this pattern.


So today, I challenge us - let's stop repeating our follies. Let's stop being entangled by the things of the world and instead, choose what God has abundantly provided for us.

Affairs and Integrity

 

"I will be careful to lead a blameless life—
          when will you come to me?

I will conduct the affairs of my house with a blameless heart."

Psalm 101:2

I was reading this last night, and I stopped to think about the second part of the verse.

"I will conduct the affairs of my house with a blameless heart."

I don't know about for you, but sometimes, for me, it is so much easier have a blameless heart when people are watching.  At church, with my Christian friends, or (dare I say it?) on a blog or in a note.  What I love about this verse is how it says, "the affairs of my house".  In the comfort and privacy of my home, am I doing things with a blameless heart?  Am I guarding what kinds of things I watch on t.v., what I do with my time, or how I speak to my parents/roommates/whoever else?

I am sure we can all think of Christian leaders who struggled in this area. In public, they seemed to be people of great faith and Godly character. However, at home, they were something completely different.

Today, as we embark on the beginning of 2011, I want to challenge us to be people of integrity.  Integrity can be defined as, "the quality or state of being complete or undivided." Let's make it our prayer this year to be complete people with Godly character no matter where we are or who is watching. Let's present ourselves to God with blameless hearts, fully devoted to Him. For after all, He is worthy of nothing less.

Not Where, But Who

"Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading."

-Oswald Chambers

Maybe instead of trying so hard to figure out where we are being led, we should focus on knowing the One who is leading us.

Press Pause

Do you ever wish your life had a big pause button? That when you needed a time-out, you could just press pause and take a break?

I do.