The Cut

When growing grapes for wine the gardener cuts off the first crop of fruit of the season so that they can to the good stuff. The grapes that grow back in place of the first grapes are heartier and have a better flavor.

Jesus talked about pruning in John 15:2.

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.

In my life when I find things getting cut away it makes me scared. I’m like the plant that’s full of fruit and vines. But, as it’s hard for a plant to know which fruit is good to eat, and which are not, sometimes I’m naïve and unaware. I see fruit and assume that it must be great! “Look at all this stuff in my life! Busy and productive is good!” seems to be the thought running through my head, or even “I’m not doing enough! Why am I slacking behind everyone else?!?!” So when things are taken away from my life, I freak out even more!

I’m slowly learning that getting things cut away can be a good thing, a God thing.

God is the Master of the vineyard. He knows all about the vines, what grapes are good to eat, what vines hurt the pants, and how to make the most out of every plant. His garden shears come out and I start stressin’. I’m too wrapped up in my own vines to see the goodness of some of them going away.

Through my life, as short as it has been so far, the things that have been cut out have, believe it or not, benefited me. Unhealthy relationships, habits, or things that could have lead to even more hurt, were seen by the Master Gardener before I even saw a glimpse of the trouble.

So next time God takes out his big ole clippers to do some heavy pruning and weeding, don’t freak out. What gets cut out now will only make room for much better, healthier fruit to grow in its place.

Sun and Moon

Here are some random facts about the Moon:

• The moon orbits Earth at an average speed of 2,288 miles per hour
• The Moon takes about 27 days (27 days, 7 hours, 43 minutes, 11.6 seconds) to go all the way around the Earth and return to its starting position.
• The surface of the Moon has about the same area as the continent of Africa.
• The surface of the moon has many things on it such as craters, lava plains, mountains, and valleys.

When I was little, I no doubt thought that the moon made it's own light, just like the sun. As with other things I found out weren't true when I was younger, I was really shocked to learn that the sun reflected off of the plain old hunk of rock that is the moon, making it shine to us. 

I think the moon is a good representation of us as Christians and particularly myself (since I know myself better than I know anyone else). The moon is just a really plain object that orbits earth by itself. But, there's something more. There's something that makes the moon shine unlike the other random pieces of rock that float around in space. The sun! It shines onto the moon and reflects it's warmth and light onto earth. 

Just like the moon, Christians are regular people by themselves. But, we have something more, something that makes us shine in the dark to others on earth. There's something we have and that's God's SON Jesus! Without him we are just humans living our lives on earth. Because of him, we are now not of this earth. Our home is in heaven.

We, however, are citizens of heaven. We look forward to the

Lord Jesus Christ coming from heaven as our Savior. 

Philippians 3:20 

Sit Child

Sometimes I feel so childlike. When I'm upset I love the things that have always comforted me. Hugs, encouraging words from my Mom, sitting at the feet of my mom while she plays my hair and talks to me, or doesn't say anything. Mothers are just comforting, thank God for that.

This morning as the pastor walked up on the stage and asked the band to just play through the part where the lyrics say, "We will overcome, by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony, everyone overcome" he talked a little bit about worry; the topic of today's sermon. He said that fear and worry load us down and make us weary. What we need to do is just sit like a child at the feet of God. 

I thought about how fearful I am and bogged down with worry. Sometimes it's too much, but God does give us a spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). One of the things I love most about God is he is a comforter. He is what we need and for me that's him being my Abba the comforter. God wants us to sit as his feet and be comforted. When we come to him he takes away all our burdens as Jesus said, 

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” in Mathew 11: 28-30. If you're a child of God, then act like one. As when you were little coming to your parents feet to find comfort and rest, come to God! Rest at his feet and in his comfort. The Bible says that God gives us a peace and understanding that surpasses everything. God gives us shalom, perfect peace making us lack nothing but being completely whole, no deficiency. 

Use your sword!

Psalm 91:7
A thousand may fall at my side,
Ten thousand at my right hand,
But it will not come near me.

Through the past weeks, this verse has become so powerful. I've been feeling like evil is everywhere, and there's so much of it. I've been giving the devil so much more power than he has when God is on my side. It's extremely important to know that as Christians we have an enemy that comes to seek, kill, and destroy but we also have to know that God is so much more powerful. God made the heavens and the earth, you, me, the angels, and yes the demons and Satan. You know the phrase dad's say a lot, "I brought you into this world, I can take you out"? Well the same thing applies with Satan. God has ALL the power. I'm naturally I fearful person. Too much fear is paralyzing me and God says to not be afraid. He tells us time and time again, "Don't be afraid" or "fear not" in the Bible and I believe directly through the Holy Spirit. The God I believe in and live for is one that never lies and is the God of protection and comfort. So, if this is the God that is real and in the Bible, then why would he tell us to not be afraid if there was any reason to be? In the verse above, it I've replaced the you's with my's or me because this is something that we can declare if we are children of God. I say to myself a lot that a thousand may fall at my side, ten thousand at my right hand, but it will not come near me. The bad things that happen to other people will not come and infect me and happen to me that are evil because God says that it will not come near me. It's hard to trust but every time I have trouble I grab my sword of the spirit, remember my helmet of salvation has never left my head, and fight with this verse and chapter. God is on your side and the evil will NOT come near you! 

Weakness

So I took a very unplanned break from blogging. I'm not going to go into every detail because this blog isn't about me ultimately. It's all about God.

I've I guess, really realized how weak I am this past month and half. How much I need God, more than I ever realized. I've been scared and stressed and freaked out and the only option is running. You can either run to God, or run from Him but one will save you and one will send you straight to the place no one wants to go. 

Most every Christian has heard the verse about God's strength being perfected in our weakness and that is so true! Even though I am weak, God is the strongest most powerful thing there is. He is in me! He is in everyone who believes in him and completely follows after Him no matter what the cost. 

We are weak but He is SO strong.

Psalm 28:7-8


The LORD is my strength and my shield; 
    my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. 
My heart leaps for joy 
   and I will give thanks to him in song. 
The LORD is the strength of his people, 
    a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.