Need Pruned to Produce?

I love to plant flowers and work in our Garden. I love to watch how you plant a seed...it grows and you get to enjoy the flower or the eat the vegetables. But as you know you don't just throw it in the ground and hope it grows. You have to water and fertilize it...pick the weeds and prune it when needed. Producing a harvest takes a lot of work...but it's worth it!

God is the best Gardener and He knows when it's time to prune things in your life. Sometimes He prunes relationships...friendships...jobs...and many other things in our lives in order for us to produce more fruit for Him. Abiding in Christ produces fruit that remains...without Christ you can do nothing of eternal value. 

Do you have any "fake fruit" decorating your table? We do. It looks good from afar, but when you get up close you realize it's plastic...fake...and will never bear fruit. I think that is how I live somedays...I look good from afar, but when you get close...you will see I'm not bearing fruit for Christ. But I'm trying...considering what I'm doing to produce a harvest for Christ. The last couple of years I think he has been pruning my life...jobs...friendships...and sins that I have struggled with. I have clinged to some things that needed to be cut off. I was no longer producing fruit in those situations and He cut them off. WACK! OUCH that hurt! I have been whining about it for awhile too. But I am seeing him take me in directions that I would have NOT gone in if I had not been pruned. It has caused me to cling to Him and seek Him even more and to make sure I am producing fruit as a mom, wife, friend and follower of Christ. 

John 15:1-2

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: 5-8

I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit, apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. 

Do you need to be pruned? Are you producing fruit? 

Pray for me as I continue to be pruned and if you need me to pray for you...let me know.