Pruning His People

John 15:1-3

“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[a] so that it will be even more fruitful.  You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.  Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 

Jesus is the source of life, all life. He is the branch from which a Christian derives life. We are the vines that are created to bear much fruit and bring glory to the Gardener (the Father). Our loving Gardener actively cares for us, even when we are bearing much fruit, in order to increase our fruitfulness (LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GENTLENESS, AND SELF CONTROL). He knows that this also deepens our faith, and increases our spiritual endurance.

• An extremely important part of this process is pruning. For me this is the most difficult act to preform in my garden, because, unlike God, I lose sight of the "joy before me." When early spring comes around, and I know it is time to prune back my roses, I cringe. I can see the new growth. I am so excited to watch the blooms come to life, (this is my emotional response). I also know (my logical side), that if I prune them well, they will produce many more blooms and for a longer period of time, so I cut. I cut dead wood, shape unruly (unnecessary activity) foliage that will keep the sun from the plant, and shape the plant for the place it sits in my garden (it's purpose).
• Just as we cannot grow unless we are connected to the branch we also will not produce fruit, or know the full extent of peace and joy without pruning. This is the job of our caring gardener. I picks up vines that have fallen to the muddy ground (bad habits, or sin). He ties them back up so they can soak up the sun. He removes unnecessary foliage so the rays can reach the rest of the heart of the plant for nutrition. He gives life and takes away what is causing stunted growth (activity for the sake of activity or pride). Those extra leaves look pretty and full, but they are getting in the way. Pruning is an act of love. 
  
• 
  My job is to actively abide, soak up the sun, and rest in His care. He will cause my life to produce abundant fruit. I submit to the process. 

• When and how to prune roses:
• The best time to hard-prune roses is late February to early March, just as the bud casings begin to form. You want to be sure that freeze is over. The goal is to open the center for light/air, removed dead areas, and avoid crossing canes. 
  
• This is your chance to shape you plant for it's place in your garden. Cut just above an outward facing at a 45% angel. 

https://youtu.be/aBWy0cLwUWY

Weeds, Calories, Sin and Bills: The Struggle is Real

  “Cursed is the ground because of you through 

painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. 

It will produce thorns and thistles for you and you will 

eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you 

will eat your food until you return to the ground "

                                                        (Genesis 3:16b-18 NIV)

                                                                                         

                         Every evening at watering time, I see them. They poke their evil little heads out from my flowers beds, between my rock walls, and in any crevice they can find. I pull them, spray them, stomp on them and dig them out by the roots, but no matter how diligent I am, those weed seeds find a way to take root. I once had a friend tell me "sin, weeds, dirt and bills, you will fight them tell the day you die". She was right!

A month ago I planted another little patch of wild flower. I watered diligently as my baby plants began to grow, but low and behold the seeds were mostly weeds. I had received a bad batch. In order to spare the actual flowers I had to wait until they were big enough to tell the difference. It was TORTURE!

It took me hours of careful digging to separate the weeds from actual wild flowers.

In the book of Matthew Jesus teaches this principle as He explains the Kingdom of Heaven to his disciples.

Matthew 13:24-30
Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field;  but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”

Although God calls us to be "fruit inspectors" as we choose our close friends and associates, we are also reminded not to judge the hearts of others. Romans 12:3 reminds us to regard ourselves with "sober judgement", to serves others (Phil. 2) and to not think more highly of ourselves than we ought to. We are to shine like a light in the world and draw others to Christ by our love and kindness. That doesn't mean approving of evil, but any word of truth should always be motivated with love to edify the listener (am extremely difficult task in my estimation Ephesians 4:29).

Speaking should be done less and, prayerfully, listening should be done more. Proverbs 17:28

I grow weary of pulling weeds but when I do I am reminded to keep an eternal perspective. Do not grow weary of doing good (Galatians 6:9). It can be hard to tell weeds from flowers at time, but thankfully God knows. I am called to water, abide, and keep my roots pushing deep into the love of God, and push my petals toward His light. The rest is up to Him. He will do the separating in His time. I

Plants that Repel Weeds:

Some flowers repel weeds by forming a thick ground cover that keeps sunlight from getting to the weeds and suffocating them. A few of them are:

Creeping Flox

Creeping Thyme

Cranesbill Geranium

Sedum

Sweet Woodruff

 Hope Wirta