Bless and Don't Curse

I'm human, very human, and this whole concept comes hard, ok not quite as hard as it could, but  I always want to work through the wrong, before I get horrified and want to see the good.

But having spent the day, with the Gardener, while we deal with some of the wounds of the last year its become very clear what damage those words can do.  I didn't have to deal with my own words. I'm sure that is coming.  This was dealing with the words I heard as I processed an email over a year ago, words that were meant in love to help, but out of unprocessed anger, they brought heartbreak.

Actually I've had a couple of days of dealing with those dark words ... the damage they wrought may be irreversible. To speak life, to gossip only about the good, and the One who is always good. To give glory to our God in all things, how I wish they were the words I was processing.

Lord help me to do better gong forward, change the habits that you so desperately want to change...that the damage stops and the light and life grows.

Trusting the Gardener

It’s about this time of the year when the roses in front of my desk windows need pruning, not just deadheading so that the next crop of flowers come, but the pruning that leads to reshaping the bush, cutting away the dead stuff and letting what is new grow next season. Only I’m not a great gardener, I’m sure the roses would prefer me to become more skilled.

 It’s got me thinking what would God prune in my life, there’s some obvious stuff, the stuff I want him to take…and have for a long time, but what about the stuff that’s too painful, or to precious, am I willing to let him have that. The stuff that hurts, but I don’t want to go near, or have anyone near… The stuff that is precious, that I feel good about and want to hold onto, but might be getting in the way of growth. I had a couple of long discussions about pruning this week and at the end of the day I’m glad that we are in the hands of a master gardener, not my rather sad, mishandled snips.

 “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 does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. (John 15:1-2 ESV