Death and New Life

The beauty of Spring is
preceded by the death and
pruning of last year's growth.

Our gardens wouldn't be nearly
as pretty if we didn't take the
time to carefully remove the
spent blooms, always gentle so as
not to harm the plant as a whole.



I've been gardening and
pondering....
What pruning is God doing
lately so that His beauty
can shine through me?

He is working, folks.
That I can promise you.
Each day can seem like a
new lesson in something.

Here's to beautiful new growth.
Brought through the loving and
gentle hands of a Master Gardener.


John 15:1-8
"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. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will 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.

"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."

Reflections

I love seeing the reflections this light
casts onto our stairwell walls.
And as is typical for me...you know...
everything is an object lesson
in this teacher brain...
I got to thinking it is kind of like us.
We, if we know the Lord,
have the light of Christ in us
and we reflect that out to the world.
How does that come out?
Is it pretty, as in the case of cut glass.
Oh, and that could take us down another
rabbit trail.
The reflection is pretty because
the glass has been cut, stressed, hurt.
Could it be that we can show prettier reflections
if we have been allowed to suffer?
Does this stress make a prettier reflection?
I think it can...
if we use that suffering
to draw closer to our Creator.
To know His hand and trust Him more.
You can see the marks of the
hurts,
but they show up as beauty because of
the healing hand of our Lord,
and Friend, Jesus.

Ripples in our World

Are you a Ripple or a Wave?

I am a leader.

It is a gift and a curse.

People ask me, "How should this be done?"

"How should I handle that?".

I spout out "wisdom" of all kinds on a daily basis.

Lord help those that are doing the asking

if they follow my advice.

:-)

The problem comes in when I think I should put myself into

every project that beckons me.

I see the potential.

I know how great everyone of these projects could be!!!!

I just know that if I do it...it'll be the best thing ever.

I often volunteer before others get to offer.

Lately, I have been thinking about making gentle ripples

in the pool of life instead of great tidal waves.

If I go around making big waves

who am I drowning in my wake?

A big wave goes by and makes lots of noise,

and quite an impression

and then it is over.

A gentle ripple lasts longer and has a pleasant way

of touching the surrounding area

spreading larger and larger until it is

smoothly absorbed into its surroundings.

So, this is my goal: to be a gentle ripple.

Gently touching lives around

me for Christ.

I don't want to continue to be that

huge wave who pushes others away in my quest for...

...whatever.

Through Your help, Lord...

Let me be a Ripple in your pond of life.