Coffee Chat: Pruning is Painful!

Well, I am up very early this morning as a friend and I have decided to text each other to get up and do devotions. By God's grace, it hasn't been hard in the past to get up and spend time in His Word but I just have been getting up so late that my day feels rushed. To many, getting up at 5:30 am would be torture. Believe me...it is...for about 5 or 10 minutes. But, then, comes the sweetness of a quiet home, some quiet music, COFFEE (a must), a candle, and the blessing of approaching the throne of grace. It's just God and me...what a delight. So, after having a portion of my devotional/prayer time, I felt a blog coming on. So this is my early morning coffee chat. I'm so terrible about writing on my blog that I don't even know if anyone's reading it. But, I'm delighted to just journal for a moment :)

Back in February Dave and I were told that we had prune our bushes. A good friend from church showed me how to do it and I fear that once I had my own shears in my hands, I completely forgot everything she told me. I was slightly mortified to actually make the cut where she told me as it just seemed that I might kill the bushes. She assured me that it was necessary and that they would grow back. I wanted to believe her so badly but I'd never done this before. My bushes were about a foot above my head and she was telling me to cut them a foot above the ground. I was mortified. But, for new growth, she said I had to do it. Well, I made a few cuts and then handed over the shears to my hubby...good idea! He knew just what to do. Well, to my mortification, I walked into my beautiful front yard and what were once tall rose bushes now looked like sticks in the ground. This would all be fine and dandy if Dave and I actually owned the house we live in but all I could think was, "what will our landlord think?" Well, it couldn't have been a week later that I started seeing new growth. My friend was right, it was necessary! I wish I had a before and after because about one month later, there have got to be 30 or 40 buds on my bushes...some bushes that were so overgrown, they didn't even produce any roses. I don't know if you have any experience with rose bushes but they are truly miraculous! The leaves turn bright red as they muster up the courage and strength to produce a bud. It's really quite something.

Well, as I was walking around the garden just admiring the beauty and joy of these flowers, I got to thinking about pruning in my spiritual life. I have no control over it and only God knows when and where to prune. It's painful, it's ugly, it feels fruitless, it feels exposing. But in no time at all, what was once overgrown and dead in my heart, becomes something beautiful. What an encouragement this is to me, and I hope to you too, to realize that when God prunes, he does it because he has beautiful fruit in mind in your life. Allow the pruning process. I know it hurts, I know firsthand, and it's just not pretty. But the beauty that comes from it is unparalleled and better than what was there to begin with!

On a side note, and not a very spiritual one, while observing the new growth one morning, I saw aphids devouring my new plants. Looking up an "aphid" online, I saw that they are known for sucking all the moisture out of new plants. Oh what must have the neighbors thought, or people driving by, when I panicked and rushed outside with a bottle of insect killer and sprayed the heck out of those plants. I was furious...who do they think they are eating up my plants? Anyhow, those little pests are dead and gone and I'm over it...almost!

Amazing...

I am so sad that the last time I wrote on my blog was in September!!!! So much has happened since then and I'm still in awe that it's already February! Many of you know that I was in a terrible car accident with my two sisters-in-law (David's sisters) almost right after I wrote my last post. We were in Colorado for Alissa's wedding and the three of us girls were out running errands 3 days before the wedding when we were t-boned in an intersection. By any one else's view, it was a horrific scene. I wasn't able to get my seatbelt on in time and I hit the front seat pretty hard. This has created quite a long recovery period for my neck and back but there are no serious injuries to report. We were all released from the hospital that evening and the wedding went on as planned. It would be so easy to wonder why this happened or be angry about it but the Holy Spirit gave me a completely different perspective. For one, I should have had an anxeity attack right then and there but I truly experienced a peace that surpassed ALL understanding. Before my body went into complete shock, I was instantly able to grab the phone, dial 911, and even tell them where we were. Truly, without the Spirit, I don't know how this could have happened. I was also able to call Dave and tell him where we were. He made it to the scene with his parents before I was transported to the hospital. It was such a relief to know he was there with me! Jenny had been knocked unconscious and Alissa was able to hold her and care for her during that time. God was absolutely with us!

Well, I have been receiving treatment since then and it has been quite a journey. I have good days and bad days but I am so thankful that I came away with such minimal injuries in comparison to what could have taken place. It has been pretty difficult to keep up with all the drs appointments along with working full time. I'm sure the people at work think I'm a little nuts as I have my laptop propped up on several large books so I don't have to look down too much. The accident made me realize how far I had come. During my severe anxiety attacks, one of the things I was afraid of was getting in a car accident. Well, what I feared happened and I realized how strong the Lord has made me. Truly, I am NOTHING without Him but WITH Him I can stand!

David just ordered a few CD's from Sovereign Grace Ministries. I hadn't heard them before and I definitely want to look this ministry up! I listened to the Sons and Daughters CD on my way in to work this morning and was struck by these words and so thankful for the moments of worship this morning:

(Precious Children)
Broken and defiled
Clingling to our filth
Gloried in our shame
Running far from you
Still your mercy sought and saved us

Hallelujah. We belong to you
You have washed our stains
And have raised us up with Christ
Precious children in your eyes

Gave your only Son
Joy and your delight
Nailed him to the cross
You crushed Him for our sin
How could you love us like you love Him

Hallelujah. We belong to you
You have washed our stains
And have raised us up with Christ
Precious children in your eyes

(You Never Change)
Father of light
Giver of gifts
There is no shadow in you
Author of life
Fountain of grace
Each morning your mercies are new

And you never change
And you never lie
Age to age you are the same
I will trust in you, all your faithfulness
For I know you never change!

Father of love
Source of ALL good
Tower of strength and my shield
You gave your son for those who rebel
Your love for the world was revealed

And you never change
And y ou never lie
Age to age you are the same
I will trust in you, all your faithfulness
for i know you NEVER change!

Father of peace
Help of the weak
Though mountains fall into the sea
Though tempests may rage, the sun hide its face
Your favor will rest upon me

And you never change
And you never lie
Age to age you are the same
I will trust in you, all your faithfulness
For I know you never change!


Oh sweet Jesus, how can I ever thank you for what you have done for me? How is that I am counted as one of your precious children when I am so defiled and deprived? Thank you for saving me and calling me your own. I am amazed as I look at the beautiful day you have made and realize that all creation around me are crying out to you in worship because they are doing what they were created to do...even the rocks cry out to you! I am a sinner and I chose to do the opposite of what you created me to do. But you loved me enough to pay for that sin and I can't wait to be with you one day when I can truly live out what you created me to be and that is one who loves and glorifies you! Though I am ever-changing, ever-returning to my sin and selfishness, YOU remain the same. Where is my hope but in you?