My Tree

So I have this beautiful tree in my side yard. I don't know what kind it is but it looks a little like a weeping willow. It flowered only for a few days but it was the most beautiful sight! My friend Kim came over a few weeks ago and showed me that on the trunk of the tree a bunch of shoots were sprouting off and starting to grow and she told me that I need to prune those all away because they will suck the energy and nutrients from the top of the tree which will keep it from growing tall and healthy.

This thought and a sermon I heard last night got me thinking about how God prunes things away in our lives. It's different for everyone and sometimes we hold on to the dead clipping with everything we have. Sometimes it's excruciatingly painful and sometimes it's like bricks lifted from our shoulders. But it's always good. Sometimes it's God pruning away the dead shoots like sin, strongholds, evil thoughts and the like. Sometimes though, God is pruning away things that are good so we have more energy for His highest and best calling. Sometimes God prunes away money, jobs, people, hobbies, interests, activities or even ministries. He takes away the distractions so that all we have can go to completing our heavenly purpose.

I'm in a mom's bible study once a week and one of the things we've really been focusing on is simplifying life. Getting rid of the excess so we can focus on what God has for us. I'm trying to simplify my possessions. I don't need that box of clothes that is in the attic (none of which I've worn in at least a year) and we certainly don't need the boxes of DVDs and CDs that we will never watch or listen to again. I've simplified my activities a lot but all our "stuff" is next on the list. Time for more pruning! Bring it Lord! I will try to be ready! (I'm not sure if I should have said that but here goes!)