The Gardener Came; The Pruning Has Begun

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....John 15:2

Major storm hit my yard on Friday.  I came home to this scene after work.  Surreal.  Friends came by the next day to start the clean up and as I spoke about the "beauty" I saw in this destruction, someone mentioned God's pruning.

I thought to myelf pruning is pretty "painful", yet beauty - fruit - comes from it, if we allow it.


“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.  John 15: 5-6

I am imaging the pruning THe Gardener is doing in my own life.  The Branches that are being cut off, that very much feel like they are being "torn off" by a great and mighty wind.  

Then I imagine how much  more useful I will be for HIS use...the potential of the fruit yet to be.

I don't want to be fruitless.  I willingly submit to the pruning the Gardener wishes 

7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. John 15:7-8