Blessings Amid Pruning

Big Bertha last winter

It feels great to finally be able to lay down and enjoy the last couple hours of my weekend.  This weekend I had the pleasure of my parents visiting our home for the second time since we have lived in the house.  I am so glad that they were able to find time to come up and hang out with us.  My dad even brought up a pole trimmer so we could prune the huge oak tree in our front yard.  Both Dad and I realized very quickly that trying to saw limbs with the pole fully extended is quite a task.  We managed to cut down about a dozen small and medium sized limbs that drastically improved the appearance or "big bertha" as we affectionately refer to her.  We had a wonderful evening and enjoyed spending saturday with them also.  Saturday night, I helped my wife with some of her homework and then we were able to relax a little.  Today has gone by in a blur as we went to church, watched courageous, worked on some yard and house work, and then I was able to eat with one of the young adults from my church ministry.

Needless to say my week has passed by in a flash.  There are definitely times in life where I wish I could slow down time and just cherish the moments I have, especially when it is with family.  It is hard being an adult and living hours away from my family at times.  There is such comfort in spending time with the people whom you have known your whole life.  It is s wonderful to have peace in knowing that they will love you and accept you no matter what.  It is great to know that these people understand and accept you.  That they have known you since you were born and share more memories of your life than anyone else on this planet.  How nice it is to know that you can bring anything to them without receiving judgment.  

I know that not everyone has a family like this available to them and that helps me to cherish that much more the time I have with my family.  For those in Christ who do not have families like this, take solace in being fully accepted into the family of Christ.  We can find peace in knowing the Jesus will always love and protect us.  We have assurance that Jesus will teach and lead us in the right paths.  We can trust that He will always be there to give us strength in the hard times to encourage, strengthen, and uplift us.  We can find security in knowing that even when we feel pain as he prunes us, like I did my oak tree, that He does it for our good and does it for our health and growth.   We can know that He will never leave or forsake us.  We can trust that in our darkest of times, facing even death, He will be next to us to guide us and protect us.  We have a good, loving, and merciful God!  

I am so grateful for the loving friends and family I have in my life.  My God has been so generous to surround me with people in who I can trust and depend on.  He has given me a family through my church to help sustain my wife and I for the times we miss home and can't be there.  My Lord has most completely blessed me in my wife and the love and support she gives me.  I am so thankful for her love and the family that I have been given through my marriage to her.  My Lord has graciously provided me a job that I love and a boss who teaches and uplifts me daily.  It feels so wonderful to know you are appreciated at your job and to love the people you work with.  I do not deserve any of these many blessings that the Lord has given me and yet by His grace I have still received them.  

Trust in Jesus today and know that you will never regret it.  You have not known love till you have known Jesus.  You have not known grace till you have known Jesus.  And you have never truly understood or received forgiveness until you have known Jesus.  Trust in Him today if you have not before.  Lay your life at His feet, ask forgiveness for your sins, and walk passionately with Him till you meet Him in heaven. 

One of my favorite passages in the Bible is one many people know.  This passage so wonderfully lays out the beautiful love of our Savior and God.  I leave you with Psalm 23.  Please take the time to read it slowly.  Drink it in, swish it around in your mind, and let it sit there as you take in all the many facets and beautiful pieces of the passage.  

 ¹The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
 ²He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
 ³He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
   for his name’s sake.

 ⁴Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
   I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
   your rod and your staff,
   they comfort me.

 ⁵You prepare a table before me
   in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
   my cup overflows.
⁶Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
   all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
    forever.

Blessings,

Greg