It’s OK Little Limb….

It was a good day. Day two of being unemployed. Instead of dwelling on negativity of my current situation, I thought I would take the golf cart out with my little dog “Howie” and pick up branches along our farm. We still had limbs and branches everywhere on our property from the last severe ice storm.

As I neared the pond, I noticed a huge branch just hanging from a tree positioned in our side yard. I parked our golf cart, which we’ve named “Trusty 8,” and started to move the branch from side to side. After many attempts I decided to start talking to the tree. (As if that would help) I know this is so weird and even my dog was giving me a strange look with his confused head nod. I continued anyway and kept saying, “Ok tree, you need to let this branch go. It’s not healthy and you won’t get any growth from this. I know it’s hurtful to remove it, but it’s got to happen for you to grow.” Then I moved the branch one last time the other direction. I started to hear cracking and then I said, “Ok just let it go, just let that limb go! I promise this is healthy for you.” Then all of a sudden the branch came loose and I was able to carry it to the golf cart. Poor little Howie began to cry hearing the loud noises and seeing mom carry something long and heavy in her arms.

The first passage I read after a hard ministry season was John 15:1-11. With all of these emotions, I had an overwhelming sense of peace. It wasn’t until later that evening while Jared and I were eating a large cookie dough blast from Sonic, that it dawned on me the peace of God which transcends all understanding was guarding and guiding my heart. There was peace that the branch had been removed for new growth. There was peace that I was right with God. There was peace that God would take care of me. There was peace that all I needed to do was continue staying close to Jesus.

John 15: 1-11 (ESV), says, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”

Living on a farm, I think about all the branches on our property that we gather and later put in our burn pile. We gather them because, if they’re left, they become obstructions to cleaning and mowing in the next season. The growth that we could have in the next season would be hampered if not removed. We wouldn’t see the greatness of God without the hard work of putting those dead branches in the burn pile.

Sadly, many don’t leave or let go of people, situations and things that take them away from their callings. They miss out on the extraordinary things that God could have done if they were only obedient. They missed opportunities because the distraction was too much for them to let go of. What a sad place to be in.

I can’t help but think about that last verse in John 15. Joy! Joy is complete and made full when we continue to abide in the vine, even in the difficult times of life, even in the unknowns, even in the crazy hard distractions.

God is so good!! I was thinking of this hymn the other day as I was driving. “For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able. To keep that which I’ve committed unto Him against that day!”

This song comes from the verse in 2 Timothy 1:12 (NIV) which says, “That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.”

From Just a Traveler Passing Through...