Serving Out of Abundance even when it hurts...

I often find myself drawn back to John 15 where Jesus describes a life of ministry (we are ALL in ministry). He clearly lays out the need to ABIDE in Him so that He can bear His character out in us to offer sweet, redeeming fruit to a fallen world. What struck me recently is verse 2:

"He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit,

while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will bear

EVEN MORE FRUIT."

So, sometimes, where I think I'm doing great, thriving, bearing fruit...He chooses to prune there! And to remove what looks good to make it even more for His glory. My trouble is (and I think it's yours too), we want to resist those pruning shears. It hurts. We want to hold on to those pretty branches! But, our gardner is in control, and He asks us to submit to the shears so we can bear more fruit.  He doesn't let us get too comfortable, does He? He keeps us in a place of surrender, dependence and trust. I encourage you today to not fear His shear love. He wants to bring you complete joy (v. 10). Do you trust the gardner my fellow branch? He loves you so very much. Consider the lilies...