We've Been Pruned! - December
7, 2000
Over the past few months I have struggled to take care
of our family and keep the ministry going at the same
time. We have both felt the frustration of not being able
to devote ourselves to ministering and helping others. We
know God will work all this for good and use this
experience to take us to a new level of ministry but in
the meantime it is tough to slow down. We haven't asked
God why all this has happened but He must have figured we
need to know so He sent us the answer.
A short time ago we were listening to a Chuck Swindoll
series on the book of John. He was in the 15th chapter
when God used his message to speak directly to us. In
John 15:1-2 Jesus says "I am the true vine, and my
Father is the gardener. 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."
We know we weren't in the first category so there it
was in the second part, confirmation of what we have felt
all along. Then Chuck went on to say something that
really hit us. He said when you visit an orchard that has
recently been pruned, you don't expect the trees to
produce any fruit. They must be given time to regrow, and
when they have regrown fully they will produce a
bountiful harvest. That put all of our frustrations in
perspective...God doesn't expect us to produce fruit now.
This is our time of pruning. We need to concentrate on
the regrowth and rest for when He decides to use us
again.
You must fall into one of the two groups Jesus
mentioned also. Are you dead wood producing no fruit?
Beware, the Lord's pruning shears may be coming your way.
Now is the time to start living for Him. Maybe you are
producing fruit. Don't be surprised if God decides to
prune you with an unexpected change in your life.
Continue to trust that He really does know what He's
doing. Maybe you are like us and are being pruned. Hang
in there! We know first hand that it's not easy, but God
is faithful and He hasn't forgotten about you. Someday
all of us will place our fruit at the foot of His throne
and lay down our harvesting tools for good. On that day,
won't it be wonderful to hear Him say, "Well done, good
and faithful servant!"
We have so many ideas for expanding our ministry, but
in light of our recent revelation, we aren't putting them
on our schedule yet. We are going to rest and let God
tell us when the time is right. We're also loosening up
this newsletter a bit. I haven't been able to keep it up
on a weekly basis like I planned so I'll be sending one
out whenever I can. Don't worry, we aren't throwing in
the towel, just taking a little time to grow so we'll be
ready when God says it's time to go. Keep praying for us
and remember, someday we'll be back and better than
ever!
