Are You Willing To Be Part Of The Harvest?

I am still reading the book that we were suppose to read for our 40 Days of Love series, call me a slow reader if you must but I am determined to finish the book. This morning before church I was reading chapter 34 entitled Vines and Branches and these following paragraphs just spoke to me.

"One important warning before we move on: You are a branch that God expects to be fruitful, and in order to be fruitful, branches must be pruned. If I don't understand pruning, I'm going to be confused for the rest of my life. It'll look like God is doing great things in my life and I'm growing--and then all of a sudden there will be this snip! "God why did you do that? That was my best looking offshoot! It had great leaves on it.

Vines need drastic pruning to continue to be fruitful. The gardener will cut off 90 to 95 percent of a grapevine in pruning. Pruning hurts. There's no pruning without pain. But with pain there is the promise of greater fruit."

Does this at all sound familiar to you?

Well to me it does, as I stand in the sound room every Sunday and look out over the congregation I ask, "Where is everyone? What happened to all of the people that used to fill the seats every Sunday, where are all those that fought for what they felt were the right principles of our Church?

John 15 :5-8
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

So as I looked out over the congregation this morning I was personally encouraged, not only with the kids great Christmas program (Great job) but with a new outlook on the future of our local body.

We have a unique opportunity just waiting for us, there might be a little more pruning that has to be done but I am encouraged by the possibilities. Just image the bumper crop that could be brought in from the fields if we followed the instruction of the great Gardener.

I find that if I try to do something that I have never been taught to do correctly I usually end up with chaos on my hands and a very frustrated outlook on the overall project. If I ask someone with experience they will give me tips on the way that will make for a satisfying project.

So let's follow the guidelines of the Master, after all it is His Harvest that we are tending too.

One last quote that I found that expressed what I have felt so very often, only this time with a new view point.

"It all starts with intense pruning every fall of all diseased/damaged branches. If you're not sure how to prune, a good arborist can be very helpful; books are also a tree-mendous resource.

Any diseased or insect infested parts should be completely removed from your property or burned. Don't let the pests stick around!"

Any way just my thoughts---- for what it is worth.===Skid===