Watering my Soul & Pruning my Life

Every morning I sit in my room at the desk and begin reading the Word of God. I never know what journey He may take me on, or the level of intensity. Some days it’s a pretty laid back conversation with God, other days God has me rooting deep within my heart to discover something that needs tending to, and some days he has me get out the lopper and lop a few dead branches. Life’s a struggle when you’re carrying too much. After I have my bible study and cup or two of java at Mother’s house, make sure she is ready to face the day, I head next door to my house to try and accomplish at least “something” productive. Along the way I pass my flowers (see below) and pick off the dead blooms from the petunias, check on the production of 7 tomato blooms from the plants I planted in a bucket and weed any thing from the bed that doesn’t belong.

My Flower Garden!

My Flower Bed 🥰

Last week I literally wore myself down to a frazzle taking on my Mother’s roses. She has long been a rose garden queen, but since the onset of dementia and the inability to walk any distance, the roses had been left unattended. Every time she looked outside it made her sad. So I took a pair of snippers and went to work… in 98 degree heat. Not my smartest move. But I got the roses nearly done, and a wisteria vine uncovered that had been taken over by a wild grapevine; and though I was exhausted beyond description I felt accomplished.

Mother’s Rose Garden

Mother’s 🌹 Rose Garden

I have a feeling that is how God feels after one of our morning pruning sessions in His word. Exhausted!

In John 15:1-5 KJV
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. [2] Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. [3] Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. [4] Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. [5] I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

It broke my heart a little to cut some of the branches on Mother’s rose bushes, because among the dead flowers and limbs was also a few leaves with life still in them. But in order to get rid of the branches that were sucking the life giving juice away from the other flowers yet to bloom, I had to get rid of the dead and the dying. Oh, I could easily see the spiritual application in my life. Not everything that was a “little pretty,” was fruitful in the life of Shari. What about you? Are there things in your life that are sucking the life out of you?

For you and I both, it’s time for us to get out the spiritual snippers and loppers and lop off what is draining us.

My morning time in the word waters my soul. But all the water in the world won’t serve its purpose if we’re just drinking it in and yet allowing the dead and dying to steal its nourishment. We have to make cuts. God clearly showed me that if I was not being nourished by it, I needed to get rid of it. I think a lot of our conversation was the manner for which I have been taking care of my health. But. God created me to teach the word, encourage the brethren and minister for Jesus.

Another thing that I have learned from staying with my Mother is that she too waters my soul. I love waiting on her, cutting her sandwiches in little triangles and making her “pretty desserts” and then listening to her oooo and ahhh over how pretty it is. She genuinely appreciates every “little” thing I do. At 89, she’s taking nothing for granted and she lets me know what I do is appreciated. It may only be words, but it’s probably the greatest gift I’ve received from her in my 62 years. Encouragement.

I don’t have (or don’t make) time for many things I want to do. Because right now, my priority is with her. But as I pruned those branches I realized that there are some things that I can cut out of my life that are not healthy. What I also realized was; there was some foreign things that would grow up into the plants and take over. Satan cannot have the soul of a child of God, but he can make them miserable. He can shine up a tin can and make it look like a silver goblet, convincing you that this is the cup you need to drink from for a blessing. And the simple cup of fellowship with the Lord and His people sets on the counter going to waste because you’re drinking from a nasty tin can. That analogy just made me want to puke. I’ve drank out of way too many tin cans thinking it was a cup of privilege, opportunity, blessing… when in actuality it was meant to get my eyes off the roots that I have been grounded in Christ with, and letting some weed or tree take over.

I think that’ll preach!!!! If you preach it, send me the sermon ‘cause I need to hear it. Here’s an up-close pic of Momma’s rose. Isn’t it pretty? I hope it blesses you.

My Bible Journaling This Morning 😀