lately...

For some reason, everything has been bothering me lately. I can't put my finger on it, but I have been experiencing all different emotions this week: sad, mad, happy, overwhelmed, frustrated, excited, discontent, annoyed! But usually I can just by-pass all these emotions and go with the flow; this week I can't. So here is what is helping me get through it:

"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; and 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." ~John 15:1-5

I could go on and on about how these 5 verses have held my heart this week, but the bottom line is my father is pruning me and I must trust him and abide in him!

The OT frequently uses the vineyard or vine as a symbol for Israel, God's covenant people, especially in two “vineyard songs” in Isaiah. However, Israel's failure to produce fruit resulted in divine judgment. Jesus, by contrast, is “the true vine,” and his followers abide in him and produce fruit.

What Jesus is saying here is that we as believers can not sit still, we must be pruned daily and that is what he is doing with my emotions this week...pruning them! I think it's pretty normal to feel all these different emotions but it's all in the way we handle them. I can't let my emotions control my decisions or abilities but rather I must trust in my God and act on truth...not react to emotions!

If you read this say a little pray for my "pruning" this week and that I would abide in HIM and not my emotions!