Pruning

John 15:1-2 “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.”

Do you see what this verse is saying? For me, this verse is telling me that the Lord will cut away at the things that are not producing fruit in my life (time wasters), while strengthening those things that do (prayer, worship, study) by trimming away and developing them.

Recently, I began feeling highly convicted about where I was spending my time. (I know, I know, I’ve blogged about time-wasters in the past) How do you know conviction? When you start feeling a tug like, “maybe, i shouldn’t be doing that.” That, my friends, is the Holy Spirit. Our teacher while we remain on this Earth — but that’s another blog.

I began noticing the amount of time I was spending on my iPhone and computer….and even more specifically Facebook. When I was sitting on the floor playing with my kids, I’d pick up my phone. At red lights, I’d pick up my phone. When waiting in a Dr office (holding a baby no less), checking my phone. At home cleaning, swing by my computer. Always checking for updates.

Updates of what, I began to ask, of what other people were doing? Why was I so obsessed? Why do I care? Frankly, and I’m sure many of you can relate, a lot of those people I either hardly know or haven’t seen in ten years. Why was this important to me?

Then I started realizing what I was saying in my home. I’d put off requests from my son to do what *I* was wanting to do. When he asked me one day, “are you finished with that email?” “are you emailing someone?” I realized very quickly what my words and actions were telling my son. My computer, my emails, my phone were more important than him. What was I showing my daughter by playing tea party with one hand and texting with the other. Or texting/facebooking when she was crawling all over me. Judge away, I’m being honest and I’m almost certain I am not alone in this.

Having already been feeling convicted, yesterday I went to MOPS and this questions was posed, “How do you want to be remembered?” My fruit?? Do I want to be remembered as a mom that put her kids aside to finish and email? Do I want my kids to look back and think I was always on the phone or with a computer in my lap?? NO! Absolutely not! I want to be remembered as the mom danced around the room, had tea parties, played dress-up and made unbelievable forts. I want to be the woman who teaches her children the ways of the Lord through her actions. These times will pass quickly, what am I doing??

Also, there was a frustration factor. Something I did not expect and I don’t think it effected me too much, just a side note to all of this. Internally there were times where I was pricked. Envious of someone getting to go out and I’m stuck home alone with my kids. Coveting the new car or house someone bought. Then thinking why we couldn’t have those things yet. Some of my friends annoyed me and I was thriving off of being annoyed.
None of this is healthy.

I came home yesterday with such a heavy heart. I knew where God was pruning me. This wasn’t the first time. I was pruned before over the amount of time I was spending reading novels and reading celebrity gossip. I didn’t like it, but I knew it was good. So, I logged out. On my phone and on my computer. I even moved the app on my phone so that I wouldn’t see it as often.

Then I thought, well, I’ll log out all day and allow myself FB time in the evenings. Well, how many nights have I wasted doing that? Sitting on the computer in front of the TV?? Where is the eternal value?? Nope. ALL THE WAY! This isn’t just a Facebook thing. It’s a computer and iPhone thing too. My computer will now reside on the desk in the office. Sure, for recipes and occasionally it will go away, but I feel that I need it out of the way of my everyday life. Same with the iPhone. I’m putting a password on it so when I pick it up out of habit and for random use, I’ll have to log in. It’s such a great reminder each time to: do i really need to be doing what I’m about to do??

I’m not going to lie. I have picked up my phone several times and seen that log-in screen, but now it serves as a reminder as to my main goal, pressing on toward Christ. I’m also going to say, this isn’t a forever goodbye, its a pruning. I’m learning where my weaknesses are and addressing them. I will come back on and post someday, but I know it won’t be to the obsession level it was at.

And what will I do with my time (instead of writing long blogs about it)? I’ll spend more with my kids, my housework (which was also falling to the wayside), serving my husband and, most importantly, with my Lord. {By the way, moms, you are serving the Lord when you are spending that time with your children. } Clearing away time wasters is to make more time for the Lord. To learn and grow. To remain on the vine, grow and produce much fruit.

And let me say this, this is my personal conviction. I’m not saying we should all abandon ship (like you’d even listen), I’m just wanting to bring the awareness of where are you spending your time? Where is God wanting to prune YOU?? Are you willing to make the change? This is not a look-at-how-Holy-I-am blog…this is I am learning…I am growing…We are to encourage each other in the things of God. (Eph 5:11 Encourage one another and build each other up..”) I want to encourage you and I want you, in turn, to encourage me. Hold me accountable, PLEASE.

Much love today…. His love, of course!
((Oh my word, I just realized I dealt with on the purning and not the bearing of good fruit!! Please read those scriptures in John 15:1-8 its all so good! Maybe another blog???))