The Simple Life at Home

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."

Colossians 2:6-7

I have to admit I've had a hard go of it this past month. Moving to a new country (heck, a new continent) and leaving behind everything I knew has been difficult to say the least.

But God, in His grace, has given me some insight and, hopefully, a little wisdom. I understand now part of His reasoning for bringing me here to Doha. Or at least, a way that He is using it for my good, as He promises in Romans 8.

I've entered a season of pruning. While this is painful, it's often necessary for believers to have unnecessary growth cut away. And in our fast-paced American society, there is plenty of unnecessary growth to go around.

The Gospels are replete with instances of Jesus using parables and analogies that use gardening to teach. One real-life example for me is the grapevine my father-in-law planted at our first home.

It started off as just a stick. It looked dead to me. He had brought it from his home in Jordan (shh - don't tell customs!). When he told me he was going to plant this dead stick in my yard, I politely smiled and inwardly rolled my eyes.

But wouldn't you know it, that stick soon sprouted leaves and tendrils and, in time, grew into a beautiful vine. Much in the same way that we, who are dead in our transgressions, are miraculously transformed into living spiritual beings, alive in Christ. Over time, we grow and spread and provide shade and respite to those around us.

But what we didn't know was that to get fruit, the vine must be pruned. All those beautiful vine and branches, while looking really, really good, can actually hinder the production of fruit. We never did get any grapes from the vine, just a lot of prettiness.

I've come to believe that that is the place I was in. Lots of stuff that looked good on paper - Bible study leader, homeschool group leadership committee, children's ministry worker, youth worker, church bookstore manager, women's ministry committee, VBS leader. All of it really good and worthy.

And none of it really having an impact on my heart. None of it really producing much fruit.

So God, in His wisdom, took all that out of my life. He has stripped me to the bare bones of just being a wife and mother.

So today I'm grateful that God is the true vinedresser. That He knows which branches to trim and which to leave. (I'm happy to report that the children did NOT get into the private school, so we will continue to homeschool them.) I'm grateful that He loves me enough to take me out of my comfort zone and force me to grow and bear fruit, even when I was quite happy to stay at the shallow, superficial level I was at.

I'm grateful that I know enough to trust Him. I'm grateful that He hasn't brought me to the point of utter despair. I'm grateful that He has given me joy in this process and I don't even mind it now that I understand it.

I'm grateful that God is good.

"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." John 15:1-2

Please be sure to visit Iris at Sting My Heart to see more Thankful Thursday posts. It's so encouraging to read story after story of what God is doing in people's lives.