For as many years as we have lived at our home, the backdrop of our backyard was a brick wall covered in what seemed to be indestructible green ivy. Pretty low maintenance; all we ever had to do was trim it. The vines were never considered a true focal point, we just kind of took them for granted because they had been they so long.
When the great freeze came a few months back, the vines died and left their mark. The wall was now covered with brown, droopy, saggy foliage, still clinging effortlessly to the wall it once had embraced and adorned. Then one day, weeks later, I watched as our yardmen worked diligently to cut and peel off one 4x8 foot patch of dead vines at a time. It was a glimpse of what was behind the tattered vines. We had no idea that this transition would present a beautiful brick wall laid beneath the rubbish. It was simple, clean and a wonderful contrast to the remaining landscape.
Rubbish…how much rubbish have we allowed, and do we allow distractions to and situations to overshadow the blessings that God gives us each day? We all have patches of thoughts of anxiousness, selfishness, guilt, past sins, regrets, distrust, etc. that we allow to cling to our hearts and minds that seem to linger on our front burner. God has the power to renew us and give us new life and rid us of the distractions that take our eyes off of Him.
So often we unintentionally, and often times intentionally, shadow the beauty of God’s ultimate control of our lives with our own attempts to control situations that he allows in our lives. When we do this we choke out and shadow the beauty of His very presence. For he is the backdrop of love, grace, peace and power ….His greatest desire is for us to know him, rely on him, trust him and for us to serve him.
If we allow God to grow the vines (thoughts) of our lives he will prune the ones that are unhealthy . Soon new vine sprouts will begin to grow and climb about on the wall that supports them. Oh but what a blessing to get a glimpse of what lies beneath. Praise God for continuing to replace old vines, with new sprouts of fresh growth. And help us to be reminded that Christ is our wall of support .
May your vines grow rich and healthy with His fruits and through his grace. (Galatians 5:22-23) love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. And May God bless you this day with his strength and grace.
John 15 1-3 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
Praise God wherever you are or whatever situation he has allowed you to be in…. for HIS glory will shine through!
