Good, Better, Best

Yesterday I was watering my flowers and decided to clear out the weeds in my flower bed. I was noticing that they start so small but left unattended they grow tall and spread out. Eventually the one small weed will multiply and occupy over the top of my beautiful flowers. Then it sticks out and makes everything look ugly!

I was thinking about my quiet times with God. There are many things that we love to do with our time; activities with or for the kids, dates with friends, helping out at school, community service, working part time, helping out at church. The list goes on and on until most of my waking hours are consumed with activity and time with the Lord is a mere after thought. They are all excuses really, if you want to know the truth. I just have my priorities all in the wrong order. All of the good things in life might be causing me to miss the best!!!

A very dear lady once gave me a perfect word picture of this concept. You have a beautiful watering can, ceramic painted with wildflowers. This represents my life. I continue to pour out my energy and my life into the lives of others. There will come a time when the watering can is empty. Without time with the Lord, worship and solitude, pouring living water back into my life, I will face burnout until eventually I have nothing more to offer anyone.

John 15 is clearly a picture of life with the Father. "I am the vine (Jesus), 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". Vs. 1-2 I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing! Vs. 5 How do we remain in Jesus, by spending time in His Word and prayer. Without Him, we will not be used of Him to our maximum potential and eventually He will do His part in pruning our life so we will be useful.

If we do good things in our own power and strength, can you imagine how we could change the world if we had the power of the Father working through us to impact others????