A quiet heart

A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. - Mark 4:37, 38 NIV

How could Jesus be so oblivious to the storm that raged around him when he and his disciples were in danger of drowning? He was asleep, of all things. The answer is simple. He knew who was in charge of everything, even the wind and the waves of the sea. He could sleep in peace because he knew his Father watched over him.
   What are the storms in our lives? We probably aren't in danger of drowning in the middle of a lake in a storm, but we may be in danger of drowning in another sense. What has consumed us? Maybe we may have too many irons in the fire and we don't know how we can ever get everything accomplished. Everything seems to be going wrong, just when we don't have time for anything else.

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A little pruning

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 bears

Fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.

John 15:1, 2 NASB

I was in my flower garden recently deadheading my roses. They were beautiful this year, the three bushes almost solid with clusters of red blooms. Little by little the flowers began to fade, the petals dropped, and all that was left were the unsightly remains. I know before long the shrubs will once again be covered with bright red roses, but first I had to get rid of all the spent ones. With pruning shears in hand I tackled the job. It wasn’t easy, and my back soon began to ache as I leaned over and clipped off all the dead blossoms.

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