Beautiful Growth Comes From Pruning

I saw my doctor this week.  I'm dealing with 10 side effects from the treatment I'm currently on.  She said the issues are normal, but that I seem to have the "mother load" of them. :(  That said, she also said that I'm looking good!  That's always nice to hear.  We are trying to lessen the side effects, and I'm praying that the treatment will be effective!!

Friday last week marked our 13th year since moving to South Africa!  Floyd was very moved when I mentioned this to him.  We love this nation, and its people. It's "home."  There are those who are leaving and moving elsewhere, but I'm glad God brought us here.  We continually pray for His Spirit to move in a mighty way.  When we moved to Cape Town we learned that there have been prophetic words spoken that God was bringing revival "from Cape Town to Cairo."  We pray that will be so! 

It was pouring with rain on Friday too.  We need the rain, so it was wonderful.  Several times when I looked out and saw the rain, and when I heard it beating on the roof - I felt my heart stirred for that to happen spiritually too.  I pray that God will bring the rain of His Spirit pouring onto this land. 

Special days like that always cause me to reflect.  For some reason my mind went to the day that our daughter Misha was born in Kabul, Afghanistan.  We were so excited to be having our child!  In the community of dropped out young people that we ministered to, many of them had never seen someone excited about having a baby.  In fact they had friends and loved ones who had had abortions.  For some, it took a while for them to join in our joy - but when they did, it was done whole heartedly.

Before she was born, Misha was affectionately called "Moses" in our community because we didn't know if we were having a boy or a girl.  But everyone rejoiced with us when our darling red-headed daughter was born.  She came into the world just after 5 a.m., and as soon as she let out her first cry - there was a huge shout of joy and clapping.  Only then did I find out that everyone in the house had been up all night praying for me and waiting for her birth.  Within a short while they were streaming into our room to see her and touch her fingers and toes.  It was such a joyous occasion.

From the day she was born, Misha was shared with the community.  Some of the young people we worked with weren't the most careful with personal hygiene.  I can remember being concerned (!!!) as she crawled all over the floor, pulled on the guy's beards, and sat on everyone's laps.  But God spoke so clearly into my heart that Misha was  a "gift" to us, and we were to share her and let Him minister His love through her.  More than one young person told us how God had used our little baby girl to bring healing to their hearts.

I think the thought that came to me as I was reflecting on this is that God has had His hand on us through all our years of married life that we would share our lives with those He has called us to.  It has been a privilege and a blessing.  Even now I feel it's a treasure to be able to share our unexpected journey with all of you through these posts.  I’m so thankful for all those who read them and pray for us.  They are part of the journey with us!  Floyd and I have always considered "people" to be our greatest treasure.  We're so thankful!

"I thank my God every time I remember you."  Philippians 1:3

"We can't help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing."  2 Thessalonians 1:3

"I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world."  Romans 1:8

"How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?"  1 Thessalonians 3:9

I'm so grateful for each one who has walked with us on this journey.  I’m thankful for the love and prayers.  May God bless each one!

At our home we have a brick wall along the street.  When we moved to this house, Floyd planted some small bougainvillea plants along the wall.  Now, all these years later, they are big, massive plants.

 A while ago I knew they needed to be trimmed back.  I had the man who helps me with our garden cut them - but he cut them much more extensively than I planned.  I actually wondered if he had overdone it and they would die.

But - wow!  They have "come back" more beautiful than ever.  I share a photo above.  They are stunningly gorgeous!  Cars stop and take photos.  Neighbours have sent me messages thanking me for them.  Yesterday I went out to check our mailbox and found people standing in the garden along the street taking photos and selfies.  Every time I see these flowers, I can't help but smile.  They are bringing such joy to me and to others.  

Well - you know me by now - so you can guess I'm getting a spiritual lesson and application from all this.  God continually speaks to me through His creation!   

So many, many times we go through trials, through pain, through suffering.  We wonder if it will "kill" us.  It seems harsh.  It feels like too much.  We wonder if we'll survive what's happened.

I can so relate to those thoughts.  I must confess that there have been days on this unexpected journey when I didn't know if I'd make it.  To say it's been "difficult" is too mild a word.  It has been severe!  I feel like everything in our lives has been drastically "trimmed."  I have no idea how we'll recover - what the future holds. 

And yet as I've looked at these gorgeous flowers - my faith is strengthened.  Fresh hope has sprung up in my heart.  I know there is beauty to come.  It may only be in eternity - but good, beautiful, wondrous growth will come into our lives from this time of being "cut back."  My trust in what God has for us is renewed once again.

I'm so grateful for the lesson of these flowers.  I've told Floyd what a gift and blessing they have been to our neighbourhood.  From those few small plants has come such life and beauty - even after being cut back!

"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 15:2

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."  James 1:2-4

"Jesus replied, 'You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.'"  John 13:7

"We also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope."  Romans 5:3,4

"We went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance."  Psalm 66:12

"For in Him we live and move and have our being."  Acts 17:28

The hard times don't last forever.  It may seem that way! :)  But the times goes by eventually to a new season.  One of the things that has kept me sane is to look for the "good" in this particular season.  It's there!  I may have to search a bit, but so much good has come from this journey.

And I'm comforted that He goes before me in every trial, every pain.  He delivers us according to His will and purpose for our lives.  God let us walk this journey because He knew that, with His help, we'd make it through.  I hold onto that.  Sometimes all I can do is take a deep breath, hold onto His hand, and trust Him!  He's always faithful!