a branch among a vine.

          Explaining my life right now is something I may have trouble doing, although I would like to try.  I may even be writing this post just so that I can observe my own life.  I will start off by stating that the pruning process of a relationship with Jesus Christ is painful, peaceful and joyful. It almost makes no sense that those adjectives can all describe the same thing. Though, it is true.
          I feel as though I am seeing more "layers" of my character than ever before; some of these layers are very ugly and through the Holy Spirit I am working on "throwing out" ugly traits. The painful adjective of this process is when you really see a flaw in your character and at moments it is immediately following a conversation or comment you made to, about or with someone. It pierces when you say or do something you truly wanted to have no part with. The other painful part of being "pruned" is that when you see a flaw you know you have to do something about it and when you don't it is like a wall you cannot see past.
        To explain why this is process is also peaceful is something I'm not sure everyone can or will relate to, though I hope you can.  It can be peaceful because I am seeing God work in, through and around me.  The only reason I am seeing my character flaws, or sins, is because God is allowing me to.  He is allowing me to see them so that I may walk away from the sins and live a more abundant life, for His glory. If I was not convicted for the sins in my life then I would have no proof of the Holy Spirit being at work.  I see it as God not letting go of me and caring enough to show me a more joyful life.
          I am grateful for my God and so happy to see Him at work in my life and I want to never do anything other than make him famous.

"when Satan came knocking with temptation... I sent Jesus to answer the door."

-unknown

the truth will set you free.

"And, while it is true that the mind and the heart are mutually enlivening, it is also clear that the mind is mainly the servant of the heart. That is, the mind serves to know the truth that fuels the fires of the heart."

-John Piper from "Think"