Vine vs. Branch: Day 27

"When we forget and start thinking that we are the vine instead of the branch, we get stressed out, because that was a role we were never created to play." -Shook

How often have I been stressed out and never really knew how to get out of it. I know that this year I have been dealing with a lot of anxiety. I have created a lot of this because of finances and stresses around finances. Mainly because I am not relying on the Vine but trying to be the Vine. This is not to say that I don't have a part in it, but I live under a lot of condemnation that I just can't get us out of debt.

But pruning me back so I can produce fruit is exactly what is happening. Having to live frugally and poor is forcing us to evaluated what we really need to not only survive, but to live abundantly. Abundance in American Society is linked to quantity and not quality. This book is following close on the hills of a more recent read by Shelly and I called "Radical:Taking back your faith from the American Dream". And the pruning is never ending.

I am fully aware that we are headed to a Kingdom Lifestyle where abundance is defined in quality. Quality time, quality possessions, quality family, and quality bills. Yes, bills. How many things am I paying for right now that if I could go back I would say, "Why? Why did I even spend the money in the first place?"

So here is my Lifework for Day 27 in our countdown:

1. What keeps you from connecting to the Vine as your primary source of spiritual life?
ME!!! And I don't mean Maine (abbreviated ME). "I am the Vine and the Branches" seems to be my issue first and foremost. I am totally stressed about me finances because (a) I try got us in a lot of this financial debt because I try to be the supplier of all my needs and live under a lot of condemnation that I just can't do it. (b) I am still trying to get us OUT of what I feel I got us INTO; still trying to be the Vine. God is pruning the crap out of me. I am realizing that I can do without (you fill in the blank) and I can only pay what I have. The rest is up to the Vine to produce for our abundance.


2. How is your present preparing you for a more fruitful season?
Now is the hard part. I am often worried about being fruitful. Meaning, I want to be there now. But I believe that learning to live satisfied is going to play a great part in where we are in five years (random number there). Meaning, I believe we will be out of debts and in the middle of what God has for us to be doing. That said, I am hoping that this season of really evaluating what we need verses what we want, what we have verses what we need to get rid of, who I am verses who I wish I was. This last one is a weird twist. I mean, i often see myself serving God and then get under condemnation for where I am at, which turns to anxiety, anger and frustration. I need to just get over it and live where I am at, knowing that one day this to shall pass.

3. How are you doing in the areas of communication and confession?
Honestly, I communicate with God a lot. I pray often. But I need to improve in the listening area. My conversations tend to be one sided. Stinks, but true. I need to listen more and read the Word more faithfully so I can hear what God has to say. This is hte hard part for me.

So, there you have it. I am NOT the Vine, I am a branch. I must learn to "abide" in him for my future and my present.