“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)

Dear Partners and Prayer Warriors,

 I think we can all say with certainty, that at one time or another; we have all had our spiritual fruit squeezed so hard we honestly thought there was nothing left to squeeze out! It has been our experience that when fruit is being squeezed, it is God who is allowing it to happen in order to grow and mature us for our good and to His Glory. These fruit squeezing seasons make our flesh want to scream, to lash out, and to get justification if not revenge and it makes us want to retaliate. It tries to mess with our integrity as Christians, our forgiveness walk and all that we stand for as a Christian. It feels like an all-out attack! During this time we sometimes cannot see the spiritual warfare because we have already allowed our souls to take first place over our spirit-man, who is one with Christ.  We no longer think straight because we are now out of the order God set.

The beginning of one particular fruit squeezing week began on a Sunday afternoon and ended on the following Friday morning with a dream.  In my dream I was in my bedroom and the furniture was too big, the room too small and I couldn’t walk around easily. Also, there were some curtains attached to the wall but not covering any windows; they were out of place and the draw cord for these curtains was broken.

As I shared with Doug, the events of this dream, the Lord began to show him what the dream meant: The bedroom being too small, the furniture too big and me not being able to move around represented that there were some things in my life that did not fit anymore and the curtains with the broken cord represented things that needed to be removed. They were broken and had no use, therefore didn’t belong. As I was listening and pondered over what Doug said it rang true within my spirit. I began to ask God why and what was it all about? Three times during this week I had encountered experiences that had nothing to do with me and yet I was on the receiving end of another’s thoughts and emotions about someone else. God was testing me to see if I could do and be what I continually ask for: “Father teach me to love others as You love me.”

In the process of me trying to get my heart right and my spirit man back in first place, God showed me what doesn’t fit in my life anymore, how to set and keep new boundaries and what to take to the garbage and close the lid. My fruit squeezing week was all about pruning me, taking off what is not bearing good fruit so that I can grow and mature to the next place God is leading me and all the while keeping my love walk intact. I must say that it was not easy feat. I picked up offenses for others, I wanted to defend what wasn’t mine to defend and I was angry!

Doug and I want you to celebrate your Dad’s special day and Independence Day coming up soon this month and in July. We are going to take a small sabbatical to get prayed up and recharged. Thank you all for everything you do for us as prayer warriors and financial partners. We cannot do this nor would we want to without you. Thank you for being a part of this wonderful journey with us. We love you and on a side note:  Guard your heart and protect your fruit!

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