{"id":2946,"date":"2017-10-30T11:41:13","date_gmt":"2017-10-30T11:41:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.theprodigalpig.com\/?p=2946"},"modified":"2017-10-30T12:20:14","modified_gmt":"2017-10-30T12:20:14","slug":"2946","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.theprodigalpig.com\/?p=2946","title":{"rendered":"Pruning Time"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Me: \u00a0Who is your friend there?<\/p>\n

Prodigal: \u00a0He is the GREATEST wrestler in the whole wide world.<\/p>\n

Me: \u00a0Who says that?<\/p>\n

Prodigal: \u00a0He tells me that all the time.<\/p>\n

Me: \u00a0If he keeps pattin’ himself on the back, he’s goin’ to break his arm.<\/p>\n

Prodigal: \u00a0Maybe we should just focus on Christ.<\/p>\n

Me: \u00a0I agree!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This is from the book Overcoming Spiritual Blindness by James P. Gills, M.D.<\/p>\n

Referring to the analogy at hand, either to prevent or to bring us out of spiritual backsliding, the Father continually prunes our branch. \u00a0The vinedresser sometimes cuts a branch vigorously in order to encourage fruitfulness. \u00a0This pruning means that God brings painful experiences into our lives to make us seek Him more earnestly. \u00a0And those who are already bearing fruit are pruned so they may bear even more fruit. \u00a0In times of suffering you often have nothing else to hold to other than this reality. \u00a0Through the pruning, you will come to a new awareness, as the prodigal son did, and seek greater communion with Christ. \u00a0He “grafts” us into Him so that we can draw life from Him. \u00a0This fellowship with Christ gives us the strength to persevere and grow, and to rejoice in the midst of our trials.<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When life goes down that path that looks like a dead end. \u00a0Do we turn from our Father? \u00a0Or do we praise Him knowing that even with a path of suffering he can bring sunshine and a blessing.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Romans 8:28<\/p>\n

And we know all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jennifer Van Allen<\/p>\n

www.theprodigalpig.com<\/p>\n

www.faithincounseling.org<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Me: \u00a0Who is your friend there? Prodigal: \u00a0He is the GREATEST wrestler in the whole wide world. Me: \u00a0Who says that? Prodigal: \u00a0He tells me that all the time. Me: \u00a0If he keeps pattin’ himself on the back, he’s goin’ to break his arm. Prodigal: \u00a0Maybe we should just focus on Christ. 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