The Lemon Drop Tree
He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful. (John 15:2)
I bought a lemon drop tree one year when the Lord spoke to me through the old song, “Somewhere Over the rainbow.” I had added it to my set list for varying ministry events and it became a gentle favorite of mine with Christ.
I noticed this week there is one huge limb that keeps growing higher than the rest but there are no leaves or blooms on it.
I thought to myself, “I need to cut that limb back…”
So often, Jesus speaks to us in His word about pruning. He is such the Master Gardener. Like other plants (and people,) my little lemon drop treasure wasn’t becoming all it was capable of being.
Yes, it’s still growing…but it’s just a branch with no leaves or fruit on it. No beauty at all. Likely, it’s scavenging resources from the flowering branches and costing the whole bush energy and nutrients.
We are no different. Whatever isn’t bearing fruit He will cut off. Whatever is bearing fruit He may also prune so it will bear more fruit. Abundant fruit.
I have to tell you that a certain seasonal pruning that included a multiple branch cutting, were as painful as they can come for me. But Christ had a new set of fruit to cultivate in me that I didn’t even know was there.
I’ve learned His pruning season isn’t out of punishment but out of love and even Heavenly vision. I would have stayed focused on one area of ministry had God not cut the branches back. Some things He removed completely for a season, and others are still gone to this day.
What I do know is this. I’m still learning to be that pliable vessel holding everything loosely. The Lord gives and He takes away. It is true. But when I surrendered my life to Him…I assured Him that He could have control of everything.
Only He knows what He planted in you and me. Every season will require a pruning of sorts. Some more than others. But He sees who He designed and whether or not we are living the life He designed us to live.
Every inch of us was created to move forward the Kingdom of God. To bring light into the darkness. To exalt Christ and make Him known.
This is our duty. Our call.
If you are in a pruning season, may you hear Him gently whisper that He is for you and not against you. May you catch beautiful glimpses of all He has in store for you and may you be courageous enough to move forward even after a cutting season. He knows it can be painful but He promises to use it all for good and His glory.
Let me leave you with a verse from one of my favorite songs ever…
Someday I’ll wish upon a star
Wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where trouble melts like lemon drops
High above the chimney top
That’s where you’ll find me, oh
Wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where trouble melts like lemon drops
High above the chimney top
That’s where you’ll find me, oh
Somewhere over the rainbow, blue birds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Oh why, oh why can’t I?
Birds fly over the rainbow
Oh why, oh why can’t I?
You really can fly with Jesus…dreams with Him really can come true. Yet, it may take a bit of pruning here and there to FLY HIGHER & HIGHER.
So, don’t give up little lemon drop. You can trust His heart for you.
And one day when we are called home and our job here is done, every trouble and dark cloud will melt away like a lemon drop…
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