Pastor John,
I started listening to the “Leaking Vessels” cd this morning. I haven’t gotten that far, but have already gotten so much out of it!
Yesterday when I texted you, I was feeling so overwhelmed in my job! But I knew I needed peace and patience. I was given an important task; however, I could not do my part until someone else had done theirs, and they were not in any hurry. Everything in my flesh wanted to control the situation to get it moving. I started feeling very overwhelmed, helpless, and very anxious! I sent you that text and then took a walk to the restroom. I just wanted to get alone with Jesus, if only for a minute.
When I came back to my office, I knew there was nothing I could do; it was out of my hands. I kept hearing, “Relax. Do what you can do, and when the time comes, you can do your part.” So, with Jesus help, I began to slowly relax, work on other things and eventually, after others had done what they needed to do, it was time for me to work on what needed to be done.
This morning as I was listening to the cd, it stood out to me, that you said, “We’re
supposed to know things that people don’t know and to conduct ourselves in a way that people can’t conduct themselves without the knowledge of the truth. When the word of God abides in us, we behave the way people cannot behave who don’t know the truth. It means something to have faith in God, to trust God with what you hear and what you see. I believe God puts in front of you what you need to see. I believe everything that is spoken to you, you need to hear. He tries your heart every moment.”
That was so good to me! What happened yesterday in my office was from God. Not only is He watching, but others around me are watching, too. I’m so thankful He helped me through it! I hope that next time it comes around, I’m quicker to let go of the control and the anxious feelings, and hold tighter to the peace that He has given to me. I’m thankful for the situations he puts me in! Sometimes, it doesn’t feel so hot at the moment, but I’m thankful for it!
I can’t wait to hear the rest of the CD and to see what else Jesus has waiting for me!
Michelle
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Hi, John.
I listened to the leaking vessel CD yesterday, while I was viewing the list of folks who are not here with us anymore. There are some who have lived faithfully and gone on with the Lord. There are just a few cases where they had to put out from the body in order for the body to not be damaged (further). But as I was listening to the CD, you were preaching how that a branch must bear fruit. If a branch does not bear fruit then it is cut off from the tree and burned in the fire. And if we do bear fruit, then those branches will be pruned so that the tree and branches will bear more fruit.
As I was listening further, I read all of the names on the list that had quit. It was sad because we know and love these people, and at one time we have had fellowship with most of them. As I was reading the names, the Spirit was saying in my heart, “This is what happens when there is no longer any fruit developing.” It made me feel sad and fearful of the Lord because I know that God is not a respecter of persons, nor does it matter how long you have been around. On the list were young people, adults, and a few older ones. It may say “quit” besides their names, but actually they have been pruned from us so that we can bear more peaceable fruits of righteousness. It wasn’t their choice to leave the tree. They may have said, “I quit” in their hearts, but the Spirit may have said, “Cut that branch away!”
I remember helping to prune Bob’s grapes. I thought I was pruning them back enough, but Bob came behind some of us and pruned the branches even more. I said to myself, “How in the world can they live?” But they did, and they will produce grapes this year. Bob does this every year. He doesn’t take a year off, or he will not get the yield that pruning produces. I pray that I bear good fruit, but I pray the more that I endure God’s pruning. There is a season for pruning.
This CD is a treasure! No wonder Sheila didn’t want to let it go.
Love always,
Billy