Looking for New Fruit

My mind is flying around this morning as fast and furious as the snow falling outside my window. The storm my knee threatened on Friday showed up today, and it looks more like a spring storm in the accumulation. I am thankful it didn't snow on Saturday--when I had to go shopping--or yesterday--when it would have been a convenient excuse to miss church. But I don't look forward to stepping outside and cleaning off my car, hoping the ground isn't slick.

But you know what? I'll be okay. I decided yesterday that I need to stop treating myself like an invalid. It's also okay, and welcome relief, that I no longer brood over Jolene quite so much. I will still hurt and grieve, and I'm sure fresh waves of grief will come--but for now, today, I think of her with a sigh and a sob, and go on to the next thing.

Yesterday, our minister of education preached from John 15. The second verse jumped out at me: Every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.

2008 was definitely a time of pruning. I felt encouraged that God wouldn't prune me if I wasn't bearing fruit (in that case, He would cut me off.) So it's time for me to consider "what does God want for me?" Consider the various projects I outlined on January 1st.

A lady at church asked me if I wanted to join the group that sings at a local nursing home on Thursdays. My first reaction was no. Mornings are my time to write.

But ... didn't I say I wanted to give back to people at nursing and rehab centers? Is God opening a door I said I wanted to walk through?

Our church is collecting items for an alternative pregnancy center. I had wanted to reach out to single mothers. Does God want me to donate some of my devotional books for single moms?

Pray for wisdom and a willing heart as opportunities come. And pray for faithfulness in the commitments I make.

But for now ... back to pushing through the revisions to my 3rd mystery, Paint Me a Puzzle.