So I have been outside pulling weeds and not just any weeds but the thorny,poky kind. It isn't fun! But God showed me a really cool analogy while I was out there slaving away at it.

2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Weeds are not fun to pull out. If any of you have ever done it you know what I mean. You have to get at the root of the weed or what do you think will happen? It will grow right back and multiply to boot. My dear husband helped me out two weeks ago and pulled weeds but as I was out there today I discovered that he left the weeds sitting in the landscaping. Did you know that thorny weeds hurt even when they are dead and dried up. No, the only way to really get rid of thorny weeds is to lay them out on the cement and let the sun dry them up and then throw them away. God showed me that this is exactly how it is with our sin. He wants to pull it up by the root and get rid of it. But far too often we only allow him to pull the head up. Not allowing Him to get to the root only allows the sin to come back again and then multiply. I have been guilty of this. God will bring something up, a sin or an issue that he wants to yank out of my life for good so that I will be a new creation and be more like Him but no, I only allow the head to go.

Recently I had a disagreement with a dear friend of mine. This disagreement was painful but in the process God revealed some sin issues in my own life that he was wanting to pull out by the roots. I have chosen to have him remove it from the root so I never have to deal with it again. Well actually two issues came up.  One for me personally and the other for all of us involved. Gossip was at the root of the problem and God did rip that one up from the root at least in my own life. He has shown me scripture upon scripture that talks about how gossip destroys and it ought not to be a part of our conversations. It destroyed several relationships recently and if we can come out on the other side better for it then so be it, it will have been worth the pain of the pulling.

The second one was for me...

James 1:19-21

¹⁹My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, ²⁰for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. ²¹Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

My friend pointed out that I am quick to speak and slow to listen when confronted. I have been seeking God on this and asking for revelation to it. I have been pouring over Proverbs. There are too many to list here but here are a couple that absolutely rocked me to the core of my soul.

Prov:14:29
A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly.
Prov: 15:18
A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel.
Prov: 25:28
Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.

Ouch I tell you..I want to be a patient woman, not one who displays folly or stirs up dissension. I want to have self-control it is after all a fruit of the Spirit.
Gal. 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

So see, when God rips out the thorny weed, he doesn't just leave it on the ground to dry out, he replaces it with beautiful fruit. I am grateful for this disagreement with my friend although it still hurts I know that God wanted to rip out some thorny weeds in my life and replace them with fruit. His fruit, the fruit of the Spirit which brings life. He also revealed to me that at the heart of this issue is control. Not really that I need to have control over people, but control over my own hurt. I am quick to speak to be in control so that no one will be able to hurt me. If I am in control of the conflict then they can't hurt me. This often comes across as me being harsh or overbearing but the truth is it is a defense mechnism. This doesn't make it right but it is at the heart of my lack of self-control with my tongue. It isn't that I say bad words but I am strong and getting my point across. Funny how I want to be in control of the conflict and yet the Word of God says that I am lacking self-control. I am sure my friend has weeds to the the Lord wants to bring up by the root but it is not up to me to show her those weeds. That is God's and His alone. I will however pray for revelation for her and for true, humble reconciliation for us. I don't think that it pleases God when we hold unforgiveness or resentfulness against one another. I have forgiving any offense I might have experienced and pray she can and will do the same. I am grateful for the truth being revealed and for my other, wise and dear friend, who was kind enough to help me see myself in truth.

I truly want to be a new creation. One with patience and self-control. One who is wise and full of knowledge and speaks with wisdom and self-control. Lacking in folly and dissension.

So how about you? What weeds does God want to pull forever out of you life? Has he tried to pull them out before and you have only allowed the head therefore allowing it to grow back again? Can you ask God today to reveal to you the weeds in your life that He wants to pull out and replace with a fruit of the Spirit? I pray that you can.

Dear Lord, Thank you so much for your love, grace and mercy. Thank you for revealing to me the deep rooted thorny weed that needed to be pulled out by you. Lord I do pray that I have allowed you to get to the root of it and removed it from me. Thank you for replacing it with your Fruit of the Spirit. I pray that you would reveal any other weeds that may need to be plucked out of my life. Lord as much as it hurt, thank you for the disagreement with my friend. It brought out weeds that needed to be pulled. I pray for healing and reconciliation for our friendship. Thank you that you love us both enough to die on the cross for us. Your salvation is life giving to me. Your grace and mercy are amazing and awesome to me. I love you. Amen!

Wow! It has been quite an emotional rollercoaster ride this week. I must say that I am grateful for the friends I have and the Pastor that I have. They have lovingly helped me get through it and now I can see the light at the end of this tunnel.

I will be down for the rest of the day. I am rearranging my living room so no internet until the husband comes home with a new cable. Talk to you tomorrow maybe.


*Edit*

I am done with the living room and my husband just hooked me back up. I am ready to go.

The room looks fantastic. I love it. I should have taken before and after pictures.