Welcoming Autumn - Dying to Self

I shutter and pull my sweater tightly around me. At first encounter the crisp morning air takes my breath away. It feels good. I find healing in the turning leaves. My body is aching for a rest while my soul is ready for a revival.

I yearn to cast aside my old self but I am still hesitant to accept the pain it involves.

I am being pruned and it hurts.

 The Master is hard at work and I must surrender.

It is time for me to stop looking back at my old dreams. 

I must turn my focus forward and take the next step.

It is time to move on.

But how?

I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 

I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 

My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.   

John 15:1-11