Here on Earth we are created with a purpose and a plan. How cool is it to know that way before you were even born, God knew you would be here, and He knew exactly how your story would play out. He knew the person you would have lunch with today, and the exact conversation you would have with them; what an amazing God we serve.

A lot of times we make plans. A lot of times plans fail. A lot of times we become hopeless when things don't go our way. Fortunately, all of the time, God knows just what He is doing in our life and those things He doesn't allow to happen. He knows how this broken branch hindered you and He sees just how much you will soon flourish in life once it has completely diminished into the soil.

If you were to ask me, I would consider the broken branch to be something that has been cut off in your life: plans, work, people, etc... and the soil is your heart, your past. The place your broken branch dwindled as it perished. The place you hold the memories, and the lessons. The place where you know you are better because of that branch, but you understand that it just wasn't for you. The place you became stronger.

One of the many things I love about the bible is the fact that I can always relate to the stories in some way even though they took place thousands of years ago. It is such a reminder that the Lord is the same today as He was yesterday, and so many years past. Today, I ran across the story of the vine. God, the vine, challenges you, the branch, to bear fruit, honorable things in the name of Jesus Christ. He challenges you to live for the Lord in all you say and do, and to abide in Him. As I began reading, I recognized the reality of this passage.

"Every branch in Me, that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit." - John 15:2

How fascinating. Have you ever lost something? Something that meant a lot to you... Have you ever thought of the way that "thing" impacted you? Did it make you a better person? Did it bear fruit?

For me, it really didn't. Of course, it did have it's pros, but did they really outweigh the cons? Absolutely not. Thankfully, God saw that. He saw what that branch was doing to me, and He loved me enough to break it. He saw the pain I endured, and He cured it. He saw what it was going to do to me, and He stopped it. He took away that branch, and replaced it with a new one, one that blossomed with good, sweet fruit.

Today, I am rejoicing in broken branches. I rejoice because they save. They save from longterm hurt, and replace with short-term hurt. I am grateful because my Father loves me so, He broke the branch. The one months ago, last week, and the one next month. How grateful am I for a God of second chances, and more branches; branches that bear fruit, and ones that He continues to prune.

"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me, you can do nothing." John 15:5