John 15:2 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.
I guess you could say that is how I would some up my last eight months in Taiwan. It seems like everything that I thought was good in me, God has stripped away. “He has taken away all of my pride in the things that I thought I could do well, and said These things are nothing to me”. “Sarah, I am more interested in your Holiness than you are, and I want to strip away everything that you lean on and look to as who you are”. “I want you to see who you are in me, and how I see you”. “I want you to see what I want to make you”. Sometimes I fell just like an onion with so many layers that God wants to peal back and discard. He wants to get to the good part of me, and discard all of the things that are not worth anything. Yet He is a kind Father who is willing to gently open my eyes to all that needs to be changed.
Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use? Romans 9 God has the right to tear me down in order to build me up in Him.
This past week has been a vacation week for the English teachers here in Nantou county, but it was not a vacation for the Lord, and his leading (for that I am glad). The Lord is so faithful to show me where I sin, and where I need His forgiveness. It has been a growing time for me here in Taiwan. I just want to finish passing these test that the Lord has for me and finish strong. I am so thankful that God has placed me here in Taiwan to encourage me and to grow me.
Sarah Deluca
Jiji
