...but the Word of our God endures forever.

We may be really happy with our piece of sod ...but our roots intermesh within soil made rich with the blood and sweat of those who came before us.  If we don't maintain that rich heritage, then we may one day wither.

We may feel we are blossoming ...whether it be our nest egg, our corporate growth, or just in the little corner of our self-proclaimed world.

Pruning will help slow down the formation of wood and extend the vigor and lifetime of your plant. Not to be confused with preening or primping. 

The first step in pruning is to remove all damaged and diseased wood. When budgeting and keeping ourselves from debt, we get the dead wood projects out. Let me make this clear ...people are not projects, they are people. We don't stop caring for people, but we don't provide a band-aid until after we treat for the possible infection that can take place. 

After cleaning, the band-aid helps seal the wound, not prevent what penetration the cut or scrape has already inflicted, but to prevent further damage deep into our system through possible infection of other areas.

A grassland can become a desert ...and a flower may fade, but all is not lost if we take care to plant the seeds in carefully tended ground.

The parable of the sower. (Matthew, chapter 13)

"Therefore, hear the parable of the sower:  When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.  But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;  yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.  Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.  But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, ..."

So, it is more meaningful how we budget our time ...and the debt that is most important is not the national debt, but our personal debt.

And I'm not talking about fretful money matters ...but about the debt of sin that was paid in our behalf by Jesus.