thoughts on pruning, change, and the like

"He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn't produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more."
-John 15:2

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
-Romans 12:2

"Oh, oh, things are gonna change now, for the better..."
-Anberlin, "Dismantle.Repair"

"Alles kann besser werden."
Everything can be better.
-Xavier Naidoo, "Alles kann besser werden"

"Sometimes it's so hard to tell
what to keep and what to kill,
what of this makes us who we are
all that we love the most,
all that we cannot let go,
how much change can we survive?"
-Sara Groves, "Rewrite This Tragedy"

"I have been crucified with Christ.  It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.  And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
-Galations 2:20

"I know I've lost my conscience,
I know I've lost all shame,
but I must do the right thing,
I must do myself a favor and get real,
get right with the Lord."

-Sufjan Stevens, "Get Real Get Right"

"Beautiful changes I feel sometimes
in the middle of the late morning dishes
when You say I might do anything at all."
-The Innocence Mission, "Walking Around"

"Learn this lesson well, my friend:
there's a time to rejoice and lament.
Every season will find an end.
All will fade and be made new again."
-Josh Garrels, "Rejoice and Lament"

"On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.  Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'"
-John 7:37-38