YIKES! I was thinking a lot about that word when I was, AGAIN, weeding my walkway. I thought it was taken care of......Nearly every crevice filled with weeds. How does this happen? You clean it all up, nice and tidy you think you're done, and then BAM, they are back like a good riddance "friend".
I'm fairly certain there is nothing in this life that I am not meant to learn from. Some may say pulling weeds is merely a responsiblity of being a homeowner.....the natural rhythm of taking care of your home. In my mind, viewing it that way, makes it become a chore that I simply don't want to do. I just don't like it. I don't want to do it. I'm pretty passionate about that view, MY view. As I was spending time with the Lord, drinking my first cup of tea I had a thought, "It's a beautiful morning, a cool breeze. I could get at that walkway." And though my arthritic fingers SCREAMED and my back was squawking, I actually enjoyed it. Why? Because I asked God to join me and I asked him to show me exactly why I was doing what I was doing. "God, if every step is designed and ordered by you, what is it that you are doing....here in the weeds?" See, even though God is always present, I don't have to invite him in.
"In their hearts humans plan their course, bu the Lord establishes their steps."
Proverbs 16:9
I baby and pamper my beautiful Hibiscus tree. I've never taken care of a plant as I've taken care of her over these last six years. Though I water her, prune her, feed her and make sure she gets lots of sunshine, nothing grows or blooms before it's time. From bud to flower is often a month or more. Nothing I do, though necessary, actually speeds up the process. Reminds me this verse:
"So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who makes things grow."
1 Corinthians 3:7-9
GOD causes the growth.
I have not at all found that to be true with weeds. They need NOTHING. I DO nothing. It matters not if it's hot or cold, wet or dry. You can pull them in the evening and they are back by morning. Weeds are insidous! "seemingly harmless but with grave effect" hmmmm.....
How are weeds harmful?
"Weeds are harmful in many ways. ... Reduction in crop yield:- Weeds compete with crops for water, nutrients and light. Being hardy and vigorous in growth habit, they grow faster then crops and consume large amount of water and nutrients, thus causing heavy losses in yields."
If I think about myself I ask these questions:
*Am I like the Hibiscus? Do I allow God to nourish and feed me? Do I wait until it is my time to "bloom"? God's timing?
OR
*Am I like the weed? Am I impulsive? Do I go ahead of God and plan my own steps? Create my own path?
Following God's plan, I am beautiful and will flourish in his timing. He will water me and prune me. ...he will shine on me like the noonday sun.
Creating my own path leads to bad choices that lead to.....well, more bad choices. See, my own way, creating my own path, becomes an insidious pathway where all of MY wants and desires appear to be something they are not. Seemingly harmless? I don't think, as I sit here today, I can think of a time when I went out ahead of God's plan that the result has been what God intended. That doesn't mean it was a terribly awful experience. See, that's how weeds are......there's not immediate harm.....but one choice with an okay outcome gives me confidence that I can make other choices on my own.....and then more confidence....until I'm operating as if I don't need God at all. And THAT is very dangerous thinking. Makes my heart pound just typing it here.
If you don't know Christ as Savior, you may be rolling your eyes OR you may be saying, "I want what she has!!!" Those who have a realtionship with Jesus KNOW exactly what I'm saying...those who don't, no judgement at all, they just don't know....Ahhhh but they CAN!!
"If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
Romans10:9
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast."
Ephesians 2:8-9
I don't know what I would do without him! As I am sitting at Jesus' feet this morning preparing my heart and mind for surgery a bit later, I am praising Him for his amazing provision...his protection....his strength....his courage....his POWER...that has sustained me through an incredibly scary week. For the first time in my 63 years, I didn't turn to family and friends first...I turned to my God who promises to be my power in my weakness. "When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you."
Lord, I don't know what I would do without you. I am so thankful that you wooed me all those years ago and that I call you Savior today. As I sit here enjoying the coolness, the sunshine and the quiet I look up to see a pair of cardinals frolicking in trees and I'm reminded of my beloved....of his absence.....I'm reminded that though he's not here, you are. You will never leave me nor forsake me. Thank you for reminding me that this world isn't all there is. And thank you for that beautiful picture at the concert the other night. That one day, thousands will be on their feet praising you forever.....such a beautiful, amazing picture of eternity.
GOD causes the growth.
I have not at all found that to be true with weeds. They need NOTHING. I DO nothing. It matters not if it's hot or cold, wet or dry. You can pull them in the evening and they are back by morning. Weeds are insidous! "seemingly harmless but with grave effect" hmmmm.....
How are weeds harmful?
"Weeds are harmful in many ways. ... Reduction in crop yield:- Weeds compete with crops for water, nutrients and light. Being hardy and vigorous in growth habit, they grow faster then crops and consume large amount of water and nutrients, thus causing heavy losses in yields."
If I think about myself I ask these questions:
*Am I like the Hibiscus? Do I allow God to nourish and feed me? Do I wait until it is my time to "bloom"? God's timing?
OR
*Am I like the weed? Am I impulsive? Do I go ahead of God and plan my own steps? Create my own path?
Following God's plan, I am beautiful and will flourish in his timing. He will water me and prune me. ...he will shine on me like the noonday sun.
Creating my own path leads to bad choices that lead to.....well, more bad choices. See, my own way, creating my own path, becomes an insidious pathway where all of MY wants and desires appear to be something they are not. Seemingly harmless? I don't think, as I sit here today, I can think of a time when I went out ahead of God's plan that the result has been what God intended. That doesn't mean it was a terribly awful experience. See, that's how weeds are......there's not immediate harm.....but one choice with an okay outcome gives me confidence that I can make other choices on my own.....and then more confidence....until I'm operating as if I don't need God at all. And THAT is very dangerous thinking. Makes my heart pound just typing it here.
If you don't know Christ as Savior, you may be rolling your eyes OR you may be saying, "I want what she has!!!" Those who have a realtionship with Jesus KNOW exactly what I'm saying...those who don't, no judgement at all, they just don't know....Ahhhh but they CAN!!
"If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
Romans10:9
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast."
Ephesians 2:8-9
I don't know what I would do without him! As I am sitting at Jesus' feet this morning preparing my heart and mind for surgery a bit later, I am praising Him for his amazing provision...his protection....his strength....his courage....his POWER...that has sustained me through an incredibly scary week. For the first time in my 63 years, I didn't turn to family and friends first...I turned to my God who promises to be my power in my weakness. "When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you."
Lord, I don't know what I would do without you. I am so thankful that you wooed me all those years ago and that I call you Savior today. As I sit here enjoying the coolness, the sunshine and the quiet I look up to see a pair of cardinals frolicking in trees and I'm reminded of my beloved....of his absence.....I'm reminded that though he's not here, you are. You will never leave me nor forsake me. Thank you for reminding me that this world isn't all there is. And thank you for that beautiful picture at the concert the other night. That one day, thousands will be on their feet praising you forever.....such a beautiful, amazing picture of eternity.
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