The gardens of our faith

Good Morning Friends!  Wise and Wonderful Wednesday, loved by HIM!    One of the first things I do each morning when I get to work is tare off yesterday and look at today on my daily calendar; each day has a bible verse.  A couple days ago, the verse was from Genesis 1:29….”Then God said, ‘I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it.  They will be yours for food.’ “   At first glance, I didn’t think too much about it, I paused and said a thank you for my food each day…..and then later as I read it again….it made me think of a garden.  Have you noticed how gardens are just popping up all over….in backyards in town and in the country wow, some great big ones!  Kim and I haven’t planted a garden ourselves in the last few years, but Cooper and Katy’s mom and dad are gardeners extrodinaire!!  Lucky for us, they share!  I can hardly wait for that first, plumb, red-garden tomato…bring on the bacon.  Cooper has already brought us yummy radishes and lettuce, a friend at work has shared lettuce too, and a friend at church brought me fresh onions and cabbage…all from their gardens!  Gardens are a blessing and when shared, a true blessing to the receiver!  The more I pondered this verse, anticipating all the wonderful, fresh veggies to come my way, I couldn’t help but think about all the work that goes into producing a good garden!  Tending a garden is no small feat, it takes a lot of time and dedication, but oh the benefits are awesome!  Wouldn’t you agree?  Well, all this gardening got me to thinking about some more of God’s word from Galatians 5:22-23….”But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.”   The gardens growing in our neighborhoods are not the only gardens that need to be tended…..the gardens of our faith….the gardens that should produce the “fruits of the Spirit” need lots of attention in order for us to do our Father’s will and give glory to HIM through our words and deeds.  We need to “weed” out envy, greed, in-tolerance, gossip; we need to “irrigate” our faith with God’s word, prayer, Christian fellowship; we need to spray to “kill” ugly thoughts, grudges, laziness, lack of empathy.  We cannot produce the God’s fruits on our own…we need HIS help to guide us and feed us….but when we come to HIM through His word and prayer, taking time to “tend” our faith we can produce “fruits” words, thoughts, and actions that help others…actions that give HIM glory!  Help us Father to be the best “gardeners” we can be, draw us to you daily to be fed.  And Father thank you for friends and neighbors that share with us!  “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.  Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.  Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”  Galatians 5:24-26.

Be kind and compassionate to one another.  Ephesians 4:32.

Love you all!

Why did the guinea hen cross the road?

Good Morning friends!  Wonderfully wrapped in His loving arms, Wednesday!   For the last few days on my ride into work I have encountered a flock of guineas, probably 20 or maybe a few more….they live on the north side of the road…..Now, I said that’s where they live, however I didn’t say that’s where they spend all their time.  Oh No!  Each morning as I turn onto Old 3W, I have to be on the lookout for these critters crossing the road to eat at the neighbors.  Now, let me say this…..the home of this flock of clever birds is very nice, you know big grassy yard with undoubtedly an abundance of tasty morsels, you know ticks, fleas, gnats, moist little weeds buried in the grass….tasty for sure….the yard across the road…well it’s fine, but not as big and not as much vegetation to pick through….yet these strange winged critters risk their lives by crossing a busy road to get to the yard across the street….And why….well of course, they just know that the grub across the road has got to better than the grub at their place!  Each day as I slow down and wait for them to cross, I give them a little lecture….You silly birds, why do you risk your life getting a cross the road when you have everything you need at home….This morning, I felt the familiar tap on my shoulder.  “Hello Father, how are YOU today? “  “Kathie, My child, you are the silly one….why do you strive to ‘cross the road’ to the good life, when you have everything you need right here with ME?  You risk your faith when you slight your prayer life, your time with Me in My word, worship, and Christian fellowship.  You put yourself at risk because when you are not with Me, things that are not of Me, start looking better than what you have.”  “Oh Father, I get it…..You hold everything that I need….You hold the key to life everlasting with YOU.  I don’t need to run after more and more things, bigger, better, prettier, faster, more, more, more….NO, NO, NO….YOU are all that I need!  To love and trust and in YOU and YOU only for what’s best for me.  You know what we need before we ask, You want what’s best for us and You gave us Your only SON.”  Thank you Father, for taking such good care of us and giving us enough of everything we need.  Forgive us when we think we need more and more…..thank you for YOUR gentle reminders that keep us from temptation.

 

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.  Philippians 4:12-13. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”  Hebrews 13:5.  But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.  But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.   1 Timothy 6:6-8.  Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice.  Proverbs 16:8.  A happy heart makes the face cheerful Proverbs 15:13.  Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.  Ecclesiastes 4:6.  In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name.  Psalm 33:21.

Love you all!