From the shade of my arbor this garden lends me words. The other day, when the spring sun was having it's "de-LIGHT-ful" way overhead, I saw some weeds that had seemingly snuck up through the heavy mulch and were greedy, reaching for the sun. These that were seeded before the covering was laid are the hardest to remove as their root is down deep and established. How had I missed them before? Now some are a few inches tall. Maybe it was all of those recent clouds dimming my light.
I reach deep into the mulch to pull them, knowing from experience that if left to grow they would take over and ruin my garden. They would steal from all I had planted, it has happened to me before. I tug for the root but it snaps at the stem and I know that soon it will be back again. I will keep pulling them, but they will return until they are pulled from the root.
Hebrews 12:15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
It rained all day yesterday, the old folks would call it a gully washer. That means I, too, am getting older since I think it was one. This ground is soaked and saturated. Like a deep drink that is more than enough, this place overflows into a running brook right in front of my garden. By the kale, carrots and lilies I can hear its flowing waters. It empties into the little pond out back; that little pond that really does nothing more than gives a home to frogs and frog songs, which is plenty enough for me.
Psalms 23:2 He provides me rest in rich, green fields beside streams of refreshing water...........
Oh yes, back to the weeds. The next day I found them growing right next to, and among the new seedlings that I had planted. I didn't notice those because I hadn't yet recognized which were those I'd sown. Pulling one by one, I found there were many. Using my hand so carefully, the seedlings were not disturbed, even those whose stems were touching weeds. It seemed almost kind how the rain made soft and easy the ground to give them up.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.
My hand is worn some with age and as I pulled the little weeds, I noticed them. It reminds me of my Dad's hands which were known to be giant, sure and strong. Because of his I can so well imagine a Poppa in Heaven whose hands exact His care over me-- even when His care is correction for me. And I have felt that tugging of "heart weeds" like the tugging of the weeds in my deep mulch. And when He has finished pulling them out I'm like one who's been cleaned free of those invading, choking greens. And once cleaned and free of them, a clear path is opened up before me to walk and grow in, except it is very hard to walk; I want to run.
Romans 2:4
....His kindness is guiding our hearts to turn away from distractions and habitual sin to walk a new path....
It rained hard yesterday and today I did a bit more weeding and thinking, too; grateful that my Great Gardener so surely cares.
Psalms 23:3 He makes me whole again, steering me off worn, hard paths to roads where truth and righteousness echo His name.
Later today, in the safety of my deep garden mulch I planted tomatoes, fennel and onions. In ready soil plants and joy will spring up! We need not dwell on just the weeds.
Psalms 92:13 For they are transplanted to the LORD's own house. They flourish in the courts of our God.
And as my eye is keen to watch over my garden, I marvel at HIS over me (and you ♥). As if I am the only one with needs or weeds, and as if He has no greater duties or desires than to carefully tend to all of them that I so easily and constantly generate. I bet the forest and the hills quiet down to watch Him and the winds soften their blows as the Master comes with purposeful love to my garden gates.
I reach deep into the mulch to pull them, knowing from experience that if left to grow they would take over and ruin my garden. They would steal from all I had planted, it has happened to me before. I tug for the root but it snaps at the stem and I know that soon it will be back again. I will keep pulling them, but they will return until they are pulled from the root.
Hebrews 12:15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
It rained all day yesterday, the old folks would call it a gully washer. That means I, too, am getting older since I think it was one. This ground is soaked and saturated. Like a deep drink that is more than enough, this place overflows into a running brook right in front of my garden. By the kale, carrots and lilies I can hear its flowing waters. It empties into the little pond out back; that little pond that really does nothing more than gives a home to frogs and frog songs, which is plenty enough for me.
Psalms 23:2 He provides me rest in rich, green fields beside streams of refreshing water...........
Oh yes, back to the weeds. The next day I found them growing right next to, and among the new seedlings that I had planted. I didn't notice those because I hadn't yet recognized which were those I'd sown. Pulling one by one, I found there were many. Using my hand so carefully, the seedlings were not disturbed, even those whose stems were touching weeds. It seemed almost kind how the rain made soft and easy the ground to give them up.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.
My hand is worn some with age and as I pulled the little weeds, I noticed them. It reminds me of my Dad's hands which were known to be giant, sure and strong. Because of his I can so well imagine a Poppa in Heaven whose hands exact His care over me-- even when His care is correction for me. And I have felt that tugging of "heart weeds" like the tugging of the weeds in my deep mulch. And when He has finished pulling them out I'm like one who's been cleaned free of those invading, choking greens. And once cleaned and free of them, a clear path is opened up before me to walk and grow in, except it is very hard to walk; I want to run.
Romans 2:4
....His kindness is guiding our hearts to turn away from distractions and habitual sin to walk a new path....
Psalms 23:3 He makes me whole again, steering me off worn, hard paths to roads where truth and righteousness echo His name.
Later today, in the safety of my deep garden mulch I planted tomatoes, fennel and onions. In ready soil plants and joy will spring up! We need not dwell on just the weeds.
Psalms 92:13 For they are transplanted to the LORD's own house. They flourish in the courts of our God.
And as my eye is keen to watch over my garden, I marvel at HIS over me (and you ♥). As if I am the only one with needs or weeds, and as if He has no greater duties or desires than to carefully tend to all of them that I so easily and constantly generate. I bet the forest and the hills quiet down to watch Him and the winds soften their blows as the Master comes with purposeful love to my garden gates.
Psalms 103:12 .........as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
Lyrics:
Your will done your way
Your will done your way
Your will done your way
I will not fight You
Take me past the line that my heart draws
I will not fight You
Take me beyond the laziness of my thoughts
I will not fight
Lead me further than I've gone before
I will not fight You
I'm abandoned to Your call
Do not let there be, any part of me
That’s untouchable, unreachable
Let my delight be, living out Your dreams
Washing dirty feet, and kissing yours
“Those I love I also correct and discipline. Therefore, be shamelessly committed to Me, and turn back. I am standing at the door and knocking. If any of you hear My Voice and open the door, then I will come in and visit with you and share a meal at your table, and you will be with Me. --Revelations 3:19-20
I have to be honest, I am a terrible gardener. Funny thing is I come from a long line of farmers and master gardeners. I start off so well, planting, weeding, watching and then I get side tracked with children and lake days and ..... soon the weeds have overtaken and I look and no longer care. Happens pretty much every year. I think I am too lazy to stick with it, but perhaps that is harsh and I am just focused on other things during this season of my life?
ReplyDeleteI love Rend Collective!! My Knight took me to see them last month (with 10th Ave. North and Chris Tomlin). So fun!
Kimmie
Mama to 8
one homemade and 7 adopted