Weeds

Spring is coming. The signs are everywhere. Daffodils are blooming, buds are emerging on trees, life is springing forth out of the cold hard ground. I love this season because it brings us out of our home into the yard where I have the opportunity to kneel in the dirt at the throne of God for hours. I’ve often said my garden time is my best “God time.” Life becomes clear as I work the dirt and ask God to answer my many questions. And answer them he does. It’s amazing!
I’ve had a number of opportunities to hire young workers looking to make a couple dollars helping pull weeds. Working alongside them, one common question inevitably comes up “Why did God make so many weeds?”
The Bible tells us after the fall of Adam and Eve, God said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat of it,’ Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you and you will eat the plants of the field. Gen 3:17-18
I’ve concluded, because of the fall, we were cursed with weeds (along with other consequences). Weeds are now part of our everyday life and they come in a multitude of shapes and sizes. Strange as it may seem, I actually like weeding, not because I like weeds, but the act of weeding forces me to get on my knees before my Creator and do a self-inventory. Where are the weeds in my life? What are they? What do I need to do to pull them out?
As with weeds, we cannot haphazardly rip at our sin quickly. If we don’t get the root, it can grow again often bigger and deeper than this first weed. Our sin can oftentimes have deep roots that may be painful to work at and dig out, but the result is a clean heart. Our gentle, gracious God will often point out my weeds and then help me get to the root of them so as not to leave a portion that will grow.
The Bible gives us many verses to reflect on while we’re seeking God to weed our hearts. Psalm 139 and Psalm 51 are some of my favorites. Ask the Lord to search your heart and examine your mind. Psalm 139 tells us the Lord has searched us, knows us, He knows when we sit and when we rise, he knows our thoughts from afar. He knows everything about us. In Psalm 51, David humbly comes to God in prayer for forgiveness and cleansing. He confesses his sin and he is renewed and restored by hi s Heavenly Father.
In Christ we have a beautiful life garden that reflects the Glory of God, but we still live in a fallen world. We need Him to consistently weed our hearts of pride, selfish ambition, greed, coveting, fear, worry, etcetera so that we might draw closer to Him and grow in our likeness of Christ filled with humility, generosity, service, compassion, kindness, patience, peace and the like.
Blessings to you while you weed!

Man, It's Been a LONG time

I didn't realize how long it had been since I posted...that's what happens when Facebook takes your time and you think you're journaling, but you're not really.

A lot has happened since March and I'll try to add some events here and there, but for this morning I read a great quote from Beth Moore's Believing God Bible study, "Cain's offering represents every time a believer knows what God wants and refuses to give it. We often quickly give Him other things, as if He won't notice. Sometimes we give more in many other areas but doggedly withhold the one thing we know He wants. And sin crouches at our door."

What am I holding on to?

Is it the comfort of what is familiar? Is it the busyness that keeps my mind from being quiet and listening? Is it memories of the past? Or possibly dreams of how I think life should be? Hmmmmm....

This upcoming move has caused many insecurites to surface, but I have to rest in the assurance that God has a plan and purpose for my life. He has a perfect plan!