...other meditations

breaking ground

spring is here and there is much to be done—especially if you love gardening. clearing out old dried up weeds, wet leaves and plain old trash is a necessity to get your garden ready for the new season. it's time to take advantage of those first ground thaws and days of sunshine. in addition, a prudent gardener would have prepared long before the spring season by cutting down stems, planting some bulbs and mums and clearing out weeds the previous fall, prior to winter's coming. now that's planning ahead!

i feel that the christian life is a lot like gardening. there is always much to be done and there is a lot of preparation before growth can begin. paul instructed us to be prepared in season and out of season (2 timothy 4:2). just because the dormant winter is just around the corner doesn't mean you can't prepare in the fall for the coming springtime of God's warmth and showers. read the following beautiful words from hosea…

sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until He comes and showers righteousness on you.
hosea 10:12

unplowed ground does not accept seeds nor does it absorb the nutrients needed for growth. tilling the soil, or breaking up the soil, gives growth a chance. when i allow God to dig up my dirt and turn it over to show the good soil underneath, my spiritual growth can begin. to allow Him to do this, i must first surrender every area of my life to Him. breaking up old, dry ground is not an easy process. it's hard, grueling work!

when my field is finally ready for planting, God can then work in my life; helping me plant the seeds necessary for a fruitful crop come harvest time. by reading His word and communicating with Him, i am fertilizing and providing refreshment for that which i planted. and when i place God at the root of my life, i am nurturing and strengthening my mind, soul and body. His showers of blessings continue to rejuvenate even in the drought seasons.

when harvest time comes and my growth is evident, the season doesn't end there. what good is a fruitful crop if you don't reap it and share it with others? i want to reap the fruit of unfailing love; i need to share my love with others. sharing my relationship with Christ with others is the greater part of that process. the beauty of Christ dwelling within me is the beautiful flower i want to show and give to others.

in the greenhouse,

tamara