What are you growing in your garden? I am sure avid gardeners would mention one prized flowering plant after another. I would consider myself an avid gardener myself, but unfortunately, names don’t mean much to me. Perhaps, much of it has to do with the fact that I am a DISCOUNT avid gardener and I always look for plants that are on sale. I often go by the garbage dispensers of garden shops, peeking in to see if there is one plant or another that I could “rescue” by pulling and cutting off dead and/ or broken pieces and replanting them in fertile soil. At times, the soil may not be as fertile as I would like, but a dash of fertilizer and a regular dose of water and sunshine go a long way… and the plant comes back to life and brings a surprising joy with the blooms that come forth the following year.
As we spent time together in His garden this morning, the Father taught much. He reminded me once again that I needed to weed on a regular basis, excavating invasive plants whose seeds had imbedded themselves while I was not watching. At His vegetable garden, He “pointed” to some of the lettuce leaves that had been partially eaten by slugs and to the other yellowing leaves on the surrounding plants. He gently reminded me that these had to be pulled off so that the plants’ nourishments would not be wasted on those that would not be consumed, but the plants’ energy would be better used to nurture other parts that were healthy and green.
The Father explained that similarly, it was prudent for me to regularly weed away unhealthy new traits which I had picked up along the way, less they become habits that destroy my character. The “holey” and yellowing leaves are similar to the negative, unhealthy traits which I continue to harbor in my life. Nurturing these traits would do me no good as they take away my focus and need to cultivate those positive ones that would help me become a strong, healthy individual.
As I continued to garden, the Father brought my thoughts back to another e-mail which I had addressed before we ventured outdoors. I had replied…
“Thank you for your extensive e-mail. Based on what I have read, it is evident that you do NOT need any assistance. You appear to know all and claim to know all. I am sensing that it is best to move on. I will also refrain from lifting you up in prayer, as even in my prayer, you have a very strong desire to challenge and debate. I have no desire and time to take part in that.
The Father has called each of us to spread His Good News. That is the Great Commission for each who are called by His name.
May the peace and love of God be with you XXX”
I wouldn’t be surprised if my friend, Mario, would “fall off his seat” once again when he reads this reflection. Es bien mi amigo. Sólo me sigan manteniendo en vuestras oraciones. (I didn’t write that… I used the Spanish translator! Nevertheless, it is the translation for… “It is well my friend. Just continue to keep me in your prayers.) I do ask for your ongoing prayers as well!
When I first began my conversation with this individual, I was under the impression that I was communicating with a young one who was searching for answers about his faith walk. To my surprise, my correspondent now appears to be a man of years and he appears to be extremely set in his ways. I kept reminding the Father that I thought he was young and the Father kept reminding me that it was okay. He then expanded on it as we stood in front of His rose plants. He asked me to look and see which leaves had been mottled with black spots. I answered, “The mature thick ones.” He asked why I was pulling them off and I answered “Because we don’t want the young ones to get contaminated with the
fungus that caused the same.” He then asked, “Why are you making sure that you are removing every infected leaf from the soil below.” I answered, “So that the soil does not get re-infected when these leaves disintegrate.”
As if in jest, the Father asked me to look at my left arm. He asked, “What do you see?” “Age spots, Lord.” was my reply. (The Father has a sense of humor. That’s where I got mine from….right Pennie???!!!????) The Father then explained that at times, older ones are set in their ways and there is really no point in arguing with them. Like these mature leaves, they have already been “infected” by their ways and extensive chemical treatment would not remove these spots from them. He reminded me that it was necessary to keep the “young ones” from these set ways and that I, too, needed to stay away from them less I myself become infected. He then added that, I too, had to be vigilant less I be set in my own ways.
The Father then reminded me of how I tend to get lost when I stick to my pre-conceived notions. Although it appears hilarious now, I always manage to drive to the wrong place because I fail to follow the driving instructions to my desired locations. Believing that I know where I am going, I follow my pre-conceived driving route and I end up miles away from where I want to be. Unless I can be otherwise convinced that I do not know where I am going, I will continue to insist that I know where I am going until my final destination proves that I really didn’t know where I was going. I shiver when I think of this and the final destiny each of us may find ourselves in for eternity.
What are you growing in your garden? May the Father give us willing and open hearts to examine ourselves and recognize where we err and may he gave us the grace and the deep desire to change and become more like Him.
God bless,
Melissa – June 26, 2011
p.s. Psalm 139: 23-24
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGPmMcDeRpM&feature=related <- Create in me a Clean Heart (musical)
– Psalm 51: 1-4; 10 – 13
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speakand justified when you judge.
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you.