I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him. REVELATION 3 20
In many parts of the world, homes are surrounded by a wall or a fence and the only way to enter is through the “front gate”. In the past, in rural America, one would often stand at the front gate or fence and call out to the folks inside.
Some of us have gates to our gardens; some for beauty while others might be for security. If you are like most gardeners, the gate is always “open” for friends and neighbors. You want to share the attributes of your toil and inspiration with others. You have worked lovingly for endless hours converting your landscape into a thing of beauty to be admired, enjoyed and shared.
When Jesus knocks on your door or gate, the promise of salvation and fellowship awaits you on the other side. Answer the knock and invite him in. Jesus changes things.
If you think your garden and your life look great and impressive now, you haven’t seen anything yet!
The best is yet to come!
“I go to prepare a place for you….”
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Pathways in your garden
“You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.”
PSALM 139:3
You know that you have pathways in your garden because you planed them and layed them out to fit your yard or your area. And you may also realize that you have pathways in your every day life, at work, home, play... life has pathways. Some are good and some are not so good. Some you plan; some God has worked out for you.
Haven’t you ever paused to look at the pathways in your garden? Do you have a path with a curve which teases the eye around the corner to the next beautiful perennial bed or specimen plant?
Your life probably has pathways in it which you should observe more closely. Does your every day life have curves in the road to happiness, success, peace and fulfillment? Or, have you been teased into or tempted into situations you should have avoided?
Before you go into the land outside your garden, begin your day by spending a few minutes with the Master Gardener. Ask Him to spend the day with you. Pray that He will build a hedge around you to protect you from the pitfalls of some wrongly chosen pathways.
God has a pathway for you today! Watch for it!
Gardening Tip: Always take your bypass shears with you to the garden. Something always needs pruning after blooming.
PSALM 139:3
You know that you have pathways in your garden because you planed them and layed them out to fit your yard or your area. And you may also realize that you have pathways in your every day life, at work, home, play... life has pathways. Some are good and some are not so good. Some you plan; some God has worked out for you.
Haven’t you ever paused to look at the pathways in your garden? Do you have a path with a curve which teases the eye around the corner to the next beautiful perennial bed or specimen plant?
Your life probably has pathways in it which you should observe more closely. Does your every day life have curves in the road to happiness, success, peace and fulfillment? Or, have you been teased into or tempted into situations you should have avoided?
Before you go into the land outside your garden, begin your day by spending a few minutes with the Master Gardener. Ask Him to spend the day with you. Pray that He will build a hedge around you to protect you from the pitfalls of some wrongly chosen pathways.
God has a pathway for you today! Watch for it!
Gardening Tip: Always take your bypass shears with you to the garden. Something always needs pruning after blooming.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Sunday is coming!
As we reflected on the occurrences leading up to Easter and the Resurrection, the phrase, "But Sunday is coming" kept coming to remind us of the real purpose of creation, life and eternity. Let me share a couple of the thoughts as I heard them...
Jesus told his followers that he had to go to Jerusalem, to die. But Sunday is coming. Jesus rode into the city on the back of a donkey as many sang welcoming songs while others plotted to have him killed. But Sunday is coming! During the week, Jesus arranged for the passover meal...his last supper. But Sunday is coming! That Thursday evening they shared fellowship, dipped bread together and Judas sold him out for a handful of silver. But Sunday is coming. Jesus took his group to the Garden of Gethsemane where he would pray and wait. Sunday is coming. Jesus prayed that the cup might pass, but if not, he would die upon the cross for our sins and our salvation. But Sunday is coming. They came and took him away to start the series of events that would change the world and the future of all mankind. Sunday is coming! He was beaten and humiliated and lead to the the hill called Golgotha. But Sunday is coming. They nailed him to the cross and crucified him with thieves. But Sunday is coming. He agonized on the cross speaking both to his family and followers and to his father, God, "why have you forsaken me?" But Sunday is coming. They took him down from the cross and placed him in a grave. They rolled a stone over the opening and placed guards around. But Sunday is coming.
It's Sunday and He is risen. He is risen indeed. He, Jesus, is not in the grave and He is not dead. Sunday has come and He has overcome sin and death. He has paid the price that we could not pay for an eternity in Heaven with God, our Father and our Creator. From Genesis and the creation of the heavens and the Earth, God knew...Sunday is coming!!!
Jesus told his followers that he had to go to Jerusalem, to die. But Sunday is coming. Jesus rode into the city on the back of a donkey as many sang welcoming songs while others plotted to have him killed. But Sunday is coming! During the week, Jesus arranged for the passover meal...his last supper. But Sunday is coming! That Thursday evening they shared fellowship, dipped bread together and Judas sold him out for a handful of silver. But Sunday is coming. Jesus took his group to the Garden of Gethsemane where he would pray and wait. Sunday is coming. Jesus prayed that the cup might pass, but if not, he would die upon the cross for our sins and our salvation. But Sunday is coming. They came and took him away to start the series of events that would change the world and the future of all mankind. Sunday is coming! He was beaten and humiliated and lead to the the hill called Golgotha. But Sunday is coming. They nailed him to the cross and crucified him with thieves. But Sunday is coming. He agonized on the cross speaking both to his family and followers and to his father, God, "why have you forsaken me?" But Sunday is coming. They took him down from the cross and placed him in a grave. They rolled a stone over the opening and placed guards around. But Sunday is coming.
It's Sunday and He is risen. He is risen indeed. He, Jesus, is not in the grave and He is not dead. Sunday has come and He has overcome sin and death. He has paid the price that we could not pay for an eternity in Heaven with God, our Father and our Creator. From Genesis and the creation of the heavens and the Earth, God knew...Sunday is coming!!!
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
The Master Gardener
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth and He also created a garden east of Eden. God was the first gardener. Then God created man and put him in the garden to toil and to care for it. Adam became the second gardener and we have followed in his footsteps. We are all alike; we are sinners and we are gardeners, just different kinds of sin and different types of gardens. Our "gardens" are what we create around us. Did I fail to mention that when God created us in His own image, a part of that creation was to put a little bit of the "creation/creator" DNA into our systems. That's how we can discover, make, develop and "create" stuff from the raw materials He provided "in the beginning". This blog and the ideas we will be discussing and considering is to dig into and cultivate the relationship among us "gardeners" and the Master Gardener, God, who has a really green thumb.
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