THY  WILL  BE  DONE

   The fields of Heshbon wither the vines of Sibmah also. The rulers of the nations have trampled down the choicest vines, which once reached Jazer and spread toward the desert. Their shoots spread out and went as far as the sea.   Isaiah 16:8

     Spring time is planting time. Farmers and gardeners alike are up at the crack of dawn, readying their equipment and gather together seeds, bulbs and all the other paraphernalia required to begin their year, their crops and their gardens. Then the weather that they did not want, hits.  It’s too dry, too cold, too wet. And yet they struggle to get started.

     Sometimes we have calamities in the gardens of our lives but it is not God punishing us as He was doing to Moab.  Moab had become proud, conceited and insolent.  God was punishing her for not remaining true to God.  When we walk with God, in his garden, we are focused on His will; that it might be done here on Earth as it is in Heaven.

     Often, walking with God down the garden pathways of your life is best accomplished by walking behind him to better see his pathway and to follow in each of his holy footprints.

 This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”  Matthew 6:9-10

GARDEN TIP: Spring is a good time to thatch and over-seed the lawn.  Thatch buildup can smother you lawn and provide an environment for diseases.  Remove thatch with a brisk raking, a de-thatching machine, or a special blade for your mower that accomplishes the dethatching.  Aerating small areas can be accomplished with a pitch fork or similar garden tool.

A MIST THAT APPEARS FOR A LITTLE WHILE

     Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.  James 4:14

     Recently, our pastor of nearly ten years stood before the congregation with his family and announced he was leaving to go into full time missionary ministry in Ethiopia.  We knew, in our hearts, that he would do that some day, we just didn’t know when.  Yes, it was both good news and bad news.  It was such good news that he would follow the calling of his Lord.  It was good that the whole family was on board with the decision.  It was good for all of the membership to know that God is still alive and well after the writing of the Bible. 

     God is active in each of our lives, today.  He calls us to himself and He calls us to service in many ways.  Each of us should listen for that small still voice that is the Holy Spirit that Jesus promised to leave with us; the Counselor.  The God that created the Universe and set the stars in place still keeps the (His) world in order.  He controls our lives, if, we are submitted to His Will.

     Our lives are ‘a mist that appears for a little while’ but if we listen to His beckoning, our ‘little while’ before we ‘vanish’, will be powerful and ‘power-filled’ because it was spirit filled.  Great things we will see and great things we will accomplish, in His name and through His will. “Thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven.

     Each of us is put here on earth to learn, share, love, appreciate and give of ourselves. None of us knows when this fantastic experience will end. It can be taken away at any moment. Lisa Beamer

Gardening tip: Find gardening friendS that will share both of ther botanical possessions and ther ‘godening’ experiences. (see Jan. 22 post for godening)

LIGHTS ALONG THE PATHWAYS

“You are the salt of the earth.  But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?  It is no longer good for anything, except to bee thrown out and trampled underfoot.”  Matthew 5:13

     Jesus calls us to be salt and light and a lot of us don’t know what that really means.  And therefore we are not what we Christians were intended to be.

     Some of you have been down the pathways of life a ways and off on several byways as well.  In your life many of these paths were poor choices.  Others were okay and a few were worth sharing.

     Had God not been propagating you and cultivating you, you would not be who you are and where you are.  You are not you by choice or by chance.  You are what the Master Gardener grew in his garden.  God grew you to be salt and light.  Let His glory shine through you that others might see the product of his grace.

     Be not the natural person your flesh wants you to be, but by his grace be the super-natural person He intended you to be; salt and light to the world

     “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”  Matthew 5:16

GARDENING TIP: As mowing becomes necessary, be certain that the blade is sharp to prevent tearing the grass tips. Move the blade up as the grass grows until you reach about 2 ½ inches to avoid scalping. You will also move the blade up as the temperature rises so as to provide shade for the roots of the lawn.

THY WILL BE DONE

The fields of Heshbon wither the vines of Sibmah also. The rulers of the nations have trampled down the choicest vines, which once reached Jazer and spread toward the desert. Their shoots spread out and went as far as the sea.   Isaiah 16:8

     Spring time is planting time. Farmers and gardeners alike are up at the crack of dawn, readying their equipment and gather together seeds, bulbs and all the other paraphernalia required to begin their year, their crops and their gardens. Then the weather that they did not want, hits.  It’s too dry, too cold, too wet. And yet they struggle to get started.

     Sometimes we have calamities in the gardens of our lives but it is not God punishing us as He was doing to Moab.  Moab had become proud, conceited and insolent.  God was punishing her for not remaining true to God.  When we walk with God, in his garden, we are focused on His will; that it might be done here on Earth as it is in Heaven.

     Often, walking with God down the garden pathways of your life is best accomplished by walking behind him to better see his pathway and to follow in each of his holy footprints.

     This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”  Matthew 6:9-10

 GARDEN TIP: Spring is a good time to thatch and over-seed the lawn.  Thatch buildup can smother you lawn and provide an environment for diseases.  Remove thatch with a brisk raking, a de-thatching machine, or a special blade for your mower that accomplishes the dethatching.

Aerating small gardens can be accomplished with a pitch fork or similar garden tool.

THE RIGHT WAY

In the same way, let your light shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven.
Mathew 5:16

There are many ways to “grow a garden”. Your garden can be formal or informal; perennials based or ablaze with annuals; it can be shared with others or tucked away in your private area; totally haphazard or professionally done. All these options are okay with your neighbors or friends. Some may even envy you or your garden. But, your garden is you and it reflects your decisions. Some choices about your life or your garden will be good and some of your choices will be bad. Some of your choices will have positive consequences while others not so positive.
Life is a lot like that. We have choices and consequences. You may believe that your life or your garden has little or no effect on others but most of the time that is not totally true. Somebody is always watching you; for whatever reason, they see you as a reflection of what you say and what you do. You may talk the talk but they also watch to see if you walk the walk.

Does your life present a pattern for others; friends or family or even strangers, perhaps? Be careful of where you trod, for somebody you love may be walking in your footprints. The paths you choice to take and the places they lead you are often paths chosen by others. Lead a life where Christ is the goal and obedience is your lifestyle and you will plant a garden for all to admire and share.

But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. James 1:22

Gardening tip: This fall when the woodlands begin their metamorphosis, from forest greens to cornucopias of color, gather several handfuls of leaves and send them to friends who live in Florida. They will be so appreciative or extremely jealous.

FORTY  YEARS  IN  THE  DESERT

     This writer does not mean to sound as though he understands more deeply what Moses and the Children of Israel experienced in their forty years.  It is only being suggested that God is so much more that we can appreciate. 

     God did not create the Heavens and the Earth to set every thing in motion, and then step back to watch us act out our lives reminiscent of members in the cast of our high school senior play, Anytown, USA.

     While many think of God residing some great distance off in a place we know as Heaven, He is also as near as our next breath. He is present in the sights before our eyes and He is busy in the thought building processes on the workbench of our minds.

     And God is in the midst of the “good, the bad, and the ugly” of our lives.  The reader should be reminded that this writing project began twenty three months ago during a period of convalescence. The total knee replacement took this writer away from the garden, the golf course, and almost every thing pleasurable.  The pain exceeded expectations and explanations as well as most treatments.  Things just didn’t go right.  Yet in the midst of all this pain began a God-given project that is now ending its second year. 

     While the writer continues recovery now from the second surgery, he appreciates the affliction which brings him closer to God and to many of his friends who respond to the writings and the ramblings of their older friend.  The writer thanks all those who have stopped to take a moment and walk through the pathways of the garden prepared by God.

     Along these paths called life and amidst the rough spots and the roses...always, always allow time for God and do stop and smell the roses...they were placed there by the Master Gardener, especially for you.