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

     Had God not been propagating us and cultivating us, we would not be who we are and be where we are.  We are not you by choice or by chance.  We are what the Master Gardener grew in his garden.  God grew us to be salt and light.  Let His glory shine through us 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.

PLAYING HURT

      You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth.  GALATIANS 5:7          

     Athletes with minor injuries will often stay in the game and participate as “playing hurt”.  They have to play through their pain

     You and I go through the pathways of our gardens-life with pain of all sorts; allergies, arthritis, depression, relational difficulties, more month than money, bad habits, pitiable world outlook and even separated from God,

     We go to bed with our pain and then wake up to find our pain is our daily partner, the shadow in our garden, a visitor who dropped in one day and will not leave.  We try pills and potions, remedies from bottles both medicinal and alcoholic.  We talk with friends, consult with counselors in offices and online.  We often feel as though we are struggling just to ‘keep our heads above the water’.

     We may see our gardens, our world ‘through rose colored glasses’ but we can not see ourselves in that world.  What is with this??? Many of us think ‘things’ should be better or bigger or easier. Where is God in all of this?

     A song from yesteryear has a phase, “I never promised you a rose garden...” We are not promised a rose garden or an easy road or a garden with no weeds.  We are promised not that we will be comfortable but that we will be comforted.

 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.  For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.          2 Corinthians 1:3-5

Planting tips: Summer blooms require sunlight.  Read labels and do research if you are not sure.

UNMET  FRIENDS

      But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.             JUDE 1:20-21

     I was sharing with someone the merits of buying plants that had ‘bloomed out’ or were otherwise not best shown for sale.  Another customer at the big box store had overheard our conversation and she said, ‘you sound like a teacher the way you were explaining about how to restore the plant to good use in the garden’. She stated she was a teacher, too, and we chatted about our school experiences. 

     She said that she had a ‘feeling’ she was to meet someone today who would influence her life.  We chatted about schools, challenges, church, children and God.  We exchanged emails and web info and parted ways.  I pushed my basket of choice, slightly used plants toward my car she was still loading and I was moved to go over to her vehicle and tell I had been urged to pray with her and we did.
     Yes, God was busy that day, growing two disciples into more fruitful usage. I learned that I should have prayed with her there in the plants section.  I also learned that when God wants you to do something like pray with or for someone, you will pray...even in the middle of the parking lot.

     To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.        JUDE 1:24-25

Planting tip:
Some earlier ‘parked’ plants can still be moved.  Take plenty of soil, prune and water like crazy.  There is even a leaf spray that reduces transpiration for a short while. Evening transfers avoids the heat of day drying out.