Originally written 4-4-2014 – some content may be dated but the message is timeless.
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How many of you folks like to plant flowers and various plants? I know some folks don’t like to plant them but do enjoy looking at them and having them adorn their yards. Some don’t mind planting but don’t like the upkeep with them. I love the whole process… figuring out what I am going to put in different places, choice of colors, textures, shapes, and sizes. Then to actually mix and match and organize them in my yard so it looks as good as it can. This is a trick when you don’t have as much funds as you would like. I tried growing with seed and it just never seems to be the same… sometimes it works ok, but the last time I tried, the plants just didn’t last like I had hoped for. I think I need to modify my planting times for seeds. Start them in the house and transplant them after the last freeze… which this year it was a bit deceiving – as some of you have experienced and are still experiencing. Well, I have everything in the ground and it is all blooming now and it looks pretty good. There are still some bulbs that I am waiting on but for the most part things are looking pretty good.
I was walking through the break room at work one day and saw these huge ivy plants on top of the refrigerators. I haven’t had any ivy in a long time so I clipped a couple of ends off and put them in water on my desk. It wasn’t long before they started sprouting roots. Those things grow like crazy in no time! It is just the normal variegated green and white ivy, but I really have always liked it because it’s easy to grow and it can get so long and full and you can wrap it around poles and shelves. I always thought it was quite interesting how it could grow in water. Just water. No soil. However, the one on my desk had a couple of bad spots on it and I had to trim off some of the ends so it would start growing roots again. Then I decided to take it home and plant it in a pot with soil. Oh, My Goodness! What a difference that made! It began sprouting so many new leaves and it is so pretty! I have it outside on my front porch with my other little plants. I do love the green leaves because there are so many different shades of green with the ivy.
OK, here comes the comparison… as always. We, as Christians, can grow on our own. But in what way are we growing? We can take care of kids, animals, house, job, spouse or significant other in the most amazing ways. However, are we growing spiritually? Peter tells us in 2 Peter 3:18 that we should grow in the grace and knowledge or Jesus Christ …
17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
Are we just taking root in water? Or are we planted in the soil so we can thrive and flourish? Those roots can grow and grow in water but oh how they flourish when planted in that “God dirt”. There are many references in the Bible about growing with God or growing in Jesus Christ… another one of my favorites is a letter Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus. He always spoke with such beautiful words.
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
With the influence of God in our daily lives we can grow and grow and grow and oh how beautiful we can become. We can reach out and touch others with God’s love and care when we are planted in Him. He loves watching His children grow and change as they learn Who He really is. When you are planted in that God dirt you will discover new things about Him and yourself every day! Psalm 1 is absolutely one of my favorite Psalms. As if you can pick any out that are better than the rest… the Psalms are amazing. Psalm 1 speaks about that man (or woman) that delights in the law of the Lord.
Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
4 The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
It is amazing how my view of God has changed over the last few years. I am constantly finding new ways to honor His name! And you know what? He keeps blessing me over and over again! He is an awesome God and wants to have a relationship with you too! He is just waiting for you to call on His name. He loves you and wants to help you grow in Him. Find your God dirt and start growing! He loves you so much! After all, you are one of His beloved.
Leah,
Le**@My*******.com
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