My garden is plowed but nothing grows. And with good reason. Nothing is planted.
I grew up around gardens and have always intermittently gardened myself. My grandparents had them, and most parishioners in my father’s churches did as well.
I’m most familiar with my paternal grandfather’s. He spent a great deal of time cultivating his garden. Preparation for planting involved tilling, spreading fertilizer and purchasing seeds and plants. Maintenance required hoeing, pulling weeds and spraying for insects. When the fruit was ready, the real work began: picking, digging, snapping, peeling, canning and blanching. Once after watching me sweat in the garden, my father-who wasn’t a gardener, said: “I could go to the market and buy it cheaper.” He was right but that avoided cultivation.
Paul reminds us spiritual lives must be cultivated like gardens: Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed…continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. (Philippians 2:12)
Improper cultivation in gardens produces weeds, bugs, worms, and involves using chemicals that result in unnatural ripening. Failing to cultivate my spiritual life also brings unwanted results. Working out our salvation is not working for it. Salvation is God’s free gift. But once we have it, we must work it out. Gardens produce when worked, muscles form when used and spiritual growth occurs when spiritual muscles are exercised.
Spiritual cultivation involves Biblical meditation, intercessory prayer, building relationships with believers and unbelievers, sharing God’s love in word and action and continually depending on God’s indwelling Spirit. God gifts his children, but having gifts doesn’t mean they are serving his purpose. We must cultivate gifts by developing and using them. How is your garden growing?
Prayer: Merciful Lord, enable us to grow gardens with spiritual fruit that enlarges Your Kingdom.
I wasn’t excited about going, but I had no choice.
Hiding the fact you can’t see isn’t easy for a young boy. Contacts and laser surgery weren’t an option for me in the 1960’s. Glasses were. Having friends who had glasses, I knew what was in store-being called “four eyes.” Wearing glasses just wasn’t masculine.
I suppose coming to within six feet of the chalkboard so I could see what the teacher was writing gave my blindness away. She called my parents, and I was given a Mom version sight test and then ushered to the optometrist. I had to admit blindness before receiving help.
Jesus encountered equally stubborn religious leaders and said; If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains (John 9:41).
Jesus healed a man born blind-an unheard of feat. Since the religious leaders doubted Jesus’ Messiahship, it was important to discredit the miracle. They repeatedly questioned the man about the healing and even examined his parents. Jesus irritated them further by claiming the reason they couldn’t see him clearly was because they refused to admit their blindness.
Jesus’ words seem confusing: I must be blind in order to see. Admitting blindness is simply confessing my inability to handle life on my own. I don’t understand all events, nor can I. I’m often stubborn, thinking assistance from others-and most importantly God, is unnecessary. But admitting blindness-our inability, clears the way for God to open our eyes so we can see. No more glasses, contacts or laser surgery. Just pure undiluted vision of who Jesus is and where he’s taking you. Admit your blindness so God can open your eyes.
Prayer: Father, may we see clearly Your love, power and direction in our life.
Lightning peeled and thunder rolled. All protecting us was a tent.
My brother and I were camping in the Smokies. The day was beautiful, but darkness brought dramatic changes. Storms rolled in bringing deafening thunder, keen lightning and torrential rain. Our tents provided little security, and we lay awake listening, fearing, praying and contemplating our powerlessness over the storm. Eventually we drifted off to sleep and the storms subsided.
Storms can be terrifying and deadly. Leaving the crowds, Jesus and his disciples head for the other side of the lake but encounter a storm that threatens to destroy their ship and lives. Jesus seems indifferent. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” (Mark 4:38) Frantic with fear, the disciples wake Jesus. He calms the storm but rebukes them for their weak faith.
Storms have a way of testing and transforming faith. Regardless of whether they are sent or allowed by God, storms of conflict, doubt, depression, financial struggles or family breakup can mold or melt our faith. And we choose the outcome by our response. God’s intent is always to mold our faith, growing us into Christlike thoughts, attitudes and actions. His ability to limit the intensity and length of the storm encourages us take one more step.
Storms normally come unexpectedly, so preparation is vital. People living where tornadoes or hurricanes are common normally have homes with basements or storm shelters. Listening for the Spirit’s guiding voice coupled with regular prayer and Bible reading-as well as trusting in God’s power, enables us to endure storms with confidence instead of doubt and fear.
Prayer: Merciful Savior, thank You for controlling the length and intensity of the storms. Guide us to trust You to bring us safely through.
She was a marvel to observe, and you never knew what she would make next.
My great grandmother was a master crocheter. She would sit for hours with needle and thread, seemingly content to labor tirelessly on her projects. But nothing began until the yarn was rolled into a ball. This is where I came in. I held the mass of string firmly while she pulled and rolled. This prohibited tangles while crocheting. Then she carefully placed the rolled yarn in a cloth bag so it wouldn’t escape when she stitched.
I never saw my great grandmother use a pattern; I suppose they were ingrained in her mind. Her motions seemed repetitive: pull a little slack, make a few stitches and then repeat the process. Thousands of times. What began as a series of loops materialized into afghans, house shoes, sweaters, coasters and other useful items. Some she made in a day; others took months. Unattractive and simple chains became beautiful and complex creations-one stitch at a time.
The psalmist acknowledged the complexity of humans. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet. (Psalm 8:6) Constructed to reflect God’s image and glory and accomplish his purpose, humans were to rule his creation.
You and I are God’s masterpieces, carefully constructed one stitch at a time in our mother’s wombs. From the moment of conception until our last breath, God continues weaving his creations into beautiful garments that will accomplish his purpose. There’s no one like you, nor should you pine to imitate another-only God. What he does-when allowed, will amaze the most despondent esteem starved person. Be patient while God forms you one stitch at a time.
Prayer: God, give us patience while you transform us into Your masterpieces.
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She agreed to follow the Chief Shepherd to the High Places. Instead he led her into the desert. Now she was confused.
Hannah Hurnard was born to a well-to-do English family, but shyness and a speech impediment made life miserable. It wasn’t until she turned nineteen that she finally discovered happiness. Sensing God’s call on her life to mission work, she began traveling with the Friends’ Evangelist Band spreading the gospel in England and Ireland.
In 1955, Hannah began composing the allegory Hinds’ Feet on High Places. Published in 1975, the work describes Much-Afraid’s decision to follow the Chief Shepherd to the High Places. She imagined an easy journey but discovered it required trusting the Chief Shepherd through turmoil, temptation, enemy assault and hot sand. As he reminded her; “All of my servants on the way to the High Places have had to make this detour through the desert.”
The psalmist discovered the same. Out of the depths I cry to you, LORD; Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. (Psalm 130:1-2)I too have wandered in the desert.
Assuming following Christ makes all problems and difficulties disappear only sets us up for disappointment and bitterness. Jesus dispelled this illusion when he said; In this world you will have trouble. (John 16:33)
The key to victory through desert dwelling is believing what proceeds and follows the middle of the verse: in me you may have peace and But take heart! I have overcome the world. Clinging to God’s truths gives peace in our deserts, and believing he has overcome gives us confidence we will too. Trust God’s heart even when you can’t trace his hand.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we trust You to bring us through life’s trials and usher us victoriously into Your High Place.
