Monday, June 27, 2011

Growin a Garden

I spent many afternoons working in my grandmother's flower beds. She had a green thumb. So when my darling Sky wanted to plant a garden, I was hesistant. I immediately thought of my grandmother's vast array of colors and plants. To me that mental picture was my goal. I have to admit I doubted myself. Still, my princess and I set out to purchase soil, seeds and gardening tools. I was somewhat concerned due to lack of rain in our area but we went full speed ahead with the idea.

Skylar planted an assortment of summer zinnia and sweet pea. I chose to plant cucumbers and hope to get a vally lime tree (found near Corpus Christi, TX). The tree is for fall but I hope to enjoy the cucumbers now. She wanted a watermelon patch but I talked her out of it.

I am so glad I agreed to follow through. I learned some amazing things about the seed growing process. It has helped me during this season of my life. It reminded me when Jesus taught that His kingdom was alot like growing a garden. We start our garden with a seed, and through the growth process, we obtain the harvest.

The Parable of the Growing Seed

He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.


There are nine steps from planting to harvest.


1) A seed; our garden begins when the seed is planted in fertile soil.


2) The seed then divides itself and sends root downward, and a shoot upward.


3) A leaf breaks through the surface and conforms itself in every way to its parent plant.


4) It struggles to survive and conquer drought, heat, insects-


5) and if it prevails, it goes to work producing blooms, buds, etc.


6) Thus seed blooms to produce other seed; to replicate itself.


7) After the fruit or seed forms, it completely ripens.


8) Finally, the husk, shell , or peeling is put off.


9) And the fruit is harvested.



The number of each step also means the same as the words in bold. I was blown away by that but that is a whole other subject.


Here is a photo of growing our garden at 2 weeks.



Saturday, February 5, 2011

Romans 12:12

The past 356 days bring Romans 12:12 to life in such vivid color.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12 (NIV)

I always liked this verse but now I know this verse. Pain/affliction is the never the gift we would choose, we don't even see it as a gift or blessing. However, God uses it as His tool to bring about His desire. For everything the Lord allows in our lives, there is a purpose.

God allows:

Tests become our TESTIMONY.
Adversity becomes our ADVANTAGE.
A season of Less becomes our LESSON.
Tragedy becomes our TRIUMPH.
Mess becomes our ANOINTED MESSAGE.

All of God's people are ordinary people who have been made extraordinary by the purpose He has given them. ~Oswald Chambers

Pressing through the trial and praising Him in the storm. The battle belongs to Him and through His son Jesus we are victorious...

I rest confident in the One who gave the promise as I go through the process because I am learning that in the middle of the mess we find our miracle...(to be continued).

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Get Back Up!


Today, I took Skylar to the park. She loves the swings and slide but today she wanted to try the monkey bars. I was a bit concerned but let her try to see what she would do. At first, she just hung there and then let go, she fell on her knees. The second time around she fell on her backside. She did this a few more times and grew discouraged that she couldn't make it all the way across. (I'm thinking that is a huge feat, she's only three, okay so she will be 4 in a week) But she fell really hard and then some kids began laughing at her. I could feel myself get mad because I understood her embarrassment. I told her not to worry about how many times she fell but to always dust herself off and get back up. I saw the look in her eye when those words registered with her heart. She wiped herself off and tried it again.

As I sat watching, I felt so proud. It warmed my heart, I bet our heavenly Father thinks the same. We may fail and fall but as long as we remember to get back up and continue to press forward not taking our eyes off the prize (getting to the other end of the monkey bars) success is inevitable. God is for us and He promises to never forsake us. As I stood along side cheering her on, I noticed her confidence soared. She didn't make it all the way across today but she got better at learning to hold her grip.

I was encouraged by my daughter's determination today. It made me think about all the things I had given up on, regardless of the reason, I'm dusting myself off and getting back up...

for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again...Proverbs 24:16