Day 4... How Green is Your Thumb?

Day 4.. How Green Is Your Thumb?

  Today's bible verse is from Luke 8:4-8
      
     While a crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable:  " farmer went out to sow his seed.  As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture.  Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants.  Still other seed fell on good soil.  It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown."  When he said this, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear"

In today's reading the author explains that he and his family planted a garden when he was growing up, and all of the steps it takes to have a successful harvest.  When I was a little girl, we used to plant a huge garden also, and many of the things that the author described were familiar to me as well.  I have good memories about the garden and some not so good.  One good was that I would follow my father while he was tilling the soil, and I remember walking in his footprints, his left foot always turned our just a little :-).  A couple of things I never really "enjoyed" were pulling weeds, and picking the beans.  Who knew how many green beans one plant could produce, and produce, and produce!!

These were days when my siblings and I were all in the garden, laughing, grumbling, and working.  I didn't realize it then but I do now, that I was learning how to plant a "vegetable" garden.  Only God knew that I would need and use that knowledge now to learn how to plant His garden in others.

Just as we have growth after new birth, Moore also says, "We have a responsibility to nurture the spiritual life Christ gives us with our gift of new birth."

So, what are the similarities between growing a "vegetable" garden, and growing as a Christian?  Here are a few points that we read about today;

Just as my father tilled the soil, preparing it for the seeds we would plant, we as Christians must prepare our hearts for the messages that Christ will give us.  I love the line in the book that says, "Christ sends us special love notes each day."  We must be ever watchful for these, keeping out heads up and our hearts open is one way to notice these; such as the beautiful sunrise, the clouds and their shapes and colors (one of my personal favorites), the wildlife, (of course when it's not in the road, ;0)), a smile on the face of a stranger, or the unexpected comment or smile from someone you thought never would do either.

We must listen and hear the words that Christ's says to us, consciously make them part of our lives and act on them.  Missed opportunities are my biggest regrets right now.  However, we must be careful and guard our hearts.  At first I was puzzled by this statement, but as I read what Moore had written, it made more sense.  We are to guard our hearts from those around us that are negative, unhappy all the time, but also... we must guard our hearts against our own grumblings, worries, and yes even riches and pleasures that we allow to take control of our lives. "These intruders will come, no question about that.  But we do not need to let them throw us off balance spiritually" (Moore, p. 27).

Also, we must weed our garden.  We must tend to our heart by "pulling" the bad attitudes, resentfulness we may feel towards others, oversensitive feelings we may have, and wishing ill will on others.  All of these things will prevent us from growing spiritually. It is important to be able to "see" that we feel this way.  Try to understand why we feel this way.  For example, a few years ago I used to get very, very angry over something that maybe happened at work (where I used to work), I would swear, and yell, and through my arms around as if to try and beat the angry feelings I was having, but then one day I realized (God incident) that the reasons I got so angry was because I was afraid!! I was scared and to hide that weakness I would angrily bully my way through it, instead of facing that fear and dealing with it properly.  Now, don't get me wrong, I still get angry, but now I know why I am angry and I don't let it consume me.  Thank Jesus!!

What do you do to "water" your garden?  I thank God for every blessing, I surround myself with Christians that I know will help me by teaching me what they know, and encourage my growth, like you!

"Today we need to set our heart and mind on following the example of a good gardener.  We must treat our life as a garden where we can grow spiritual fruit for God and His good purpose" (Moore, p.27).

I have always said that I have a "black" thumb, and that if a plant wants to survive at my house then it needs to be able to do it on it's own.  How wrong I have been!!  I have learned from today's reading that just like everything else in my life that I want to do, I have to put the effort into it.  Just as I won't accomplish my degree from one episode of t.v. to the next, neither will I keep a plant alive in my home unless I tend to it.  I won't keep my Christina heart unless I do things to nurture it either. 

                                              Remember:  Gardening is a learned skill.

"Let us pray today that Christ will give  you a vision of His desire to help you grow in your walk with Him.  once you have that vision clearly focused in your mind, pray that He will help you be receptive to all of the many ways He wants to assist you in your growth" (Moore, p.28).


A farmer went out to sow his seed. (Luke 8:5)

Be a farmer today.... :-)

God Bless you all!