Monday, April 21, 2008

Happy Spring!

Happy Spring Everyone!

Just in time for spring I've started a new hobby: planting flowers and soon I plan to plant a small garden (this is a first for me!). I've been working hard outside, putting soil in pots, sowing seeds, watering, etc. Every time I'm outside hovering over these plants and flowers I always think about how God tends to us.

We are all at different places in life. Some of you might be new Christians, like tiny sprouts finally breaking through the soil. Others of us have been at it for a while. Sometimes our leaves shrivel up or we need those dead blossoms taken off so that new things can grow. Whatever stage you're at in your walk with God I hope that you feel Him drawing you closer to Him everyday! Let your heart be tender before God and see what new, awesome things He will do in your life! Does your life need some weeding? Don't be afraid to let Him trim away some old, dead things! I'm ready for God to do a new thing in me and I hope you are too! I say, "Prune away, Lord. Make me what you want me to be. Take out anything and everything that doesn't please you! AMEN!"

Here are a few scriptures that come to mind when I think of planting time:

If you get the chance read all of John 15.

Galatians 5:22, 23 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Matthew 13:3-9; 18-23 The Story of the Seed and the SowerThen he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. He who has ears, let him hear."

Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."

Have a great week and keep growing in Him!
- Dina