PS: Weeds

In response to my latest post, I must say that I am strangely disappointed by myself. There I was, contributing to my newest project [my blog] and admitting some very real fears. The point being: Praise God for his unending love...He never tires in his pursuit to help us grow. And, grow I must.

A Christian faith plagued by fear is not SOLID. And, if I am standing on the Rock that is Christ, I can't possibly be shaking. It is true what the Word says, "Perfect love casts out fears--there is no fear in love." There is no fear because you can hope in what you've grown to trust. So, that is what I need to grow................

more trust

Nothing can exemplify this idea more clearly than gardening and landscaping. And, I had my very first taste of this experience today. We purchased our home (from the Lord essentially) last fall. Sure, we mowed the lawn and took care of taking out the garbage, etc. But, it wasn't until this spring when all the incredible perennials rose up unexpectedly that I realized I had bitten off more than I could chew, so to speak! WOW! The landscaping the previous owners left us with is daunting, and terribly beautiful, and daunting again! We finally dead-headed the perennials and cut down the tall grasses (Two seasons too late). What we were left with: questions.

I have told my husband again and again that I would DO something about the flower beds if only I knew what to weed out!

Herein lies the most amazing analogy for everything I am feeling RIGHT now in my walk with the Lord. I do get frustrated with my apparent weaknesses. I feel as though admitting my own fleshly feelings will diminish my witness. Will it diminish the appealing nature of Christ? And, so I vacillate.

So...my sister in law came to visit today. And, wow, is she a worker! She dug right in, literally, and helped me with the landscaping. We moved some plants, planted some raspberry plants, pulled weeds. It was ridiculously tiring, extremely therapeutic, and enlightening. Who knew! One aspect of the whole experience was richly revealing. My sins are truly like the weeds! Oh, they are so embedded into the very fabric of the soil. They blend in as to almost be imitating the plants around them, at times hiding, or sometimes even standing so loftily above the rest. My heart has been aching for those that I know who are struggling, and also, even for the personal pains I'm experiencing. In my own life [the only one to which I am accountable] when I am the angriest, assuming it is the Almighty, what I really am fixated on are the W.E.E.D.S!!!

I need reminders *do this in remembrance of me* and pulling each weed was a little message from God:

I love you

I loved you so much I put one plan into action for you

I am Good

I am Emmanuel "God with us"

I will never leave you, forsake you, refuse to forgive you

I made you (and made you like me)

I am not slow in answering my promises

There is no such thing as unanswered prayers

I am healer, forgiver, counselor

I will not lead you into temptation

I will always give you a way out

I never grow weak or weary

I am healer

Miracles, signs, wonders are still as real today as they were in the Old Testament

I never change

I AM returning

I have a place for you

Draw near to me, and I will draw near to you

Salvation is Here (available, real, necessary, eternal)

I am not, nor will I be the last, to make the analogy of gardening to God. It is unoriginal. The clarity though is unmatchable; it brings such great vision to my growth in God. Forgive me if you were affected by my doubts. Without careful attention, they sprouted into my spiritual life and crowded out the beauty God intended to grow in me. Satan is merciless. God, in His glory, allows me the simplest of graces and lovingly points out my sins and gives me the strength to rid my life of them though. And, this isn't a childhood Sunday school lesson we're discussing. Sins can be ignored. There is life without God [admittedly, as the Bible points out, some devilishly, deceitfully good lives]. Why would I waste my "life" caring about what God cares about? Well, there is a treasure in each moment, each day, each relationship that can ONLY truly be magnified with a...weeded belief. Let's call it repentant redemption. And, believe me, is it glorious, like the one who IS glory.

Oh JOY, it's time to weed.