Keep Out the Weeds

Weeds, Weeds, Weeds! If I desired to grow only weeds, I would have a garden paradise with no effort. I could choose to let those weeds go, flourish in their own right – many even are pretty as they bloom. But I love flowers, so spring through fall requires a continual effort of picking, pulling, and digging. Keeping my flowerbeds happy and productive proves often to be back and knee breaking work. The effort has it’s own reward though, as my plants and flowers are freed from the weeds that steal their nutrients and space – they begin to flourish and grow into what they were created to be.

Awe…..just like us! Weeds crop up, often unbeknownst to us. We can indulge them, allow them to grow – it’s easier – maybe no one will notice – it is our choice right? Or, we can grab the garden implements and get them out.

Your choices each day can allow the seeds of many types of weeds to be distributed all around you and suddenly you will find those weeds chocking out your life nutrients and crowding out what is important. Many of those choices are good, they don’t look bad, won’t hurt you; but deep down in the roots they are determining how and if you will grow to be all you were created to be.

Pulling, picking and digging those weeds out of your life will take effort – back and knee breaking effort. In fact, to keep the weeds out requires a daily diligence of looking to and listening to the Holy Spirit as He enlightens exactly where the weed needs to be attended.

Thankfully, cleaning out the weeds of wrong choices is well worth the effort and really rather simple. Begin making all your life choices as you abide in His love, choices that speak loudly of your desire to serve Christ and not your own desires. These types of choices will allow the weeding process to become easier. The reward will become apparent as your life begins to flourish and grow – showing forth the beauty of whom you were created to be.

Choose today to keep those weeds out and become His Kingdom garden.

John 15:8-9 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. (ESV)

Joshua 24:15 If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”(NASB)

Let the Dust Disappear

My recent rock garden project sent me on a hunt through tons of stone. All sorts, shapes and sizes waited my unearthing; and an “ah ha” moment ensued.

I was overwhelmed as I saw beauty hidden both inside and outside of what was present but unseen all around me every day, just simple rocks. As I began collecting “just the right sizes and types”, my fascination grew; they appeared to all look the same, covered in tan dust.

Once home, the washing began and the beauty emerged – all-different vibrant colors materialized. As the day continued the same process brought more wonder as I began the sorting of buckets of agates for my gardens riverbed. Again, one by one, I scrubbed away the sledge that had accumulated on them, revealing the glistening colors beneath. I was amazed by what lay in my hands.

Often God gets my attention in the midst of my daily activities and this was one of those times, with a still small voice that whispered, “They are just like you.”

Each of us are created by his hand with care and individuality, each getting covered with the dust from the environment around us, each needing a washing to reveal our hidden beauty, and each of us totally different in size, shape, colors and purpose.

We are like a chosen rock – ready to be found, ready to be washed, ready to sparkle and shine and ready to be placed into His planned purpose – His rock garden.

He created, He chose, He died for each of us before we were ever aware.

He has a life story for you that is just waiting to be revealed. The simplicity of it requires only for you to BELIEVE and say YES!

Just like the rocks in my garden – we walk under the cleansing water of Christ and become what we were created to be – our story begins to be revealed as all that glistens and sparkles materializes as the dust disappears.