Thursday, April 1, 2010

Easy to Sow & Grow?

As an amateur Texan, I've tried to beautify my home with plants and flowers but the ground here in Fort Worth is hard to work. Because of the rocks and clay, I've had to struggle to get the plants to survive through one season, much less to come back for the next season.

Last night I was working in my huge planter boxes. When we built the boxes, I was so excited to have soft, easy to work with soil to plant in. I thought we'd be on easy street and the plants would just take off...and they did! Whew. Relief. Some section of my yard that I can control! Fast forward to last night. As I'm trying to clear the weeds I realize the downfall of my plan for "simple growth". Not only was it easy for my plants to grow, it was easy for the weeds to take the soft, loose soil hostage!

I begun to think about my relationship with God and when I've had the weeds of life take root. It's been in the periods of less struggle. When I've had the tough situations come up and had to struggle through them, my tendency is to seek God diligently until I find resolution. When things are easier, it's very natural to become complacent and less vigilant to make sure I'm firmly rooted and keeping the weeds out of my own garden. In those times, the weeds slowly take over, losing the fruit which we were all intended to bear. We have to remain focused on God in good times and bad. I've realized I'm good with the big stuff and have a harder time giving up control on the day to day. The good news is that each day is a new day where I can chose to grow.

So check this out from Psalms 92: 12-15.... be righteous and bear the fruit my friends...

The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
planted in the house of the LORD,
they will flourish in the courts of our God.
They will still bear fruit in old age,
they will stay fresh and green,
proclaiming, "The LORD is upright;
he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him."