Finding the root.

    

Have you ever watched a garden be over taken with weeds? To the point you can't find the vegetables that are suppose to be growing? Gardens take a lot of work, time, and dedication in order to reap a harvest. This past week our community garden was overflowing with weeds to the point I couldn't see my poor growing carrots. An hour and half went by and I was still picking weeds. However, in an hour and half I was able to be taught a lesson from a garden, a weed, and a root. 

You see our lives our alot like gardens. A garden is composed of so many different kinds of vegetables, arranged in order, and growing with the hope to eat of its harvest. Yet, weeds are a frequent visitor causing difficulty to the growing plants. Our lives are composed of so many different things as well. These vegtables can be labeled as school, family, work, talents, passions, hobbies, down time, characteristics, peronalities, ect. Some of our life requires order while other parts are spontaneous, sporadic, and carefree. 

Next, like a garden our lives are full of weeds. They bring difficulty, hardship, challenges, and restrict our growth. The time I spent pulling the weeds out of the garden I realized three things about life. 

1) when picking the weed the goal is to get not only the top of the weed but the root. If you only get the top of the weed the garden looks better but in a few short days you are back to a garden full of weeds. Therefore, getting to the root of the difficulties, challenges, and hurts is key. Many times in my life I try to take care of the surface, cover up the roots, and try to move on. I realize I never truly took care of the problem. And it resurfaces again and again. 

2) Depending on how I handle the weeds in my life then affect how I handle my sistuations, dreams, and relationships. Depending on how the weeds have rooted in my heart dictates how I then respond to friends, family, and God. 

3) Pulling weeds by the root can be tedious, time involved, and hard. There where times I would dig my finger into the dirt to loosen the ground around the root in order to completely pull the root. Simiarly, letting God competely pull the roots out of my life takes surrender, work, and vunerability. 

How do you deal with weeds in your garden? Surface. Root. 

The same thing.

Have you ever been caught up in a seaon of life, a situation, or an idea in which you feel you are on repeat? Or maybe a lesson you seem to have to learn over and over again. Perhaps, its a thought, a dream, a desire, or a calling you cannot seem to reach. Recently, this is my life on repeat. As if those moments are almost in grasps but its not quit time. So what now? I find myself growing from these repeat moment instead of doubting. How? Because I allow my heart to be captured by my Creator. Like many I try to play hard to get. Ignore His calls, His leading, His plan. This is what He is teaching me...

"They say we learn something every day. 

 Then why I am I stuck on my yesterdays.

I feel like I’m learning the same thing, the same thing over and over again

The same words they keeping coming.

The same thoughts keep rising.

Trust me with your today

And seek first the kingdom

Know I already forgave

And let my, let my will be done

As you face today let my, let my will done

Let my my will be done as you walk in my ways"

"But Seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." - Matthew 6:33

May I be able to whole heartly say, "Heavenly Father, who is in Heaven, Hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come (in my heart and life) and may your will be done (whatever the time and plan)."

 - Luke 11:2

A lesson from my fear.

A few weeks ago a few high school girls, a leader, and I ventured out on an eight mile hike.
This hike took us up and down, around beautiful trees, through creeks, and meadows.
A most beautiful sunny day.
We all shared parts of our lives, the happy times, sad memories, and even scary moments.
The fun began when one girl let out a scream due to her fear of spiders. Of course, we all had our laugh and continued on our way. Not knowing I too would pay for this laugh and be challenged.

As the hike went on I found myself deep in coversation with one of the youth. Just as I was forming a response a snake came slithering through the trail right infront of me! I danced, jumped, and sucked in all the air my lungs could contain. The girl beside me jolted and we then both looked at each other, laughing. While I continued to do a little dance thinking it would help calm every nerve ending in my body to rest.

You see, I am giving you a secret. A secret which contains the fact that I am terrified of snakes. The way they move, the look in their eyes, and the symbolism of satan they contain. After my heart rate slowed to normal, my mind began to race with thoughts about the Garden of Eden, satan, and snakes. What can I learn from the Garden, what do I need to know about my enemy, and how does a snake teach me a lesson on their characteristics?

Satan. A word that arouses so many emotions and feelings. In the garden, satan built a wall between humanity and God. A wall we define as sin. Just as God's heart is for us (John 3:16), satan heart is against us (I Peter 5:8). God's heart is to save us! While satan heart lies within sin, that which seperates us for Christ. Satan is cunning (Gen. 3:11 and 2 Cor. 2:11, 11:3, 11:14). He is wicked with no moral principles, no code of honor, and no higher feeling. He is a deceiver of our minds, lies, and makes us ignorant of God's will ( Acts 22:14, Eph. 5:17). He seeks to destroy our lives; yet fool us into beleving we are living freely.

Today, I was reading about the bit of venomous snakes. It only takes one bite containing very small amounts of venom to cause life to cease for the victim. Even if the victim goes uncared for even a few hours they can die. These victims sometimes don't think the bite is that bad or doesn't notice the severity.  While others seek medical help and find the antidote and live. Like snakes, satan bites and his venom is life threating. He attacks us at the very weakest point..our flesh. Our flesh longs for the world and what it gives (Romans 8:2-4 and Galations 5:17). Therefore, our flesh is the gateway satan uses. From there his venom spreads until one suffers spiritual death.

Yet, at the strongest point, our spirit, Christ enters. The antidote. Like many I get bit. I am deceived and many times have let my heart become ignorant of God's will. By God's mercy and grace I am made aware of the bites of Satan. At this point, I have the choice to receive help or become prideful. My heart truly breaks as I see in my own life Satan's working and in my friends, family, and neighbour's lives.

May we seek with ALL that is within us who Christ is and how he gives us life! And gives it to the Full. Do you know your enemy who wars against your soul? Do you know others who need an antidote for their bites? May we go to war in our prayers for them!

This load.

Many times I am struck with that fact that I need a Savior. A Savior to free me, cleanse me, and call my dreams into existence. A Savior to heal me, to give wisdom, understanding, and grace. In these moments I realize...

When I lay my life before you I begin to see in different ways

You take the load I bear and make a lighter day

Before I choose you I was a slave to what I obey

Its when I give you control I am healed, I am made whole

This load I carry is heavy full of my weight and sin

It holds me from my freedom, from my call, from your will

I get lost in myself a darkness my soul it kills

Can it change, will I change, can I see your light

I need a Savior to come and fill, fill this dark hole

I need saving grace to come pull me out of myself

I need your mercy to give me peace from this past

I need your strength to come take come take this load

Father, take our load we try carrying. Take the load that leaves us continually hurting, empty, and longing for more. Take the load so we can fly on wings like eagles. Take this load and show us your glory. 

Hungry for more.

Acts 2:42, "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to breaking of bread and to prayer."

They devoted. When I read this verse the first two words pierced my heart. They devoted. They were comitted, zealous and desired something more than what their hearts currently pocessed. So then they devoted. What do we desire with this type of devotion? What hunger do we have which compels us to be devoted?

Why do we eat? We are hungry. We Need energy to function. Seems simple and straighforward right? The reality is that hunger is influenced by biological, psychological, cultural, and social factors. Several occurrences working together to make one hungry. So then we eat. We eat what sounds good, taste good, and satisifies the hunger. We then become full. Later, we hunger again and the process begins again.

I began to realize the hunger process is similar to my devotion to Christ. There are moments I hunger for Christ, while other moments I have no hunger. These moments are characterized by what I am choosing to eat. When I hunger for Christ I am empty of my desires of the flesh and ready to be filled with God's Holy Spirit. When I am filled with God it fills the void (Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." Matthew 5:6)!  One the other hand, when I become full of this world, trying to fill myself up with what I think will satisfy I am left empty and wanting more. Therefore, my mind is tricked into believing I am full and the the hunger for God is quenched.

What are we doing to fill our hunger?