Years ago I planted four separate
things in pots of soil.
Two were acorns. They eventually
grew into two small oak trees,
which I brought with us when we
moved here over five years ago,
and have in tubs in my back garden.
moved here over five years ago,
and have in tubs in my back garden.
I have always loved growing things,
and get quite excited when I see the
first signs of the plants emerging
from the soil.
The amazing thing is that it has actually produced three figs this year for the first time.
My husband loves figs so I am hoping that these will eventually ripen enough for him to be able to eat them.
The fourth thing that I planted was a grape seed. This plant had always been in a pot outside all through the year, until we came to live here. Then I put it into the front porch which is like a greenhouse when the sun is out.
About a month ago I put it back outside and I have to say that it appears to be thriving better there than it did indoors.
Perhaps one day I will get a greenhouse and see how it does in there.
There is something in all of this which really speaks spiritually to me about having humility in the Lord.
Although I have thoroughly enjoyed watching these plants grow, there is no way that I could take any credit regarding the actual growth of the plants. I know how to place the original seed in the ground, and I can encourage it to grow by watering it, but that is all that I can do. All credit regarding the growth goes to God.
The same applies to my calling in the church, which I believe is evangelism and, strangely enough, I have to say that just like my grapevine thrives when outdoors I too love being outside sharing the gospel. However, I may plant, I may water, but it is God who causes the growth, and all credit and glory can only go to Him.
This is emphasized in 1 Corinthians ch. 3 v. 6 and 7 where the apostle Paul says 'I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused it to grow. So neither the one who plants counts for anything, nor the one who waters, but God who causes the growth. '
'Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.'
Ephesians ch. 3 v. 20
24 comments:
Hi sweet Brenda! Thank you for this beautiful post :) It's truly a joy to watch things grow because it's all thanks to the Lord.
Wishing you a wonderful summer! Hugs!
This is a wonderful post Brenda with a great reminder on how God is the one who truly provides the increase, we can do our part but it's God that does the most important part and that is providing the increase. This also reminds me of why we must wait on the Lord and not be anxious.
God bless you Brenda. :-)
Hi Stephanie,
it is lovely to have you visit. I have always been fascinated by plants, and their revealing of how the Lord is truly amazing.
You too have a wonderful summer, and God bless you in all that you do.
Hi Sateigdra,
I hope you are well, it is lovely to see you again. Yes, it is only God who can bring us all to be like Him in ways and thoughts, and you are right - we must wait on the Lord and not be anxious about anything.
One of the first scriptures He gave me was 'take no thought for tomorrow', and I find when I do this then I cancel out completely all the 'bad things' that my carnal mind tells me might happen, and have total peace in Him. I love the scripture 'For my eyes are upon You Lord'. Who better could we look to eh?
God bless you Sateigdra, and hope to read and enjoy more of your thoughts on your blog soon.
Brenda, this was very timely! I'm glad I came over to your blog this morning. Needed to read this!
Hi Sandi,
nice to see you. Glad you enjoyed your read.
God bless
Hi Brenda! You are so right about the growth of a person in Christ. We can do all the praying, good works and words, but only God creates the growth.
I am so impressed by your plants! Trees? Figs? How wonderful is that? My FIL really loved figs, I know he's love to watch the fruit grow.
We are all so graced to read your words, as the Lord pours His wisdom to you in nature. I love that. Thank you for sharing it!
Blessings,
Ceil
Hi Ceil,
I love the way that the Lord reveals things to us through our experiences, they are living parables to us. I have loved the way that you have similar happenings in your life and share them too. It is a beautiful relationship that the our Father has with His children, and I believe that we have to become as a child in the Lord in order to see these things. My carnal mind could easily discard what is being revealed through my experiences if I allowed it to, but then I have to remember what it would actually be discarding - the Lord's voice in my life, and my maturing in Him.
God bless you Ceil, and thank you for visiting.
Dear Brenda,
I recall many years ago when I was a boy at primary school. I found an acorn in the school playground. I picked it up and asked my teacher if a pot of soil can be prepared for it. She was very obliging.
Weeks later we were both excited over the young shoot piercing the surface of the soil. We watched it grow for several months until an accident of some kind (I can't remember what actually happened) caused the pot to smash on the floor and the sapling was destroyed, which was a big disappointment for both of us.
An excellent post.
Hi Frank,
lovely to hear from you. I was reading your blog earlier, but need to go back to finish it and take it in more. The older I get the busier I get.
I have always loved plants, and sometimes have to put even a snapped off branch back into the soil. I think it somehow reflects God's love for us to me, how He re nourishes our broken souls.
God bless you and Alex.
Brenda, you have quite a green thumb, for plants and for souls! I love your choice of plants, too -- the oak tree symbolizing how souls can thrive and grow when deeply rooted in Christ; the fig tree as a symbol of Israel; and the grape vine representing the One True Vine without Whom we can do nothing. Agriculture is such an apt metaphor for the Christian life -- all we can do is plant and water, and have faith that God will do the miracle of new growth.
Beautiful post! May God richly bless you and your ministry,
Laurie
Laurie,
what a beautiful description of the symbolism of the plants. I never cease to be amazed at how everything that God has created knits together to reveal the love of God for all His creation. I often think 'If God wants all to be saved, then how can He not get what He wants, and know how to achieve that, when the basis of that is His love and all things are possible with Him.'
He is as the chess player, we the chess pieces.
T hank you for your lovely comment, and God bless you and your watering and planting too Laurie.
Hi Brenda,
How lovely! I too love to grow things but am not very successful unless it is in the garden. This year I have two gardens on the go and am looking forward to some fresh home grown veggies. :)
I love your planters and the choices of the seeds you are growing. It is a humbling experience to watch something grow from seed into full life. It is such a wonder.
Blessings dear friend,
<><
Hi coG,
It is lovely to hear from you. I often think about you and wonder if you will come back blogging, I used to love visiting your blog. I too have always been fascinated by plants and their growth, and have always had to have as many kinds of plants and shrubs in my gardens, wherever I have lived, no matter how small the garden might be. To me a garden around a house is like a frame to a painting.
My father always grew his own veggies. I have some nice black currants waiting to be picked at the moment.
God bless you and may you yield a good harvest from your labouring (both physically and spiritually).
Dear Brenda,
Praise God that all things are possible with Him, and that He works all things together for our good with the most careful attention to every detail. What a joy it will be to meet Him in glory and to know exactly how He orchestrated everything together for His purposes.
God bless you and your ministries and may they continue to bear much fruit,
Laurie
Hi Laurie,
Amen to praising God that all things are possible with Him, and that He works all things together for our good. I believe that if we love Him we will each do what He asks us to do, according to what He equips us to do. All credit goes to our lovely Lord who gives gifts to us all. May we use them for His glory, in His strength.
God bless you and your ministry Laurie, and may it to bear much fruit.
How good to depend on God for the increase! And it leaves us restful, since all is in His hands.
Hello David,
you are right, depending on God for the increase gives us the peace that passes all understanding.
Dear Brenda,
Amen! If we love Him, we will keep His commandments and feed His sheep, using the talents He has given us and the resources and opportunities He has entrusted to us. Praise God for His faithfulness in seeing us through whatever mission He has called us to.
May God continue to richly bless you and your ministries,
Laurie
Hi Laurie,
you always have encouraging words to write, and the talent that the Lord has given you is seen in both them and your blog posts. Thank you for your visits, and may God bless you richly as you continue to serve Him.
It is indeed enjoyable to watch things grow from which a seed has been planted. I pray all the time that the Lord will allow me to plant the seed. I don't have to be there to see it grow into a mature plant, because I know that God's will will be done and I will eventually enjoy the fruits of my labor.
As for the garden, I attempted aquaponics this year and I've been blessed with a bountiful harvest so far. Corn came in almost two months ahead of schedule and I can't keep ahead of the beans, tomatoes, squash, etc. Praise God!
Hello, nice to meet you.
I had to look up the meaning of aquaponics, I knew it had something to do with water but had never heard of it - very interesting. I have always loved being out in the streets with my friend, doing what the Lord brought us to do many years ago. We both know that we would not be able to do it, and would not have the equipment to do it, if it had not been the Lord calling us into it. Just as I love seeing the Lord causing the growth in the garden, I love also seeing the Lord causing the growth in His church.
I visited your blog before I went out this morning - looks very interesting. I shall call over to see what you have written.
God bless
Dear Brenda,
When I lived in a studio apartment in New York I had a small aquaponics garden on my window sill and grew basil and lettuce. It grew wonderfully until I went out of town one weekend and the water reservoir dried up. When I returned, everything had withered and died. I hadn't thought about that for a very long time, but now it reminds me that we must have the Living Water of the Holy Spirit flowing through us for us to be productive and fruitful, particularly when sowing the seed of His Word.
May God bless you and your lovely writing,
Laurie
Hi Laurie,
Isn't it wonderful how the Lord speaks in the simplest of ways through His beautiful creation. I always used to see the same principle in a flower pot - that it had to have holes in the bottom to allow the water to flow through it so that the plant in it stayed healthy and also the water that kept that plant alive also flowed out too - as in us sharing the Gospel.
Thank you for your kind words, all praise to our God and His Son.
God bless you.
Post a Comment