Friday, May 20, 2011

Gardening and Soul Tending

It never ceases to amaze me how gardening mimics our spiritual lives. A seed is planted in the ground, new life sprouts. A gardener tends to the soil watering it and feeding it and getting rid of the weeds. Soon the seedling has grown and matured and the most magnificent flower has burst forth with color. Stretching towards the light of the sun to feed it and give it its life. If the garden is not tended to properly, however, something else happens. The plant will shrivel up and die and weeds will uproot and cover the plant and choke out its life.

The same is true said of our spiritual lives. At one time a seed was planted. We were fed nutrients (the Word of God) to make us stronger. If tended to we mature and are at peace with where we are in life. We blossom and we learn to look and reach for the Son who came to give us life and life to the fullest. Tending the garden of our soul, however, does not just happen during a Sunday morning worship service. Tending to the garden of our souls, has to happen on a daily basis in order for us to bloom into all that God desires for us. Spending time in His Word, praying and fellowshipping with other Christians are very important nutrients that help us all grow together and support each other. Our relationships with God and with other Christians are like the tomato cages of our soul gardens. These relationships surround us and uphold us when the storms of this life hit. If we do not make time to nurture our relationship with God (The Gardener) and with others it makes it a lot harder to weather the storms.

Perhaps this is why I love gardening so much…it bring me back to my center….to The Gardener…to the one who works all things out for my good. Many things I struggle with, but one thing is for sure…He is good and He promises beauty from ashes. The garden reminds of this.

I have played around with changes on my blog for sometime. Nothing quite fit. Then I stumbled upon Franchesca, who is a living, breathing example of how God makes beauty from the messes this life leaves. Her story is amazing…and her work is amazing. Please stop over and check her out…you’ll be glad you did! I gave her the things that tug at my heart and she ran with it…I think it suits me just fine…don’t you?

In closing, I leave you with a devotion out of “Jesus Calling”. I believe it fits right in with where I am right now.

I have promised to meet all your needs according to my glorious riches. Your deepest, most constant need is for My Peace. I have planted Peace in the garden of your heart, where I live; but there are weeds growing there too: pride, worry, selfishness, unbelief. I am the Gardener, and I am working to rid your heart of those weeds. I do my work in various ways. When you sit quietly with Me, I shine the Light of My Presence directly into your heart. In this Heavenly Light, Peace grows abundantly and weeds shrivel up. When you trust Me in the midst of trouble, Peace flourishes and weeds die away. Thank Me for troublesome situations; the Peace they can produce far outweighs the trials you endure.
Philippians 4:19; 2 Corinthians 4:17

4 comments:

Lyla Lindquist said...

Julie, the new place is a.maz.ing. I love it. And you're right, it looks like you. How I imagine you to look, anyway. :)

dreamwalking123 said...

Aww thanks Lyla! Still tweaking some stuff....but I likey too! ;)

Jennifer@GDWJ said...

Wow, Julie! I'm loving your new digs. I'm so glad you're back again. I've missed you, Julie! You're such a blessing. I appreciate your devotion this morning. Gardening is a great metaphor for the spiritual life, isn't it?

dreamwalking123 said...

Aww thanks, Jennifer! Your such an encouragement! :)