What is it about spring time, getting my hands in the dirt, pulling out weeds and hoping to get the whole root, that gets my spiritual analogy juices going. God just speaks to me when I am outside in His creation--it is when I worship Him the most freely and feel the closest to Him.
Today was another bonus, nice day--the kind we don't often get in Wisconsin, during the rainy month of April. (Now, as I type--we are getting our April showers and grass greening lightning. Thank you, God.) But today was one of those days where the sun and warmth just begs for me to get out in the flower beds--and I was blessed with a non-busy day for a change!
Working in the garden today correlated with a chapter entitled Growth, in the book I am loving, The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life, written by Hannah Whitall Smith, in 1880 or some year close to that.
As Christians, sometimes we understand that our salvation is by faith alone, but when it comes to our righteousness, or changing more like Him, we like to take things in our own hands--or at least I do. I try-try-try to be more like Him. I work-work-work to possess the fruits of the Spirit.
How's that working for me, you ask? Ummm--not so good. It is like trying to plant a flower in rocky soil. Even though I do all the right things--watering it, putting it out in the sunlight, fertilizing the stones, etc., it's just not going to grow very well. That flower needs to be put in good soil.
I am like that flower, but my good soil is God's grace. When I grow in grace, I put my 'growing' into the hands of God, and leave it with Him--"to grow as the babes or lilies grow without care or anxiety. He who planted us has planted a growing thing and has made us on purpose to grow."
"The slightest barrier between my soul and Christ may cause me to dwindle and fade as a plant in a cellar, under a bushel, or rooted in rocky soil. Bask in the sunshine of His love. Drink of the waters of His goodness. Keep my face upturned to Him."
Flowers naturally turn towards the sun--in the morning, they are facing east, late afternoon?--west. Isn't it awesome the lessons that His creation teaches us, if we just take the time to notice?
I grow in the rich soil of grace when I am spending time with Him, when I realize that I am unconditionally loved--no matter what good or bad things I do, and when I abide in Him, and say a continual YES to My Father's will.
Finally--check out how Miss Whitall Smith described GRACE.
"Grace is the unhindered, wondrous, boundless love of God, poured out upon us in an infinite variety of ways, without stint or measure, not according to our deserving but according to His measureless heart of love. Put together all the tenderest love you know of--the deepest you have ever felt and the strongest that has ever been poured out upon you--and heap upon it all the love of all the loving human hearts in the world, and then multiply it by infinity, and you will begin perhaps to have some faint glimpses of the love and grace of God."
Awesome...
Today was another bonus, nice day--the kind we don't often get in Wisconsin, during the rainy month of April. (Now, as I type--we are getting our April showers and grass greening lightning. Thank you, God.) But today was one of those days where the sun and warmth just begs for me to get out in the flower beds--and I was blessed with a non-busy day for a change!
Working in the garden today correlated with a chapter entitled Growth, in the book I am loving, The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life, written by Hannah Whitall Smith, in 1880 or some year close to that.
As Christians, sometimes we understand that our salvation is by faith alone, but when it comes to our righteousness, or changing more like Him, we like to take things in our own hands--or at least I do. I try-try-try to be more like Him. I work-work-work to possess the fruits of the Spirit.
How's that working for me, you ask? Ummm--not so good. It is like trying to plant a flower in rocky soil. Even though I do all the right things--watering it, putting it out in the sunlight, fertilizing the stones, etc., it's just not going to grow very well. That flower needs to be put in good soil.
I am like that flower, but my good soil is God's grace. When I grow in grace, I put my 'growing' into the hands of God, and leave it with Him--"to grow as the babes or lilies grow without care or anxiety. He who planted us has planted a growing thing and has made us on purpose to grow."
"The slightest barrier between my soul and Christ may cause me to dwindle and fade as a plant in a cellar, under a bushel, or rooted in rocky soil. Bask in the sunshine of His love. Drink of the waters of His goodness. Keep my face upturned to Him."
Flowers naturally turn towards the sun--in the morning, they are facing east, late afternoon?--west. Isn't it awesome the lessons that His creation teaches us, if we just take the time to notice?
I grow in the rich soil of grace when I am spending time with Him, when I realize that I am unconditionally loved--no matter what good or bad things I do, and when I abide in Him, and say a continual YES to My Father's will.
Finally--check out how Miss Whitall Smith described GRACE.
"Grace is the unhindered, wondrous, boundless love of God, poured out upon us in an infinite variety of ways, without stint or measure, not according to our deserving but according to His measureless heart of love. Put together all the tenderest love you know of--the deepest you have ever felt and the strongest that has ever been poured out upon you--and heap upon it all the love of all the loving human hearts in the world, and then multiply it by infinity, and you will begin perhaps to have some faint glimpses of the love and grace of God."
Awesome...
3 comments:
Luanne,
Like you, God speaks to me when I am enjoying His creation. The whole earth is full of His glory! I love how you pointed out that the created naturally turns toward the Creator - beautiful!
It has been awhile since I've picked up The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life; but Hannah Whitall Smith's definition of grace is awesome indeed. My to-read book list keeps growing!
Blessings to you dear one!
Lora
"I grow in the rich soil of grace when I am spending time with Him, when I realize that I am unconditionally loved.." I like this very much.
I love how you pointed out that the created naturally turns toward the Creator - beautiful!
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