Day 4 - Colossians 2:7 NLT

I was in my garden last evening. I was getting all the debris and weeds out of the garden. As I was pulling weeds, I noticed a small tree growing in the garden along with my raspberry plants. I went to go pull on the plant to get it out of my garden, but it would not budge! I started digging around in the dirt to try and dig the small tree up out of my garden. But the more I dug, the deeper the roots were!

I was amazed that even though the tree was very small, it's roots were so far deep beneath the ground. Even though I was frustrated with the digging, the dirt, the weeds, the thistles from the raspberry plants, the itch-weed (which I didn't realize it was in my garden!), the hassle & annoyance of the unwanted tree in my garden, I was reminded about this devotional.

I was challenged to look inside my own life to see if there were any deep, deep roots that were hindering my personal walk with God. I need to make sure that my life is producing new growth. I was reminded that even though it might be a "small sin" (like a small weed) it can cause just as much damage in ones life (God's Garden).

I must admit I'm only on Day 1. I also do not enjoy gardening. However, it was a joy to invision God creating the garden of Eden. Did He really do the work incolved in planting or did He just speak and it came to be. Either way, it show's gardens and growing are important to God! Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane. God may use us to plant the seed of the Gospel but He does the nourishing and wants us to grow spiritually day after day. I pray that God will increase our awareness of His love as we meet with Him daily in His Word. Amen

Day 3 - Matthew 13:3

Do I make sufficient time for a relationship with my God?

I was personally convicted by this challenge. I will sometime go throughout my day and, I'll admit, I only talk to Him when I pray for my meals. This is not at all what God wants from me. "He wants a relationship." "He wants me to know Him - not just know about Him."

I need to make sure that I am making every effort to have a relationship, to learn about, to know, to talk to, to meditate, etc.

I was encouraged not only that He wants a relationship, but that if I mess up He is patient and ready with open arms.

This was a good devotional for me.

Day 2 - Psalm 139:5, 13

I remember memorizing this whole chapter when Pastor Dave Meunier was the Youth Pastor at the Church.

It was a requirement in order for us to go on a Missions' Trip to Utah. At the time, I didn't think I could memorize the whole passage. But, with God's help, I quoted the whole chapter to Lora Meunier and was able to go on the Missions' Trip.

That trip was so neat! Every night (if able) we would look up at the sky and see the Stars, the Milky-Way, heat Lightning, and think about God's greatness and how He was the Creator of what we were enjoying. We were able to "delight" in what God created.

God made us, gave us life, and looks at us and "He[God] delights in us - His wonderful creation."

Sometimes I have a hard time comprehending that God delights in us and loves us. This devotional was a good reminder that "God loved me before my beginning" and that He "loves me still."

Day 1 - Genesis 2:8-9

I think it is interesting to think about the variety of reasons for planting a garden. I haven't really given it much thought before. I do not have a "green-thumb" and usually end up killing my plants. I think I am too impatient. I want to see the final out-come, or I water the plant with too much water. With my impatience, I don't think I give my plants the "love and time" they need to actually survive or mature.

I am so thankful that God, in His sovereignty, gives us unconditional love and time in order for us to "survive" and blossom into what He wants us to become!

I also liked the two Garden views: Eden vs. Gethsemane. It definitely made me think about the two in a different light.

Great Day

Growing in Grace Devotional -25 days of Blessing