What are you sowing - Dandelions or Tomatoes?

Like King David, the psalmist, the Lord seems to speak to me in the night.  When I awake, sometimes it seems, even before I’m well awake, I believe the Lord speaks to me things He wants me to know.   That’s probably the only time that He has my undivided attention.  Early this morning was one of those times.  

I’ve been praying that the Lord would help me to do His will, to know it and to be willing to do it.  Like the verse that says, “He works in us both to will and to do His good work.”  He’s always faithful to help and to guide.  I want to be more faithful to listen and adhere to His way, not my own.  

Yesterday morning, when I had finished reading my Bible, I prayed that the Lord would continue to renew my mind by the “washing of the water of the Word.”  I asked that He would bring the scripture I’d read back to mind throughout the day and night so that my mind could be cleansed and rejuvenated constantly.  It’s my mind that needs to be renewed to live “not my will but God’s will be done.”  I want a new mind!!! 

So this morning, before it was time to be awake, this thought came to mind.  “How can I renew your mind if you’ve constantly got it chasing after other things?  You keep focusing it everywhere else but on Me and My word.  What are you planting, dandelions or tomatoes?”  God is always so good!!! 

It’s true!  I have kept my mind preoccupied with so many other things.  I like to craft and create, sew, make jewelry, produce artwork with scripture, photos, digital art, etc.  Lately, I’ve been overly indulging my senses in searching the internet for new ideas and inspiration.  I have busied myself to the point that my mind has not taken the time to “be still and know that God is God”.  No wonder that I keep choosing my way instead of God’s way – I haven’t taken the time to listen to what He has to say. 

Now, creating is not bad in itself.  God made us in His image and He is the Master Creator.  Using our talents to craft and create is not a bad thing.  In the Old Testament, the Lord even told Moses that He had gifted certain men with the ability to be excellent craftsmen in order to make the Tabernacle just like He wanted it to be made.  That’s encouraging!  God expects us to use the talents and abilities He’s given us for His purpose as well as an avenue to relax and re-group from our daily stresses. 

However, when even what is good takes over, then it becomes sin because it eats up the energy, the focus, and the ability to see and have what is best.  Martha had the same problem once when Jesus came to visit.  She was busy preparing food and setting the table for dinner for her many guests while her sister Mary sat at Jesus feet and soaked up His every word.  What Martha did was good and necessary in order to be sure that everyone had a seat, a plate and cooked food, but Jesus said what Mary was doing was better and she could just sit and listen to Him. 

Sometimes, what can be good can choke out what is better.  We don’t often see it, but God sees it every time.  He wants us to have what is very best.  That’s why He sent Jesus, His only Son to redeem us.  He didn’t send Jesus’ right-hand man or angel.  He sent the #1 Son to do the job. 

Dandelions are not bad, really.  They have some good health benefits when prepared properly.  Food and drink made with them contain some deep cleansing properties, too.  Creativity and using our hands and minds to make things is not bad.  It’s God given resourcefulness and constructive “rest” from stress. 

Tomatoes are full of vitamins that help us every day.  They not only help keep us clean, but they have vitamins that help protect us from destructive properties.  Taking time to read and be quiet and meditate on God’s word, not only rejuvenates us, but it also keeps us focused on His unfailing way and protects us from being eaten alive by everything that bombards us from the outside. 

With the words “What are you planting, dandelions or tomatoes,” came the mental picture of sowing a batch of seeds made with ten parts dandelion seed to one part tomato seed.  That’s what I’d been doing!  I was expecting a good crop of tomatoes (learning to follow God’s will) with such a bad mixture of seed.  The garden was growing up profusely saturated with dandelions (saturating myself with outside influence) while the tomatoes were fighting for survival not even being able to produce.  And dandelions produce more dandelions with fierce rapidity sucking the water and the very life out of the soil of the garden (me). 

I need to stop, be still, focus on God, His word, His Holy Spirit.  He will guide me.  He will revitalize me and restore my mind to His purpose for me and His perfect plan.  It just takes planting the right seeds. 

Thank you God for dandelions!  Thank you for tomatoes and for everything You have provided to keep us healthy and alive.  I’m so glad You gave us your word to guide us.  Thank you for loving us enough to stay with us so that we can learn from You.  Thanks also, a whole bunch, for the creativity You put inside of us.  You are so good!!!  I love You so much!  Praise You Father!  In Jesus’ precious name I pray, amen. 

Some scriptures that were referenced or drawn from for this post are:  Psalm 16:7; Psalm 42:8; Psalm 63:6; Psalm 119:148; Philippians 2:13; Romans 12:2; Ephesians 5:26; Luke 22:42; Psalm 46:10; Genesis 1:27; Exodus 35:30-35; Luke 10:38-42; John 3:16; Genesis 1:29-30

Look up these scriptures and others on BibleGateway.com.

photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/guest_family/3378253845/">Road Fun</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> 

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Tearful Sowing --- Joyful Reaping

WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS Hymn

This morning I was searching for a particular hymn that a friend had asked me about and I ran across a story about a man who wrote this well known and encouraging Christian hymn.  It made me think of a verse from the Psalms.

Those who go out weeping,

carrying seed to sow,

will return with songs of joy,

carrying sheaves with them.

Psalm 126:6 NIV

The hymn writer's name was Joseph Medlicott Scriven (1819-1886). He certainly went out into his manhood weeping.  Shortly after graduating from Christian college, he was to be married.  Tragically, the night before their wedding, his fiance drowned to death.  He was heartbroken.  His earthly best friend had left him.  

He traveled from his homeland of Ireland across the ocean to Canada and taught in Ontario. There he also became a tutor and eventually met a woman he planned to marry.  By remarkable coincidence, shortly before the wedding, this woman also lost her life.  Jesus Christ became his best and closest friend.  

The words to the above hymn were written as a poem for his mother. She was still in Ireland and had become terribly ill.  He had no means to travel to be by her side and none to send to her.  Yet, he wanted her to know and be comforted that Jesus was always by her side.  He was the best friend she could ever know.  He would be her closest and dearest friend and be with her always.

This hymn was lived out in Joseph's life.  He trusted Jesus through the greatest of losses.  He lived the rest of his life serving others.  He certainly had personal weeping, but it had led him closer to his Savior. He took the seeds of sorrow in his own life and sowed them into serving others.  I'm sure that his harvest in heaven is great.  Rejoicing, he is with his Lord and Friend and the many sheaves (folks he led to the Lord) are with him.  

I used this hymn from a vintage hymnal and added the artwork to make a sheet music print suitable for framing. Please feel free to copy it to use for your personal use only.
It can print to 8" x 10".  Many blessings to you!

Listen to the Psalm mentioned above on BibleGateway.com.

Gardening: A Spiritual Experience

GOD CARES Hand Embroidery Pattern

God knew what He was doing - starting out people in a garden.  He knew that was the best place to teach them about life, His provision and caring for others.  He also knew it was the best place to talk to them without all the hurriedness of daily obligations fracturing their little attention spans.  He didn't come and talk to them all day long.  He came in the evening, but I'm willing to bet He taught them all day long through His beautiful creation.

All this to say...  I was out in my garden the other day, watering my sunflowers and just standing there watching and thanking God for all the bees He sent to pollinate my flowers and veggies, too.  The sunflowers were full of busy little bee bodies, happy seed munching finches and yellow jackets.  As I was standing there thanking God for the bees as I often do, it was as if the Lord Himself let me know that I was a part of His caring for His creation.  

I was so happy and humbled by the way that He and the bees always kept me in flowers, that I almost cried.  Me!  You mean that I help provide for Your bees. Yes!  It was true.  I planted flowers from the seeds that He provided and the birds were eating the seeds from the flowers and the bees were busy making sure that the flowers would produce more seeds for all of us.  They drank the nectar and carried home its sweetness to their hives to provide for their little ones and relatives.  It was such a blessing that I got to be a part of His provision.  Wow!!!  A big "Thank You God"!

Jesus said when He was teaching outside, "Look at the birds.  They don't plant seeds or reap harvests, but God makes sure they have all the food they need.  He always sees to it that they have food.  You, yourself, God's own creation made in His image, are much more important to Him than the birds.

So, don't worry!  Don't keep thinking about what you're going to eat, or what you're going to wear, or how you'll be taken care of and provided for.  Seek God! Meditate on His promises.  Practice doing what you know is right in His eyes. Know that He will take care of your needs just like He does for the birds and the bees.  You are precious to Him!!!"

The hand embroidery pattern shown above is available for purchase at PrimAndProperCottage at Etsy.com. If you would like a free copy of it for your own personal use, please contact me and I'll e-mail you a digital copy.  Thanks!
Have a joyful day!

Listen to Jesus' words from scripture on BibleGateway.com.