So, this summer I decided to do some gardening and grow some plants, which if you had seen our planting boxes before I did some weed work, you’d think I was crazy haha. It had been overgrown with trees (I’m not kidding, full trees…), probably about 16 in one and 10-12 in the other. Suffice to say it wasn’t easy work and I got some marks from pulling the trees. BUT it was worth it. God has shown me so much of our walk with him and simply by planting seeds and plants and helping them grow.
What the gardening boxes looked like after my dad and I were done pulling the weeds, we were still working on the last little bit as you can see…
This is what my gardens looks like now, pretty close to overgrown with LIFE
A few days ago my World Race Squad was talking about a video we need to do to introduce ourselves for training camp and our squad is the B squad. One of my squad mates (shout out to Rebekah!!) mentioned having a bumblebee in each of our videos for the “B” Squad.
This got me thinking how powerful bees actually are to helping things grow and spreading the pollen just like we are important for spreading the love of Jesus. When I would tend my garden I would occasionally see a bumblebee going around pollinating the flower that would become tomatoes or other plants. The little bees can make sure an impact just by going around to each flower, we can do that too with God!
As I’m writing this I am just simply amazed at how wonderful and sweet God speaks to us, even in the little things.
Something else God showed me is when the plants are ripe for harvest if we don’t go out and gather them they can get lost or eaten up. This is similar to what Jesus tells the disciples in Luke 10:2-3,
“Then He said to them, ‘The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.’ ‘Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves.’”
To me this verse means that there are so many people who are “ripe for the picking” or ready to hear about the love and hope of Jesus Christ. With that it is so important for us as Christ followers (or laborers in the verse) to go out and tell people about the good news and all God can do for each one of us. Verse three talks about sending lambs out among wolves and in biblical times lambs and cattle were not only animals people owned but their livelihood and all their income. Wolves were a great threat to their sheep and if they lost their sheep, especially the lambs that would become sheep they wouldn’t have any income. From my understanding from biblical times this what I gather for this passage. To me this applies to the world we live in, we are in a world full of wolves and if we are not careful those who are starting to get ready to hear the good news of Jesus Christ and His salvation will get “eaten up by wolves” or may lose the little faith they have.
Another lesson from gardening I have learned is the need to give and receive proper nutrients to grow, and to excel. The first few weeks after I had initially planted the tomato plants we had a ton of rainfall which was great for the plants to really grow. It was crazy seeing the plants grow so much. It was amazing though to see that growth happen so fast!
Sometimes in our faith walk I imagine God is so proud of the work we have done and what He has done us, he is our living water and where we can find all our “nutrients”.
I love having time with the Lord, sitting here writing this post I’m in awe at how much He is teaching and reteaching me, and how much pure joy I am experiencing. He is truly good. I encourage you to take some time to simply sit with the Lord today and see what he puts on your heart, sometimes that’s all we need on a crazy day.
Know this if you got anything from this post (besides my apparent new passion for gardening 
), I hope you understand God wants you to grow like those tomato plants, even more growth than anyone expected through His living water. You are loved. You are cared for. Please do not ever forget that.
And as my other squadmate said (shout out to Eva!), “We are pollinators for Christ!” Let’s go show others Jesus’ love!
This is an awesome message and vision Bethany! Its a great way to compare gardening and bees with Jesus. I will pray and continue to pray for you and the team. Love you hun! Sue
He is truly good and His word really guides us. Thank you for the prayer, we are all very thankful.