[Faith-talk] Daily Thought for Thursday, May 1, 2014

[Paul]

Well folks, here it is the first of May with all that this month entails.  Among other known events, here in the U.S. on Saturday afternoon comes the famous Kentucky Derby horse race taking place at Churchill Downs near Louisville Kentucky.  Now I'm not a horse race fan, but it sure brings out the crowds.  And on Saturday, May 17 occurs the second jewel of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes which is held at Pimlico Race Track in west Baltimore, which also brings out the fans of such an event.  Whatever May holds for you, I hope it will be a pleasant time, and that, in your busyness to be out of doors, that you will at the very least have a thought for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Carol Kehlmeier is an author living in the state of Ohio, and her contribution today is entitled "God's Herb Garden," rendered as follows:

In the morning chill of early spring, I pulled the leaf rake across the tangled brush of the herb garden and breathed in the pungent scent of sage.

I grumbled, knowing I had raked and cleaned the herb garden the previous autumn.  But over the winter fallen autumn leaves had gathered, brush became tangled and it was obvious pruning was needed.

I dropped to my knees to dig out the dandelions and thistle plants and recalled having done the same task in the fall.  When chosen plants show no hope of thriving in the dead of winter, bothersome unwanted weeds thrive.

All through the seasons annoying weeds needs to be removed.  The roots of the crabgrass reach deep into the earth and hold firm.  These roots must be dug out, but somehow the crabgrass always returns to annoy us.

Perhaps God looks at us this way when He forgives our repeated sins over and over.  The roots of our sins hold fast.  We must dig them out and put them before God.

Continuing, I cut away the woody dead leaves on the sage and noticed tiny, new green shoots and felt a sense of reassurance and hope.

God forgives us of the sins that gather in the winter of our lives, then sees new life emerge in us.

The lavender was scrawny and limp.  I knew from previous experience it had to be trimmed back so new healthy growth could come alive.  When we become lazy and dormant in our spirituality, do we need to be cut back in order to grow?

As the sun peeked out from morning clouds, I felt its warm rays on my back.

Pulling away last year's dead undergrowth, tall, slender green leaves of the garlic appeared and I knew its bulbs were maturing beneath the earth.

Removing more of last year's lifeless growth, tiny fat buds were visible on the chives.  These buds would soon become purple blossoms.

When last year's dead leaves were removed, tiny green oregano was spreading across the earth.  Nearby last year's parsley was bright green and bushy like miniature trees.  I continued pulling away dry brush until lacey green fennel was visible.  I closed my eyes and breathed in its licorice fragrance.

Our lives sometimes need to be cleaned out and pruned to allow new life to appear.  God rakes away our tangled sin.  He prunes our lives with love.  We need to allow God to enter the brown winter of our souls and make us blossom new again.

I began a tedious task, but soon began enjoying it when I discovered new life.

The herbs had been dormant through the winter, but the warm sunshine of spring brought them to life again.  I soon found myself smiling and enjoying the chore.

Perhaps we are God's herb garden that needs to be cleaned, raked, and cut back in the seasons of life.  When we are freed from our sins through the grace of God, God must smile and enjoy the task.

And there you have Carol's article for today which I hope was a blessing to you.  Come to think of it, why not pass this story along to any gardener friend or acquaintance you may know who would also enjoy it.  Not only will you be sharing this piece of literature, but you will also, in a somewhat roundabout way, be spreading the Gospel, and in spreading the Gospel, you will be broadcasting.  (Maybe many of you don't know, but the original meaning of the word "broadcast" was to scatter seed over a specified area of ground, as anyone here whose friend or relative is or was a farmer knows).

And now may the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob just keep us safe, individually and collectively, in these last days in which we live.  In the meantime, I'm going for a walk in God's creative sunshine so that I can return and bask in the Sonshine of His love.  Care to join me? Your Christian friend and brother, Paul