Mulching, Jesus, and Victory

I mulched the other day. I had been putting it off since as anyone knows who has ever mulched, it makes for a fairly tough day. The mulching was not what I was dreading. It was the preparation of the beds that made me put it off. Preparation involves digging up weeds and grass and anything else that doesn’t belong. Then the beds should be re-cut…with a straight shovel.

So, I went at it with my son Jeremy and my daughter Becca who chose to be home from college on the wrong weekend. I have often reminded my children during times like these that this was one of the reasons I wanted kids in the first place.

We cut and prepared and then spread the mulch one wheelbarrow at a time. When we finished it looked and smelled wonderful. Personally, I love the smell of mulch in the morning. It smells like…victory!

I’ve noticed since that weekend that I have been trying to stay current with my flowerbeds. I love the way they look and when I see a weed raise it’s little ugly head I go after it with a vengeance.

My flowerbeds are not unlike my heart. There are times when I feel I have neglected my heart and all sorts of little weeds have grown up. I put off the work necessary because it really is work. I need to spend the time to go through every part of my life and dig up the sins that have roots. Too many times I try to just rip the top off so it doesn’t show. When I do that it never really goes away. But if I take the time to bring my heart section by section, slowly, to the cross there is a cleanliness that comes and a beauty that returns that I love.

After I do that there is a length of time that I’m particularly attentive and it becomes really difficult for sin to take root. Those are my favorite seasons with God.

I’m glad I’ve made this connection with mulching. Now, whenever I walk around my yard and reach down to pick out a particularly stubborn weed, I smile. I smile because I can feel God doing the same with me. The promise is clear.

If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (I John 1:9).

It ends up God and I both love the smell of mulch in the morning. It really does smell like victory.

http://www.thecommonlanguage.com/ Susan Moore

   Nice. And true, which I recently rediscovered. After I wrote my online testimony, I was aware that there was something else waiting to be written, but God had it in a box wrapped in brown paper and tape, and decorated with a yellow, lacy bow.  It’s been sitting in the corner of my apartment. I’ve poked at it and given it alittle shake, but it’s contents were not forthcoming.
   Although I know I’ve been a few places and spoken to a few people, I have basically slept since Saturday until this morning, Friday. This morning when I woke up I looked over and the yellow bow had been untied and the tape freed from its holding. So, I opened it, and have been writing ever since. It’s about places, the places God dwells.
   I’m thinking I might try to publish it, which I don’t know how to do, and put any money that it makes towards my schooling. I don’t want to take out loans.
   James 5:14-16 tell us this: “Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”
    My foot has been problematic for about two months, and I came down with the flu on Resurrection Sunday and have had trouble breathing and speaking ever since. I went jogging today. I am well. Thanks to everyone who has been praying!
Paula

What a great analogy Joe. I used to hate mulching and doing flower beds as a kid, but my dad though it was unfair to allow weeds to choke out the beauty which wanted to spring forth. When I think about how my dad used to put it that is also a great analogy of what sin does to our lives, it chokes out the beauty of Christ that lies within the believer’s heart wanting to spring forth.
Bruce

You made me laugh, here I thought it was just me.
It takes hard work to make something that is ragged and in disorder into something that gives us pleasure. The same is true with my understanding of the love of Christ.