*originally written late last spring*
When I got into the gardening kick, it really became the visual to the current season in my life. I quickly became fascinated with how easily things grew by the work of my hand and God's ordained order in how life grows. I fell in love so to speak. Again it's become a passion sparked by what I know was already in my heart. Little did I know that when you want to take gardening to another level by removing shrubs, it's a lot of work and in doing so was a life's lesson relevant to where I am at this moment.
Colossians 2:7 says 7Have the roots [of your being] firmly and deeply planted [in Him, fixed and founded in Him], being continually built up in Him, becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and abounding and overflowing in it with thanksgiving.
In front of our house is a line of shrubs that were there when we moved in our home. Nice but eh, once gardening started to become a love I had an itch to change it up. I wanted to create more space for my container plants, and whoa buddy I was in for a lesson removing just ONE shrub. I spend at least 40 minutes slowly cutting ONE shrub down, branch by branch, finding once I got to the bottom of it, it took some huffs and puffs to even cut through some of the base branches. Finally I cut the shrub down. I was hot, and tired. I pushed on. On my knees I started to rock the base to get it loosened so I could get the root out, I did NOT want it coming back. Uhhhhhh it wasn't what I thought, I could barely get it to move, as I dug around the base of root, I started to see that I had to cut the FAT roots loose to get the base movin'. As I did that, I grew more and more tired. I called it a night. The next morning I went at it again tackling that root determined to get it out. I used my big shears and relentlessly cutting through some really tough roots attached to the base so I could rock it easier. Now I understood why people hire skilled workers to do this sorta thing. Finally on day two, I got the honkin' mass root (which reminded me of a fat tree branch UGH! :) out. There were still smaller roots in the ground that stretched out across the bed and I got few out leaving the ones I couldn't reach but I was happy enough because I got the mother load out. I was so proud.
When I got into the gardening kick, it really became the visual to the current season in my life. I quickly became fascinated with how easily things grew by the work of my hand and God's ordained order in how life grows. I fell in love so to speak. Again it's become a passion sparked by what I know was already in my heart. Little did I know that when you want to take gardening to another level by removing shrubs, it's a lot of work and in doing so was a life's lesson relevant to where I am at this moment.
Colossians 2:7 says 7Have the roots [of your being] firmly and deeply planted [in Him, fixed and founded in Him], being continually built up in Him, becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and abounding and overflowing in it with thanksgiving.
In front of our house is a line of shrubs that were there when we moved in our home. Nice but eh, once gardening started to become a love I had an itch to change it up. I wanted to create more space for my container plants, and whoa buddy I was in for a lesson removing just ONE shrub. I spend at least 40 minutes slowly cutting ONE shrub down, branch by branch, finding once I got to the bottom of it, it took some huffs and puffs to even cut through some of the base branches. Finally I cut the shrub down. I was hot, and tired. I pushed on. On my knees I started to rock the base to get it loosened so I could get the root out, I did NOT want it coming back. Uhhhhhh it wasn't what I thought, I could barely get it to move, as I dug around the base of root, I started to see that I had to cut the FAT roots loose to get the base movin'. As I did that, I grew more and more tired. I called it a night. The next morning I went at it again tackling that root determined to get it out. I used my big shears and relentlessly cutting through some really tough roots attached to the base so I could rock it easier. Now I understood why people hire skilled workers to do this sorta thing. Finally on day two, I got the honkin' mass root (which reminded me of a fat tree branch UGH! :) out. There were still smaller roots in the ground that stretched out across the bed and I got few out leaving the ones I couldn't reach but I was happy enough because I got the mother load out. I was so proud.
In this tough task, I knew there was importance to what I was doing not just for my garden space but eternal value in my walk with my Savior. It wasn't until this week I felt the Holy Spirit really urge me to remind myself what the significance of the process was. In January, I made a huge decision to do away with some bad habits of mine. They definitely were a hindrance to the person I want to be. It wasn't a something crazy y'all just things I felt needed to change. It's never easy to change things unless you really rely on God's strength to get you through. Well I gave it to him, and it was uplifting to see how easy it was to just move forward with becoming a better me. I found victory, revelation flow and it was because I just gave it to my God. The motha load of this root wasn't easy to uproot but I did it, and in doing that it became easier the days that followed as I filled my time meditating on the word and of course, gardening.
Jeremiah 17:8 says, For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters that spreads out its roots by the river; and it shall not see and fear when heat comes; but its leaf shall be green. It shall not be anxious and full of care in the year of drought, nor shall it cease yielding fruit.
"The bible is like a flowering garden, each page a seed plot of beauty. The sun shines on a garden and the flowers open to its warmth, absorb its rays and grow by it, by the process of photosynthesis, breathing in and then breathing out. They exhale perfume making the air fragrant. As Mary's alabaster box of ointment filled the house with fragrance, this is what happens when we break open the Word." Reinhard Bonnke.
In this I rejoice and take rest. My God loves me and has a plan for my life. I thank Him for his unconditional love and teaching!
**Finished the draft 2/12**
The Word changes, challenges, and refines me. I learn more about God's love and plan for my life as I am hearing, and applying His way not my own everyday. I find comfort that even through revisiting this post started about a year ago, there were still unwanted roots in my life relating to changing I truly desired. I did not walk in the fullness of the victory only partially and for that I had some remnants. About 3 or 4 months after this I had complete victory in those areas! I got rid of those remnants!!
When truly wanting to dig up unwanted things in my life I have learned I must surrender wholeheartedly to the only One who promises a way when there seems no way; and walk with confidence that Victory is and was already mine in all areas because our sweet Savior paid the price over 2000 years ago.
Any persons biggest obstacle when facing change or tough decisions is themselves because there are no limits to a limitless God who spoke and created the world! It's a matter of training or retraining myself to live according to what Gods word says not what Man says!
Naomi
"The bible is like a flowering garden, each page a seed plot of beauty. The sun shines on a garden and the flowers open to its warmth, absorb its rays and grow by it, by the process of photosynthesis, breathing in and then breathing out. They exhale perfume making the air fragrant. As Mary's alabaster box of ointment filled the house with fragrance, this is what happens when we break open the Word." Reinhard Bonnke.
In this I rejoice and take rest. My God loves me and has a plan for my life. I thank Him for his unconditional love and teaching!
**Finished the draft 2/12**
The Word changes, challenges, and refines me. I learn more about God's love and plan for my life as I am hearing, and applying His way not my own everyday. I find comfort that even through revisiting this post started about a year ago, there were still unwanted roots in my life relating to changing I truly desired. I did not walk in the fullness of the victory only partially and for that I had some remnants. About 3 or 4 months after this I had complete victory in those areas! I got rid of those remnants!!
When truly wanting to dig up unwanted things in my life I have learned I must surrender wholeheartedly to the only One who promises a way when there seems no way; and walk with confidence that Victory is and was already mine in all areas because our sweet Savior paid the price over 2000 years ago.
Any persons biggest obstacle when facing change or tough decisions is themselves because there are no limits to a limitless God who spoke and created the world! It's a matter of training or retraining myself to live according to what Gods word says not what Man says!
Naomi
so blessed by reading this Naomi! what an awesome message. some of those roots are tough to break free from.
ReplyDeleteThank you Crystal! You are right, when I reread this post it came to me that sometimes it takes time to get all the remnants out of a "motha root." Other times, spiritually speaking the Lord can immediately loosen tough roots and the Victory is much quicker. It is all apart of the journey. Change has order, and it starts within your heart and manifests outwardly. Amen!
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