Last year I finally had the opportunity to attempt something I've wanted to do for many years but had never done before...a backyard garden. Although it was very small (just a 3' x 5' area), I had so much fun everytime I would go out and find another tomato or a new pepper ready to be harvested.
This year I decided to be a little more daring and expand not only the size of the garden, but also the variety of produce and herbs. Who knows what I'll do next year. Before it's over, my entire backyard might be a garden!
Every time I go in my backyard, I am amazed at the growth I can physically see taking place in the plants. The formation of peppers on the bell pepper plants, tomatoes already forming on the tomato plants, the incredibly rapid growth of the potato plants (I can't keep up with them).
I wonder if our Heavenly Father has just as much excitement when He sees our lives producing fruit. He has given us as His children one very important job to do while we are here on this earth. To carry on His great commission to reach the lost world. And the tools He has given us to accomplish this task are found in the Fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control). As we cultivate and water these gifts through prayer and studying the Word, the fruit our life produces will be a very visable witness to the world that God is love and that He loves them. Now that's a garden worth tending!
1 Colosians 1: 9-14 -For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption,the forgiveness of sins.
Before I go, I thought I'd share pictures of my garden as of today. I'll try to post again later with updated pictures as it continues to grow.
My baby peach tree we planted last year.
The first peach (and it's not supposed to produce for another year)
Not to be outdone, this branch has 10 peaches on it.
Hot Peppers
Greenbeans. My favorites.
Look at those beautiful bean plants grow!
The first tomatoes of the season.
Basil (Can anyone say "pesto"? Mmmm...)
Potatoes
(I just covered them yesterday and they're already popping out again!)
The grapevine is growing wildly!
Is that a cluster of grapes I see?
Bell Peppers
Cilantro
Garlic anyone?
Chives (they're just waiting for those wonderful potatoes to bake)
This is such a beautiful garden! I am very sure that the Lord does look on us and get excited when He sees us growing in Him and fitting ourselves around His plans and seasons for our lives.
ReplyDeleteLove you so much,