I have been Ill and gone on vacation and distracted by so many things that, needless to say, my yard has run amuck with weeds. 😦

Now that I can ignore it no more I am paying the price by hoeing and raking and hauling away the spawn of my neglect.  But , on the bright side, I find this labor is where I meet my God and Heavenly Father and His Spirit speaks as my mind and heart has been churning about so many things.

About the weeds of neglect and the opportunity for chaos to rule because not all  the seeds in the soil will contribute to the scheme of a beautiful landscape I have in mind.  The weed seeds are always there.   They come at no added charge with the soil but are very costly when we enable them to grow, take root and thrive.

What we think about is very important. It becomes the notion that leads to the feeling that leads to the attitude,  that leads to the words that bring life or death.  Jesus said as a man thinks in his heart so is he.  The Apostle Paul said to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.   Allowing negative, critical thoughts to brew and mull them over creates the perfect soil for bitterness to take root.  Bitterness is an ugly root that turns the soft heart to stone and leads to deaf ears to what the Holy Spirit is trying to say.  The only way to get rid of this root is to agree with God about what He says about those thoughts and attitudes.   That’s called confession.  Simply agreeing with God.   1John1:9 says if we confess our sins God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.   Hanging on to wrong thoughts makes us dirty.  It is wrong thinking that hardens our hearts and widens the space between us and God.  As time goes on there becomes less and less room for healthy thinking and we become less and less of what God has in mind for us.  The Son came to set us free.  The Spirit came bringing the Father’s adoption papers.  We are born again to a life of love and hope and miracles.  Isn’t it time to tend your garden?  It gets a lot easier when you  don’t let it go to seed. “-)

Prayer: Thank you Father for your supreme patience with me. I know when I am tired I let a lot of things go that need tending. I don’t pick up my Bible and the longer I let that go the more cranky and impatient and critical and self absorbed I become. I get dirty and need You to wash me. I don’t want to be hard hearted or slow to hear You speak. Show me if I have weeds of resentment I am allowing to grow. If I have wounded anyone show me that I might ask forgiveness and repair relationships. Fill me with your compassion and kindness. I yield to Your wisdom and delight to hear Your voice!