Tag: Starting a garden

More than Clover

The air is icy; it nips at my skin. The overhead clouds are keeping the moisture close by. It was warm last week, and the clover has grown, excited by the prospect of spring. But today it still feels like winter.

The calendar tells me it is time to till the garden.

The tiller shakes in my hands when I start it. I grip it tightly to maintain control and keep it running; and I stare at the hard ground.

Does the ground welcome this? Does this patch of yard sense that I have chosen it for a greater purpose, for growing more than clover?

The rest of the yard, most of the yard, grows clover. This patch of ground is for growing fruit.

Since they don’t do well in hot weather, the sweet peas must be ready to produce their fruit in May. So the seeds need to be sown soon, which means now is the time to till the garden.

The tiller blade cuts into the ground. As the blades rotate, the sharp blades rip out the clover roots and expose dark dirt. I can smell the nutrient rich soil and see the earthworms running for cover. It is a violent act.

But what a promise it holds! A fresh start, a new beginning, out with the old and in with the new. It’s almost like repentance and forgiveness.

So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see everything has become new! All of this is from God. 2 Corinthians 4:127

Rarely do I feel grateful for the tilling process, although Paul encourages us to give thanks in all situations (I Thess. 5:16).

But as a gardener, I know that this churning, this disruption of the status quo, this perhaps violent act is necessary in order to have the desired fruit, in order to grow more than clover.

And we are in the hands of a Master Gardener, my friend.

Even if He allows someone else to till the garden for Him, he is still preparing that space for better things.

Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as He is doing today. So have no fear. Exodus 50:20

I wonder if the garden is concerned with who is doing the tilling?

I am usually very concerned with who is churning up my life.

Will I fight God’s effort to till my life, as the hard ground sometimes fights my efforts? Do I accept that God may have set me apart for growing fruit? Is it arrogant to think that God wants to use me for growing more than clover, as the rest of the yard does?

For you are a people holy to the Lord your God; it is you the Lord has chosen out of all the people on earth to be his people, his treasured possession. Deuteronomy 14:2

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. I Peter2:9

I believe God calls us out of this world (John 15:19), transforms us by renewing our minds (Romans 12:2), and enables us to produce good fruit (Galatians 5:22). Will I welcome His tilling of my life? Will I thank Him for exposing the dark underbelly of my emotions to His light?

God knows what needs to grow, when seeds need sowing, and when my life needs tilling.

But you, O mountains of Israel, shall shoot out your branches, and yield your fruit to my people Israel; for they shall soon be home. See now, I am for you; I will turn to you, and you will be tilled and sown. Ezekiel 36:8-9

What a blessing that God has chosen us to bear His fruit. I trust He will do whatever it takes to prepare me to grow more than clover, so that I can yield fruit for His people.

Betsy

Everything I need

I have the space, the tiller, the fertilizer and the fencing. I have the weed barrier, the seeds, and the plant food. I have the water source and the hose. I have cover to protect the young plants and supports to help the growing ones. Now all I need is to actually start the garden.

While cleaning out the garage, I found bags of fertilizer and plant food. I had not realized that Nick has used either of these. It’s no wonder the garden grew better under his care! Now I have some to add to my arsenal.

I have everything I need to grow a garden which will bear wonderful fruit. I just need to do it.

Because until I actually commit to doing it, all these tools aren’t worth much. They are like a rubber band lying on the counter. Unrealized potential.

I check my calendar. How much time do I need to set aside? Do I have to set aside a large block of time, or can I get the garden ready in stages? Till and add fertilizer in step one. Prepare and put down weed barrier in step two. Fence and border in step three. Plant the seeds and water in step four. Cleaning out the garage has taught me that this plan works better for me, but the seeds should be planted by early March, so I need to get moving!

Am I that intentional about growing my relationship with Jesus?

His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness. 2 Peter 1:3

God has given me this day, this time, His Spirit, His Word. God has given me an active church, Christian friends, Bible studies and wise counselors. I trust the Holy Spirit to protect and support my growth. Now all I have to do is actually start developing that relationship.

I have been reading Robert J. Morgan’s book on Biblical Meditation. There’s all kinds of wonderful practices to deepen my relationship with God that I have never used. They seemed to have worked well for him. Now I can add them to my arsenal.

I have everything I need to grow in my relationship with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. I just need to do it.

Because until I actually commit to doing it, all these tools aren’t worth much. They are like a rubber band lying on the counter. Unrealized potential.

But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. James 1:22

What does this look like? Quiet time set aside intentionally for prayer may be step one. A commitment to studying the Bible daily may be step two. A good devotional book which challenges and inspires me may be step three. Time to listen, ponder, absorb and consider God’s role in my life may be step four. But I am already in my 60’s, so I better get moving!

Those seeds need to be put in the ground; God’s word needs to be written in my heart. Until that is done, I cannot expect to bear the fruit I so desperately want.

Do you want Love? Joy? Peace? Patience? Would you like to respond to difficulties with kindness and gentleness? Would you like to be known for your generosity, faithfulness, and self-control? I would. I know these things rarely spring into being in my life. This is fruit that has to be grown. (Galatians 5:22)

This is fruit that God grows in my life through the Holy Spirit as I abide more and more with Jesus. (John 15)

It’s time to get that garden growing.

Thank you for reading along as I begin year two in the Victory Garden. Thank you for subscribing or following. Thank you for sharing this with your friends. I look forward to good fruit.

Betsy

A place to grow

Now, where to plant those seeds. I need a dedicated garden space.

Because, the garden is the place in my yard where I encourage plants to grow. Elsewhere in my yard, I mow down the grass, cut back the hedges, and spray weed killer. In my garden, I encourage and protect growth, because I know what is growing there and I want it. I want it for myself, and I want to share it with others.

As a percentage of my yard, my garden space is pretty small, maybe 1% of total acreage. But the
garden is very important, because it is there that the wanted growth takes place. It is there that the important work occurs, the production of that much wanted fruit. Because my garden is so
important, I have designated a specific spot for it. I have set aside a portion of my yard for it. Instead of trying to fit my sugar snaps, tomatoes and cucumbers in among the other things in my yard, I am dedicating certain space specifically for their growth.

You did not choose me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last … for I have chosen you out of the world. John 15:16,18

Do you want the fruit of the Holy Spirit in your life? Do you want a closer relationship with God?
Set aside a space, designate a time, dedicate a portion of your day to that growth. 1% is only about 15 minutes of a day, but what a difference it can make! Because it is there that the wanted growth takes place. It is there that the important work occurs.

Sometimes setting aside a space for your garden is easy. When Nick and I moved into our first
home, the yard had established garden beds that had grassed over. The presence of these empty beds motivated us to start a garden. 

In our current home, we faced a large yard, and we had to decide where our garden would go. We had two creeks to avoid, and flood plain issues to consider. We had boats on trailers that we needed to pull across the yard. There were the large trees, boundary lines, a utility pole, all immovable objects. We had swing set apparatus that needed its own space. But if I wanted that fruit, I needed to set aside a place to nurture the growth of it.

Over time, we settled the garden in its current spot, which still works well. I don’t use all the
garden space every year, and I rearrange the crops occasionally, but I know where in my yard I am cultivating my sugar snaps.

When committing to growing my relationship with God, as with committing to the garden, I faced twenty-four hours and had to decide when to set my devotional time. I had two
children, and scheduling issues to consider. I had a house and possessions which demanded upkeep. There were the needs of my children, my husband, his father, my family, all immovable objects. There were my hobbies and interests which needed their own space. But if I wanted that fruit, I needed to set aside a time to nurture the growth of it.

Over time, I have settled my devotional time in my day. It has changed as my life circumstances
have changed. I don’t use all the time every day, and I change up my activities within it, but I know when in my day I am cultivating my relationship with God.  

In the morning, while it was still very dark, He (Jesus) got up and went out to a deserted place, and there He prayed. Mark 1:35

Last year, our ministers challenged the congregation of First Presbyterian Church, Nashville,
to read the entire Bible in 90 days, the Big Read. The suggested reading path would take 30 to 45 minutes a day, out of 24 hours; the equivalent of an episode of Ozark or Cupcake Wars. Could I spare the time?

As for me and my household, we will worship the Lord. Joshua 24:15b

What are the things that crowd your day, your yard? What immovable objects do you need to work around? Are you caring for your kids? Your parents? Your spouse? Yourself? Is your work schedule demanding? Do you want that fruit? Are you ready to stop being so busy and get to the truly important work God has planned for you? 

Because those sugar snaps will not grow while they are still in the packet on my table. And they won’t grow scattered across the ground and dropped here and there among everything else. To be what God designed them to be, to be their better selves, they need dedicated space; they need a garden. 

I encourage you to set aside 15 minutes today. Open your Bible as you would open a seed packet. Open yourself to what God can grow in your life.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22 

Thank you for reading this and joining me on this journey, Next week, we till!

Betsy

Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, that will not rot. Matthew 6:20