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Monday, August 1, 2011

The Master Gardener

Last year's yield was like this every day!
The hubby made a canopy for shade.
Today, my garden just "gave up the ghost".  Yep, in one day, it stopped struggling against this Oklahoma heat and lost it's will to live.  It's supposed to reach 109 degrees today and go up to 113 degrees later this week.  So many days in a row, this searing sun we've been under.  Last years garden yielded more than we could manage ourselves.  We gave vegetables away to any one we could find to take them.  This year...no tomatoes, no cucumbers, no bell peppers, no lettuce, spinach, carrots, squash, cantaloupe and on and on and on...  The sweat and time and care we put into it everyday, was it wasted?  Was it for nothing?  My husband even put a canopy over the garden during the really scorching hours of the day to protect what was trying to produce, what wanted to live.

Sweet basil
The only thing that the heat didn't conquer were my herbs...hearty little things!  I've been cooking with fresh herbs all summer long.  There is nothing like serving up a home cooked meal that has seeped in the juice and aroma of fresh herbs.  I've just picked the last of them though.  Hopefully, they will last in some water in the house for a while...maybe squeeze a few more meals out of them.  If I'm lucky, some of them will take root!

Chocolate mint basil
Life can have us under a pressure cooker, like a 109 degree sun.  It can seem to drag on heavy and dry.  Weary bones.  Do we let our soul wither and shrivel or do we dig in deep, roots going as far as they can?  Water. Sweet Holy Spirit.  Water to our soul.  It can refresh, revive, renew.  Even on days where there seems to be no sign of life, go digging...it's there.  You can always find a sprig of hope or joy or peace, waiting to be cultivated, pulled from among the lifeless dead stems.  I dug around today and found some green in the midst of the brown.  I thought it was all dead.  I'm so glad I looked closer.  It gave me hope.  Now my house is filled with the fragrance of the basil, rosemary, and lavender.

Cinnamon basil
Lavender
Time spent in prayer, on His lap, I can feel the water course through my life again.  And just as the fresh herbs add flavor and spice to my cooking, the Lord adds flavor and spice to my life.  I'm glad He loves me enough to go digging deeper, prune back the lifeless "stuff" to find a sprig of life in me.  He'll water me and I will grow roots and be strong and vibrant.  A Gardener who doesn't give up when there's been a drought.  He's so merciful and thoughtful, so devoted to His creation, His seed.  He'll water, He'll cut away whatever is not producing fruit.  But He'll never cut us off!  He'll make sure our roots are buried deep in Him, a wellspring of life.  I love my Gardener.  My soul thirsts for Him, for His pruning, for His watering.  When He works on me, it is well with my soul.

From His Lap,

22 comments:

  1. Oh, Erin, how frustrating. I know it's been so hot and dry in OK. Perhaps next year?

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  2. Love your post, Erin. Especially liked what you said at the end, "He'll water, He'll cut away whatever is not producing fruit. But He'll never cut us off! He'll make sure our roots are buried deep in Him, a wellspring of life."

    Amen!

    What an awesome God we serve!

    Cool weather blessings to you, :)
    Lisa

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  3. Sandy, I'm going to have to be real nice to my hubby to get him to help me again. ;0) We put a lot of effort into it. Thank goodness God isn't fickle like us!
    Blessings,
    Erin

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  4. Aren't you so glad, Lisa!!! He's so faithful and merciful! I love Him so!
    Blessings,
    Erin

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  5. Erin, I love the statement, "He'll never cut us off!" What a beautiful analogy, to use your garden to remind us of ourselves, and how even in the heat of the day, we can find shelter in Him. Needed this one today, girl. You go!

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  6. Erin - You are a remarkable woman. You have been blessed in so many ways, and it spills over to those of us who have the privelege to meet you! God bless you!

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  7. Heidi, I was drenched in sweat out there pruning the garden and I just heard in my spirit, "This is how I prune you, daughter." I rejoiced right there and suddenly the heat didn't seem so bad!
    Blessings,
    ~Erin

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  8. Donna, what a blessing you are to me!! Thanks so much for your encouraging kind words. I always feel so uplifted when I hear from you!!!
    Blessings,
    ~Erin

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  9. The heat will never cause us to wither and dry up if we are planted by the streams of living water. I loved this!
    By the way, I sent you an award on Sunday in a post....the Versatile Blogger. That was because you never cease to inspire me.

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  10. Oh, dear! I hate losing plants. Our front yard is very sad looking. So glad when I get dry that the Lord doesn't break me off the Vine! Whew! Great post, Erin! Blessings!

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  11. Your post makes me think of the beautiful words of Ephesians 3:17, "Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong." I want my thirsty little roots to go down deep into the soil of God's love! Great truths. Although I'm sorry about your garden and the unpleasant heat. Isn't it like God to teach us through those times as well.

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  12. Erin,
    You are a blessing, thank you for spreading his word... by being you!
    Lisa

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  13. Shanda,
    I am so blessed to know you and to receive your encouragement and love! Thank you so much for the award. I will try to figure out how to follow through with my part!
    Blessings,
    ~Erin

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  14. I'm trying to see the good in all this heat, Lynn! Thanks so much for stopping by. You bless me!
    ~Erin

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  15. Beck,
    While I was struggling in the heat in the garden this afternoon, it suddenly didn't seem so bad when the Lord started to talk to my heart!
    Thanks for visiting!
    ~Erin

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  16. Lisa,
    Can't wait to get the traveling journal!!! Woot woot!
    Love you!
    ~Erin

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  17. Hi Erin - some of my favourite scriptures are about how if we tap into the living water we can only grow in Christ. Lovely post
    God bless
    Tracy

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  18. Tracy,
    Thanks so much for visiting. Living water, so life giving, so saving, so amazing.
    Blessings,
    ~Erin

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  19. Hi Erin -

    I'm struggling to comment because so many thoughts are running through my mind. It's difficult for me to grab a hold of one and go with it. I will say this: we must be at peace with our life and with our God...and gratefulness must surround our every being. Sharing all of that with others certainly makes God smile down and is a blessing.

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  20. Gratefulness is key, Brian. Without it, we don't see the joy in life or partake of God's peace. I always love when you stop by and leave me such thoughtful comments.
    Blessings,
    ~Erin

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  21. Love the Canopy! What a creative idea! Deep roots buried in the word is certainly a must! I love how you happened upon some green upon the field of brown...so refreshing, inspiring and hopeful! Love it! Love you! ~Hugs, Mitzi

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  22. Wasn't my husband so smart, Mitzi. I'm sure if it wasn't for his canopy, the garden wouldn't have lasted as long as it did!
    Hugs!
    Erin

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Thank you for giving us a little nugget of truth from your heart!

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