Sin vs. My Garden

And to Adam he said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;"thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field.By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return."  
Genesis 3:17-19


If you go through life day by day and ever doubt that the Bible is truth and it is the living, breathing Word of God, you should plant a garden.  I love to garden, therefore I enjoy fresh vegetables and fresh salsa and I hate weeds and bugs.  Not 3 days ago I had some broccoli growing beautifully in the midst of my garden and yesterday I had the remnants of broccoli plants that were teaming with these nasty green worms who looked rather satisfied and plump.  I, did however, enjoy practicing my dominion over those rude little pests as I flicked them to oblivion!


A garden has been a friendly reminder that sin is real, its effects are real, and not only on my vegetable garden, but in the garden of my own heart; sin's weeds fight everyday to choke out the lushness that God has planted within me.  May I always be diligent to keep that garden pruned and be on guard of parasites desiring to wage war against my soul. 


Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.
1 Peter 2:11

A fitly read hymn...

I came across this hymn today, at a time I really needed to read about the beauty of the Cross.  God is gracious and I am thankful to Him for allowing this hymn to cross my path.  He uses any means he chooses to get our focus back to Him.  He most certainly uses trials to reveal sin in our heart, and I have been granted this vision of my own sin in trials that I have faced in the recent past,  I have regarded the Cross too little.  I am thankful that He would love me enough to steady my course and line my eyes back to my "true North."- Him.  I am also reminded that I ought to meditate on the Cross more often.  I need to keep my eyes upon Him, the One who is able to save to the uttermost.  I need'nt get all jumbled up in the world, man-centered concerns, self-centered concerns and mope.  I need to look to Christ and His Cross, and marvel at His beauty.  It is no small thing that the King of Glory would come to earth to save wretches like me.  I have had to repent for taking that fact too lightly.  I pray through this hymn and by His Spirit, you would be caused to consider Christ today.

In the Cross of Christ I Glory

By: John Bowring

 In the cross of Christ I glory,

Towering o’er the wrecks of time;

All the light of sacred story

Gathers round its head sublime.

When the woes of life o’er take me,

Hopes deceive, and fears annoy,

Never shall the cross forsake me,

Lo! It glows with peace and joy.

When the sun of bliss is beaming

Light and love upon my way,

From the cross the radiance streaming

Adds more luster to the day.

 Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure,

By the cross are sanctified;

Peace is there that knows no measure,

Joys that through all time abide.