Today was the big gardening day at our house. Each one of my children wanted to have their very own row in our vegetable garden. After breakfast, we put on our work clothes and picked up our tools and gloves and we were outside hoeing, and digging, and planting for several hours! It was hot and we were dirty before it was all complete. As we were cleaning up our tools, my 6 year old said, "Planting a garden is a lot of work, Mom." To that I responded, "If you think planting is hard work, wait until the weeds come, then the bugs!"
I think it's interesting how God uses gardening as an analogy for salvation and our lives in Christ (sowing seeds, watering them, etc.). So I find it curious that while we fully expect weeds and bugs to plague our vegetable gardens, we are surprised when trials and tribulations show up in our personal lives!
Knowing that weeds and bugs are going to come we have an action plan to deal with them. First off, we plan to spend lots of time watering and weeding the garden. Secondly, when the bugs arrive, we will be visiting our extension agency to find out which organic bug killers will work the best on the specific bugs we will get. 
So how can we be prepared in our personal lives for the trials and tribulations that will pop up from time to time? We can put on our armour.
Ephesians 6:13-18 GNB says:
So put on God's armor now! Then when the evil day comes, you will be able to resist the enemy's attacks; and after fighting to the end, you will still hold your ground. So stand ready, with truth as a belt tight around your waist, with righteousness as your breastplate, and as your shoes the readiness to announce the Good News of peace. At all times carry faith as a shield; for with it you will be able to put out all the burning arrows shot by the Evil One. And accept salvation as a helmet, and the word of God as the sword which the Spirit gives you. Do all this in prayer, asking for God's help. Pray on every occasion, as the Spirit leads. For this reason keep alert and never give up; pray always for all God's people. 
Friday, May 16, 2008
Our Garden
Posted by Sonya Lee Thompson at 6:00 AM
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4 comments:
What a wonderful message! When my boys were younger and very into knights we found these play armour dress up and put the bible vs with each piece! It was a wonderful and fun learning adventure for them! I love the gardening analogy! It is so great how you share the everyday lessons into spirtual lessons! Thank you for the inspiration!
How does your garden grow? I see pretty little maidens all in a row! Such cuties.
You have a beautiful shield, your faith, in front of you. Great analogy. You are a true gardener, sowing seeds and cultivating a relationship with God in the lives of others.
I feel like a Sonflower. You sewed the seed in me and now look how tall it has grown! (and yes, I spelled in SONflower, not Sunflower - for a reason.)
I love your blog mom. Keep writing!
Brittany
Hi Sonya-- congrats on the She Speaks conference-- I will see you there!
We have also begun gardening and it has been a wonderful experience. I wrote a post about it recently and plan to post photos soon.
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