Thank You God for Poop and Weeds

It's been a while since I've come back to this (intended to be) weekly devotional post based on the parable of the Sower in Mark, chapter 4. Lots has happened... Lots, which I am getting around to blogging about!

But back to the point.

About a year or two ago I was weeding in my backyard when God spoke to me about this parable and showed me how sin gets in our lives and in our way of our relationship with our heavenly Father, just the way weeds get in the way of green grass growing.

But through the experience of cleaning up the junk in my life - it's definitely an ongoing process and always will be - I have learned to give thanks to God for walking me through that junk and teaching me great lessons through it. There is lots of wisdom that I now have that I wouldn't, if it weren't for having walked through that junk.

This is part 9 of 11... If you'd like to read the first eight, they are here. I hope it speaks to you the way God has been speaking to me through this journey.

Thank You God for Poop and Weeds

Mark 4:3-20

"Listen. What do you make of this? A farmer planted seed... Some fell in the weeds; as it came up, it was strangled among the weeds and nothing came of it. Some fell on good earth and came up with a flourish, producing a harvest exceeding his wildest dreams.

"Are you listening to this? Really listening?
‘…Whose eyes are open but don't see a thing,

Whose ears are open but don't understand a word,
Who avoid making an about-face and getting forgiven.’”

"He continued, "Do you see how this story works? All my stories work this way. The farmer plants the Word… The seed cast in the weeds represents the ones who hear the kingdom news but are overwhelmed with worries about all the things they have to do and all the things they want to get. The stress strangles what they heard, and nothing comes of it. But the seed planted in the good earth represents those who hear the Word, embrace it,

…and produce a harvest beyond their wildest dreams."

The Message Bible
Some verses omitted

Part IX: Skilled Hands
(Written last year)

You can tell I’ve used these gloves a lot. The fingers are practically gone! That’s because I have been pulling weeds for a while now. When I first got these gloves, they were stiff and I was slow. I pricked my fingers a lot and it was often frustrating. But then as time went on, I learned some tricks and got better at how to get the weeds out faster and easier. I became stronger and I was more able to recognize some of the smaller weeds sooner.

The first time we weed something out that is hindering our relationship with the Lord, it can be excruciating. It seems to take forever. We hurt a lot. Passing through the refining fire for the first time is often agonizing. But the second time, we have some experience and it’s not quite so difficult. The more mature we are in our faith, the better we become at recognizing even the smaller “weeds” that need to be rooted out. Each one of us gains wisdom and as we come to know the feel of the Father’s loving hands, the refining fire seems less scary and less agonizing. There is a sense of purpose, and the knowledge of the reason for the process makes us eager to get to the other side.

Take comfort in the truth that God is still working on you. If you are new to the faith, or just have a lot to deal with, don’t be discouraged. God has a perfect plan and timing just for you.

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If you are weeding through something for the first time, I encourage you to stick it out. Let God finish the work he started. It is worth it.

If you are weeding through something for the first time after a long time of letting the weeds grow tall, remember God's faithfulness.

If you are a pro at weeding... do not be discouraged. We all have lots to weed out. Be encouraged that you are not alone. I too, am weeding, on a weekly daily hourly by the minute basis.

Philippians 1:6 ...[be] confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus...

Weeds and Poop Wednesday Thursday Oh Who Cares!

It's time for Part 8 of...

Once again, I'm late blogging my Wednesday post... but I'm a little over it now. I seriously doubt anyone out there cares.

I don't even really know if anyone reads these. But I sincrely hope that someone is blessed by this.

Maybe that someone God intended to bless was me.

Thank You God for Poop and Weeds

Mark 4:3-20

"Listen. What do you make of this? A farmer planted seed... Some fell in the weeds; as it came up, it was strangled among the weeds and nothing came of it. Some fell on good earth and came up with a flourish, producing a harvest exceeding his wildest dreams.

"Are you listening to this? Really listening?
‘…Whose eyes are open but don't see a thing,

Whose ears are open but don't understand a word,
Who avoid making an about-face and getting forgiven.’”

"He continued, "Do you see how this story works? All my stories work this way. The farmer plants the Word… The seed cast in the weeds represents the ones who hear the kingdom news but are overwhelmed with worries about all the things they have to do and all the things they want to get. The stress strangles what they heard, and nothing comes of it. But the seed planted in the good earth represents those who hear the Word, embrace it,

…and produce a harvest beyond their wildest dreams."

The Message Bible
Some verses omitted

Part VIII: What Do You See?
(Written last year)

Yes, this is the horrid view of my back yard. It’s pretty bad, right? But what do you see? Most would say “weeds,” very few would say, “patches of grass fighting through.” Actually, in this case, you have to work pretty hard to see anything positive in the picture. But the point I’m driving at is this: when you look at a situation in your life, do you immediately see the positive part of it or the negative part of it? Do you focus on the good or bad in life? It's the proverbial glass-half-full question. This is a common question that has become cliché. However, I think it’s still a point worth making.

I believe that if we’re not focusing on the good in our lives, we discredit God and diminish the glory we give to Him. When people ask you how your day is, do you say something good, or do you immediately comment on the challenge in your day? When you feel tired, are you thankful for the job that made you that way, or do you grumble at the feeling? When you feel sick, do you thank God that you will get better soon? There are many that won’t. When you are stressed, do you recognize that God is doing exciting things in your life and in your job position? Or are you stressing over something that’s out of your control anyway, and do you need to hand it back to the one who has all of us in His hands?

My business mentor often shares that she used to think that she was pretty positive. Then one day, she took a challenge to only speak out loud the positive thoughts. She shares that she found herself having to be quiet quite a lot!

Another mentor of mine shared with me this thought: “Challenges may come in threes, but blessings come in thousands.” Next time you feel challenged or disappointed, try counting the blessings, literally. How high do you go, before you give up and surrender to God and admit a poor attitude?

On that same note, I am reminded of something else I did while weeding once. I had pulled up a particularly difficult and deep rooted weed and triumphantly walked over to the garbage bag. Rather than dropping it without thought, I emphatically shoved that weed into the bag of other weeds… except that I happened to be pulling those weeds that I have a special loathing for. That’s right! I shoved my hand right into the bag of weeds with thorns and points. All my careful work to avoid getting stuck by this one weed that was so hard to pull out, only to have a hand full of stickers in the end!

I have found that when I focus to much on the negative situation, rather than tossing it away, I end up attracting that back into my life and I end up more frustrated or hurt. My positive friend shared this with me several years ago. What we focus on is what we attract more of into our life. For example, If I feel rejected and alone and focus on that, I am not likely to be welcomed into a crowd. The “vibe” I give off is negative. If I feel fat and out of shape and I focus on that, it usually does not help me feel better. Instead, a good idea is to pick a new activity, or better yet, get up and take a walk! If I am angry at someone, dwelling on what made me angry, usually only intensifies the emotion.

…part of forgiveness and healing is letting it go. Gracefully let the issue out of your hands and into God’s control with humility and an attitude of submission. Don’t insist on slam-dunking the weed into the trash can. It will probably backfire! Allow God to turn your eyes to what great things He is developing in your life.

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What are the blessings you are counting today?

Poop and Weeds Wednesday Thursday - the one in which I post a picture of my dog's...

In case you haven't been reading my blog for long... this is Poop and Weeds Wednesday...

Yes, I know it's not Wednesday.

You see, I rarely (as it turns out) actually post this weekly series on a Wednesday. The alliteration just sounded good. And that accompanied my good intentions at the beginning of sharing these thoughts, when I really believed I would post them on Wednesdays.

...You know... Because I forgot that I have a life and a 4 month old and a .... (fill in the blank) that interrupts me on a hundred-time-per-day basis. Oh, and I get distracted sometimes too.

Anyway, back to the point.

Last year I was inspired one summer afternoon to attack the weeds in my back-yard and somewhere in the midst of sweat and dirt, God started speaking to me about His Kingdom. The verses in Mark chapter 4 came to my mind and I dropped my dirty gloves in light of inspiration that had to be written.

After I wrote out this little 10 part devotional, I stashed it in a drawer and forgot about it for about a year. When I found it shortly after Danny was born, I decided to share it.

So here you go. It's Part 7 of...

Thank You God for Poop and Weeds

Mark 4:3-20

"Listen. What do you make of this? A farmer planted seed... Some fell in the weeds; as it came up, it was strangled among the weeds and nothing came of it. Some fell on good earth and came up with a flourish, producing a harvest exceeding his wildest dreams.

"Are you listening to this? Really listening?
‘…Whose eyes are open but don't see a thing,

Whose ears are open but don't understand a word,
Who avoid making an about-face and getting forgiven.’”

"He continued, "Do you see how this story works? All my stories work this way. The farmer plants the Word… The seed cast in the weeds represents the ones who hear the kingdom news but are overwhelmed with worries about all the things they have to do and all the things they want to get. The stress strangles what they heard, and nothing comes of it. But the seed planted in the good earth represents those who hear the Word, embrace it,

…and produce a harvest beyond their wildest dreams."

The Message Bible
Some verses omitted

Part VII: Praise Him for Stinky Situations
(Written last year)

After I settled down to work this afternoon, in a cool corner of flourishing plant-life unruly weeds, I smelled something less than pleasant wafting through the air… The foul smell of my black labrador’s dinner, come out the back end! Apparently, this was also his favorite place! Gross! “Oh well… what am I gonna’ do?” I thought, as I got something to throw it out. “I guess it probably helps the grass grow,” I mused. And then came the next parallel to our spiritual life.

Fertilizer never smells too great. In fact, it downright stinks. How many stinky situations have you been in that have served to strengthen your relationship and faith in the Lord? Fertilizer may smell terrible, but it sure does make the grass grow thicker, healthier and stronger. I almost never enjoy bad situations, when I’m in them, but I have always been able to look back and see how God worked through that situation for my benefit.

Once, I tried to get a plane ticke to go home from Costa Rica* on short notice to visit my family and cure my home-sickness. I was quite disappointed, when it didn’t pan out. That was the week my husband and I started dating!

*I lived in Costa Rica for a year in 2002.

Another time, I worked really hard for a promotion in my Mary Kay business, only to come inches away, and not earn it. But through that, I learned a wealth of knowledge and wisdom about true leadership.

Most difficult, was when my parents divorced after over 30 years of marriage. I thought my life was shattering, but had it not been for that, it would have taken much much longer for me to see many issues in my own marriage that needed to be resolved. When my parents' marriage fell apart, I took a good hard look at my own. God helped me to see that (first) there were some patterns and habits we were forming that were really damaging to our relationship, and (second) the Lord could accomplish anything in us, regardless of the past history of divorce in each of our families.

I mentioned in a previous Poop and Weeds Wednesday that Paul could give thanks for every trial he encountered. Read Romans 5:3-6 from the Message Bible:

There's more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit! Christ arrives right on time to make this happen.

Though you may struggle to rejoice in trials now, it is my hope for you that you will learn to have joy in the midst of trials, by starting with a small step: Simply trust in Him that all will turn out for the best, according to His best purpose for your life.

Grass Roots

Thank You God for Poop and Weeds

Mark 4:3-20

"Listen. What do you make of this? A farmer planted seed... Some fell in the weeds; as it came up, it was strangled among the weeds and nothing came of it. Some fell on good earth and came up with a flourish, producing a harvest exceeding his wildest dreams.

"Are you listening to this? Really listening?
‘…Whose eyes are open but don't see a thing,

Whose ears are open but don't understand a word,
Who avoid making an about-face and getting forgiven.’”

"He continued, "Do you see how this story works? All my stories work this way. The farmer plants the Word… The seed cast in the weeds represents the ones who hear the kingdom news but are overwhelmed with worries about all the things they have to do and all the things they want to get. The stress strangles what they heard, and nothing comes of it. But the seed planted in the good earth represents those who hear the Word, embrace it,

…and produce a harvest beyond their wildest dreams."

The Message Bible
Some verses omitted

Part VI: Grass Roots
(Written last year)

I used to think that weeds had strong roots and are hard to pull out. Then one day I was trying to rip out a patch of grass that had overgrown and was taking over the part of some rock landscaping. I can’t ever remember having to pull out any weed as hard as I tugged on that tuft of grass. I learned that the woven root system of grass looks delicate from the surface, but in reality, it’s extremely tough. In the same way, God’s root in our life is so much stronger than the fleeting distractions that Satan sends our way. Sometimes I find myself discouraged that so many trials pull me away from God, but the reality is that NOTHING can pull us away from the strong grasp of His love. Read Romans 8:31-39 in the Message version (emphasis mine):

So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:

They kill us in cold blood because they hate you.
We're sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.

None of this phases us because Jesus loves us. I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.

The root of God’s Word is SO strong in our lives, that it will ALWAYS overcome obstacles in its way. God will forever chase us down, wrap us in His arms, and set us right. Weeds can take hold, when the grass is thin, brown, and weak, but when it is thick and deep, gardeners spend much less time pulling weeds, because they simply cannot get in. And on top of that, pulling them out is not usually as hard as we imagine it will be. Have you ever faced a problem only to look back and say, “That was no where near as bad as I thought it would be.”

Here’s another thought: Stomp and kick a weed hard enough, and it will usually die. Stomp and kick on grass with all your might, and it will usually bounce right back again.

Don’t underestimate the power of Christ in your life! God is the essence of love, and 1 Corinthians 13:8, in the NIV version says, “Love never fails.”

Praise Him for that!

Poop and Weeds Wednesday

Good gracious, this week has flown by. It's already time for Poop and Weeds Wednesday. Here you go...

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Thank You God for Poop and Weeds

Mark 4:3-20

"Listen. What do you make of this? A farmer planted seed... Some fell in the weeds; as it came up, it was strangled among the weeds and nothing came of it. Some fell on good earth and came up with a flourish, producing a harvest exceeding his wildest dreams.

"Are you listening to this? Really listening?
‘…Whose eyes are open but don't see a thing,

Whose ears are open but don't understand a word,
Who avoid making an about-face and getting forgiven.’”

"He continued, "Do you see how this story works? All my stories work this way. The farmer plants the Word… The seed cast in the weeds represents the ones who hear the kingdom news but are overwhelmed with worries about all the things they have to do and all the things they want to get. The stress strangles what they heard, and nothing comes of it. But the seed planted in the good earth represents those who hear the Word, embrace it,

…and produce a harvest beyond their wildest dreams."

The Message Bible
Some verses omitted

Part V: Facing Problems when it’s Easier to Just Enjoy the Scenery
(Written last year)

Sometimes my husband and I will tread lightly around a touchy subject for the sake of not ruining a good night. There are times when that is appropriate… and other times when it compounds the issue. I have also been known to enjoy an entertaining sermon, laugh at the jokes, sing along with the music, and smile inwardly with a “no thank you” at the Lord’s quiet leading to face an issue He wants to speak to me about. There has never been a time I have not regretted that. And there have been many times when I have been glad I faced the issue when I didn’t feel like it and was obedient to God’s word and leading. I thought of this today, when I was about to pull up one weed that was embedded in and surrounded by lush green grass. I thought, “Oh, what a shame… I’m going to have to pull up some of that grass in order to get this weed out.”

I will never forget one particular Sunday evening at church. I had gone in jeans and a warm sweater on a cool fall evening. I was thoroughly enjoying the sermon, the coffee that was served with the hazelnut creamer, the music, and the atmosphere. At the end of the sermon about which I have no recollection – that tells you how intently I was listening – the pastor had an altar call for people to come who needed prayer.

I stayed seated.

The Lord said clearly to me, “Renee, I want you to go up there.” I politely responded inwardly to Him, “That’s ok, God. I’m fine. I’ll stay here.”

Then He pressed harder.

“Renee, I want you to go up and pray with someone.” Again, I responded, annoyed, with “No, really God. I’ll just stay right here.”

This time, God was not messing around.

He said, “Renee, get up and go pray now.” And not a second later, the pastor said gently to the crowd, “There are some of you who are holding back, who need to come up, so I’m going to wait a little bit longer until you all come up here. It’s ok. We can hold the service just a bit longer.” That got my attention! The pastor’s words were kind and welcoming, but for me it was as though God was the third grade teacher, staring down the talkative and obstinate youngster, with crossed arms and tight words saying, “We. Will. Wait!”

With somewhat of a huff, I laid my jacket down and strolled up to the front. I walked up to a kind, blonde woman, who I later learned, was named Michelle. Michelle looked at me expectantly.

I said bluntly to her, “I don’t know why I’m here.”

She looked rather puzzled completely dumbfounded at me and said, “You don’t?”

“No,” I said, “I just felt God telling me to come up and pray.” At that point, tears came to my eyes, and I couldn’t hold back.

“Mmmm… ok. Well, then let’s pray.” Michelle quietly started praying, and soon began to pray in tongues for a moment, allowing the Spirit to guide her prayer.

That moment, God said to me, “It’s your marriage,” and equally as quickly, I popped my head up (with a hilarious deer-in-the-headlights look) and said to Michelle, “It’s my marriage.”

“Ok!” she said, and continued, now with a direction to take, and we prayed over my husband’s and my marriage… which at the time was not in any dire need of help, but God knew the financial struggle we would face just a few months later.

It was an odd conversation, and an odder prayer, but several things came out of it. First, my marriage was covered in prayer, which every marriage always needs.

Second, Michelle followed God's leading and prayed in tongues despite the fact that she knew nothing about whether I was open to that kind of thing. God was opening my mind to how the Holy Spirit can work. He was leading me to set aside the box I’d put Him in. (Written today...) In the year that followed, I walked down the most incredible spiritual journey in which my faith was renewed with more fire and passion than ever before or since. The Holy Spirit Rocked. My. World. I'm seriously going to have to write about it sometime.

Third, I learned that Michelle was going to be leaving shortly to move to Brazil, where she would learn Portuguese and teach English. That is significant, because just a few years before, I had moved to Costa Rica, learned Spanish, and taught English to young children. Michelle and I got together for coffee and became very good friends. I gave her some resources and shared my experiences in Costa Rica. She opened her heart to me about how God showed her the power we have to walk in His ways when we are inhabited by His Spirit.

As I look back, I think, what would have happened had I stayed in my seat and not been willing to be obedient to God’s lead? What would I have missed, by wanting to “enjoy the scenery” and avoid the hard work of seeking Him?

(Written today...) Pretty or not, this dandelion is most definitely a weed. It spreads and infests and chokes out the grass that tries to grow around it. Satan works in our lives the same way. Some weeds take longer to take over than others, but in the end, they're all ugly. They all kill the fullness of life that God intends us to have. Seek His ways. Make no compromises. Choose God's way.

It is so very. much. more. FUN.

Thankyou God for Weeds and Poop

Well, I'm a little late this week, but here is part 4 of Poop and Weeds Wednesday. This one is really good! Read on...

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Thank You God for Poop and Weeds

Mark 4:3-20

"Listen. What do you make of this? A farmer planted seed... Some fell in the weeds; as it came up, it was strangled among the weeds and nothing came of it. Some fell on good earth and came up with a flourish, producing a harvest exceeding his wildest dreams.

"Are you listening to this? Really listening?
‘…Whose eyes are open but don't see a thing,

Whose ears are open but don't understand a word,
Who avoid making an about-face and getting forgiven.’”

"He continued, "Do you see how this story works? All my stories work this way. The farmer plants the Word… The seed cast in the weeds represents the ones who hear the kingdom news but are overwhelmed with worries about all the things they have to do and all the things they want to get. The stress strangles what they heard, and nothing comes of it. But the seed planted in the good earth represents those who hear the Word, embrace it,

…and produce a harvest beyond their wildest dreams."

The Message Bible
Some verses omitted

Part IV: A Little Each Day

(Written last year)

Don’t try to pull all the weeds out in one day. Once I tried doing this, and not only was I unable to finish, but I was exhausted and discouraged by the end of the day. Children don’t grow up over night (though sometimes we think they do). The basement doesn’t get organized in one day. Marriages aren't healed in one counseling session. Grass does not go from brown and weed-ridden to green and lush in two hours, and our spiritual struggles do not get resolved with a quick prayer and a good verse.

Have patience with God, your life and yourself.

I am the worst at wanting to fix everything all at once and check the “done” box. I don’t want to walk through the steps it takes to really gain the maturity and wisdom God wants to grant me in an area. And sometimes I am hard on myself when it takes me a little while to “get it.”

Trust in the Lord’s timing.

Think of a time in your life when something has taken you a long time to forgive, resolve or learn. What did you gain, that you would not have, if it had been a quicker process and you hadn’t walked through the whole journey? Was someone else impacted? Is it now a story you can share to encourage others because it was a struggle overcome? Was your spiritual stamina increased? Think of something you are impatient with now. What might God be teaching you and how will long-term trust in Him impact the maturity of your faith?

When I was weeding today, I periodically looked up to see how much more I had to go. When I did so, it started to be discouraging. I quickly realized that this was not a one-day job. I even said to myself, “Well, I guess this will give me more to do next weekend.” In saying that, I experienced somewhat of a relief. I could be pleased with what I accomplished, rather than be overwhelmed by what was ahead. After that, when I looked up, I didn’t think, “There is SO much more to do.” Instead, I thought, “This will look AMAZING when I’m finally done.” And I could glance over at the patch I had finished and see the difference I was making already!

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Although I wrote this a year ago, it's a message God knew I needed to hear today. (Hopefully it speaks to each one of you as well.) There are so many issues in my life that I want to be resolved right now. Even just one of those issues leaves me feeling broken and discouraged if I don't look at it through the grace, strength and power of Jesus' healing love in my life. And often I can feel quite alone in that issue.

But the Lord whispers sweetly to me, "You are not alone. You have Me. I understand how you feel. I walked through it. And being the God who created the Universe, I have given you the strength to overcome it - not all at once - but one little day at a time."

And He also says to me, "I have given you my church. A people surrounding you who love Me, who know my power, and who are broken in their own difficulties as well. They understand you." Too often, shame keeps us from experiencing the comfort that there is in church (as it was truly meant to be).

Thank you for walking alongside me and encouraging me. Many of you in the little things - by the way, I'm down 7 lbs with only 13 to go! And a few of my closest friends have been there through the deep embarrassing shameful things. Thank you ALL for prayer.

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This Sunday we are dedicating our son to the Lord. Actually that means that we're dedicating ourselves as Godly parents to him. Would you please pray for us? Would you leave a comment and let me know you're praying? That would SO encourage me today. :)

Poop and Weeds Wednesday

This is a weekly devotional that stems (pun totally intended) from an experience I had about a year or so ago. One afternoon I was inspired to go clean up my back yard. At the time, it was filled with weeds and our dog's poop. Somewhere in between pulling weeds and carrying the loads to the trash can, I felt God whispering to me to write a devotional. So I put down my gardening tools, took off my gloves, and headed up to the computer.

This is part 3 of Poop and Weeds Wednesday.

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Thank You God for Poop and Weeds

Mark 4:3-20

"Listen. What do you make of this? A farmer planted seed... Some fell in the weeds; as it came up, it was strangled among the weeds and nothing came of it. Some fell on good earth and came up with a flourish, producing a harvest exceeding his wildest dreams.

"Are you listening to this? Really listening?
‘…Whose eyes are open but don't see a thing,

Whose ears are open but don't understand a word,
Who avoid making an about-face and getting forgiven.’”

"He continued, "Do you see how this story works? All my stories work this way. The farmer plants the Word… The seed cast in the weeds represents the ones who hear the kingdom news but are overwhelmed with worries about all the things they have to do and all the things they want to get. The stress strangles what they heard, and nothing comes of it. But the seed planted in the good earth represents those who hear the Word, embrace it,
…and produce a harvest beyond their wildest dreams."

The Message Bible
Some verses omitted

Part III: Beware of Getting Poked

There are several types of weeds in my back yard, but the ones that rule, are tall, ugly, and easy to develop quite a poignant hatred toward. The worst thing about these particular weeds is that they are absolutely covered from top to bottom by painfully sharp thorns. The first time I tried to grab one of these weeds, I didn’t realize how strong these points are. This weed is particularly sturdy, and its points are especially fine. You can image how quickly I pulled back at the first stab of pain when I tried to pull it out. I drove myself to Home Depot and picked out the thickest, toughest pair of gardening gloves I could find. But no matter what I used, they didn’t protect me from being stabbed and poked. Finally, I found the trick to getting rid of these nasty plants: I have to use a gardening tool to push the plant up from under the soil. Only down by the very base, can I grasp the weeds without getting poked. It takes slow, patient, gentle work. Hurrying only yields pain.

When resolving deep issues in our lives, it take gentle patience and loving-kindness, whether the issue is our own, or an issue in someone else’s life. Sometimes we look at an issue in the life of a loved one and we want the issue to go away as quick as possible. We try to help them rip that sucker out as fast as we can! But inevitably they get hurt, and sometimes so do we. Painstaking gentleness and care must be taken.

Poop and Weeds Wednesday

Well, I was going to re-name this Weedy Wednesday, because the word Poop has occurred in this blog far too many times... and I'm sure that's unlikely to stop anytime soon. But then the "weedy" part of Weedy Wednesday sounded a bit too much like something to avoid at a college frat party, so back to Poop and Weeds Wednesday it is!

Anyway, to the point.

In case you're catching up, this is a weekly devotional post that will last through the next several months. About a year ago, I was randomly inspired to go clean up my back yard. At the time, it was filled with weeds and our dog's poop. Somewhere in between pulling weeds and carrying the loads to the trash can, I felt God whispering to me to write a devotional. So I put down my gardening tools, took off my gloves, and headed up to the computer. And now I'm sharing it with you.

I pray God speaks to you through these weeds words.

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Thank You God for Poop and Weeds

Mark 4:3-20

"Listen. What do you make of this? A farmer planted seed... Some fell in the weeds; as it came up, it was strangled among the weeds and nothing came of it. Some fell on good earth and came up with a flourish, producing a harvest exceeding his wildest dreams.

"Are you listening to this? Really listening?
‘…Whose eyes are open but don't see a thing,

Whose ears are open but don't understand a word,
Who avoid making an about-face and getting forgiven.’”

"He continued, "Do you see how this story works? All my stories work this way. The farmer plants the Word… The seed cast in the weeds represents the ones who hear the kingdom news but are overwhelmed with worries about all the things they have to do and all the things they want to get. The stress strangles what they heard, and nothing comes of it. But the seed planted in the good earth represents those who hear the Word, embrace it,
…and produce a harvest beyond their wildest dreams."

The Message Bible
Some verses omitted

Part II: Root it Out

I think it was my Mom who taught me the somewhat sick and twisted masochistic love of pulling weeds. She always loved to garden. When I was a kid, she used to spend hours in the backyard, painstakingly pulling out any plants that were out of place so that the one she wanted to could grow. …Actually, I think she just welcomed the opportunity to be in the sun and away from the phone and never-ending bickering between my sister and I. But that's besides the point.

My Dad loved to weed too, only his target was the grass, not the garden. There were several times that I went outside to join one or both of them, and asked if I could “help.” “Sure!” they would respond enthusiastically. And they would toss me a tool to use. My first instinct was to pull the weed as hard as I could and whatever ended up in my hand would be tossed into the garbage bag and the job was done—so I thought. My work would look something like this picture.

Sure, the weeds were shorter… but they were still just as present as before. Maybe just not as noticeable. That actually made them worse! They could spread more easily and grow a stronger root. It also made them harder to pull out. Have you ever tried to pull out a weed like that with nothing to hold onto except a nub at the top? My parents explained that the weeds don’t go away until you pull them out, root and all.

Unforgiven or unresolved issues in our lives have exactly the same effect in our lives. Have you ever had an argument with a family member over something petty? You start by arguing over what color to paint the bedroom, and pretty soon you can’t even remember what you’re fighting about! Usually, somewhere in between “How about blue?” and “YOU NEVER LISTEN TO A WORD I SAY!” and the door-slam, you’ve touched on something much deeper. It’s easy, in those situations, to smooth over an issue, and call it resolved. But shoving it under the rug, usually means it will rear its ugly head again in the future, and you will find yourself back in the same argument.

Take it one step further. Have you ever been mad at God over something? Maybe you’re mad at Him because you are in a tight spot financially. Then an extra $200 lands on your doorstep and the problem is resolved… this time. But the root of the problem was mistrust in His provision. That part of it was never fixed. God will bring issues like that back in front of you time and time again, until you learn the lesson once and for all. Though the particular issue worked itself out and God proved Himself faithful, you must reconcile the root of the issue. As long as you “avoid making an about-face and getting forgiven,” the weed will never go away.

There have been many many times in my life that I find myself in the “same ol’ place” frustrated over the same issue as before. I’ve cried to God,”WHY?!? How many times will I circle this mountain?” His answer to me, as it was to the Israelites (for 40 years in the desert) was, “Until you learn what I am trying to teach you.” Open your heart to Him. What is it that He’s trying to show you about His love through the situation you are in? What is the root issue of the problem you are facing?

Once I learned that God teaches us through these situations, only then I was able to understand how David could dance while he was mourning, and how Paul could give thanks for each trial he encountered.

Weeds and Poop Wednesday

Grrr!! I can't believe I forgot to post the second part of this little devotional affectionally titled..

Thank You God for Poop and Weeds

In case you missed it last week, you can go back and read here. About a year or two ago, I was randomly inspired to go clean up my back yard. At the time, it was filled with weeds and our dog's poop. Cleaning it up was quite a chore. But somewhere in between pulling weeds and carrying the loads to the trash can, I felt God whispering to me to write a devotional. So I put down my gardening tools, took off my gloves, and headed up to the computer. I wrote a short devotional, which I then saved and shoved in a drawer. It stayed there... until now.

And so started... Weeds and Poop Wednesday! Except that this Wednesday, I FORGOT! Well, posting something on the wrong day has never stopped me before... So here you go. It's a little late, but here's Part 1. And this week, I promise to post Part 2 on time. ;)

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Mark 4:3-20

"Listen. What do you make of this? A farmer planted seed... Some fell in the weeds; as it came up, it was strangled among the weeds and nothing came of it. Some fell on good earth and came up with a flourish, producing a harvest exceeding his wildest dreams.
"Are you listening to this? Really listening?
‘…Whose eyes are open but don't see a thing,
Whose ears are open but don't understand a word, Who avoid making an about-face and getting forgiven.’”
"He continued, "Do you see how this story works? All my stories work this way. The farmer plants the Word… The seed cast in the weeds represents the ones who hear the kingdom news but are overwhelmed with worries about all the things they have to do and all the things they want to get. The stress strangles what they heard, and nothing comes of it. But the seed planted in the good earth represents those who hear the Word, embrace it, …and produce a harvest beyond their wildest dreams."

The Message Bible

Some verses omitted

Part 1
Weeds Choke out Life

Once I found the corner of my yard that I wanted to start working - one that’s shaded and green, and where moisture isn’t immediately obliterated by the dry heat and sun, I discovered something rather discouraging. The grass grows here quite well, but so do the weeds! It was the area of the yard where the grass was actually still alive, however weeds enjoyed that same setting. As I studied the corner I was about to work on, I thought, “I bet the grass here would grow much better if the weeds weren’t choking it out. It would get more of the earth’s moisture too, if the weeds weren’t sucking it dry.” In Mark, Chapter 4, Jesus talked about seed that was strangled by weeds and so nothing came of it. The weeds took up all the space, water and soil’s nutrients, so that the seed had no chance.

God’s truth is the same way. Sometimes we hear His truth and it goes in one ear and out the other, because what’s really occupying the space between our ears is worry. Worry about life. Worry about spouses, finances, children, jobs, friends, age, wrinkles, weight, to-do lists, dirty laundry… The list goes on and on. God’s Word to us says:

The farmer plants the Word…

"The seed cast in the weeds represents the ones who hear the kingdom news but are overwhelmed with worries about all the things they have to do and all the things they want to get. The stress strangles what they heard, and nothing comes of it. (Mark 4:17-19 The Message)

Worry, fear, doubt, hurt, sin, and broken relationships can cause us to lose the richness of God’s desire for us. That is why setting down and doing the hard work of fleshing out day-to-day life according to God’s will is so important. Because until we’re willing to face the nitty-gritty situations and apply God’s word to them, and be willing to change for Him, we will always be choked by the weeds. We refuse God’s sovereignty in our lives unless we take it to the next step and pursue maturity in understanding His ways for our lives. But once we do set ourselves to this task… oh! What wonderful things can come! The Message Bible puts it this way:

"But the seed planted in the good earth represents those who hear the Word, embrace it, and produce a harvest beyond their wildest dreams." (Mark 4:20)

…Let me say it again for you: A harvest beyond your wildest dreams! Are you living a life in Christ that surpasses your greatest expectations? When I first gave my life to the Lord, I had NO CLUE of the wonders He would do in my life. I gave my life to the Lord in third grade, but I was 20 before I really started to pursue what it meant to LIVE for Christ. I’m 30 now, and I look back at the last decade and marvel at how far God has brought me. I can truly say that I live a life now, that is beyond my wildest dreams, and that is only true because of God’s incredible grace and the work of His Spirit in my life!

Are there things in your life that overwhelm you? Do you want to live with joy and excitement? Do you want to live bigger and better, at peace and in intimate relationship with Him? Read the rest of Mark, Chapter 4 here. And come back on Wednesday and hear more!

Introducing... Poop and Weeds Wednesday

Yes, you read it right. Poop and Weeds Wednesday. :)

No, this is not more potty humor stories... Although, those seem to abound in our household.

Actually, this is the beginning of a weekly devotional post that will last through the next several months. You see, about a year or two ago, before I was pregnant, before I blogged... before I was thinking about any of these things... I was randomly inspired to go clean up my back yard. At the time, it was filled with weeds and our dog's poop. Cleaning it up was quite a chore. But somewhere in between pulling weeds and carrying the loads to the trash can, I felt God whispering to me to write a devotional. So I put down my gardening tools, took off my gloves, and headed up to the computer. I wrote a short devotional, which I then saved and shoved in a drawer. It stayed there for over a year.

Now I know that I was supposed to write that devotional for such a time as this.

This is the introduction of the devotional, titled, "Thank you God for Poop and Weeds." Each week I'll post the next section. I'm not guaranteeing anything deserving of the Pulitzer Prize! But I promise you these words are from my heart. I pray God speaks to you through them.

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Thank You God for Poop and Weeds

Mark 4:3-20

"Listen. What do you make of this? A farmer planted seed... Some fell in the weeds; as it came up, it was strangled among the weeds and nothing came of it. Some fell on good earth and came up with a flourish, producing a harvest exceeding his wildest dreams.

"Are you listening to this? Really listening?
‘…Whose eyes are open but don't see a thing,

Whose ears are open but don't understand a word,
Who avoid making an about-face and getting forgiven.’”

"He continued, "Do you see how this story works? All my stories work this way. The farmer plants the Word… The seed cast in the weeds represents the ones who hear the kingdom news but are overwhelmed with worries about all the things they have to do and all the things they want to get. The stress strangles what they heard, and nothing comes of it. But the seed planted in the good earth represents those who hear the Word, embrace it,

…and produce a harvest beyond their wildest dreams."

The Message Bible
Some verses omitted

Introduction

Today I went out into my backyard on a mission. To conquer the weeds in my yard. My yard is somewhat connected to my pride… I’m learning to let go of this. But I still find great pleasure in looking out into the back yard, seeing that it is well-manicured, green, and well… pretty.

Right now, it is not any of those things.

You see, our sprinkler system is broken, and neither my husband nor I have thought our yard a high enough priority to spend an hour and a half, twice a week watering it. So right now, our landscaping is composed of various shades of brown and weeds. “That doesn’t trample my spirit though!” I thought triumphantly, this afternoon after church. “No matter! Weeds must be pulled anyway!” And another thought occurred to me: “Certainly, there must be corners of my yard that are protected by shade, where the little moisture we get here in Colorado, is well-received and where plants grow and flourish and there is still living grass to save!”

Sure enough, I did find such a corner. And I set in to work.

As I set to work, lashing out life’s frustrations on the weeds, and enjoying the physical work of it, I began to think… and God began to speak to me. He reminded me of the Parable of the Sower, and he began to show me how much our spiritual lives are very much like the backyard grass. One parallel after another came to me, and I am now convinced, that God gave us weeds and poop – yes, that’s right… I said poop, too – in order to help us understand the importance of rooting out evil in our lives, in order that we may live a more abundant, life-giving, full life in God.

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Over the next several months, I'll share with you what those parallels are. Come back next week! In the mean time, would you share what this story means to you? Do so in the comments section, so all can enjoy and benefit.