Posts Tagged ‘tiny seed’
How My Garden Grows
I laid in bed this morning with a blog forming in my mind. I had no idea that God had other plans for me. Ready to capture the day, I planted my feet on the floor, made me a delicious soy latte and headed outside to tend to my garden. I find a sense of comfort in the early morning hours, and I always find enjoyment as I witness the beauty forming in my garden. The realization of what a tiny seed can turn into when it is nurtured and loved…amazes me. While I hadn’t ignored it completely, my garden did plummet on my priority list, along with other things, during the time I was dealing with the reality of my special friend. Joyfully, from the moment God armed me with the truth, I have been equipped and ready to get my life and my priorities back in order. I’m thankful it didn’t take long and I accept the consequences of my actions. I refuse to look at anything in a negative light. That would get me nowhere. I would rather see the good. It was what I had to do, it was what I had to experience in order to grow; I don’t see it as a tragedy. I learned a valuable lesson in the midst of it and I am no longer in the grips of the despairing darkness. I can forgive and move forward, knowing who I want to be…who God wants me to be. Praise God! As watered and plucked vegetables today I discovered a special appreciation for God and all He does, for all He is. I saw myself, I saw us, God’s children, in that garden today.
Living in the heart of the city, I have a very small backyard and a big country heart. For years my garden consisted primarily of container plants inside an abandoned kennel with a few planted around its’ perimeter. Not content with this small venture, I created a raised garden bed over the course of two years on top of what use to be an unused gravel driveway behind my enclosed carport. Working with the used potting soil after each growing season and leaves from the Fall, the soil became alive with large worms and nutrients. I loved the feeling of soil in my hands as I worked with it, step by step, season to season. This is the first year I actually planted a full garden in it. Edged with concrete blocks and full of young plants, I enjoyed sitting out back looking in awe at what my hands had created – it must be how God feels about each of us.
Unfortunately, there is a mature tree stretching from my neighbor’s yard that towers over my garden. I didn’t see a problem with it at first, but now, I do. The squash and tomatoes planted towards the front, receiving the most sun, flourish. I have so many that I don’t know what to do with them and I often give them away to friends. However, the tomatoes planted towards the back of the garden have yet to produce any fruit. They are green and some appear healthy, yet with the lack of sun, they are unable to produce as they should – like us. When we are not in God’s light, our ability to produce as we should is hindered. My heart goes out to these plants. I continue to water them and tend to them – like God does us when we aren’t planted where we should be. I’m not sure they will produce as they should but I will not give up on them.
On the other hand, there is one tomato plant that sits in full sun. It looked so promising as it matured: several strong branches eagerly formed, so many that I had to devise a way to support the weight of them as they expanded well beyond the capacity of its’ container. I have always had great luck with planting tomatoes in containers so I was surprised when it took so long to actually bear fruit: today was the first time I picked any tomatoes from it. I decided to pluck a couple which weren’t fully red; I placed them on the window sill so that they could reap the full benefits of the sun, less the unbearable heat and humidity. Kind of what God does for us. He sees us trying so hard, He sees our determination and faith in following Him. He gently places us where we can better flourish. He gives us the opportunity to remove the elements crippling our growth no matter where we are. It’s up to us to see that…it’s up to us to move, to listen, to hope, to have faith in His words, to believe in His ability to help us grow. (Proverbs 3:5, Isaiah 48:17, Psalm 32:8, Psalm 48:18, Isaiah 58:11.)
Remember the sweet potato blog? The day I returned home from confronting him with his girlfriend, I immediately planted them. That felt so good. Today, four days later, sprouts are emerging from the ground. Beautiful, dark reddish green shoots springing up from the soil. I smiled. That’s me! I’m where I should be: emerged in God’s love, forgiveness, peace, mercy, hope. There is fruit forming underground. Even if I can’t see it, I know it’s there. God is tending to my needs; He heard my call, He’s seen my commitment. He is healing me from the inside out. I want to share this growth with the world. Praise God!
As I picked my bounty this morning, I often caught myself smiling. They did it! And so did I. That must be just a fraction of how God feels when we succeed; when we follow His will, when we rise above our circumstances and flourish. It’s not easy, and it’s not over. I’ve only just begun.
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About the Author:
Angie is the author of the blog “My Walk With God“. At 40 Angie is a single, divorced mother of 3 children ranging in ages from 21 to 16. Having suffered through addiction, divorce, abuse, depression and sin, she finds her strength by walking with God. She is a programmer/analyst and enjoys photography both as a side profession and as a hobby/release. Her current passion is a photography collection she calls “How Great Thou Art“. She also enjoys bonding with her kids, reading, traveling, exploring, gardening, and anything outdoors. The youngest of 8 siblings, she was a high school drop out, yet now holds 2 Associates Degrees and 1 Bachelor’s Degree and is currently earning her Masters. Check out more about her walk with God at: angnic.wordpress.com
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Goal Setting Process – A Simple Technique For Empowering the Goal Setting Process
Having goals makes the difference in people’s lives. Without goals, people have hopes and wishes and no plan or drive to make those hopes and wishes come into fruition.
Ideas manifest into the material world through action. Without a goal and step-by-step plan to achieve it, action and energy can be wasted. Goal Setting Process
Here’s a powerful simple technique for getting in touch with your goal, and taking the action to make it happen:
Write down your goal in one sentence. Make sure that it’s written positively
, and that it’s written in the present tense, as if it’s already happened and you’ve achieved the goal. Lastly ensure that the goal is related to you personally and something in your control. e.g. “I am so happy now that I am driving my new car“.
Next, write all the feelings you’ll experience when you have your goal. What will people be saying to you? What will you be saying to yourself in your mind? What will you be saying to other people? What will be different in your life because of the achievement of this goal – will you have achieved other things on the way to the goal? How will you have changed through achieving this goal? Goal Setting Process
A great metaphor we can use to help us relate to the development of our goal can be found in nature and specifically, our gardens. Next, take a seed, and follow the instructions for its planting and then place it in a suitable place where there is light etc, and where you will see it everyday.
Now, sit quietly and run through the process in your mind, as if it’s a movie of you planting and watering the seed. Think and notice now how this tiny seed could represent the tiny beginnings of your goal.
Seeds and new life, need nurturing through feeding, watering and light to grow. Write down what you need to nurture yourself and your goal to fruition.
Write a plan of how you will ensure that you take the time to give these essential things to yourself. Note how committed to doing this you are. By picking a number from 0-10 that represents your commitment. If it’s less than 10, what could you do to ensure that your commitment is a 10. Commitment is crucial to your seed and goal growing. Goal Setting Process
Look after the seed and plant that represents your goal and watch it grow with the attention, focus and care you give it. If you feel particularly connected to your plant you can even talk to it about your goal and why it’s important to you. You might feel stupid but believe me it works. There’s scientific evidence to suggest that plants grow stronger and faster if you speak to them, and who knows how it could empower your goal!
Your goal comes into being the more time, attention and focus you give it. Make it important enough to care about. Goal Setting Process
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About the Author:
“Want to always Exceed Expectation and bring the best out?
Goal Setting Processis the No.1 Self Improvement Program in the net!
TryPattern Of Excellence and feel the bring out your hidden power!”
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