Protecting the Harvest

An uneasy restlessness grips me.
Finding no simple solution, I begin to probe deeper,
Touching tender places, bruised and sore,
Seeking the core, the roots.
On my knees, I crouch low.
The hot sun scorches my back,
And I sweat in the heat.
It's hard work;
Work that I'd rather leave for a more convenient season,
When the sun's rays weren't so hot,
And the ground was softened by rain.
But the angle of the sun tells me
That I haven't much time.
So I poke and sift, pinching off insects,
And driving away the pesky birds and bunnies
That would harm my harvest.
My heart is cheered when I pause -
And realize that the Lord of the Harvest
Is also working close by.

~ MJKinnee

Spring Gardening

It's spring in Michigan! Our normal windy March and rainy April didn't happen this year. But May is making up for the lack. Now and then, interspersed between the windy/rainy days, the sun peaks out and warms the ground, coaxing buds to blossom and lilacs to bloom. With clingy fingers, reluctant winter gives way to the inevitable. Those who've hunkered down indoors throughout Michigan's snowy beauty begin to venture forth, take leisurely walks, and enjoy the breath of spring. Seems everyone likes a Michigan spring.

The only complaints I've heard this year have to do with the rain delaying the planting of gardens and sprucing up the landscape. A number of friends plan to break ground for a garden; flowers, fruit trees, strawberries, tomatoes, onions, herbs, melons, and vegetables they've never tried to grow before. Some are opting for container gardens while others are devoting more space than ever before. All this waits on the promise of sunshine and frost-free days.

One friend has even braved the rain to get a head start on what can only be described as the most ambitious garden I've ever seen in a suburban lot. But then her garden is always something to see and to enjoy, for she is a master gardener. Her diligence is already evident. It's obvious when you drive up to her door, she's got everything under control - fruit, vegetables, shrubs, ground cover, wildflowers - you name it, it seems eager to thrive under her tutelage. Somehow, when visiting my friend on a summer evening, I can sense the presence of God in a special way in her garden.

Another friend is into flowers. Spring flowers come and go in waves; first the crocus and snowflowers, then daffodils, with tulips close behind. Pansies skirt their stems. She's planted impatiens among the pansies, knowing the pansies will be overtaken. A sacrifice, yes, but she's very fond of imaptiens. Iris flank to the right and left of all this color and they'll bloom all summer. Her house stands out in the neighborhood - evidence of her forethought and planning - and of the Creator of all things bright and beautiful.

Got to thinking about all this. Gardening is not easy. Muscles ache, knees and hands get dirty, shoveling and raking are back-breaking tasks. Pulling weeds is unpleasant but essential and fertilizing is a smelly job. Yet the satifaction I see on my friends' faces when they sit out in their garden, or cook up some tasty dish from their own fresh produce, lets me know they find the results well worth all the effort. I believe God smiles on gardeners and their endeavors to work with His creative genius.

One of my mom's friends, Anna, was also a master gardener. She lived on a little over an acre of ground and had a sizeable garden. As summer progressed, mom frequently brought home baskets of produce grown by Anna. Mom marvelled at her success and asked her how it was that she rarely saw weeds among the plants. Anna confided early each spring, before planting, she went out and sifted through the ground filtering out the weed seeds. As a result, her garden was a showplace with an abundance of good things to share with others. Anna's kindness and generosity came out of a willing heart and a love for God.

I've also posted a poem in conjunction with this little piece - hope it's a blessing to you!

[Note: See the next post above.]

~ mjkinnee

Protecting the Harvest

An uneasy restlessness grips me

Finding no simple solutions, I begin to probe deeper,

Touching tender places, bruised and sore,

Seeking the core, the roots.

On my knees, I crouch low,

The hot sun scorches my back,

And I sweat in the heat.

It's hard work;

Work I'd rather leave for a more convenient season,

When the sun's rays weren't so hot,

And the soil was softened by rain.

But the angle of the sun tells me

I haven't much time.

So I poke and sift, pinching off insects;

Driving away the pesky birds and bunnies

That would harm my harvest.

My heart is cheered when I pause...

And realize that The Lord of the Harvest

Is working close by.

~ By Marjorie Kinnee

A New Year...

A New Year has begun and with it, new and updated hopes and plans, and the desire to improve, upgrade, and just do better. What makes that sentence anything other than the sentiments of millions, yea, billions of people around the world is what one does with it...

When I was a child, they used to sing a chorus that went like this...
"Nothing between my soul and my Savior,
So that His blessed face may be seen;
Nothing preventing the least of His favor,
Keep the way clear, let nothing between."

The desire to serve God with a clean heart and clean hands needs to be honed and cultivated. When our hearts and hands are clean and free from wrath and doubting, (I Timothy 2:8) we can approach God with confidence, (I John 2:28; 3:21) with a mind that is at peace, knowing that He hears our prayer and will attend to our needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus. (I John 3:22) Here are seven "F's" that will free you and bring you victory in the New Year...

1.) Faith - confidence, belief, trust. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not [yet] seen." (Hebrews 11:1) Something there is about the ability to believe, about placing your confidence in someone or something, in trusting without reservation. Faith's power lies in the One in whom it's placed and its degree of commitment. Yes, there is an element of risk - big risk. Yes, quantum leaps into the unknown are involved. Yes, there is always the chance of loss, particularly where humans are involved. But the glorious exception is found in placing all your confidence in the One who created you, who sustains you, and who has made perfect provision for all your needs - past, present and future. Victorious faith rests in Him. His Word, and His faithfulness! "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." (I John 5:4)

2.) Favor - friendly or kind regard, approval. "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man." (Luke 2:52) While we have no business currying favor, there are a number of godly principles and attitudes that bring the peace of a good conscience within and the respect of others without. No amount of money can buy this kind of favor, for it is first attained through right relationship with God. Once that is established - "When a man's ways please the Lord, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him." (Proverbs 16:7)

3.) Fear - respectful dread, awe, reverence. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do His commandments..." (Psalm 111:10) "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding." (Proverbs 9:10) It is a healthy thing to have the proper respect for the One in whose hand your very life rests. There is a kind of fear that is debilitating and demoralizing - that kind of fear is not of God - it makes grown men weak as kittens and demolishes the best of intentions. Jesus said, "...fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both body and soul in hell." (Matthew 10:28)

4.) Follow - to come or to go after. "Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord." (Hosea 6:3) If the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, then it stands to reason that following on to know the Lord can not be anything but beneficial. Jesus called His disciples saying, "Follow Me" and spoke of the taking up of a cross in order to do so. Following requires a sacrifice - a sacrifice of self and selfishness. The Apostle told us to "...follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart." (II Timothy 2:22) and, "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see God." (Hebrews 12: 14)

5.) Fruit - enjoyment, means of enjoyment. "I am the Vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit, for without Me ye can do nothing... Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples. ...I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit shall remain..." (John 15:5,8,16) "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23) "The fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth." (Ephesians 5:9) "The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace." (James 3:18) (In a fruitful field, righteousness remains and produces great dividends - see Isaiah 32:16-17.)

6.) Forgiving - to give up resentment against or the desire to punish; stop being angry with, pardon. "Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." (Ephesians 4:32) "Forbearing [to keep oneself in check; control oneself under provocation,] one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye." (Colossians 3:13) "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you." (Matthew 6:14) Forgiveness is love's illustrated sermon. It is how all men will know whether you are truly His disciple - "...Freely you have received, freely give." (Matthew 10:8)

7,) Finally - coming at the end; last; concluding. "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of a good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." (Philippians 4:8) After you've contemplated and pondered over this entire list, you won't have much time left to dwell on anything negative. "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." (Colossians 3:2) Our focus must be upward - on His Kingdom, His will, and His priorities. "Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith..." (Hebrews 12:2)

These seven "F's" will help ensure a year full of growth in the wisdom and knowledge of the Lord.