Spiritual Growth

Well it's that time of year for...GARDENING!! :D Although I'm not much of an expert on gardening, I do enjoy getting out in the warm sunshine and spending some quality time with the dirt and plants! ;) Last year we planted corn for freezing, and a few other vegetables; but this year, we are doubling our garden! So far we've planted: Corn, broccoli, lettuce, carrots, beets, pumpkins, snow peas, green beans, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, onions, garlic, and squash. So this summer we're definitely going to be busy with watering and weeding! :P For some reason when I'm out in the garden, I start to think about spiritual things, and learn most lessons from a seed. It's amazing how such a tiny seed can grow into something big, and be able to produce food! Of course the seed has to have plenty of sunshine, water, and proper care such as weeding, so that it is able to grow and thrive. Which can be a spiritual lesson for us: In our spiritual lives, we need to grow in Christ. Of course we can't do that alone. We are completely helpless and cannot continue to grow if Christ is not allowed into our hearts to work in us. Without his word (water) and love (sunshine) we are nothing but a shriveled up plant in this dark world here on earth. And if we allow the devil to take hold of us either by earthly possessions or temptations, we are being choked by the world's influence (weeds) and won't be able to grow. But, if we invite Christ to dwell in us, we can become prosperous and blossom. Matthew 13:19,22-23 says: "When anyone heareth the word of the kingdom and understandeth it not; then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the wayside. He that received the seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit."