Author: Nancy Landis

A view from the porch

Sitting on the porch on a summer day whether it is morning or evening, is a feast for the eyes.  It is a panoramic view of ripe yellow wheat fields waving in the wind (which have been cut and harvested since I first started this).  Behind the wheat are lush green corn stalks standing tall and straight, reaching toward the sky.  The trees in the woods offer another color of green and texture with beautiful blue skies and white clouds.  If I look closer, the summer garden comes into view.  Rows of green, yellow, and purple beans stand in front of the zucchini hills with large leaves hiding green and yellow fruit. The lazy wife beans are climbing up a stick tripod around them.  The beetles seem to be attracted to those leaves.  The leafy tall cosmos are starting to show their colors of magenta flowers.

Tomato plants and okra grow side by side. There is an okra that escaped being harvested.
Tomato plants and okra grow side by side. There is an okra that escaped being harvested.  There are storm clouds in the background.

Of course there are tomato plants, peppers, cucumbers, eggplant and the list goes on.  I feast on this scene with my eyes and it delights my soul.

As I read the Bible, my spiritual eyes feast on the words of a heavenly place that Jesus has gone to prepare for us.  In John 14 he comforts the disciples’ hearts with these words, “Do not let your hearts be troubled, believe in God, believe also in Me.  In my Father’s house are many dwelling places;…I go to prepare a place for you.” Thomas inquired how to find the way and Jesus replied, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”

The description of heaven is so wonderous we can’t comprehend the magnitude and beauty: a city of translucent gold, pearls that are large enough to be gates, no more tears or crying, no sun or moon for the glory of the Lord God Almighty illuminates the city and the Lamb is its light day and night!

Pilgrims Progress is an allegory written in the 1600’s about the trials and pitfalls that a Christian encounters on their journey through this life. There is a story in the book of the two pilgrims, Christian and Hopeful, gazing through a perspectives glass.  They caught a glimpse of the glory of the Celestial City to which they were traveling.  They looked with eyes of faith as we also look forward to what is prepared for the faithful followers of Christ Jesus.

Now we see things imperfectly as in a poor mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity.  We catch glimpses of the glory and we long to see fully all that God has prepared for those who are His!  Keep journeying on my fellow pilgrims!!  The best is yet to come!

As I was taking the pictures this graceful butterfuly landed on the zinnias. As I tried to get closer it would move further away and this was the last zinnia in the row!
I was in the garden when this graceful butterfly landed on the zinnias. As I tried to get closer to it, it would move further away and this was the last zinnia in the row!

 

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Weeding

One of the best times to pull weeds is in the cool of the evening.  In the Garden of Eden, Creator God talked with Adam and Eve in the cool of the evening. It is a time when we reflect from the event’s from the day.  I thought about this as I was working in the garden one evening.

I was weeding an area planted with many different varieties of flower seeds and they were competing for space with the weeds.  I had not weeded that row, since it can take up to two weeks for some flower seeds to emerge.  I started  pulling the weeds that were familiar to me and I was careful not to disturb any that looked like a plant.  I was reminded how we need to be careful when caring for others in our lives who are new in their relationship with Jesus.  If I would go into that patch of what looked like weeds and just yank them all out, I may loose the very seedlings I am hoping to see mature into beautiful flowers.

You might recognize the connection I was making with the patch of what looked like mostly weeds and looking at someone’s life and thinking about the many negative characteristics visible in a person. It takes time to help someone gently pull out the unfruitful habits.  We can help them recognize and identify the intrusive weeds; praying for our weaker brothers and sisters, leading them in repenting and receiving the forgiveness of Jesus.  It is often helpful to have a mature and experienced gardener work on that patch of weeds with us.  If we are alone we can grow discouraged.

Sometimes the weeds are growing obnoxiously out of control right in front of me. The entrance to the walk was one such area.  I kept ignoring them thinking I would get my gloves and pull them without getting my hands dirty.

But this morning, I had enough!  Even though I was expecting guests within an hour, I started in on those weeds with a vengence.  I didn’t care that my nails were getting dirty because the job was getting done!  As I was pulling and yanking, my thought was, “When there are glaring habits that can no longer be ignored, we need to get rid of them in our own lives!”  Complaining, impatience, selfishness, just to name a few, grow increasingly obnoxious until there is nothing to do but decide that enough is enough.  There are sins that so easily beset us here in this life but as we recognize and identify them we can eliminate them by repenting and receiving the forgiveness of Jesus.  Weeds never stop growing but there are ways to decrease their appearance!  Sounds like a future post!

Out with the old, in with the new!  Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.  But the fruit of the Spirirt is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfullness, gentleness, and self control.  Galations 5:22-25