Issue #1167 – Greenhouse Routine – June 2, 2023
I enjoy visiting nurseries and greenhouse/garden centres. They are a great place to walk in inclement weather, and no matter the season, they have great displays of beautiful plants and gardening-related items.
Every time I visit one, I find new plants that I have never seen before or innovative whiz-bang gadgets designed to make a gardener’s life easier (and a seller’s bottom line better).
I see all the beautiful indoor and outdoor plants I would love to grow if I had the time, money, space and energy. Every now and then, I bring a houseplant home, especially when they are having a sale, and it’s only $2 or so, but I have maxed out the window space in my office. I’m pretty much at my limit, even with adding a broader shelf on the window ledge, using plant hangers and the corner of a bookshelf.
I was thinking this morning about a conversation I had years ago with a young man who worked at a garden center. There were no other customers, and he seemed to want to visit.
Mark told me that a big part of his work routine was ensuring the plants were healthy and ready for customers. “It is the kind of work that no one notices unless it hasn’t been done, but I find it rewarding.” Mark said, “Part of my job is to pick the dead leaves and blossom off of the plants and water them as needed. Sometimes they need extra fertilizer or special care in some way.”
It hit me later that day that what Mark does in the garden centre reminded me of what God does for us.
The Lord strips us of the ugly dead layers of sin in our lives, leaving us refreshed and looking more like He designed us to be. He waters and nourishes us spiritually to keep us healthy.
When Mark checked the plants daily, he had to b vigilant to check for even the most minor dead or diseased parts. If those are not removed, they can further harm the plant or even those nearby. Just as our sin can.
Mark checks the soil because the plants can dry up and die without it. Like Christians who don’t spend time with God, plants can become brittle, dry and tired. We need the Lord to keep us filled and watered.
The plants under Mark’s care cannot tend to their own needs. They can’t prune, fertilize or water themselves. Without the help of Mark and others like him, the plants have little chance of survival and living up to their potential.
Without a relationship with Jesus, we depend on our wealth, works, and the praises of those around us to sustain us. Yet none of those things can truly fill our need for God. When we stand in our blind state of “self” sufficiency or the limelight from others, we don’t understand our actual needs. We’re covered in the dead, ugly layers of our filthy sin, wilted and hopeless. Even as believers, we can sometimes fall into the trap of looking to anything but Him to fulfil us. Fortunately, the believer has hope.
We all need our infinite loving Lord’s love, care and grace to help us. Jesus calls us to return to Him and trust.
For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:17-20
Until next time, rejoice and celebrate the care of the God who prunes, nourishes and refreshes you with streams of living water. Only he can satisfy and bring out all the beauty in us.
Be Blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
__________________________________________
Please like and share this post with friends and your circle of influence. Also, feel free to comment.
Did you know that we have an email version? Same great content but in a different format. Subscribe today https://mailchi.mp/f27bbeb09c22/ gleanings-1
______________________________
All contents, “Gleanings From The Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2023 K.F. “Kevin” Corbin Gleanings From The Word.
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV).
___________________________________________
#Gleanings #theWord #devotional #gospel #death #encouragement #Biblestudy #faith #dailyBible #verseoftheday #grace #KevinCorbin #god #life #Jesus #faith #holySpirit #GleaningsFromTheword #bible #christian #love #Christ #Father #gardenCenter #greenhouse #nursery #gardening #plants #housePlants #pruning #watering #livingWater #revelation3