Overgrown and weedy

Even though we are now so blessed to have Ms. Koda Bleu Patrick, I still long for Gracie's bark; for her brush against my hand asking for love. Having Koda is great. She is really helping me embrace this change. It is hard for me to adjust after (just) one year of seeing her every day and doing everything with her. This has made me reflect on what my grandmother, and I am sure many other widowers, must be going through without my grandpa. The difference, #1 he was human and #2, they were together for 58 years. 58 years of waking up to the same, most of the time, sweet smile. Drinking coffee and reading the paper together. Traveling the world together. Day in and day out with the same person, same routine. And then it all changes. Although the situation is different, it feels so much the same pain. Which brings me to the point that both of us still have an amazing One to count on through it all. He is not leaving us. No matter who gets taken from our lives here on Earth, He is still constant. Never changing. He will always be there. I just need to recognize Him more. Rely on Him more. Use His strength to get over it, to take the good times and move on. Use the wisdom and Words that He gives me, and share them with others who struggle. To take that little tiny mustard seed of Faith that I began with years ago, and allow it to continue to grow. To grow into tubs and tubs of mustard that can be spread on everyone I meet.
This Caladeium started out as a little tiny bulb; look how it has grown with just a little bit of water and sunshine each day. Soon it will be a huge elephant ear of a plant. That is how my faith should grow. Sprinkled each day with water from the Word and sunshine from His grace.

Our garden has really come up since we were blessed with almost 2 inches of rain over the last 2 weeks. Each of these plants also started as little tiny seeds. I mean tiny ... the corn was an itty bitty kernel, and now some of the stalks are almost as tall as me (which isn't saying too much. With this growth though, has come many weeds. Next week we are planning on going through and picking out the weeds and mutilating them so they will not return. When the weeds are there, they suck all the nutrients out of the ground and leave nothing for the plant to have. When CR explained this to me, I began to see the parallels of this action in the life of a Christian. When we start out in the Lord we are tiny little seedlings, totally dependent upon what we get fed to survive. We get great encouragement (sunlight) and we are discipled by veteran Christians (watered). The Lord supplies our faith (nutrients) and along with the other resources we grow. If we allow all the resources around us to help us to their full potential, we can grow infinitely in the Lord. Then the world and the Devil (weeds) begin to invade our lives and take over our supplements. If we allow it to happen, they will overgrow our hearts and minds and pour into our lives and the lives of those around us. We need to remember daily to weed out and mutilate all that is in our hearts that does not belong and that sucks out the nutrients that the Lord is so graciously and sufficiently supplying us.
See how crazy overgrown the garden is? Next week after we clean it out, I will show you what the true garden looks like, bearing great fruit and vegetables to share with our family and friends.
"I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Matt. 17:20

Faith means being sure of the things we hope for. And faith means knowing that something is real even if we do not see it. Hebrews 11:1

Tuesday I got my haircut and she gave me bangs. BANGS! Oh well, they will grow.

Without faith no one can please God. Anyone who comes to God must believe that he is real and that he rewards those who truly want to find him. Hebrews 11:6