A Spiritual Green Thumb
A Spiritual Green Thumb
Do you have “that neighbor” who loves to mow, manicure, and maintain the lawn? There’s something about seeing those straight mow lines, finely edged sidewalks, and pure green sea of rich color on the yard. Maybe you are that neighbor!
For those that have enjoy gardening as a hobby or simply enjoy working outside, this can be a rewarding (or frustrating) time of year! Seeing plants grow from seed to fruit can be super rewarding.
On the other hand, there are those who accidentally kill plants just by looking at them.
It happens. No judgement.
Someone who loves to garden is said to have a “green thumb!” Where did that come from? According to the “Old Farmer’s Almanac,” the origins of that statement come from the fact that algae growing on the outside of earthenware pots will stain a person's thumb (and fingers) if he or she handles enough pots. Hence, a person who is always working with flowerpots has a green thumb.
If a green thumb is the sign of a well-seasoned gardener, what are the signs of a growing Christian?
Galatians 5:22-23
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
A farmer cannot manage a million individual seeds and plants. Farmers maintain the elements they can control to some degree like soil, water, and providing protection from things like disease, wild life or weeds. They allow the seed to do what only the seed does.
The Christian has elements of free will, obedience, and control that must take place in order to have a healthy relationship with Christ. Just like the seed, we count of the Spirit of God to do only what the Spirit can do.
Common traits for a growing believer are:
Seeing the fruits of your labor can be energizing, satisfying, and even tasty! Following Christ in deep intimacy, freedom, and purpose is fulfilling as well as eternally rewarding. It was once said, “Out of 100 men, one will read the Bible, the other 99 will read the Christian.”
The outward expression of your faith speaks volumes to the world.
They are listening.
For those that have enjoy gardening as a hobby or simply enjoy working outside, this can be a rewarding (or frustrating) time of year! Seeing plants grow from seed to fruit can be super rewarding.
On the other hand, there are those who accidentally kill plants just by looking at them.
It happens. No judgement.
Someone who loves to garden is said to have a “green thumb!” Where did that come from? According to the “Old Farmer’s Almanac,” the origins of that statement come from the fact that algae growing on the outside of earthenware pots will stain a person's thumb (and fingers) if he or she handles enough pots. Hence, a person who is always working with flowerpots has a green thumb.
If a green thumb is the sign of a well-seasoned gardener, what are the signs of a growing Christian?
Galatians 5:22-23
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
A farmer cannot manage a million individual seeds and plants. Farmers maintain the elements they can control to some degree like soil, water, and providing protection from things like disease, wild life or weeds. They allow the seed to do what only the seed does.
The Christian has elements of free will, obedience, and control that must take place in order to have a healthy relationship with Christ. Just like the seed, we count of the Spirit of God to do only what the Spirit can do.
Common traits for a growing believer are:
- Gathering together regularly with other Christians – Hebrews 10:25
- Regularly gaining guidance from God’s Word – 2 Timothy 3:16
- Be led by the spirit and not your flesh – Galatians 5:16
- Love your neighbor like Jesus loved – 1 John 4:17
- Faithfully endure suffering – Acts 14:22
- You are at peace with others, quick to forgive, and full of mercy – James 3:17
Seeing the fruits of your labor can be energizing, satisfying, and even tasty! Following Christ in deep intimacy, freedom, and purpose is fulfilling as well as eternally rewarding. It was once said, “Out of 100 men, one will read the Bible, the other 99 will read the Christian.”
The outward expression of your faith speaks volumes to the world.
They are listening.
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2025
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A Spiritual Green ThumbThankfulness in Times of TrialOne New LifeOne StepOne DecisionOne PossibilityOne FearOne LieOne DayFurther Up. Further In.When TImes Are Good, Don’t Lose GroundBlessings From The FatherWill shame stop exploitation?New Life in ChristNew Life: A Beautiful MessWhen It’s Hard To Do What You Said you would doConviction vs. ActionNot By SightFinding Identity In The Deep EndRefuge In The StormCan I Really Change? One Guaranteed Way Inside“I Made It” A Tribute To Terry TurnerOne Decision. One Choice.Free IndeedI never knew that something that merely peaked my curiosity at the age of twelve, would turn into years of relentless shame and secrecy. Over the course of four years pornography had consumed more of my life than I ever intended to give it. I vividly remember one of my most desperate prayers to God when I was sixteen. With knots twisting in my stomach, and tears uncontrollably running down my face I said, “God, I can’t do this anymore.” It was in that moment He replied, “Jessica, you don’t have to.” If you are reading this, I don’t know where you are in life or the magnitude of the struggles that you face. What I do know, is that there is such a thing as freedom. For me, it was freedom from more than a pornography addiction. Lust, deception, shame, guilt, comparison, rejection, abandonment, and condemnation have all reared their heads in the years that followed that night when I was sixteen. At times I found myself asking, “When will this ever end?” Somehow, I fell under the impression that the surrender of one thing meant that things in this new relationship with God would inevitably be effortless afterward. Not only was I wrong, but I am glad I was wrong. John 8:36 reads, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” To this day, it is a verse that has brought me the greatest joy, and I want to tell you why. Jesus starts out this verse by saying “if the Son sets you free.” I couldn’t keep up with the facade that everything was okay, and that I didn’t have an addiction. Freedom came in the moment I said that I couldn’t do it anymore. It wasn’t ever going to be found in my own ability, and for that I am thankful. I am thankful that I can never be too proud of my own strength and resistance to sin. On my own I will miserably fail. Then later in the verse comes my favorite part: “free indeed.” For only six letters, indeed is a powerful word. According to Strong’s concordance, some definitions include “really, truly,” and “actually.” In other words, Jesus was saying that this freedom is without question. It’s not a distant, unattainable fantasy. It’s an undeniable reality that only He can make possible. So where does this leave you now? It leaves you with a choice. Regardless of where you consider yourself to be in this life, Jesus is the only way to lasting freedom. The lies that tell you that this is how it always must be are exactly that – lies. There is a life beyond addiction. Ten years ago, I found myself at that crossroads where I had to decide if I wanted to keep living the way I was. Jesus wasn’t just as my crossroads, but on the road leading to it. I only had to recognize that He was there.
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