Nashville, Tennessee, United States - The Upper Room Daily Devotional "Gardening" for Monday, 30 June 2014 - Read Psalm 104:13-23

Nashville, Tennessee, United States - The Upper Room Daily Devotional "Gardening" for Monday, 30 June 2014 - Read Psalm 104:13 He waters the mountains from his rooms.
    The earth is filled with the fruit of your works.
14 He causes the grass to grow for the livestock,
    and plants for man to cultivate,
    that he may produce food out of the earth:
15 wine that makes glad the heart of man,
    oil to make his face to shine,
    and bread that strengthens man’s heart.
16 Yahweh’s trees are well watered,
    the cedars of Lebanon, which he has planted;
17 where the birds make their nests.
    The stork makes its home in the cypress trees.
18 The high mountains are for the wild goats.
    The rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers.
19 He appointed the moon for seasons.
    The sun knows when to set.
20 You make darkness, and it is night,
    in which all the animals of the forest prowl.
21 The young lions roar after their prey,
    and seek their food from God.
22 The sun rises, and they steal away,
    and lay down in their dens.
23 Man goes out to his work,
    to his labor until the evening.
Jesus said, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.”(John 15:9 (NRSV))
Recently, I have been truly enjoying my garden. I used to simply maintain it — giving it a bit of water and mowing the grass — and then think, Looks good! Lately though, I have been pruning, turning the soil, throwing on some fertilizer pellets, and then topping it with some of my husband’s lovely Lucerne mulch from our hay farm. And the results have been amazing — beautiful bulbs and flowers, flowering bushes and gorgeous roses. The garden looks brilliant! Our lives are like gardens. Sometimes they need to be plowed up or have the soil turned or have branches pruned. Even though it can be painful, it is necessary to cut away the sin in our lives to make room for new growth. We need to apply the fertilizer of God’s word and the water of the Holy Spirit. Then on top of it all, we need to apply the mulch of good fellowship, worship, and prayer. All this helps to keep our hearts and minds growing strong so that we can shine brilliantly for the Lord and work for the kingdom of God.
The Author: Janine Randell (New South Wales, Australia)
Thought for the Day: How am I tending the good things God has planted in me?
Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you that you love us as the Father has loved you. You have planted good things in us. Help us to abide in your love so that we can continue to do the things necessary to keep your work alive in us. Amen.

Prayer focus: Gardeners
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