Gardening with God

Gardening and You, A series on Gardening with God 

September 2011  Have some More
Written by Joyce Sacket from In God’s Garden

Compiled by Becky Litterer, Master Gardener

God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.
2 Corinthian 9:8

Fall, Northern Hemisphere Autumn begins on Friday September 23rd, 2011.  Fall is my favorite time of the year, things come to an end, and some things are just blooming and starting. The weather is pleasurable, leaves are changing color and all the produce that is coming in from the gardens is just awesome. 

I don’t have time for a garden, but I love to can, preserve, pickle and freeze produce for the winter.  So this article that Joyce Sacket has talked about gardeners sharing; it is so true with me.  Gardeners share their extra produce, and with that I do what I love to do but to preserve it. 

Some of what I will preserve will be given away as Christmas presents, and last year I gave away canned goods in my Christmas food baskets that I always give out to friends here in Dougherty.  That was very well received and enjoyed by all.  Our kids love the canned goodies, and I am so glad to share that with them.  So the giving has come full circle from receiving from gardeners to giving out as a gift as in the canned goods. Thank you Lord for all you give us.

Gardeners are a generous lot. You rarely leave them empty-handed. They love to give away extra plants, a bouquet, or garden grown produce. They freely share their knowledge with anyone just starting a garden. Henry Mitchell, the garden writer, pointed out that gardeners do hate to part with a few things, like dirt, clay pots, good labels, stakes, twine or any kind of wooden box. But other than these peculiar treasures, gardeners are always pleased to give away some of the glory of their gardens.

We always have something to share if we have a garden. Sometimes I like to think about where some of my garden offspring now live. My garden makes me feel rich because I can pass on what it produces to others.  IF we are children of God, we always have something to share, too. God doesn’t use a meager measure when he gives to us. He is a generous god who loves to be extravagant with us, so we can be generous like him.

God may sometimes be lavish in providing material things. When Jesus performed the miracle at the wedding in Cana he was not skimpy with his solution to the problem of no more wine. Jesus made more than 120 gallons of wine for that wedding party.

Most often we experience God’s liberality in spiritual blessings that come to us daily. His very presence with us, his Word that speaks to our heart, his help in temptation these are gifts to use that we may share with those around us who need encouragement.

God has given us freely of his Spirit, who leads us, counsels us, and gives us joy. The fruit of the Spirit grows in us so that we may give ourselves away to those who are hungry for a glimpse of God.   When we are generous with what we have, not just from our gardens, but with other things in our life, like our time, our money, our possessions, our love, we show that we trust God to meet our needs.  This kind of extravagant giving honors the Lord. Our generosity makes it possible for others to praise him, too. When we share with others, we become channels through which God may give gifts to others.

Everywhere I look, I see evidence of the love and generosity of others. The look of my garden has changed over the years because of the gifts of generous gardeners. I like what I see.  Joyce Sacket.

Lord God, Thank you for all that I have in my Savior, Jesus. Thank you for choosing me to be a part of your family.  Make me a generous giver like you. Make me alert to opportunities where I can give to others as you have given to me. Amen 

Digging deeper  Perhaps you cannot see any evidence of God’s generous hand in your life right now. If so, you might feel needy rather than in a position to be generous. Ask the Lord to open your eyes to what he has done for you. Trust God and believe that he will meet all of your needs, just as he promised. Red Ephesians 1-2, to encourage your heart.

Till next month this is Becky Litterer from Becky’s Greenhouse here in Dougherty.  All I can say is enjoy this weather as it will change because we do live in IOWA.

Have a good day, count your blessings, and pass this along to remind everyone else how blessed we are. - Author Unknown               

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