It is time to
consider cultivating a garden…and cultivating faithfulness. How do you plant
faithfulness? Reading scripture is a good start. Consider the parable of the farmer
and seeds he planted as told in Matthew 13. The
seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God's word, but all
too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure
of wealth, so no fruit is produced. The seed that fell on good soil represents
those who truly hear and understand God's word and produce a harvest of thirty,
sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted! (Matthew 13:22-23
NLT) We need to be receptive to God’s word by having a clean heart and an
open mind—one ready to hear God speak to us. Prayer and honesty before the Lord
is essential. Ask God to give you insight and understanding of His word before
you read it.
Training Tip – Plant some vegetable or flower seeds in your yard
or in a planter. Have your children water and care for them. As you watch them
grow talk about how God wants us to “grow” good qualities in our lives—in our
very souls. Read the scripture above and also the scripture in Galatians
5:22-23…the fruit of the Spirit is love,
joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,
self-control; against such things there is no law. Talk about how different
seeds grow at different rates—like lettuce grows faster than apple seeds.
Lord – You are faithful to all generations—children,
parents, grandparents, and even great-grandparents. May we learn from you and
become more faithful to you and to our families, friends, and even to
ourselves.
Friday’s Feast at the Lord’s Table
What image of
food does “faithfulness” conjure up within your imagination? How about some fresh
roasted vegetables? It is a little early for any from our garden, but asparagus
will be in season very soon and it is a perfectly wonderful roasted vegetable.
I actually posted this recipe last year on May 14th. So enjoy, again! Or try a variation grilling
peppers and zucchini.
Roasted asparagus
2 pounds asparagus
Olive oil
Course ground salt
Fresh ground pepper
Thoroughly
wash asparagus and break off the tough end (discard), usually about one inch.
Heat the barbeque or oven to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C). Place the asparagus
on aluminum foil or a perforated barbeque roasting pan. Drizzle with olive oil,
sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast on the BBQ or in the oven for about twelve
minutes. Time may vary depending on the size of the asparagus. Turn after about
5-6 minutes. Remove when they are still tender. They will be tasty if they are
slightly charred, but watch the BBQ closely and remove them before they are
burnt. Serves 6-8 people.
Roasted Peppers and Zucchini
2 Red bell peppers
2 Green bell peppers
4 Medium zucchini
Olive oil
Course ground salt
Fresh ground pepper
Thoroughly
wash vegetables and cut lengthwise into 2-3 inch sections. Sprinkle with olive
oil, salt and pepper. Grill on the BBQ or in the oven at about 400 degrees Fahrenheit
(204 degrees C) for about 5-6 minutes on each side, or until
slightly charred, but not burnt. Serves
6-8 people.
All
scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise
noted.
© 2013 by Mickey
M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
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