Weeding the Garden

Y'all know I love my garden.  I plan meticulously what I'm going to plant, where I'm going to plant it, and then impatiently wait until it yields its produce.  My garden has always grown dutifully for us, but inevitably those pesky weeds make their presence known among my prized plants.  If left to their own devices, weeds will quickly infiltrate and overtake my little garden with their annoying presence.  Much like the "weeds" in our own lives, these pesky weeds can quickly ruin a beautiful garden.  These weeds take many forms in our hearts, and quickly yet strategically distract from the beauty of the garden.  

Did you know that weeds will rob the water, nutrient, and sunlight supply of the plants around them?  They grow quicker than their neighboring plants and overtake the largest of gardens in the blink of an eye. These weeds don't intend to go anywhere either - they require a mighty yank to pry away the roots that have them firmly attached to the ground below.  I could take a weed-eater to them and chop off the ugly weeds at ground level, but they will quickly grow back again, never gone in the first place but merely out of sight. They must be uprooted from the ground or they will always grow right back.  The "weeds" in our own lives do the same - distract from the purpose and calling of our lives while making us into miserable people. Our weeds may have deep roots that need to be uprooted too. 

If I as a human protect my physical backyard garden with such love and care, how much more does the Master Gardener care for His garden (your heart!)?   

Ask the Master Gardener to remove those pesky weeds from your heart - His loving hand will knowledgeably pluck those weeds that infiltrate your garden so that it can bloom fully and beautifully. 

"You Redeem"

This year has robbed us of many things: traditions, vacations, time with family and friends, work, school, and maybe even some of the people we love the most. It is easy to dwell on what we have lost, instead of what we have or will gain from this trying season. A song below by Aaron Shust entitled “You Redeem” speaks to the reminder that whatever we face God can redeem and use for good.

Resting in the peace that God will redeem all that was lost makes everything a whole lot sweeter and easier to bear. It may not be this week, this month, or even this century, but God knows and will redeem in His perfect and holy timing. He is not blind to our suffering and feels our pain when we are walking through tough times. We often ask why it feels like God is silent and distant when we are suffering, but I read a beautiful analogy recently that noted the teacher is always silent during the test. Is the teacher still there during the test? Absolutely. The teacher is watching us maybe even more closely than usual during the exam and ready to respond to our needs. Teachers cannot give us the answers during the test, but they are right there with us during them. So reach out to God and know that He is still there and has not forgotten or abandoned you - He is right there in the midst of everything with you. 

 

“You redeem, You redeem

You restore what’s been stolen from me

You reclaim, You release

You rebuild with the words that You breathe

You redeem”

-“You Redeem” by Aaron Shust

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” - 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NIV

"For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” - Colossians 1:13-14 NIV

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” - 1 Peter 1:18-19 NIV

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” - Ephesians 1:7 NIV

The Heart of Thanksgiving

“Thankful” is probably not the first word that comes to mind when we think of 2020. Life as we know it has been turned upside down for the greater part of this year. In a year where it doesn’t seem like there’s much to be thankful for, I’m reminded that Thanksgiving doesn’t depend on our circumstances. The COVID-19 pandemic has robbed us of many things, but what it cannot eliminate is an attitude of thankfulness.


We may be closer to the true spirit of Thanksgiving this year than we have for many, many years prior. The first Thanksgiving celebrated in America was rooted in battles with famine, illness, and death. Despite these overwhelming obstacles and heartaches, the pilgrims chose to celebrate the blessings they did have. It’s not our circumstances that determine our gratefulness, but rather our attitude. It’s easy to express gratitude sitting around the table over turkey when the times are good. But will we still persevere and count our blessings when the going gets tough?


The apostle Paul instructs in his first letter to the Thessalonians to be thankful in all circumstances. This is the same Paul who was repeatedly shipwrecked, imprisoned, beaten, stoned, and endured countless hardships and persecution. Again, it’s not the circumstances surrounding us but the temperature of our hearts. So as we approach this Thanksgiving, we can still choose to look for the blessings.


Thanksgiving dinners may be smaller or nonexistent this year. Our favorite Christmas traditions may be canceled. We may mourn the absence of friends and family this holiday season. The painful realities of this broken world sting deeply - there’s no denying it. In spite of all this year’s hardships, we can choose a heart of thanksgiving over troubles, blessings over bitterness, and love over loss.

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV


“Our greatest freedom is the freedom to choose our attitude.” - Viktor Frankl

What College Has Taught Me

Three years of college have taught me a lot of book knowledge, but possibly the most important lessons it has taught me are those regarding life.  I hope these lessons will stick with me long graduation fades into a distant memory. 

The world is full of hurting, broken people.

So be that listening ear.  Be the one that walks the long way to your car because someone is pouring out their life story to you.  Be the shoulder to cry on when life is tough for your fellow classmate.  Be the one that shares class notes with the person who missed a class when they were without childcare.  Smile kindly at the person who took your favorite seat.  Everyone is fighting their own often unseen battles, so spread God's love and grace when and where you can. 

Not everyone believes the way I do, and that's okay too.

They are still precious in God's sight and I should treat them as such.  I don't condone hanging out with bad influences, but you may be the light God intentionally sets in someone's path.  We can agree to disagree and still have respect for each other and our differences. 

You don't have to believe everything someone tells you.  

I was taught things in class that are contrary to the beliefs I hold.  But you know what?  It is so freeing to know I don't have to believe it just because they say it is true! What is true for someone else doesn't automatically have to be true for me too.  Others are entitled to their beliefs and I'm entitled to mine as well.  If that means remembering something only long enough to regurgitate it on a test, so be it.  Recognize it for what it is and then move on.  

Grades are important, but they do not define you.  Many grades are not representative of what you know.  You can be taught how to be a safe nurse, but you can't be taught how to be a caring nurse.  School can teach you how to start an intravenous line, but it can't teach you how to listen compassionately to a patient's fears surrounding the placement of one.   

Enjoy the journey.  Like everything else, "this too shall pass," so make the most of it through the joyful and the difficult seasons.  

Corrie ten Boom's Words for Today

Beautiful sunsets recently!

We have certainly seen our world fall apart over the last months.  Every source of stability seems to have been pulled out from underneath us.  I have always loved quotes by Corrie ten Boom, but recently they are speaking to me even more than ever.  I encourage you to google Corrie ten Boom quotes and see what wisdom can be gleaned from her.  This quote by her has such relevance lately:  "If you look at the world, you'll be distressed.  If you look within, you'll be depressed.  If you look at God you'll be at rest."  Reading the news headlines produces all kinds of feelings and emotions the past months: fear, frustration, disappointment, questions...the list trails on and on.  "When will things go back to normal?"  "Will we live this way forever?"  "When will a stranger be able to see my smile without a mask?"  "When will I be able to hug the elderly at church?"  Every influence is telling us to worry, but Corrie reminds us that "Worrying is carrying tomorrow's load with today's strength - carrying two days at once.  It is moving into tomorrow ahead of time.  Worrying doesn't empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength."   Worry and fear are pervasive these days, but fear is the opposite of faith.  We are reminded in second Timothy 1:7 that "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."  Even when the world goes crazy, our God stays the same and is still there for us to run to.  He listens to our worries and cares, reminds us that He is the one in control, and He is the One reigning on the throne.  Praise the Lord for this truth!

"Time-Out"

In the Medical-Surgical nursing class I’m taking this semester, we are each assigned a day to observe in the operating room.  It was an interesting experience and I got to see an intense surgical procedure.  One thing in particular that I saw stood out to me: before the first tool was touched or the first incision made, the nurse called what they identified as a “Time-Out.” This involved ensuring they were operating on the right patient, performing the right procedure at the right site, and identified allergies and other important data. It was a moment to pause and receive affirmation they were doing the right thing before proceeding on.  Of course, you know I love finding parallels.  So here it is: in our fast-paced, goal-oriented lifestyles today, we seldom take the time to pause and ensure we are doing the right thing and making the right decisions.  I for sure am guilty of this!  This OR experience made me ponder: Do I call my own “time-out” and seek God’s wisdom before I plunge ahead with something important or risky?  Or do I blindly trust my own knowledge, experience, emotions, and understanding of the situation?  Unfortunately, I often pick the latter.  How many mistakes would we save ourselves from if we paused for a moment before acting?  Probably quite a few.  With this “time-out” in mind, I am reminded of Corrie ten Boom’s wise words: “Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?”  

Listening to the Father

As a nursing student, I have quickly learned that nurses must possess the art of listening.  Listening is a critical part of nursing assessments.  Nurses gather both objective and subjective data about patients through listening.  In our present age, we are all quick to speak but slow to listen.  We impulsively share our opinions but often fail to hear the hearts of others.  The act of listening is always being refined in the life of a Christian.  In my own spiritual walk, I admit to being quick to raise my requests to God but much slower to be still and truly listen to what God is whispering to my heart.  We know medical errors occur when healthcare professionals fail to listen effectively, but how many opportunities for spiritual growth do we pass up when we are the ones doing all the talking?  How many chances to minister to others do we forfeit because we are deaf to Christ’s voice when He commands us to be His hands and feet?  

A stethoscope is one of the ultimate tools for healthcare professionals.  In nursing school, we have learned to assess a patient’s heart sounds, lung sounds, abdominal sounds, and blood pressure with this valuable tool.  The use of a stethoscope requires intentional and dedicated listening - talking or excess background noise can drown out the sounds we are trying to hear.  How similar this is to a Christian’s spiritual journey.  Talking and excess background noise, whatever form it may take in our busy lives, drown out the most important Voice.  Like the nurse’s stethoscope, Christians have been given the ultimate tool for listening: the Bible.  God speaks to our hearts through His Word when we open ourselves to listening.  Praise the Lord for this gracious gift to us!  Lord, please help us to learn to listen to You.

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”  James 1:19

Puzzle Pieces for His Glory

Jigsaw puzzles are incredibly addicting to me.  I love a good challenge, and once I sit down to work on a puzzle I have a hard time peeling myself away from it.  Since I like to feel as if I'm being productive, even when putting together a puzzle, I often listen to an audiobook or something school-related while working with my hands.  However, I often find working on puzzles to be a very reflective time.   A time to slow down and process whatever is in my mind, which got me thinking how very much alike our lives, God's plan, and jigsaw puzzles are.  

Looking at a box of puzzle pieces, it's hard to believe that something beautiful can be made out of them, but sure enough, there is always a rewarding image upon completion.  I prefer the puzzles with at least 1000 pieces - a lot of pieces!  Taking the lid off of the box, there are so. many. pieces. just lying there waiting to be put in their rightful spot.  The sheer number is overwhelming to think about.  Thinking of our lives, there are so many pieces to be put in place.  So many thoughts, dreams, relationships, and a million other components.  Yet we have a Father who lovingly takes every puzzle piece of our lives, expertly putting them together to make something beautiful in the end.  Some pieces are oddly shaped, some may even be broken, yet they are still just as much a part of the finished product as the others.  I often struggle with deciphering where a puzzle piece goes.  I twist it, turn it, hold it up to the light, give up, and throw the piece back in the box when I can't find where it goes.  But God never has this problem with our lives.  He sovereignly knows where each piece will fit together perfectly in a way that will be glorifying to Him.  

Several years ago there was a doctor's office we went to that always had a jigsaw puzzle out for people to work on while they were waiting.  The catch was they never displayed the lid of the puzzle box.  This always frustrated me because I like to see the bigger picture so I can know what I'm working towards.  If each of our lives were a jigsaw puzzle being put together, how we would love to see the “lid” to see what it would look like when finished.  The problem is, if we knew right now what our puzzle would look like, there would be no reason for trust.  If I could see the masterpiece, I would have no need to trust that God knows what He is doing with all the puzzle pieces of my life in His hands.  Praise the Lord that He is putting together a masterpiece with His skillful hands.  Though we cannot see the end result, we can rest in the confidence that He is working everything for our good and His pleasure.  Like King Solomon in Ecclesiastes 3:11, we can earnestly believe that “He has made everything beautiful in its time.  Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.”