Lisa Notes: Watching flowers grow

Watching flowers grow

I dug in the dirt Saturday. Transplanting roots from one pot to another. Impatiens and petunias, already in bloom.

All I do now is water, fertilize, weed...and enjoy.

It seems too easy, this watching things grow. Sure, maybe a little sweat is involved, a little cash outlay, a little time.

But isn’t that small stuff?

The big stuff is God’s business: sunlight and temperature and things I can’t understand, and certainly can’t control.

He knows what each plant needs to grow its best, biggest, most beautiful blooms. I just caretake. For a time.

Because taking care of seeds that have already been planted is the season I’m in. My faith has already been rooted, a gift from long ago.

So now I water, fertilize, weed...and enjoy. Watching things grow.

As faith gives rise to seed, to fruit, to beauty, I’ll enjoy, leaving the heavy lifting of germination and pollination and reproduction to God.

I’ll delight in the flowers.

The gift of grace is the brightest blossom in my garden.
Nothing could be more beautiful.

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.
1 Corinthians 3:6

* * *

What is growing in your garden of faith right now? I’m in a season of delighting in His grace.

Comments (35)

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Dolly@SoulStops · 679 weeks ago

Your flowers look beautiful and I love how you pointed out all that God does in the garden of our lives. I think God is growing joy. Thanks, Lisa :)
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Lisa notes 103p · 679 weeks ago

Growing joy...wonderful!
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thejammiegirl 1p · 679 weeks ago

Great metaphor! I think I'll do a little watering and enjoying today :)

1 reply · active 679 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 679 weeks ago

God just sent rain my way this morning so no physical watering today! Leaves more openings for spiritual watering instead. :-) Hope you enjoy your day.
My recent post Watching flowers grow

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Debbie · 679 weeks ago

I love your analogy between your garden and your faith. I am planning a garden for our new place. The soil is so important. I want the soil of my heart to be just as important to receive all that God has for me.

blessings and love,
Debbie
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Lisa notes 103p · 679 weeks ago

We heard a good lesson yesterday on the seed and the soil. Yes, preparing the soil is so important. I know God has blessed you with great heart soil, Debbie! Love you.
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roelliott 38p · 679 weeks ago

sweet post...love the pictures and the picture you painted with words...blessings~
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Lisa notes 103p · 679 weeks ago

We're both relating to outdoor themes today. :-) God is good to give us so many great metaphors in this world we live in.
My recent post Watching flowers grow

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kamrandolph 32p · 679 weeks ago

I'm in a season of growth and learning to rest and trust when all seems hard. Thank you for the reminder to keep trusting the ONE who makes it all grow.
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Lisa notes 103p · 679 weeks ago

You're welcome, Katie. I pray for you to continue on this path. It's not easy, but you are doing it! Praise God for giving us courage to press on, one day at a time.
My recent post Watching flowers grow

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jenfergie2000 33p · 679 weeks ago

I read another post by a lady named Paula and God had been telling her to "relax and enjoy." This post is just further confirmation - do not get bogged down in the to do list. Relax and enjoy along the way.
My recent post when you get what you ask for

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Lisa notes 103p · 679 weeks ago

I have to remind myself of this message often. I can get WAY bogged down in to-do lists. ;-)
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Craig · 679 weeks ago

Amen, "the heavy work is God's". such a gift that must be for you to have your garden – metaphors by the bucket full. So many lessons. And I heart this one – ours is to dig and arrange and enjoy – the heavy work is God's. He does the miracles. I needed this reminder. I forget, too often, to include HIM in my work, in my rearranging, and my enjoyment and my trials. Yes, we (read I) need to do the work – but remember, the "behind-the-scenes" stuff, the "grand orchestrating of the universe just for us" kind of stuff – all that heavy work - it belongs to God – and he does his job spectacularly well. God bless you Lisa!
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Lisa notes 103p · 679 weeks ago

Yes, he does do his job spectacularly well! Even though we try to get our dirty little fingers on it all the time. And mess it up when we do.

Give lots of love to those sweet little nieces. I've gotta feeling their uncle is going to spoil them rotten. :-)
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Lori · 679 weeks ago

What a beautiful way to look at it. God provides each of us just what we need to grow as well. Thanks for sharing this.
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Lisa notes 103p · 679 weeks ago

So glad he knows what we need, and that he's more than capable of providing it. Now to open ourselves up more to receiving it!
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barbarah 65p · 679 weeks ago

Beautiful! I was going to do some planting last week but frost warnings caused me to put it off. I hope to do some this week. I definitely don't have a green thumb, so I have to get plants that don't need a lot of attention. :-)

It's neat to remember, too, that though we plant, water, fertilize, weed., etc., we can't make anyone or anything grow: only God can do that. I can do my part in His strength, but I don't have to produce the results. I can leave that to Him. What a weight that takes off our shoulders!
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Lisa notes 103p · 679 weeks ago

I usually have grand intentions in the spring, but by mid-summer, I'm burned out of watering and weeding, so I've been planting more things in pots the past couple years instead of straight in the ground. It's easier that way. :-)

I do like the physical reminder that the growth though is ultimately out of my hands. No matter how much I water or fertilize, I still can't *make* anything grow. Only God can. So glad he's in charge of our growth too. Yes, it does take a weight off our shoulders (as long as I'll remember it!). .
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Joan · 679 weeks ago

Your flowers are lovely. I love how you used the analogy of growing our garden of faith. Brings to mind a scripture, "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth."
My recent post Getting to Know Him

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Lisa notes 103p · 679 weeks ago

Duh, why didn't I think of that verse? ha. It's perfect. I'll go back and add it to my post. Thanks, Joan! :-)
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glendachilders 46p · 679 weeks ago

So good to remember ... the big stuff is God's business.

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Lisa notes 103p · 679 weeks ago

Exactly. I want to be content to let him handle it.
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lauraboggess 49p · 679 weeks ago

I love, love, love the garden for a peek at God's ways. Also, I was reading Jen's comment above and at first I thought it said, "Do not get BLOGGED down..." That gave me a chuckle and I was glad I took a little break at the end of last week. Happy Eastertide, Lisa. You bless.
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Lisa notes 103p · 679 weeks ago

"Do not get blogged down"--sounds like fodder for a blog post in itself. ha. We'll have to give credit to Jen for inspiring it, even unintentionally. ;-)
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fsamons 60p · 679 weeks ago

Great analogy! My backyard is a color of wonder. God is amazing. He is in each and every living thing. It is His hand that allows it all.

By now you know my mind works a little contrary to what might be considered normal. When I saw the title of your post, the first thing that popped into my mind was the song by Bobby Goldsboro when we were kids... "Me and God watchin' Scotty grow... At least I'm honest...
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Lisa notes 103p · 679 weeks ago

Would love to see your backyard. My m-i-l and s-i-l are both avid gardeners and have the prettiest yards. Makes mine look like an unkempt jungle in comparison. But yes, God is amazing in every living thing, whether cultivated by us or not!

I remember that song too. ;-) Very sentimental lyrics. I guess Bobby Goldsboro is still alive?
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fsamons 60p · 679 weeks ago

I think he is?
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Lisa notes 103p · 679 weeks ago

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8S13lXUhDM

:-)
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3dlessons4life 38p · 679 weeks ago

I am such a terrible gardener. Your flowers are lovely. Thanks for the reminder that I need to be watering in order for beautiful things to blossom in my heart for Him.

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Lisa notes 103p · 679 weeks ago

I'm a better gardener in theory than in practice. :-) Probably holds true for my spiritual gardening too... Thankful we have the Master Gardener who is really in charge of things!
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Jerri · 679 weeks ago

I'm in a season of delighting in His grace, too. This is such a better way to look at things than to say I'm an empty nester, now!

My season of planting into my girls may be done now but hopefully I'll be able to water the seeds some ...
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Lisa notes 103p · 679 weeks ago

Yes, that is definitely a more pleasant way to phrase empty nester. I'll have to borrow that in about 4 months! :-)

And I hope to keep watering too. Keep paving the way for me, Jerri!
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Sylvia R · 679 weeks ago

Lovely. You're "in a season of delighting in His grace"? So am I, and is that ever sweet!
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Lisa notes 103p · 679 weeks ago

It is a sweet season. I do have to be intentional about it still, but it's so worth it to spend time discovering his graces for me. Glad you're enjoying it too.
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