DUMP TIME:                                               

            One thing every landscaper has to plan for is “Dump Time.”   You know, making time (hopefully early in the day) for a visit to the bathroom to do some business.   Since our Colon’s main purpose is to transport water, salt, and solid waste out of our bodies anything we can do to improve and regulate that process is vital.  An essential for good Colon health is sufficient hydration.

            Landscapers already need to consume large amounts of water to avoid dehydration that can lead to sun stroke and kidney stones, so consuming more H20 is never a bad thing.    The Bible often uses the word “Water” to symbolize Holy Spirit and God’s Word (Scripture.)   In Galatians 5:19-21, the Apostle Paul instructs us eliminate sinful practices like “sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties and other sins like this,”(NLT.)   Instead, in verses 22-23, he points out that “the Holy Spirit produces…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.”

            Its multiple encounters with Holy Spirit activating God’s Word in our lives that help flush out the sinful practices and produce fruits of His Spirit.   May our churches be filled with Christians well hydrated and ready for service!   Today, Lord draw us by your Spirit deeper into your Living Word, that we can be purged of sinful practices that are replaced by bountiful luscious Spiritual Fruit.   In the Strong and Mighty Name of Jesus we ask this – Amen.

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Spiritual Irrigation System – Part 2:

          Scientists are always reminding us that H20, aids in keeping our cells and organs healthy and functioning at peak performance.  In scripture, water represents TRUTH. We know that Jesus declared Himself to be THE way THE TRUTH and THE life (John 14:6.)  For the last two thousand years, faithful men and women have poured out their lives, sharing the awesome TRUTH of Jesus Christ with a thirsty world. Believers have been called to share this living water with others as part of God’s World-Wide Spiritual Irrigation System.

          Even if we as His sprinkles and pipe-work burnout, fatigue, and become exhausted, God is going to get the job done.  Yet, how can we prevent a break in our pipes?  Jeremiah 2:13 says, “For my people have done two evil things: They have abandoned me — the fountain of living water and they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all! (NLT)”

          What are the things that cause a break in the Spiritual Irrigation System?  First, NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR.   PVC pipe to become brittle and break.  Using the spiritual analogy, the more we harden our hearts the easier it becomes to develop a crack in our vessel and then we become ineffective for God.  Second, PRESSURE from a crowding tree root can crack lines.  Are there competing forces or people you need more distance from?  Third, Pipes can be PUNCTURED (as with an edger.  Not that I have any experience with that.)  Finally, EXCESSIVE WEIGHT from a heavy truck running over the ground above can break a pipeline. 

          If we want to keep ourselves, the Pastors, and other leaders functioning at peak performance, THE CHURCH needs to be looking for ways to avoid pipe breakage and cracking.  Decreasing pressures, preventing punctures, and minimizing normal wear and tear takes sensitivity and attention from every church member.  We are all part of His body and connected in one function and purpose. Take it from one who has helped repair seventeen broken pipelines.  It’s much easier to prevent a leak than fix one! God Bless!

Spiritual Irrigation System:

          A couple of winters ago, I helped a customer fix a faulty irrigation system.  As we began revamping sprinkler heads and fixing cracked lines, I thought of the similarities of repairing a SPIRTUAL IRRIGATION SYSTEM.

          The Process: 1. Find the source of the leak. 2. Determine what parts are needed for the repair.  3. Shut off the water source and/or cap off the broken line.  4. Drive to the hardware store and purchase the right sized pipe, couplers, glue, and a pipe cutter. 5. Dig out a reasonable work space (around and under the leak.) 6. Cut away the cracked or damaged pipe.  7. Glue both sprinkler pipe ends (1 inch from lip of pipe end,) inside of two straight couplers. 8. Fit the piece of repair pipe into the length of the cut you made in the sprinkler line.  9. (Test the fittings of this before gluing.) 10. Glue pieces together and test water system before the hole is re-filled. Wow, I’m tired just telling you about it.

          In the Spiritual Irrigation system, I like to think of Pastors and Missionaries as pulsating sprinkler heads (shooters,) faithfully distributing God’s word to His people. Evangelists might be seen as autonomous portable sprinklers capable of hooking up with local water sources and hosing down a community of believers with God’s Truth. A wide variety of other ministries such as the arts and media can share in widening the coverage of God’s truth; however, most of us are called to serve in churches, basically doing our work underground as pipe-work or conduits of God’s truth.

          As individuals when our digestion system becomes clogged we experience stomach aches.  Spiritually speaking, how clear are your pipes?   Do you have trash or clutter blocking your spiritual channel of God’s Truth?  Why not take a few moments today and wash out the junk of greed, lust, pride, selfishness, and other sins that so easily block the flow of God’s water (His truth-the Word) in us?  

                                                                 Don’t Scratch It!

When I trim elephant ear plants it usually only takes about 15 minutes before I start itching.   My mother always told when it itches don’t scratch it.  That was easy for her to say.  She wasn’t the one itching.  Over time, I’ve come to accept the fact that she was right.  If I could give it about thirty minutes the itching would subside.   As a rule, I’ve found that to be true for insect bites and poison ivy too.

Negative emotions like fear, anger, worthlessness, and depression can be just as annoying as an itch making it difficult to deal with life.  Too often, pain becomes something we can’t sooth or run away from.   If we accept the premise that all pain will pass in time we can learn to “sit with the pain.”  Forcing ourselves to endure the discomfort long enough to analyze and process our thoughts and feelings can help us grow.

We see in Psalm 147:3 that God: “heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds (curing their pains and their sorrows.) (Amplified Version).   Yet, Jesus doesn’t heal and comfort anyone who doesn’t come to Him in humility and trust.   As we learn to sit with the pain, it’s as if the presence and love of God becomes more real.  Perhaps the experience is an opportunity to learn how to “enter into Christ’s suffering.” 1 Peter 4:13 tells us that in this same way that when we “participate in the sufferings of Christ,” we may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed (NLT.)

“Dear Father, I’m seldom overjoyed by my itches, irritations, stresses, and fears of this life, yet I’m willing to exercise patience and endure them because I know I can find strength and growth in you.

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                             God Brings Order: 

          Grabbing my wallet, I reached the keys.  No keys.  Ugh,  I always place my keys, wallet, and cell together on the table next to the front door.   The frantic search begins and wouldn’t you know it, I’m already running late.  Checking my pants (worn the previous day) I can hear a faint ring tone.  Then, I realized it was missing too.  I dropped the pants and raced from room to room in search of the cell, but it stopped ringing before I could find the dumb thing.  Soon I hear a beep signaling a message. I spot the cell on counter, but there is still no sign of my wallet.  Making the way back to the bedroom, I find and begin listening to message.   It’s my wife  asking why I’m not there yet?  BECAUSE I STILL CAN’T FIND THE BLASTED PHONE!

            Do you ever have days like this?  In seconds, a peaceful day can be turned into chaos.  Sometimes, I find it reassuring to remember that when God made Adam and Eve He placed them in the center of everything good He created.  While the evils of chaos can’t replace God’s design, Satan has been given permission to upset our relationships.  Yet, as Christians we have been removed from the devil’s chaotic control and are born again to live as re-created beings. 

            We can make a choice to seek wisdom and live in peace.  James 1:5 (NIV) states: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without   finding fault, and it will be given to you.”  Later in James 3:17, he describes God’s “wisdom as first being pure.  It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.”  

            After the call from my wife, I took a deep breath, sat down at my desk, and with child like humbleness asked God for wisdom.   My calm returned and I knew everything would be ok.  There, next to a book on top of the printer, were my keys.   God (alone)    brings order out of chaos.   Do your life lack organization?   Are you out of God’s order and plan?  Re-arranging only takes a minute.