I love Corn!

Okay, sounds like a funny title right! But that is the truth...I love corn. When we were in Oklahoma this past week, I ate some delicious home grown corn. Oh my gosh, it was so juicy and sweet. It was a variety of corn called Peaches and Cream and it was to die for. So, when I returned home, I went out to check on my garden and what did I find...my very own home grown corn. That's right friends...I grew my own corn. It was good eats, but not nearly as good as that peaches and cream corn I had in Oklahoma. So next year, that's what I am going to grow. Here are a few pics of my meal last night though.

Uhmm...delicious corn from the garden

Yummy...this is actually the second ear I ate!! 

(shh...I didn't share with Ben)

Fortunately, my garden has been extremely productive this year. I wish I had pictures of all the beautiful tomatoes I have picked this summer, but the camera came a little late. Production has slowed down a bit as it has gotten hotter and drier. But hopefully with the rains we just had things will begin producing again. Every time I venture out to my garden, I am reminded of the glory of God. This week, I was reminded of one of the parables. As I stood stooped over, hamstrings burning, pulling out the overwhelming amount of weeds that had sprung up in my garden while I was away, I thought of the story Jesus tells about the enemy who came to sow weeds amongst the wheat while everyone was sleeping. He goes on to explain the parable saying, "The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angel" (Matthew 13:37-39). As I labored to pull out all of the weeds that had sprouted in my absence, I thought about how often I allow weeds to grow up in my own life. How often am I so asleep, distracted, stressed out, or just plain busy that I don't pay attention to the seeds the evil one is sowing in my life. How often do I let the sprouts of the enemy overtake and overrun the garden God is sowing in my heart, soul, and mind. Those times when I speak out of anger or am quick to judge, I have let the weeds overtake the beauty God has sown. When I swim around in negativity or have pity parties, I have let the weeds of the enemy overtake the God's beautiful growth. When I gossip, I have let the weeds of the enemy overtake God's garden. When I concentrate more on the task and not on the relationship, then I have let the weeds of the enemy overtake God's beautiful growth. I don't want to be too distracted, stressed out, or busy that I allow the beauty of God's garden to be overrun. It is time to slow down, take a breath, have sabbath, and be vigilant. So if you see me doing any of the things I have mentioned above, please ask me, how is your garden growing (and I don't mean like in mary, mary quite contrary style...I mean for serious). There is no way for us to be Kingdom people alone, it is all about community, so I need your help. 

God is good, so good!! So if you forget or are down, just eat some fresh homegrown corn (or other garden veggies) and you will taste a little piece of God's glory!!