Pumpkin Patch Devastation

25Sep12

Tonight, I stood by the side of the field, like so many times this summer.  Tonight was different.  I stood sobbing!  Tears rolled down my cheeks.  My chest was heaving with the sobs.  I scarce could believe my eyes as they roamed back and forth, to and fro.  WHY?  Just six days ago, I stood at the same place happy, rejoicing, taking photos and thanking God for the beauty; the growth.  Tonight, the only thing that surfaced was the question WHY?  For six days, God had been restoring my heart with beauty in paradise.   Today, it almost seems like it was in preparation for life events that would take a heavy toll and test my faith.

On Friday night, a horrific storm hit; pounding hail upon the patch.  Today, it looks like something straight from the pits of hell hit; all the plants are shredded and in shambles.  The vines are withered, black; dying.  The pumpkins have large holes piercing their flesh.  It is a scene that I can hardly bear.  We spent hours planting, watering, praying.  The only question in my mind is Why, God?  On Sunday, my daughter’s boyfriend’s uncle went for a drive on his motorcycle.  Today, he is on life support awaiting an organ donor team to “harvest organs.”  They, too, are asking “why?”  I ask Jesus to give them comfort, peace and surround them and hold them with His strong arms.  This type of news did not stop today: a friend is divorcing, another friend has to have heart surgery, another friend is fighting issues with a knee, on and on an endless list of needs, real and devastating.

I look out over the dying vines. The devastation is so real, yet, so symbolic.  This is such a visual example of both heaven and hell on earth.  In this moment, I feel the intense pain of life.  These torn, shredded, vines are like the havoc sin plays on our lives.  We are beaten, torn, left bleeding and dying.  Yet, in the middle of life’s devastation, there is hope.  I see the beautiful yellow blossoms, a sign of life.  Jesus comes to love us in the middle of our storm and devastation. He offers us peace, comfort, new hope and new life.  We need to trust in Him.

As I continue to sob, my tenderhearted son, comes along side and hugs me.  “I’m sorry mom” he utters.  He comforts me.  Isn’t that what Jesus does for us, if we allow Him to?   As I begin to lift my eyes and my heart, deep inside, I know God has a plan. I lift my voice and softly whisper a prayer.  I ask God to come, to bring peace, to show me His plan.  I praise him in the middle of my hurt.  I have felt this hurt before, many times.  My heart has known this place of devastation, destruction, and pain.  I know that God is faithful.  I trust in Him. 

God reminds me that sometimes the WHY answers never come this side of heaven.  One day, we will understand, but today, I must trust in Him.  His ways are better and higher than mine.  He can take the chaos and bring about blessing.  I have to trust in Him.

Life is a journey.  I don’t know what the future holds, but I know the one whom holds the future.  I hear Him whisper Jeremiah 29:12 “For I know the plans I have for you” declares the Lord “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope.”  I also hear Him say “you will reap a harvest if you do not give up.” “Press on.”

Pumpkin Patch September 9, 2012

Yesterday, I enjoyed chatting with a good friend.  During the course of the conversation, the question was posed “How do you tell how spiritual someone is?  How would you know if their faith is helping them?”   Today, my heart pondered the question.  We had a board meeting at the ranch this evening. I left early to check on the pumpkins and walk the fields prior to the meeting. 

As I walked the fields, God dropped the answer to the questions into my heart “ by their fruit.”  I am reminded of the verses in Matthew 7 17-18 “In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit.  A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot produce good fruit.

John 15: 4 says “Remain in me, and I will remain in you.  A branch cannot produce fruit alone but must remain in the vine.  In the same way, you cannot produce fruit alone but must remain in me. 

We are cautioned to not judge others.  Truly, we are to administer kindness, grace, forgiveness, and love as we reach out and touch a hurting world.  But, I believe we are to be “fruit inspectors.”  By inspecting the “fruit” we will be able to tell if it is good fruit or bad.  There is a definite difference between a good banana and a rotten banana.  We observe it!  So it is with the fruit in the lives of people.  We can see the fruit of the spirit in Galatians 5:22 love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. 

This is the fruit that will be developed in a person’s life when they are connected to THE VINE; Jesus.  Their lives will exhibit these qualities as they grow in their personal relationship with Him.

So, to my dear friend and to you, I would encourage you to literally begin “loving the hell” (literally) out of the people that you are concerned about.  People need to feel your love to be able to feel the love of our Savior.  They may need to connect or reconnect with you to be empowered to plug into the source of life. 

Jesus is tenderly calling, arms outstretched on the cross.  He paved the way for us; paid the price; gave His life; so true love we could know.  Now, we have seeds to sow I believe it is our responsibility to reach out- sow seeds in love. Water. Repent. Pray.

Pumpkin Journey 4

On Saturday, I returned to the patch after several days of not having to water.  The rain had been a blessing!!  As I started to water, I noticed there were new little pumpkins (about a week old).  We had given up watering the "empty" holes after several weeks of daily watering.  We thought there was "no hope."  God had a different message and plan.  He boldly spoke to my heart that He NEVER gives up on us.  We may give up, but HE never does.  We are not in control.  We do not know when a seed that we plant make take root and grow.  We need to always remember to faithfully plant, water, and BELIEVE that God will cause the miracle of life.  He truly has a plan for our life!  Never give up!

Pumpkin Patch 3

02Aug12

Tonight at the pumpkin patch, I arrived angry.  I asked myself “What’s up with this?”  It had been a rough day at work.  I was disappointed, saddened, hurt and responding with anger.  When I arrived, I was thankful to be alone.  I didn’t have to “face” anyone and put on a smile.  I could just spend time pouring out my heart to God, as I poured out the water onto the pumpkins. 

Isn’t God like that? He allows us to pour out our anger, and then he tenderly pours his love into our hearts.  He gives us the Living Water; heals and restores our souls. 

It wasn’t long that I was alone.  I was soon joined by Doug.  Doug is faithful and always brings a smile and a thoughtful word of encouragement.  Today’s word for me to ponder was “dwelling.” 

Soon, Mike appeared, jumped out of his car, cheerfully grabbed a five gallon bucket and started watering the plants.  As we watered, Mike talked about the blessing of the drought.  He shared how grateful he was for it bringing us together and uniting us in fellowship.   He talked about the blessing that it is to tenderly take care of God’s precious “seeds” and “plants.”

Truly, we are not alone.  God is providing.  Although, we have had little to no rain, He gave us the gift of an amazing sky tonight. It was filled with shades of blues and reds that streaked across the sky stretching for, what seemed like endless miles, among scattered puffy white clouds.  I stood in awe.  Then, as dusk turned to dark, I drove home viewing the most amazing orange full moon just rising on the horizon.  It was beautiful.  God was romancing my heart, showing me his love.

Yes, the pumpkin patch is filled with blessings.  Many are growing and beginning to vine.  The bigger blessing is the way God is knitting our hearts together, giving us common purpose and goals.  As the pumpkins vine out, God is opening new areas for us to pursue along the journey of life.  Life begins as a seed in the patch.  Press on towards the goal….Harvest is coming.  Are we ready?

This is the poem God dropped into my heart tonight.

Tonight the plants drooped from heat

They were wilted, looked sad as if to say ‘I’m beat.’

I felt that way, as my energy drained

From the stress of the day I really waned.

As the water poured on the dry earth

It was like watching the miracle of birth

The plants seemed to perk up and spring

To life-what a glorious thing!

Every day it is a chore,

W e need to water so much more.

But we will be faithful to the end

Tenderly caring and loving like a faithful friend.

Press on toward the goal to win the prize.

When we are home we will not close our eyes.

Until that day,

We will press forward; come what may.

Pumpkin Patch day 2

As  we (Jeff, Doug, Kenzie, Peyton, Nick,me) finished the nightly task of watering Wednesday evening, we gathered at the end of the patch, held hands and prayed.  We thanked God for water in the well, for his continued strength, and asked Him to provide a nice ground soaking rain.

On Thursday evening, I called Jeff to ask if I had left my watering buckets.  My plan was to go earlier than usual to try and finish before night fall.  Jeff sounded exhausted.  I told him it sounded like he needed to take a break.  I told him “I’ll take this one tonight. You rest.”  He confirmed my buckets were at the patch.  I hopped in the car.  As I headed down the road, the clouds became darker, thicker.  I turned off of 36 and received a text that I was missing the rain at the patch.  I hurried.  I flew down the hill to the patch and hit a puddle of water.  How long has it been since we had an actual puddle of water? Thank you God for answered prayer!

I stood in the rain, by the patch, crying, praising and thanking God!  At that moment, God “dropped into my heart” ‘I’ve got this one tonight.’  As I watched the patch, a fog began to lift and float across the rows.  It was like the Spirit of God was present, drifting, moving across the ground.  There was a freshness in the air; a delightful scent of rain!  There was peace, yet joy, as the birds sang their hallelujah chorus chirps.  How does one put into words God’s presence?  It is a feeling, a knowing, and an understanding.   My heart knows.  When I was a young mother, I memorized my baby’s tiny features, discerned her cries.  She was my child and I knew her through and through.  As God’s child, He knows me.  As I spend time with Him, I know him, as well.

I walked the patch marveling at how wonderful the rainfall was.  God does a much better job when He waters!  Soon, I was joined by Doug.  We walked the family plot and together celebrated the newest “family” members that were beginning to “poke” through.  The night prior I had shared with the group how excited I felt when the new pumpkins popped up.  I related it to how God must feel when a sinner first comes home; the prodigal returns.  There is much rejoicing!

Tonight, Doug and I stood at the end of the field and did a Bible study on Mark chapter 4.  God is continually reminding us of being seed sowers.  He is using the pumpkin patch to teach us of our larger mission and vision.  Daily we are called to sow seeds, water, replant, weed, dig, pray, pray, and pray.  We never know when a seed we have sown is going to “pop” up, but we must NEVER give up.  We have to keep persevering through the heat, long evenings, short water supply, because at the right time, we will reap the harvest if we don’t give up.  One day there will be great rejoicing.  God is preparing us for greater things to come.  He has a purpose and a plan for each one of us.  I feel blessed to be part of the Nehemiah Ranch family.

Pumpkin Patch 2012

     My story with the pumpkin patch began in October 2011 when Jeff asked if I would like to help at Nehemiah ranch (the ranch as I now call it). He needed someone to assist with registering and welcoming guests to the first weekend give away of “free” pumpkins.  It is a strange concept in today’s culture to “give away” anything for “free”.   As he told me about the ranch and the outreach to youth, I became excited and signed up to help.  He began sharing his vision to reach troubled youth, restore hope and lives through sharing the love of Christ. 

     The first night people came from all over the countryside.  One couple drove over 50 miles to get free pumpkins for their five children.  The parents cried as they watched their kids “squeal” with delight over picking their own huge pumpkins from the patch.  The husband had just lost his job.  The wife was unemployed and expecting another baby.  They had no money, but were grateful for the “gift”. 

    I watched kids faces light up.  I watched as parents enjoyed the evening.  There was a large fire pit blazing; the smell of burning wood and roasting hotdogs in the air.  There was a hayride and a “one of a kind” lighted pumpkin patch.  The scene was surreal.  After the first evening, I enjoyed the event so much that I came back to register and welcome guests the next two weekend events.

     Why?  What drew me? Seeing the happiness in the eyes of the parents and children warmed my heart.  It had been a difficult year for me personally.  After 13 years of marriage, I found myself, once again, divorced.  These events offered healing to my heart.  To be able to “give” away something and watch the delight on the faces, took me away from my pain and self centeredness and refocused my heart on Christ.  Through the pumpkins, I realized, again, the gift of salvation; the free gift Christ gives to us.  We have to “show up” and choose to accept it.

     Christ paid the price.  Christ did the work.  Now it is planting season.  I get to “feel the pain.”  On June 30^th, several volunteers showed up to the ranch.  Some set up and ran a garage sale to raise funds.  Some went to work in the patch, to ready the field for planting.  I had never planted pumpkins.  As a little girl, I had worked with my mother and grandfather in the family garden.  But, I never had planted pumpkins.  Jeff has the process down to a science.  This is the third year for the pumpkin patch.  Each year, the vision and patch grows a little. 

     Jeff had spent hours plowing and disking the very hard earth.  No rain makes the ground very hard!  The process begins by measuring the rows and laying the black “special” pumpkin paper.  Then you have to bury the sides of the paper to keep it from blowing away with a gust of wind.  Next, at pre-defined intervals you place a hole and two seeds, cover with dirt, water, and pray that God will grow the pumpkin.  At this point, I was probably better at praying, than planting.  It seemed like every time I watered the seed would come out of the ground because the ground was so dry.  There was absolutely no moisture. 

     God has reminded me that all I am called to do is sow seeds.  Sometimes, I am to water, but He will cause it to grow.  He also reminds me, as I am pulling the 50^th 2 gallon can of water from the tank, that “His strength is made perfect in my weakness.”  Continually, as I walk the rows, He whispers “you will reap a harvest if you do not give up.”  I call these times “life lessons.”  He is teaching me to keep the faith, trust in Him, patience, that life is a journey and not a destination.

     The past two weeks, I have spent several hours watering and praying in the pumpkin patch, re-planting many seeds.  Each evening, I get excited, like the little kids last fall, to see a new plant “pop” up.  I am thankful.  God is good.

     Tonight, I was tired.  My son went with me to the ranch to do the nightly watering.  This effort is a team effort and a “labor of love” by so many.  The next door neighbor is letting us use water from his well to give Jeff’s a rest.  One board member loaned his truck so we could fill the horse tank and drive to the edge of the field.  Some come and fill the tank.  Others come and water in the evening.  It is the way the body of Christ is supposed to operate; a spirit of unity and community exists.  We are all united in purpose and love; the love of Jesus.

     As I was watering the “new” section (I call it the family plot).  This is the section where people were invited to “plant their own seeds”; grow their own pumpkin for harvest.  There are approximately 30 hills.  It takes longer to water the hills than the rows.  For weeks, there has only been one hill with plants.  But, tonight, almost every hill has a plant.  As I watered, I wept.  God knew just what I needed today. 

     The pumpkin patch is teaching me about hope, healing, restoration, sowing, reaping and perseverance, to name a few lessons.  How many times has God provided someone to sow a seed into my life?  How many times has He had to replant the seed?  I have to have daily watering because the seasons of life are sometimes stormy with too much wind and rain, or vice versa and I go through seasons of drought.  As the pumpkins begin to grow and vine, they have to stay attached to the vine to grow.  We have to stay attached to Christ.  If our relationship is severed, we wither and die.   Working at the patch is hard physical labor, but it is worth every second.  Walking with Christ is also, sometimes, hard work.  But, it too, is worth every second.  I hear his voice whisper to my heart “you will reap a harvest, if you do not give up.”