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.