Abundant Growth

Gardener's have mixed feelings about leaving home for a week because there is a potential for much change in the landscape of the garden.  Depending on the time of year, it could prove to be exciting to come home to find a bountiful harvest.

Five gallon cooler  for perspective

When I arrived home yesterday, from being away for over a week, I was met with just that scenario.

Although the weeds had encroached, everything in the garden, for the most part, was in full swing.

My heirloom tomato plants that I had left at about knee high, were now towering almost to my head!  One plant's presence defied my expectations. The hyssop had grown to a height that surpassed the previous year's growth and had not even started blooming yet!

This enormous plant fills me with delight each year that it blooms.  I wonder how much larger it will grow before it blooms this season.  I am thankful as I view this glorious plant in my garden.

Like the hyssop, my heart has grown in thankfulness and love for my brothers and sisters in Christ, while I was away, as I see their faith grow abundantly, far surpassing my greatest expectations!

In 1 Thessalonians 1:3 Paul writes;

We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of everyone of you for one another is increasing.  Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.  

I realize how incredibly blessed I am to be a part of the body of Christ and especially the motley crew that I call my church family.  I see our love growing greater as the seasons pass. I found myself sharing with my family my great affection for my church family while I was away.

I boasted about their steadfast faith and commitment to one another during some great affiliations that we are going through right now.

I see a glorious bride growing into full  maturity before my very eyes.  I sense the essence of what Paul felt as he described the growth of the church.

 I GIVE THANKS!

I will not soon forget how the Lord, very intentionally brought me into this family of believers and how, throughout my life I was always looking for friends that were like family.  Friends that would invite me over for Holidays as if I was their blood relative.  

I was always so disappointed as my friends, one by one, went their own way and did not want deep connected, family like, intimacy.  

The Lord has reminded me of this time and time again.  He was not willing for me to be in deep fellowship with just anyone.  He hand selected the people that would be my "tribe".  

I didn't realize that during my twenties, as I pined for deep fellowship with people, that God was preparing a people for me to be in community with, most of which were not even born at that time.  

I realize that God desired me to have my heart's desire because it was and is His desire that we be in deep intimate fellowship with other believers.

 I am overwhelmed by His faithful love towards me and as I gaze at the garden of my life, I am ever grateful for the variety of lives that He has placed there alongside me.  

As I was on my way home I had several friends message me inquiring when I would be home and even one brought me a gift the evening of my return.  I am blessed to call this family my own and I am thankful that we are EFFs - Eternal Friends Forever!