This is our garden.  Beautiful, isn’t it?

Here, Nathan is pointing out to me his cucumber plants, named  Larry and Lufti. Why does he have to point them out?  Because, I CAN’T SEE THEM through the weeds!

We didn’t plan to have a weed garden.  On the contrary, the garden in our minds was perfect!  It was green and lush with healthy vegetables that would feed our family of six for the whole summer.  There were no bugs and no weeds.  It was a nice little picture.

So what happened?

We didn’t tend the garden.  We had the greatest of intentions.  Each child was to tend his/her own portion, everyday, without fail.  But then life happened.  We had doctor appointments in Phoenix, ministry trips, illness, houseguests, school preparations…  In short – we had other priorities.  And our garden suffered.

The Bible often uses gardening as an illustration of our spiritual lives, and it’s easy to see why.  We do reap what we sow.  But sometimes we get to reap what others have sown!

Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest. Already he who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for life eternal; so that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. For in this case the saying is true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’  I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored and you have entered into their labor.”  John 4:35-38

This is the truth of our ministry.  We have the privilege of going and reaping because YOU have prepared the soil with your prayers and YOU have given generously of your resources.  Over the past few months, dozens of people have trusted in Christ and many, many more have been taught and discipled in their spiritual walk.  We have truly seen the harvest of your partnership, and we thank you!!!!

Now – if my actual garden could only look as good as the spiritual one you planted…