Sunday, September 15, 2013

Seriously? Yes! Gleaning and Growing from God through Basil…



Me? Born with a green thumb? Not so much.  I’ve been known to kill a few plants in my time, so far.

Imagine my hubs surprise when I came home from Home Depot around Spring-time, with a bag of MiracleGro Soil, and some planters. 

With a prayer and determination, I planted, and watered, and hoped, and sure enough, my Basil sprigs eventually made their way into lengthy blooming stems of green. 

And, I was overjoyed.

I loved having something thriving and green to look at, that I’d had a hand in growing, right there on my porch, every day.  It made me feel like I was accomplished, blessed, and favored. Finally, I got something with growing, right, and the “fruit” of the labor was showing in full!

While, I’ve used a few leaves here and there to add to a few dishes through out the summer, I’ve held back, actually dreadfully procrastinated, in harvesting this plant altogether.

So now, the cold weather has begun to set in.  And I’ve snapped off more end blossoms, than I care to admit. My plants growing season has come to an end. Harvest time is upon me.

In honesty, there were a few things holding me back:

I knew I needed to not let the tremendous fruit of the bounty go to waste, and I knew that the best way to do this is to make pesto.

I knew harvesting the giant plant would be tedious.  Along the way, after asking some questions, I found out that each leaf had to be plucked without the stem attached, to embark upon this pesto-making journey.

I never have made pesto before. I didn’t have, nor did I know a recipe, and I really dislike failing at something. What if I messed up and all the growing, harvesting, and pesto making was all in vain?

I really didn’t want to part with the sight of the beautiful green thriving plant on my porch, for the entire world and I, to see, every day.

I’m telling you all of this because there is a spiritual lesson to glean from it.

It is no coincidence that I lay prostrate before God earlier this week, hands open and extended, pouring out my desire for Him to take all that I am, and do His will. I want to bless nations, I want to worship in spirit and truth and be able to be the prophet unto the nations that I believe He created me to be (Jeremiah 1:5)

He has been doing a work in me. In essence I was that beautiful green thriving plant sitting on my porch, looking great, but capable of being greater (a beautiful pesto). Nourishing, blessed, enjoyed so much more greatly. 

The trouble is a harvest must take place. A pruning. A paring down. A stripping of all the leaves (things, bounty of the appearance), to reveal a far greater end.

I am wise, made in my Father’s image, and I can recognize that my soul (mind, will and emotions) does not appreciate the intensity of a stripping down of sorts, so I procrastinate, and I hold back, and I try and look good for the harvester instead, and I fight the harvesting for the greater, the better, the more. 

Don’t I realize I am created for so much more than just to be seen beautiful? 

Don’t I realize that I can be nourishment to “the body”, a blessing, a garnish, even an amplifier to other beautiful “nourishments” in the kitchen kingdom? 

Don’t I realize that to reach my full potential, I have to go through a bit of pruning and mixing up to be turned into my ultimate best?

Don’t I understand that I’m being handled by THE Master Chef, and even though I don’t know the recipe that makes me my best, He does?!

So I’m here now, determined to stop procrastinating, and be a blessing, and go through the uncomfortable process of a harvesting, so that I can become all I was intended and begun for, in the great Garden of Eden, The Master Chef’s magnum opus.  I must do my part, becoming who I am in Him, and be ready, with a willing heart, to accomplish every good thing I was planted and grown here to do.

So, here’s to the harvest, here’s to knowing that the best, my best, our best, is yet to come!

All He needs is our willingness in faith, and He will do the rest!

Just a few final thoughts…

It was never about me, it’s never about us to begin with.  Who are we to interfere with our process, ultimately interfering with Kingdom work? To guard ourselves is futile, for us, and for others who need Christ in us.  There is something in me and through me no other person, or work from another can accomplish in this world, in God’s Kingdom, in such a time as this!

His ways and thoughts are higher, no, HIGHEST! Stop trying to figure Him, or His greatness out. 

He knows every fear, He sees every tear, He knows every hearts desire, and He knows us even better than we know ourselves.  Surrender to His great mercy, goodness and love.  He works all things for good!

Matthew 9:35-38 (AMP)
35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news (the Gospel) of the kingdom and curing all kinds of disease and every weakness and infirmity.
36 When He saw the throngs, He was moved with pity and sympathy for them, because they were bewildered (harassed and distressed and dejected and helpless), like sheep without a shepherd.
37 Then He said to His disciples, The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the laborers are few.
38 So pray to the Lord of the harvest to [a]force out and thrust laborers into His harvest.

May He force us out of our places of comfort, mold us, and thrust us out as laborers, conduits and catalysts, in being His hands and feet, to reach the lost and the broken.  May we stop harassing, distressing, and dejecting ourselves, making ourselves helpless, believing the enemies lies, and being paralyzed because of it. May we break free of every chain, every bondage of self and the enemy and allow ourselves to be pliable to the work of God’s mighty hand and will.  May we see His goodness in the land of the living because we are not only the harvested, but also we become His harvesters, His “artisans of hope, ambassadors of reconciliation, and agents of grace”.  (~E Cho)
May God be glorified in, through and on account of us and our journeys and testimonies, no matter what lay ahead. May we know Him, trust Him, and bless Him and His Kingdom, in all ways, always! In Jesus Mighty Name. Amen!

In His Love,
Amy O