More than Weed Whacking

Spring means time for gardening! But to produce a healthy garden, you have to weed. Weeding is tedious. You start pulling, just to realize you’ve simply plucked the tops of the weeds off; the roots remain stuck. It’s easier to pull the small weeds than the huge ones. But it is also tempting to leave the small ones because there are so many!

In Hebrews 12:15 God links bitterness with roots. Roots aren’t visible, but often strong. And if we let something like bitterness take root, the ugly weeds start to spurt out. Lashing out, criticizing, withdrawing, or other sinful responses begin to wreak havoc, reaping destruction in our relationship with God and others. Eventually sin’s power overtakes the good fruit, just as weeds eventually steal the garden’s nutrients. 

Just like gardening, spiritual weeding means not being content with “weed whacking”, but digging to the roots. Weeding sin is not a moralistic “stop this and do that”. It requires recognizing our weakness and depending on God to produce needed heart change. So we daily remind ourselves of our need for the gospel: cleansing that comes through Jesus and His power that enables us to obey. It is only through abiding that we can fight sin or bear fruit (Jn 15:4-5). And that abiding happens through prayer. 

Stop for a moment and pray for God to reveal what sin needs to be rooted out in your heart, and for the grace and power to produce fruit for Him.

Praises

• Our staff team grows this month with the arrival of two staff members!

• We completed much raking, property clean up, and mulching during April’s Serving Saturday, thanks to many hardworking volunteers. 

• Thanks for your prayers for a plow truck. God provided one at an incredible deal; just needs some work and we’ll be set for next winter! 

Prayer Needs

• Our staff team grows this month with the arrival of two staff members! 

• We completed much raking, property clean up, and mulching during April’s Serving Saturday, thanks to many hardworking volunteers. 

• Thanks for your prayers for a plow truck. God provided one at an incredible deal; just needs some work and we’ll be set for next winter! 

Speaking of weeding, as you’re cleaning things out this spring and want a place to donate items you’re no longer using, check out our needs list.