Dear Friends,

I know, as I write this there is snow on the ground, and it seems premature to be thinking about gardening. But, it’s not my fault!!
The stores clear out their holiday decorations and end of season merchandise, and they start filling the shelves with garden tools, seeds and outdoor stuff. I walk by and it’s all I can do to NOT make my way down the aisles and start throwing all kinds of things into the cart!!
Gardening is a lot of work, and I’m not always able to invest the time that’s needed…but when I do? Oh, my—the results are well worth every effort I’ve made.
Growing spiritually takes effort on our part, as well. Some of us long for a deeper, stronger connection with God, but we haven’t been willing to invest the time and the energy needed to make that happen.
Perhaps we purchase devotional books or other kinds of resources that can help guide our Bible study, but we don’t quite get around to actually make use of them.
Perhaps we tell ourselves—tomorrow I’ll be intentional, and set aside time to pray, spending focused time in conversation with God—but then the day goes by and that still doesn’t happen.
Perhaps we make the commitment to be in worship every week, to join a Sunday school class, a Bible study, to be involved in some form of regular servant ministry—but other activities seem more urgent, and we just don’t do it.
Then we wonder why it feels like we’re “missing something.” Wonder why we don’t feel “connected.” Wonder why God seems just beyond our reach.
Like our gardens, our souls need nurturing. Our relationship with God needs continuous attention in order to bloom into fullness. Psalm 1 (v. 1-4) says, “Happy are those who…delight in the law on the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night. They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither, in all they do, they prosper” (Psalm 1:1-4).
May we each be attentive to the need to cultivation needs of our souls, that we might live our lives to the fullest.

May this season of Easter bring you blessing and joy!

In Christ,