Monday, April 11, 2011

seedlings

I do not have a green thumb, as evidenced below:





















...but with cooking more and trying new recipes, I've been wanting to grow my own herb garden. I've started with five different herbs, and I'd also like to try to grow mint, dill and a hot pepper variety if I can get these first few types to grow successfully.





















The average lifespan of plants in my care is about five days, but I may be turning over a new leaf considering today I ran home to tend to my seedlings before the storm blew in :)

Monday, April 4, 2011

eliminating perfectionism, keeping life in perspective, remaining hopeful and determined, and embracing a strong community

Philippians 3:12-16
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

 15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

What is "this"? Verses 10-11 state,"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead." 


What we can learn from this set of scripture:
1. The plan is progress, not perfection. You cannot escape your own falliable humanity.
2. The past is over; forget it. Bob Buford states,"Too many people approach the second half of their lives with regrets over the first half. Regret is a tough emotion to live down. It haunts you in ways that will sap your strength and inspiration to go on to better things. You cannot change your past, but your past can change you." Keep life in perspective. Richard Ross made a comment that if the novel of your life is four inches thick, only the first three pages are about your life on this earth. The rest is about eternity. 
3. The future holds out hope; reach for it. the Christian life is not passive co-existence but a passionate quest.The story is much greater than what revolves around us. 
4. The key is a determined attitude; maintain it.
5. The need is doing this together. It is the application of truth in relationships with others. 

How intentional are you about your own spiritual maturity? What goals have you set for yourself for this week, this month or this year?