She Lives Encouraged

Its Spring time!

The grass is green. The flowers are blooming in all their beautiful vibrant colors. Everything is flourishing!

About two months ago, we went through some major rainstorms here in Southern California. Now, my friends in the midwest and east coast, please don’t laugh. Seriously, these storms were major for us over here. Freeways were flooded and shut down where they normally don’t flood. On my way home from work electrical wires were down. It wasn’t raining cats and dogs, it was raining tigers and wolves! I mean, the wind was blowing so hard the heavy office door was flung open and remained that way till the wind stopped blowing.  Looking outside my window it looked like strips of gray construction paper falling from the sky.

Thankfully, there was just one day of sunshine in between the storms…and even more thankful that it was a Saturday. It was a day that everyone was back outside doing fun things with family. And, as for me, I was sitting in my living room looking outside admiring the blue sky, big white fluffy clouds, and soaking in the afternoon warm sun rays beaming thru the window.

But then I looked down. Down below my window outside. And after enjoying all the beauty around I saw something that wasn’t good. Wasn’t beautiful. And something needed to be done. All around our plants and shrubs were weeds. You see, it had been raining so much that not only the plants and grass have grown, but right along with them were the weeds flourishing! So at that moment, I opened my front door, stood on my porch and announced (to no one around me) “Let’s pull weeds.”

Now let me tell you, I grew up pulling weeds as my dad would mow the lawn, my mom would trim and prune, and my siblings and I would all pitch in. And on some of those hot summer days, pulling weeds just was not fun, especially as a kid because there’s so much other fun stuff to do! But today…this very day in between the storms…it was perfect. The weather was cool. The soil was wet and soft. And most beautiful, the weeds came out so easily; much better than a hot summer day with hard dry soil.

As I was pulling the weeds, I got to see how they were surrounding such pretty flowers. Not just surrounding, but crowding and blocking something beautiful from view.

It was then that the Lord was showing me that it’s spring time, but not just in the garden and outside, but also in our hearts. In fact, every day should be like spring time with the Lord. What are those weeds that He needs to pull out of us? Weeds of jealousy? Weeds of bitterness? Weeds of arrogance? Weeds of anger? Weeds of laziness? (You and I can add a lot more to this list).  Are these weeds blocking us from doing what He wants us to do? Are these weeds blocking our witness and testimony for others to see? Are these weeds causing separation in relationships?

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalms 51:10

Before we ask the Lord to pull those weeds, we must go to Him in prayer…in all humility…and ask Him to “create a clean heart”. We must have a softened heart like that soft damp soil if we desire Him to pull those “weeds” out of us.  Ask Him to “spring-clean and declutter” all that is within you that is not of Him.  Ask Him to change us and when those weeds try to sneak in and start growing, may we immediately go to Him with that scripture prayer that asks Him to create and renew us. This is what we need. Daily. For when we stray from this, know that those weeds will come creeping back around us…trying to hold us back and block us from what God wants to do in each of our lives.

I want to encourage you today, that this is something we all deal with. You are not alone…and neither am I. But let me finish sharing with you what happened the day I was pulling weeds. A couple of neighbors came outside asking “What are you doing?!” And I replied joyously with a big smile on my face, “Pulling weeds!”…as I was so proud of doing yard work. They laughed and shook their heads and either drove off or went back inside.  A couple of days later, as I walked outside, one of those neighbors was rolling in an overstuffed green waste trash barrel.  And as I waved, he shouted with a smile on his face, “I have you to blame for this! I’m pulling weeds now and cleaning up…but it sure looks nice now!” We both walked away laughing! And feeling pretty good about our freshly cleaned up plants and flowers.

I hope and pray that you can blame me one day and take a step back and see how the Lord did some spring-cleaning in your heart and mine.  That you were encouraged to allow the Lord to pull those weeds that are stopping you, choking you, binding you, blocking you from whatever God is calling you to do and how to live.  So that HE may be pleased with what He has done in you so that others can see His beauty thru you…to flourish in His beauty just like those vibrant spring flowers…they are BEAUTIFUL!!

It’s Spring-time! Let’s do this!

And don’t forget, my friends, to look around and encourage someone today!

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