In the picture we can see wonderful flowers on the right, yellow loosestrife; five bright yellow petals, with pointed green leaves. These have grown in this corner each year despite many attacks of flying footballs and other Frisbees. Facing this crowd is a common lomatium, a plant native to North America.
What makes a weed?
I have kept been reminded this week that there are a few weeds, or shall I say many weeds in our garden. But I have an unusual viewpoint on weeds. What makes a weed, the name? Many of these so called weeds flower and are beautiful. Many fill in areas of wet soil with there wonderful shapes. Many fill the low ground with colours and wonderful smells. So what makes a weed?
A couple of definitions state;
-
1.a wild plant growing where it is not wanted and in competition with cultivated plants.“keep the seedlings clear of weeds”
-
2.BRITISHinformala contemptibly feeble person.
Are we the cultivated plants, and the not wanted plants we stand against. Do we push them away? Do we pull out their roots because we do not want that type of person in our family of selected people. God seeks out the repentant sinner, and when that sinner repents he says that all the choirs of angels in heaven will rejoice for them.
10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
We can all dwell in the garden of Eden, but that means we must all love each other.
Isaiah 51:3
3 For the Lord will comfort Zion,
He will comfort all her waste places;
He will make her wilderness like Eden,
And her desert like the garden of the Lord;
Joy and gladness will be found in it,
Thanksgiving and the voice of melody.
Let me share a dream I had.
Whilst praying I started to feel an amazing warmth and then I felt transported to a garden were I continued to pray but in the warmth of the trees. As I knelt praying I felt the need to pray for others. Their problems and needs seemed to overwhelm me and I felt pain. I awoke.
Jesus through his sacrifice tore the curtain to allow access to a personal audience with God, but the Spirit on entering us allows us to lead a fuller, God filled life, perhaps even walking with God in the garden of the Lord, Eden. Can we bypass the Cherubim guards, for the Holy Spirit guides us and we are washed clean in the blood of Jesus. Perhaps the reason why some of us are here is simple to pray, after all didn’t Elijah spend many years praying for others needs?
The pain I felt is a need for heart felt prayer. If prayer is simply words then it has no power, no Spirit. If prayer is a routine, then it may be heart felt but there is strong risk that we will just repeat the words and not feel the pain that is needed. This morning I prayed for my family and I was in tears as I finished. It pains me when I see hurt. I feel that I must take the hurt and offer this to God for him to work his love.
There may be people in the world that are weak through no fault of their own, and we are asked to stand up for them. Let us pray for them today.
There may be poor and impoverished people in our own neighbourhood and we are asked to help them. Let us pray for them today.
There may be individuals that stand against the crowd, against public opinion but they are being attacked for their beliefs, and we must stand up for them. Let us pray for them today.
Like this common lomatium, a weed to some, it has a place within our garden and it shall stand tall and I shall protect it, for all are welcome in God’s garden, just like all are welcome at the communion at my local church. We just have to accept the Lord Jesus as Lord and Saviour and make that change through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
Dear Lord, help me this next day to look out for the weak. To look out for the needy and to look out for the attacked. Help me to see where I can help in the world, and through the power of the Spirit I pray that you send your miraculous power and healing to save this earth.
Through Jesus
Amen
365 Exhortations 