Why Have a Garden?

[Richard Myers]

How many reasons can we find to encourage others to plant a garden?

[Vicki]

1. You know the source  - cleanliness of workers, water & pesticide use.
2. higher nutritive value
3. good exercise
4. family togetherness
5. save money
6. supply for future needs

[Richard Myers]

Who would ever think that the cleanliness of water would be important!  It can be the source of e coli and other infectious diseases. Ask those who have traveled in Mexico and some other countries where sanitation is not good. And, the e coli is prevalent in the US and Canada. It kills children and is found in not only hamburger, but in spinach, lettuce, sprouts, and other vegetables and fruits contaminated with cow dung.

[Richard Myers]

It very hot outside today. Because I was up quite late last night, I did not get up early and enjoy the beautiful morning outdoors. Now, it is no fun to work in the garden.  But, I want to share another reason for having a garden. Vicki's list was very good, but here is one of my favorite reasons for having a garden, both vegetable and flower gardens.

The world is full of hate and violence, ugliness.  But, when I walk out my front door or gaze through the window, I see something very beautiful, something that God created. He is the Master Artist. We are encouraged when we contemplate what we see.

God speaks to us in nature. It is His voice we hear as we gaze upon the beauty and richness of the natural world. We view His glory in the beauteous things His hand has made. We stand and behold His works without a veil between. God has given us these things that in beholding the works of His hands, we may learn of Him. 

God has given us these precious things as an expression of His love. The Lord is a lover of the beautiful, and to please and gratify us He has spread before us the beauties of nature, even as an earthly parent seeks to place beautiful things before the children that he loves. The Lord is always pleased to see us happy. Sinful as it is with all its imperfections, the Lord has lavished upon this earth the useful and the beautiful. The beautiful tinted flowers tell of His tenderness and love. They have a language of their own, reminding us of the Giver. 

[Richard Myers]

And therefore, I took a few pictures while sweating under the afternoon sun. But, it was worth taking the time to behold the wonder of God's hand.  There is great joy as we watch the little seeds germinate and now the sun is speeding the plants to maturity. It is exciting to see it each day.

[Richard Myers]

This is a cherry tree that I am losing.  I protected the trunk below the branches from the sun, but it appears that insects or sun damage or both have injured the tree.

[Richard Myers]

We may look up through nature to nature's God. In the beautiful lofty trees, the shrubs, the flowers, God reveals His character. He is to be compared to the most beautiful lilies and roses and pinks. I love to look upon the things of God in nature, for the Lord impresses upon them His character. In love to us He has given them, and He means that we shall have pleasure in them. Then let us not worship the beautiful things in nature, but let us look up through them to nature's God, and be led to worship the Giver. Let these beautiful ministries of love answer the purpose of God, and draw our hearts to Him, to be filled with the beauties of His character, and adore His goodness, His compassion, His inexpressible love.

[Richard Myers]

God is good, and greatly to be praised. His mercies have been freely bestowed upon us. He has surrounded us with tokens of His love. The heathen may rage and imagine vain things, but the Lord is unchangeable. He has made the strength of the everlasting hills to be a safe retreat for His people. He has prepared the mountains and the caves for His oppressed and persecuted children. We may sing, "God is our refuge and strength in time of trial." He who made the towering mountains, the minute grass flower, the roses, the lilies, the artichokes, to Him we may look.

[Richard Myers]

The very green low growing plant in the foreground is Mexican Heather.  It is pretty with its little flowers.  It is not supposed to be there, but it is.  It freezes every winter, and for some reason, it comes back in the spring.   I knew when I planted it that it was one of those annual things. But, it is faithful to come back even after the very hard freeze we had a couple of years ago.





   

The pictures are pretty, but the real thing is much nicer.  It is a reminder of God's great love for us every time I pass them or look out my window. It brings joy to heart to also know that He has made a way for me to take the seed or a cutting from a plant and produce such beauty and our food!!! What a God!!!!

[Vicki]

God has blessed you, through your hard work, with a beautiful garden. Thank you for sharing photos. 

[Richard Myers]

When I look back at my work, the only thing we can say, knowing the truth, is that I am an "unprofitable servant".  It is His hand that has indeed blessed my little labor.  There is so much more that I could have done. It is His seed, His sun, His rain, His soil, His mighty power bringing forth the life and beauty He created!  By His grace I shall redeem the time that could have been more productive.  His part is immeasurably great, mine immeasurably small! What a God we serve!!  Let us hasten His soon coming!!