Missional Women
  • Home
    • Free Printables
    • About >
      • God
      • The Ministry
      • Master Plan Ministries {College Students}
      • Bible Study Resources
      • Contact
      • Subscribe
      • Featured At
      • Rules, Disclosure & Privacy
    • Resources >
      • Bible Study Journals
      • Free Printables
      • Bible Study Recommendations
      • Reviews
      • Videos
      • App
    • Missional Women Equipping
    • Contributors
    • Statement of Faith
    • Free eBooks >
      • Ministry Resources for Women eBook
      • Leading Effective Bible Studies
      • Missional Life Book
    • Missional Women Bible Studies >
      • The Book of John Video Series
      • 1st Samuel {Beholding Him, Becoming Missional}
      • Judges {A Devotional Journey through Judges}
    • Giant Blog Hop Link Ups List
  • Blog
    • Ministry >
      • Evangelism {Win}
      • Discipleship {Build} >
        • Foundations
      • Living Missionally {Send}
      • Ministry Resources for Women
    • God's Word >
      • Bible Study
      • Prayer
      • Devotionals
      • Bible Studies
      • Apologetics
    • Relationships >
      • Marriage
      • Singleness
      • Dating
      • Family
      • Friendship
    • World >
      • Social Justice Issues
      • Internet & Social Media
      • Politics
      • International
      • Science Revealing God
    • Life >
      • Image & Idenity
      • Health
      • Fashion
      • Food
      • Organization
    • Faith Filled Friday Blog Link Up
  • Bible Study Resources
  • Video Bible Studies
    • Matthew
    • John
    • Galatians
    • Philippians
    • Know your Purpose
    • Creation Reveals
    • Ministry
    • Heart Growth
  • Prints
  • Quiet Time Journals
  • Courses
    • Women's Ministry Training Promo
    • Women's Ministry Training
    • Growing in Your Faith Mini Course
    • Discover God's Calling Course
  • Store
  • Retreat
  • Subscribe
Picture

A Well Watered Garden

5/21/2015

6 Comments

 
Picture
“The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well watered garden, like a spring whose waters will never fail.” -Isaiah 58:11

I love gardens. I come from a long line of gardeners: my grandmother and great aunt cultivated beautiful gardens, winning awards. I cherish the memory of planting flowers with my mother, spending time together. Naturally when I left home I was excited about starting my own garden. I skipped to the local nursery and bought an assortment of plants. However after a few short weeks all the plants dried up under the hot Georgia sun. What went wrong?

My friend Ida offered to mentor me in gardening. I learned some significant life lessons during this time.

FOUNDATION
: When observing my neglected garden Ida told me I needed to dig three feet deep (about a meter) and mix that Georgia red clay with nourishing soil. When we dug it up we found all kinds of junk there—old toys, balls, bottles, trash and rocks. No wonder nothing was able to grow! I realized I need God to help me dig up the junk in my life—unhealthy relationships, controlling addictions and bad habits—and replace them with his nourishing soil. These “rocks” are usually tied to a fear (no one else will love me so I’m going to remain in this bad relationship) or a lie (I’m unloveable). This is difficult but foundational work.

WEEDS: Ida mentioned the importance of keeping a garden free of weeds. Birds fly overhead and drop seeds among the flowers and weeds take over, seeping nutrition from plants. As the gardener I need to remove them. But I can’t just trim the weeds. The entire root needs to be removed or more weeds will take over. In order to grow in my life, I need God to search my heart and remove the “weeds” (see Psalm 139:23-24). These weeds creep in unnoticed and come back stronger each year unless they are uprooted. Unhealthy patterns you thought you removed can reappear (I’m married now but still believe the lie that I’m unlovable because of insecurity in friendships). This calls me to believe the TRUTH about God and myself: uprooting these weed-lies. It’s uncomfortable and often painful, but the alternative is much worse. These weeds have the potential to choke out life.

CULTIVATE: The last crucial step in gardening is to keep plants watered and fertilized. The summer we planted our garden a severe drought came to Georgia. Plants died and grass grew brittle. But my garden was still full of life. Each day I was diligent to water, prune and care for my plants. The result was a thriving garden in the midst of a parched land. As a believer in Christ, circumstances don’t define me. I can thrive in any situation. But I must draw strength from outside myself. I must depend on the source of all life, Jesus.

“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:11b-13

Picture

About Taylor

Picture
Taylor has lived over half her life desiring to know God and make Him known.  She is the wife to Josh Irby and the mother to four beautiful children.  She lives in Bosnia working with college students and young moms.  She loves creating art and music and teaching her children piano.  You can read more on her blog: Irby Road.

If you'd like to read more from this contributor, type her name in the search box on the top right.

Sharing this over at these awesome blogs
6 Comments
Sylvia Sharron
5/22/2015 01:07:08 pm

Beautifully written with truths to embrace daily. I love you, Mom

Reply
Taylor link
5/22/2015 04:26:35 pm

Thanks Mama!

Reply
Mary Malone
5/23/2015 12:32:13 am

Yyou continue to bless so many with your amazing contributions to life. Keep up the wonderful work.

Reply
Taylor link
5/23/2015 04:13:40 pm

Thanks so much Mary!

Reply
Momo link
5/26/2015 08:10:47 am

I love gardening too! My garden is not award winning, but it is very fulfilling. I love all the analogies to our lives. So very true. My favourite verse is the last...."I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances" God is so good, to be with us through everything! Thanks for sharing on Titus 2

Reply
sandraj link
5/29/2015 02:25:13 am

Lovely post and lessons - I think of God as a Gardener. Three words jumped out at me from the Isaiah 58 passage: God guides us, He satisfies our needs, and strengthens our frame.God bless you!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    2 Free eBooks for Subscribers

    Picture
    Picture

    Subscribe
    ​

    New here? Check out our HOME page to get a better idea of what we're about.
    Picture
    Picture


    Popular Posts

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
Missional Women a ministry of Master Plan Ministries
 
Contact
Newsletter
  • Home
    • Free Printables
    • About >
      • God
      • The Ministry
      • Master Plan Ministries {College Students}
      • Bible Study Resources
      • Contact
      • Subscribe
      • Featured At
      • Rules, Disclosure & Privacy
    • Resources >
      • Bible Study Journals
      • Free Printables
      • Bible Study Recommendations
      • Reviews
      • Videos
      • App
    • Missional Women Equipping
    • Contributors
    • Statement of Faith
    • Free eBooks >
      • Ministry Resources for Women eBook
      • Leading Effective Bible Studies
      • Missional Life Book
    • Missional Women Bible Studies >
      • The Book of John Video Series
      • 1st Samuel {Beholding Him, Becoming Missional}
      • Judges {A Devotional Journey through Judges}
    • Giant Blog Hop Link Ups List
  • Blog
    • Ministry >
      • Evangelism {Win}
      • Discipleship {Build} >
        • Foundations
      • Living Missionally {Send}
      • Ministry Resources for Women
    • God's Word >
      • Bible Study
      • Prayer
      • Devotionals
      • Bible Studies
      • Apologetics
    • Relationships >
      • Marriage
      • Singleness
      • Dating
      • Family
      • Friendship
    • World >
      • Social Justice Issues
      • Internet & Social Media
      • Politics
      • International
      • Science Revealing God
    • Life >
      • Image & Idenity
      • Health
      • Fashion
      • Food
      • Organization
    • Faith Filled Friday Blog Link Up
  • Bible Study Resources
  • Video Bible Studies
    • Matthew
    • John
    • Galatians
    • Philippians
    • Know your Purpose
    • Creation Reveals
    • Ministry
    • Heart Growth
  • Prints
  • Quiet Time Journals
  • Courses
    • Women's Ministry Training Promo
    • Women's Ministry Training
    • Growing in Your Faith Mini Course
    • Discover God's Calling Course
  • Store
  • Retreat
  • Subscribe