Redeeming rain

 "He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither.  In all that he does, he prospers."  Psalm 1:3

     In my hometown, the average rainfall is 40 inches a year.  I often complain about consecutive days of rain.  However, the past 9 months in Africa have reshaped my attitude about rain.  Here, the rain is vital.  Since I arrived in July it has been dry.  Little did I know the great potential this land held.   Over the past several weeks water from heaven has completely redeemed and trasnformed the land.  What was once a barren, dusty brown landscape, is now vivid green.  The nationals are faithfully working in their shambas (gardens) to sow maize seeds.  In the past week the maize has already grown around 14 inches.  Each day, all around the village the people are working hard to remove weeds that may choke their crops.  

     I can't help but see the analogy in each of our lives.  Just like this land, our lives hold great potential.  When we allow God's Word not only to water us, but to soak into every area of life, we too, look very different.  There's a sense of purpose and meaning.  Worry turns to hope, hurts are forgiven and healed.  Just like the farmers, we must continue to remove the weeds in our mind and heart that do not align with God's truth.

     The theme of growth reoccurs often in my life.  Sunday morning as the pastor spoke on Mark 11,  I was watered by verses 12-14 about the fig tree. The tree had leaves which, from a distance made it look like it had fruit, however when Jesus drew close, the tree had no fruit.  The teaching continued with the difference between leaves and fruit.  Leaves look good from a distance and can represent good works or outward appearances.  However, fruit contains a seed.  If we desire to plant the hope of Jesus in the lives of others, we must have his fruit (Galatians 6:22-23).  Otherwise, we have no seed to offer others.  

      All of this teaching occurs right on time as I teach my class about plants during science.

"The seed is the word of God" Luke 8:11