that bumper crop

I noticed recently, that I had new seedlings growing in my pots of Zinnias.  I knew I hadn’t planted any new seeds, so I was puzzled as to how they got there.  Then I realized that I had been breaking the dead blooms off the plant and just dropping them right into the pot, figuring they’d break down and provide nutrients for the remaining plant.  Well, they did a whole lot more than that. I just didn’t figure on them being beaten into the soil by waterings and rainstorms, and then bringing forth blooms within the same year as their predecessors.  I was so blessed by the surprise, because it means I will get a bumper crop of my favorite flowers this year. 

God gives us bumper crops as well.  The little kindnesses we show to one another, The prayers we pray over one another, the worship we offer Him, both alone and together; all of these bear fruit.  Some of them are like seeds that fall into the ground from blooms long spent, and bear new seedlings and give us a bumper crop of blessings.  So don’t miss the People you work with day in and day out.  One kind word, one grateful glance, one pat on the back can mean so much.  God blesses us right where we are.  He uses us as blessings right here, right now.  We don’t all have to go to the mission field, or lead a Bible Study.  We don’t all have to be a part of the Worship Team, or serve in any leadership role.  We lead with our silent service, we worship with our prayers that only God knows about.  We all live right in the middle of a mission field and have the opportunity to reach countless lives, both directly and indirectly, by how we treat one another.

  Philippians 2:1-8

Be Like Christ

2 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, ² make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. ³ Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; ⁴ do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. ⁵ Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. ⁸ Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.