Reflective Wednesday

Morning. Happy Wednesday folks!

This morning I'm thinking about my spiritual direction Monday night.  I'm thinking about the value of another Christ-follower.  What a gift to have someone absorb what you share, reflect back to you truth and grace, and open you up to a vaster, more expansive view of life with God.

What a treasure to dig deep within, to keep digging and tilling and watering and letting the Holy Spirit sprinkle down His goodness, and get to be a part of that process! Yes, now I'm talking about reciprocation.  What she graciously offers me, because of all that Christ-life goodness within, starts growing and rooting and expanding only to do the same for another.

And I'm also thinking about the vile weeds.  Those darn weeds that keep springing up and the tender care and sometimes fierce care to cut them out from stealing the l i f e.

My heart is a community garden. Truly.  It's not this private space only for me to work hard at. Honestly, it would be so much less colorful without the friends, mentors, and family who have a go at it.

They all bring something unique in their expertise. Now they may be the last person on earth to acknowledge they are a soul gardener.  But I know different.  The garden speaks for itself.

If not for the team of gardeners and, of course, The Gardener, this little garden patch would be nice but not nearly as varied, exuberant, and colorful as it's becoming.

So let me ask you, who are you allowing into your heart-plot?  Who might you need to help prune and pull out the vile weeds?  Who are you beginning to trust to gently and regularly help till the soil of your heart?

“The aim of God in history is the creation of an all-inclusive community of loving persons, with Himself included in that community as its prime sustainer and most glorious inhabitant.” 
― Dallas Willard
¹⁷ May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love,

¹⁸ That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God’s devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it];

¹⁹ [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!

²⁰ Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]—

-Ephesians 3:17-20 (Amplified)