"Mulching"

 

     Yup, this is a pile of mint compost.  Can't ya smell it?  Our massive flowerbeds and garden are starting to feel the smother of compost.  And it takes yards and yards of compost to even make a dent.
Yet, when it is applied to the beds, the difference is incredible!  Compacted soil once again becomes rich and grows trees and plants quadruple what they would have been without it.  Common soil will grow plants, but they will be stunted and will not spread out with growth and beauty. Seeds will sprout in common soil but will burn up in compost.  Compost is not applied until after the plants start growing.

     In the Gospels Jesus talked about sowing seed on good soil in order to yield a crop.  I think the thirty, sixty, hundredfold yield had to do with compost.  The one who hears the Word and understands it bears fruit and produces. Young plants don't just automatically grow and neither do Jesus followers.   Our Lord "mulches" us out of His lovingkindness.  The more we understand how the Word penetrates our very inner being to bring nutrients to our souls, the more we receive correction from the presence of the Word in our hearts, the more we embrace difficulty as our friend placed there out of love, the more we will grow in Christ Jesus with gratefulness.  "Mulching" is just what we need though sometimes it feels heavy and heats up, stinks or takes time to work.  While patiently waiting on the Lord to do His deep work in strengthening our roots, we learn to love Jesus and trust His wisdom and grace.  How is Jesus "mulching" you?                                    K.C.