A Spring Harvest

Today I planted bulbs. Lots of them. I enjoy working in the yard, so a huge box of bulbs sent to me as a thank-you gift, was like Christmas. Today was the most perfect Autumn day and I reveled in the task. And as He usually does when I'm in the yard, the Lord began to speak to me about Spring, when these bulbs will be in bloom.


Before I could even plant some of the bulbs, a clearing away of other things needed to be done. Some of it was dead branches and some of it, just an overgrowth, that needed to be pruned.
Pruning hurts. But it always brings about richer and more fruit or flowers. Pruning back of small branches on trees allows the trunk to stay strong and healthy. What are things that need to be pruned in my life?
One of the huge bushes I worked on in my yard is as old as my house, more than twenty five years old. Some of the the branches had died from old age and needed to be taken out. They no longer bring life to the bush?
What are the things in my life that have always been there: habits, addictions, waywardness, incorrect thinking, imbalance-things that are so a part of my life, I couldn't imagine life without them. But, they bring death to my spirit and hinder me from stepping into new things for my life. They need to be taken out.

I've seen these "bulb planters" in stores. The tool makes the job seem simple and easy. But it's not. Planting bulbs is hard work. The hole they are put into must be fairly deep. Forget the small tool, I use a shovel. Tilling the soil, digging down deep and being careful to cover with much dirt. Why must the bulb be covered? To protect it from Winter's harsh frost and freezing weather. To prevent them from being dug up and eaten by small animals.
The hardest (well for me, that is) part of bulb planting is the wait. These flowers don't bloom next week, not even next month. No, for these beauties, one must wait through an entire season and longer for certain types of bulbs. What does this look like in our life? What are the things we are doing that we will reap in the a different season? And how much patience are we having in doing it? How well are the things ( ideas, wisdom, giftings, finances, knowledge) God has given us being protected from Winter's frost? God doesn't give us everything at once. He places them in different seasons, when the time and season is right. When we are right to have them.
What are the things you desire? What are your "bulb" dreams?
Don't believe the lie that says it's too late. That you're too old. That time has passed you by. Don't allow the lies to eat at your dreams, but keep them protected.
Do we live the life that God has called us to out of sheer coincidence. Whatever happens, is meant to happen? Nothing more, nothing less. Believing that what lands at our feet must be His will and we "bloom where we are planted"? Or do we go after the things we want, believing that He puts those dreams in our heart for a purpose and He alone will reveal which step is next and open the doors needed to pass through. Believing that we "plant what needs to bloom" as part of His higher call on our lives?



Some of us are in our "Winter" seasons right now. And we need to get ourselves ready for the "Spring" to come.

Mature ourselves in the Word
Surround ourselves with wise counsel
Become well familiar with the Holy Spirit's leading
Allow ourselves to be refined and sharpened in our present surroundings

So that we can take hold of that which He has called us to.
He won't lead us into something we are not prepared for.
So.. Prepare, for your Spring Harvest.


Galatians 6:9
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.


Colossians 2:7
Let your roots grow down into Him and draw up nourishment from Him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught.


Romans 4:16
...the God who brings the dead back to life and who brings into existence what didn't exist before.


Romans 5:3
We can rejoice when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us-they help us learn to endure.