Growing Pumpkins...

John 6:35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst."

Overtaking my back yard are six pumpkin plants. For several years, I have wanted to grow pumpkins. In years past, when I finally remembered to plant them, it would be too late in the summer to do so. It takes about 100 days for pumpkins to grow into pumpkins from seeds. Who really wants pumpkins in December? So, like I said, I now have pumpkin plants or vines growing en masse.

Everyone who sees our pumpkin plants joke about waking up one morning and finding the vines encroaching upon our bed. They DO grow amazingly fast.

I did a bit of research on the Internet about planting pumpkins. Dozens of sites had very exquisite instructions on producing award-winning pumpkins. Other sites were very detailed with instructions on fertilizer, soil conditioning and pesticides (of which I may need to go back and read to find out what is munching on my pumpkin leaves). In short, everyone has recommendations and tips on planting, growing and harvesting a crop of pumpkins. I finally settled upon advice from one mom who decided to plant pumpkinseeds with her children just for the joy and reward of harvesting one or two pumpkins. Her instructions were very simple, practical and easy to follow.

Exactly like the practical advice Janet (Yah-net) gave us on Sunday. If you don’t have a daily practice of reading God’s Word and praying, why not start today?

Purpose to begin today. If you cannot get up early enough to spend time reading your Bible in the morning, which is recommended, then do it at night before you go to bed. If you go to bed normally at 10:30 p.m., start going to bed at 10:00 p.m. and spend 30 minutes with God in prayer and Bible study. Don’t know where to begin? Why not start with one of the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke or John? Or, go to one of the Epistles: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians or Colossians. Pray before you begin, asking God to give you understanding of His Word. As you read, write down what verse, command or Truth stood out to you. Think about or write down if it changed or reaffirmed your view about God or discipleship. Then, close in prayer, asking God to help you apply the truth or obey the command you just read into your life. Talk to your mom or dad, tell a friend or e-mail me or Frank about one thing you learned or were reminded about in your walk with Christ.

Like sun, dirt and water are essentials for growing pumpkins (and maybe space the size of a football field), so reading God’s Word, prayer and Biblical fellowship are essential for growing in your Christian life. Quit waiting to magically grow as a Christian. Dig into the nutritious soil of God’s Word. Unlike my pumpkins, today is the perfect day to begin planting the seeds of God’s Word in your heart and life.

There is no better timing than right now to start growing in Christ.
 
Grow in Grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ!