November 1, 2008

As we approach the end of the year, we tend to reflect on the current year and out past accomplishments and/or failures. Many of us pull out those lists that we made at the beginning of the year and make a mad rush to complete them or just throw them away thinking that they will just begin again on January 1 of the next year.

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As Christians we don’t have to wait, nor do we have to make a mad rush to get things done. We can get a do-over any time with God. All we must do is repent and ask.

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Today we transplanted broccoli, yes I know it is November, but here in NE Texas we have a longer growing period than most in this country. I remember a season where the local farmers got 5 cuttings of hay, that was the year we had 3 plantings of purple hull peas, and broccoli 4 ft high. I also moved my feverfew, my lemon balm, and my garlic, then cut back my spearmint and chocolate mint. I am extending my kitchen garden, our regular garden is about 100 sq feet and across the yard. I have a small patch of grass I have been tilling up for 2 years now little by little and planting herbs and such.

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When I sat down to do my Saturday Psalm and Praise, the word hyssop came to mind, all that gardening maybe. I have 4 pieces of paper, index card size, on my wall by the washing machine, they have various pictures of laundry and such on them. One of the verses is

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Ps 51:7, Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me and, I shall be whiter than snow.

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Hyssop is a plant used for medicinal and religious procedures. I have never seen hyssop, but I am glad I do not have to use it to “get clean”. All I have to do is ask. I don’t have to ask to be purged with hyssop, we don’t even have to be scrubbed with a bar of soap, which is good because at times I would need a bar of Lava soap.

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I love this verse because it reminds me that through Christ we can be made whiter than snow, brand new. He does not even check behind our hears, sorry Grandma, but I figured that one out. He just checks our hearts, and if the old one is no good, and we want a new one, He will give it to us. He replaces a hard, stony heart with a soft, compassionate new one. We don’t have to bring a sacrifice, we don’t have to go pick up any hyssop, all we need is the blood of Jesus.

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Gee, and when I got up this morning I just thought my “thankful” thing for today was feet, guess I need to re-evaluate that thought.

Valerie