2Tell Me A Story: God's Compost

Tell Me A Story:  God's Compost

#12 in the Series:    Daddy, It's Me--Conversations of an Ordinary Person with an Extraordinary Heavenly Father 
 

I was exhausted. I could not hold my eyes open any longer. I had been reading and meditating and studying the power of the fruit of the Spirit, especially love. As I turned off the light and settled in to doze off, I asked the Lord “What do you want to tell me about love?”

My thoughts “wandered” and I started thinking about moving the compost pile earlier that day.  When I realized my thoughts had “wandered,” I apologized and asked the question again. Again the thought of compost came into my mind.

“Ok, Lord.  What does love have to do with compost???“

I believe he showed me there are many common denominators!

Both are powerful and valuable resources for life

As Dave, my husband, and I prepare to go to Kenya next winter, we have been immersing ourselves in permaculture design and implementation (we are going to help an orphanage and rural community establishment a project there).  Compost is the “heart” of the effectiveness of the system.  Compost changes everything!  It makes the ground not only more fertile but also enables water to penetrate instead of just run off.  Compost provides a myriad of microbes and micronutrients that are often severely lacking in the soils of today’s agribusinesses.

Likewise love is possibly the most powerful and valuable resource for human life!  Without love, infants actually die!  It is the lack of love that is the source of every evil.  When we “love our neighbor” as ourselves, we will not do any harm to him. 

“For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.””

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭13:10‬ ‭NIV

Both cause things to grow bigger, better, stronger, and more productive

It almost goes without saying that fertility and water along with microbes and micronutrients, make things grow bigger and stronger.  When they do they are better able to cope with the stresses of life (pests, diseases, weather) and still be productive…producing 30, 60, or even a hundred fold return!

In a similar way, love and support from others also gives us strength but when we couple that with the love and faithfulness of God…wow!...now that’s strong!  Strong enough to endure the stresses of life and rejoice in them!

“And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭4:12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Both turn garbage into gold

On my kitchen counter I have a little bucket that I put my kitchen scraps in.  When it is full, I take it out to the compost pile and hide it under the material. You know what?  I never see it in that form again.  It is transformed in to that valuable commodity described above. 

I met a woman recently who told me she had be told several years ago that she was hopeless and would never be able to function in society.  Because of the love of a man and the love of her Heavenly Father that prediction was reversed and not only is she functioning but she has an outreach to mentally ill people and their families.

I could tell of my own life as well.  From a life of depression and rejection God has rescued me and enabled me to be here sharing with you today!

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:2‬ ‭NLT‬

 

Both must be cultivated and the more they are cultivated the faster they become useful or effective

One of the permaculture videos we watched recently told of a method to make compost in 18 days!  Whoa!  I used to think 6 weeks was fast!  The secret?  Turning it every 2 days!  Making the top the bottom and the sides the middle.  Mixing and “cultivating” it enabled the process to pick up to that astonishing speed.

So it is with love.  Whether it is a young couple, old couple, friends, businesses or even countries; relationship must be cultivated in order to grow.  And the more attention is given to the process, the faster and deeper the relationship grows. 

The same is true of our relationship with God.  If our Bible remains closed on the shelf our relationship with him will be cold, but if we are actively reading, studying, and meditating on his Word—cultivating our relationship with Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit—amazing things happen.  It is guaranteed!

“He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭4:17‬ ‭NLT

Both must be spread to be useful

Once the compost pile has done its magic, the material would still be useless if it stayed in the pile.  It must be spread and, sometimes cultivated further--onto or into the soil in order for the plants to receive the benefit…gold kept in the bank is not very useful.

So it is with love. Spread it around!

““A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.””

‭‭John‬ ‭13:34-35‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Better is open rebuke than hidden love.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭27:5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:14-16‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The cool thing about God’s compost?   When you spread it, it multiplies and comes back to you!  Where will you spread your God Compost today…and create freedom for your mustang heart?

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