Garden of your heart

Companion Planting!

Have you ever heard about companian planting?  It's where you plant certain plants that grow well with others.  For instance:    Corn and Green Beans grow well together.  The reason is that the beans help give off nitrogen to the corn plant which helps with their growth.  It is said if you plant basil with tomatoes that the tomatoes will be sweeter, or Marigolds with tomatoes that will help deter tomato hornworms.  Then there is onion and garlic plants near certain plants that help deter pests as well.   There are numerous resources out their that help to determine what is best to plant together.

Well, it's the same for people!  There are some friendships that make life sweeter.  There are friendships that help with spiritual growth.   There are friendships that help to deter our greatest enemy...Satan.  When we who are in Christ are together we are stronger according to His Word. 

I am thinking of the numerous friendships that I have.  There is Monette, who so desires to live her life for the Lord and strives for a pure heart that helps challenge me and drive me to my knees before God to seek Him more.  There is Leslie who no matter what the distance is between us continually is that faithful friend who reminds me of the Lord's faithfulness.  She encourages, challenges me to holy living and makes my life so much sweeter because she is my friend.   There is Erin who has so much passion and sincerity of heart.  She is always willing to humble herslef before God and others.  Gretchen who lives as a "broken Christian" before the Lord.   Seeking Him above her own comfort and personal happiness...which in the end gives her the greatest joy!  There is Geri and Dave who no matter what comes against them, they continually strive to live for the Lord....even in the midst of cancer and other personal struggles and even if they have moments of discouragement.  My husband, who has persevered against all odds in life,  who is faithful, devoted to the Lord, who is consistant and stable, who loves me unconditionally.....who taught me and showed me that God loves me unconditionally!  These people love the Lord and  live for the Lord.  These people challenge me, encourage me, make me want to be not just a better Christian, but a Christ-like Christian.  I fail so often, but then the encouragement begins again!  There are others too!    That's why God's word says to be careful who you are friends with, to not give up meeting together, to realize the wounds of a friend are for our good. 

So....let's be careful who we "companion plant" with in our lives.  Not that we do not be in the world, let's just be careful we are not of the world.  We belong to Jesus!  Let's surround ourselves with others who also belong to Jesus to be the encouragement to one another we need to be! 

My friends....thank you for being such a special part of my life!   I love each of you very much!

hey!

07:03, Saturday, August 9, 2008 .. Posted by Anonymous

That was so sweet! Debbie, I bet I can speak for all the friends you mentioned and say, that it's "we" who are blessed to have a companion such as you! Thanks for being such a wonderful and Godly friend!