Thursday, September 3, 2009

Everything has a purpose.

This is a little "chicken salad" I put together for the girls...some beans from the garden, their seeds were really big so I chose not to cook them...some apple that sat too long on the shelf in the fridge...and not pictured is a piece of toast that got a little too toasty.

Between the chickens and the compost pile nothing goes to waste around here! Or at least it shouldn't. I am not super diligent in my composting. But I am doing better and better. As with everything else, there's a learning curve. Not to mention, the birdhouse gourd vine has overtaken the pile...it's covered! So I need to find it again...and continue adding scraps so I can have some good compost next spring. It'll be here before we know it!

So I was taking my shower and thinking about the chickens and the garden and this little glass of scraps and life and how God and His creation are so amazing. Nothing goes to waste. Everything...and I do mean everything...has a purpose. He uses it ALL. Even the ugly scraps. Even the "stuff" that we think is garbage...a waste...unusable...God will use it. And not only will He USE it...He will make it BEAUTIFUL.

I know. I know it seems impossible. But...as the bible says, "with God all things are possible". Not some things. Not certain things. Not things that are good and acceptable. ALL things. God can do anything. A-ny-thing. The problem...or the obstacle...is me. I am the one that hangs on to hurts...or sins I've committed...things that I've done in life that I am not proud of...anger, depression...I hold on to them. Almost like a security blanket. I keep them hidden in a place only I know about... close...nearby...at the ready...just in case I need to drag them out and drag them along to my pity party. I keep them handy for when I need them to further condemn myself. To hold them up in front of my face...like a mirror to prove that I am unusable... garbage.

But then here comes God...the ultimate Gardener. The ultimate Composter. The ultimate Recycler. He takes all of my garbage...if I let Him...and He turns it into something useful. And even something beautiful. He takes away the condemnation. And the pain. He takes it away and fills that space with Himself. With His love. His spirit. And the more I allow Him to fill me up, the less room there is for the waste. And the more prepared I am to move in His will...and to live my life for His purpose.

Isaiah 43:18-19

18 "Forget the former things;

do not dwell on the past. 19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

good stuff Michelle.

let go. let go of that other business. it was in the past. Every day is new : )

and about composting, I am afraid of rats! I had one in my compost bin before I now I am terrified of one staring up at me again like on that day. right now, I either give to chickens or put in our yard waste. I need to get over my rat fear though. I'm letting go of good stuff.

Anonymous said...

one more thing - I love your granite!

Laura at By the Bushel said...

Great thoughts- Really- thanks for sharing. I love the composting thing, I just have a compost back yard. It's a narrow strip of property that runs along our property. Our yard is in the front. So I literally just throw 'it' out the back door. Ha! I have a pretty spot to the right and the ugly is to the left, but that's pretty too, right? Thanks to God it all is, Praise Him! He makes it all good- Thanks for posting- Laura

Tammy said...

The best thoughts and 'light bulb moments' always seem to come about in the shower here too!

Nancy said...

What good words you shared. Just yesterday on the radio as I was driving to work they were discussing sin...hiding it and never voicing it to Him isn't dealing with it. Those who don't voice their remorse - admit the wrong - repent - well, they don't enjoy the fullness of forgiveness because they haven't fully given it to God. He knows anyway, we just need to come clean and tell Him.

Thanks for sharing.

Kimberly said...

we're experiencing a bean overload here with no chickens to feed...best get freezing and canning 'em up!

Donna/NM said...

Lovely analogy of Gods love & practicality, forgiveness, & resourcefulness, etc. You're so right; He does not let anything go to waste! Being a gardener myself, and facing similar goings on with my compost pile, (as you described), I can totally relate and hold on to the word picture you described!

Donna in New Mexico