Plant a Garden 2022!

Plant a garden 2022! by Pastor Joe

This article was originally motivated by the start of the COVID19 epidemic. Two years ago, these thoughts had great application. The original part will be in bold italics. I want to personally encourage you to not make any sudden decisions, motivated by fear, which you will later regret. We need to be listening and yielding to the guidance of the Holy Spirit every day. We also need to line everything up with the Word of God, be in the Word every day, even multiple times a day. Turn off the TV News, it will depress you. There will be godly men and women who will disagree about how things should move forward; whether it relates to meeting together or where we are in end-time prophecy. Caring individuals will tell you what should or shouldn’t be done as far as protecting yourself, from this virus or other safety issues. My responsibility is to maintain the heart of a shepherd who cares for his sheep, and giving good Godly advice. Clearly hearing from the Lord about the “next steps” for our congregation, families and individual followers of Jesus is a high priority of mine. Today a friendly reminder goes out to heed these words even as the new world situation is happening in Eastern Europe. Imagine if Ukrainian refugees end up living in Douglas County. There are millions of displaced individuals who will need food, shelter and clothing. It is our responsibility according to the Word of God to help them. One way you can prepare for the future and potential food shortages or price spikes is to plant a garden. As mentioned in the spring of 2020, so cautiously I submit again what the Lord spoke into my “plant a garden”, specifically, a vegetable garden. I was quickened back to the passage in Jeremiah. The people of God were living in exile and God gave them clear directions. Below is a portion of that passage for you to read, consider and pray about how you will respond. Let’s live out every day with a sense of urgency because God wants us to continue to spread His gospel until He takes us home, by the rapture, or death. Be very careful, during this season of life what you allow to be planted in your heart. Planting season, of spring crops, is just a few weeks away. Get your starters going soon! “These are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders of the exiles, and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. "Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that they dream, for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you in my name; I did not send them, declares the Lord.”

Jeremiah 29:1,4-9

The Word of the Lord is: “Plant a Garden” & “Guard your Heart.”