Before they left, plans were already being made for their next Prayer Island Workday. What a blessing. Thanks to all!
This past Saturday, Jay brought some familiar and some new folks from Christ Fellowship Singles group to work and give in service to the God of the garden. And work they did. By the time I got there, they were already hard at it raking the fall leaves and hauling off debris left over from the quite needed but severe trimming that the Dunklin landscaping crew had begun already last week. While I was initially shocked at the changes, I accepted that this temporary pruning was for the ultimate health of the garden. I began to see that there was a greater lesson in this for us as well. Routine weeding and feeding are required to have a beautiful garden, but once in a while, perhaps just before the change in seasons, trees and shrubs have to be cut back in order to prepare for even a greater growth in due time. The old and dead growth is removed so as to let the sunlight in to nourish the soil and the plants living below the trees. It is no different in our own lives. What we often see as painful and of no sense, may be a situation loving applied to us so as to remove the dead and unproductive areas in our heart or spirit, making room for God to then grow us and shape our character to more faithfully reflect that of the Lord.
Before they left, plans were already being made for their next Prayer Island Workday. What a blessing. Thanks to all!
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Yesterday, we were blessed again with a group from Christ Fellowship that gave of their Saturday to come out to Dunklin and work hard on Prayer Island to spruce it up for the upcoming 50th Anniversary celebration. We have new flowers in baskets and planted in the ground to add to the beauty of the garden. Another gabezo with table and chairs is now added to the southeast patio area and will be utilized by many a man for his journaling time, or families for time of healing and fellowship. Bernard is doing a wonderful job in keeping up with the garden and we are blessed to have him oversee the garden on a daily basis. Looking forward to the Homecoming! What a great day we had with special friends and the singles group from Christ Fellowship. After a prayer of thanksgiving for the beautiful day God sent our way, all went to work pulling weeds, raking leaves, putting in the new plants, spreading mulch, adjusting the night lighting and more.
It was a full day of hard work but great fellowship and we so appreciate those that gave of their Saturday to come out and help. As we all prepare for Easter, it is a good time to spend time in the garden of our heart as well. The old things that are dead and unfruitful need to be pulled out and replanted with things that will bring about a harvest that is pleasing to the Lord. The weeds that have crept into our spiritual life need to be plucked out so that the good things have more room and nutrients to grow and blossom. May the Holy Spirit cultivate holiness in you as you walk with him each and every day. Join us for the 2nd Easter Sunrise service April 24th. |
Author Dean EvansGrowing up at Dunklin, I was there before there was a lake Elijah or Prayer Island. Over the years, I've seen many transformations but none so drastic or exciting as the current one. I am so grateful to have been a part of this project. Just the experience was healing for me and I know will be a place of healing for many others and making it all worthwhile. Archives
February 2017
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