The house we had in our first parish had 2 and 1/2 acres of land.  Part of it was wooded, and there was about 1/2 acre of movable land.  The first year after we moved in, I did not pay much attention to mowing the back yard as my energy all went to ministry and the front yard landscaping.  I decided one morning to mow the back yard… I was in for a great surprise.  New house, new congregation, new yard.  The back yard was almost two feet high except for some absolutely beautiful purple flowers that grew on stalks about three feet high.  It seemed like they had grown overnight.  The flowers were beautiful, but the stalks were covered with spines that gave a very painful sting.  THISTLES!  Who would have thought it?  Well, anybody who had knowledge and had lived in the area for a while knew that these beautiful, painful plants would grow like, well, weeds in the spring of the year.   Pay attention to your life.  Sometimes the thistles grow seemingly overnight.  Then it is very hard to get rid of them.  Stay on track with prayer and the reading of Scripture, with worship and fellowship with other Believers.  And find friends who will help hold you accountable for following the Way of Jesus.  Then the beautiful flowers that grow will not have thistles to sting.  Stay strong in the Faith.  Read 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Pastor Ed