You got bit by what?

Driving through the countryside with a friend one late afternoon, I noticed beautiful dustings of purple across some of the fields.

When I asked her about them…

since she had ties to the farming community while I, on the other hand, once marveled that Americans eat THAT MANY green beans when surveying field after field of “beans”…yeah…

she agreed they were beautiful, but had no idea what they were…and then she expressed hope that it wasn’t some horrid weed that farmers hate.

So I went to an expert…Farmer Dave…who kindly provided me this picture…

though he wanted me to be assured this was not HIS field because…

yes indeed…

This is a nasty weed problem called Henbit.

So as pretty as it is to one as ignorant as me…

it is a bane to farmers and most unwelcome.

Apparently, this interloper needs to be nipped in the bud…dealt with in the early stages.

Because all those pretty flowers are sitting on top of a system of spreading undergrowth that chokes out the good crop a farmer is trying to produce.

This particular Monday, I am finding myself tired from life…

there are several friends in the raw seasons of grief…

quite a few dear people struggling with serious health issues…

we had a busy weekend of back to back events that left little time for refreshing…

and I might just have some spiritual henbit starting to tangle up what God would like to produce from me this week…

Because I know the conditions in my life that promote the growth of choking weeds…and my weaknesses that help it right along.

When I am tired and have not had time to refresh, I tend to allow my creature comforts to be my primary motivator.

I forget the disciplines of rest, proper nourishment of body and soul, exercise of the mind and the muscle and diligence in seeking God first and foremost.

These are the things that keep the soil of my heart ready to produce good things….

not just pretty things that catch the eye…

but the things of God that bear fruit for His Kingdom.

God bless you as you start your week seeking Him first in all things…fueling up on His Word…doing all things as unto Him.

Now…get out there and let’s do this thing!!!