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The Battle for 225 Square Feet of Earth by David Herbertson January 11, 2018
Each year I work to clean out some other unwanted growth like small oak trees that keep coming up and long stringy clinging vines with thorns that spread all over the area and into the good plants. Another unwanted growth is an attractive very sharp thorny Century Plant that I thought I had destroyed forever several years ago. Last year we removed an Oak Tree to allow more sunlight to shine on this plot of ground. The small stump from this tree is still there and will probably start growing again.
As I thought about this small area of turf I began to think about my desire to live a Holy life that will be pleasing to my God. I have been a Christian for over 40 years now and as I reflect, I can see very clearly that just like I need to work diligently on my 225 sq. feet of land, I must also work every day on the fertile soil of my heart.
I spend time every day praying and reading my Bible and in the last years my hunger and desire to do this has increased more and more. The older I get (now 77) the more I want to know my God and His directions for my life. Psalm 119:165 “Great peace have they that love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.” I have this peace that is beyond comprehension, but I realize that just like the ground in my front yard, I need to work daily to defeat the things of this world. Proverbs 4:23 “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”
You remove the sprouting Oak trees and the visible creeping thorny vines, but they keep coming back. I dug up one of these clinging sharp pointed vines today and buried deep in the ground was a large root that resembled a piece of ginger. If you don’t remove them they grow up the tree and into the flowers and soon try to destroy the flowers.
I believe in God’s word that tells us in Hebrews 12:4 “To pursue peace with all men, and sanctification (Holiness) without which no one will see the Lord.” I also believe Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live but Christ lives in me.”
But since I live in a corrupt evil world I can see that each day something unwanted can begin to grow up and hurt me just like those creeping sharp pointed vines that spread across my land and try to choke the good plants. The Oak tree keeps dropping seeds and new trees come up even as I try to control them. The sharp points on the Century plant stab you and draw blood if you get too close. It is a never-ending battle. Our spiritual lives, just like these plants, need to be guarded daily to prevent us from becoming careless and drifting from our Lord.
Here is a great idea. Focus on the message of the Cross that sits firmly embedded in our world. Christ will help us each day since He has provided cleansing from our old nature and a way for us to live above sin. Colossians 3:8-10.
 A Special Invitation to You 
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I was looking out my front window this morning at a small area of my yard.
