Reflections and Inspiration from Maple Grove
April 12, 2020 - Easter Sunday
I planted tomato, bell pepper, and jalapeno pepper seeds. I used to plant heirloom seeds, but a few years ago I turned to the hybrids as they seem to be more disease and pest resistant. Last year when I was purchasing my seeds, another customer nearby told me that he loved the Big Mama tomatoes better than any he had grown. So I gave them a try, and I have to agree. The plants were so healthy and productive. The tomatoes are of a paste variety and are very tasty. My grow light stand is a homemade one that we came up with several years ago. You can read my post about starting plants from seeds, including how to make the grow light stand here.
Already, in just a week's time, the seed leaves have pushed through the soil, and the seedlings are starting to develop."When a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to Him, [Jesus] said in a parable, 'A sower went out to sow his seed . . . .' and when His disciples asked Him what the parable meant, He said, 'The seed is the Word of God . . . . As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the Word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.'" (You can read the whole parable in Luke 8:4-15.)
We are members of a close-knit church family. We gather weekly to worship and study God's Word, and we minister to each other throughout the week. It has been difficult during this pandemic to be separated, but the seed of God's Word is firmly planted in our hearts, and so when these difficult times occur, we are rooted and grounded in trusting Him to see us through. Like many hundreds or thousands of others, we have been "gathering" through social media in our individual home sanctuaries for devotions, Bible studies, and worship services.
We just concluded Holy Week, a time of preparation to remember Jesus' suffering and death which paid the debt of our sins, and now today, on Easter Sunday, we celebrate Jesus' Resurrection, in which we are granted the promise of Eternal Life. After a crazy weather week, God looked upon us with favor and granted us a most beautiful Easter day. It's sunny and warm. We would love to have our family gathered here with us today, but we know we are together in heart, in spirit, and, most important, in Christ. 
Lord God, we rejoice that you have overcome sin and death and won the victory for us. Thank you for giving your life for ours, so that we may live in your righteousness. Help us to grow in your Word, to be strong in the face of struggles, and to be faithful to you always. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
Links:
Easter Sunday Worship
Good Friday Worship
Maundy Thursday Worship
April 5, 2020 - The Grass is Always Greener
March 29, 2020 - Stay at Home
March 22, 2020 - Look Beyond the Challenge
Growing Plants from Seeds
Other Devotions by Katie:
Pea Gravel
Red Sky at Night
