1 00:00:02,650 --> 00:00:04,430 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:10,789 --> 00:00:14,840 Speaker 2: Welcome to the Crosswalk Devotional. We're glad to have you 3 00:00:14,880 --> 00:00:18,780 Speaker 2: listening with us. Today's topic is Gathering What God Has 4 00:00:18,820 --> 00:00:22,860 Speaker 2: Grown in Us. We'll return with the devotional after a 5 00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:39,589 Speaker 2: brief message from our sponsors. Gathering What God Grew in 6 00:00:39,890 --> 00:00:44,030 Speaker 2: You This Year Written and Read by Melinda I. Cooper 7 00:00:44,970 --> 00:00:48,990 Speaker 2: Bible Reading So neither the one who plants nor the 8 00:00:49,110 --> 00:00:52,629 Speaker 2: one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes 9 00:00:52,729 --> 00:01:01,370 Speaker 2: things grow. 1 Corinthians 3, verse 7 NIV Devotion An 10 00:01:01,450 --> 00:01:05,220 Speaker 2: interesting thing happened this year. Two tomato plants grew in 11 00:01:05,250 --> 00:01:08,140 Speaker 2: the exact spot we planted them last year, but they 12 00:01:08,180 --> 00:01:11,280 Speaker 2: shouldn't have. My husband had pulled the plants out of 13 00:01:11,319 --> 00:01:15,340 Speaker 2: the landscaping last fall when they were done producing. We 14 00:01:15,360 --> 00:01:17,680 Speaker 2: planned on putting a couple more plants there again this 15 00:01:17,720 --> 00:01:20,280 Speaker 2: year because they'd grown well in that shaded spot beside 16 00:01:20,300 --> 00:01:24,360 Speaker 2: the house. But strangely, in spring, when we began preparing 17 00:01:24,420 --> 00:01:28,980 Speaker 2: the landscaping for flowers, two healthy-looking plants were growing in 18 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:31,740 Speaker 2: the exact same place we planted them the year before. 19 00:01:32,910 --> 00:01:37,000 Speaker 2: Are these tomato plants? he asked, after he finished pulling weeds. 20 00:01:38,110 --> 00:01:41,980 Speaker 2: Preparing to plant flowers? Thankfully, he didn't pull them out, 21 00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:45,060 Speaker 2: thinking they were some kind of weed. I examined the 22 00:01:45,100 --> 00:01:48,080 Speaker 2: two healthy plants and couldn't stop the excitement from my voice. 23 00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:54,400 Speaker 2: They sure are, wow! That's really weird. I pulled those 24 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:56,800 Speaker 2: out last fall when they were done making tomatoes, he said. 25 00:01:56,820 --> 00:02:00,260 Speaker 2: We were shocked, but happy we didn't have to buy 26 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:03,580 Speaker 2: new plants. We checked with some family members to find 27 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:06,060 Speaker 2: out if tomato plants will just automatically grow back the 28 00:02:06,100 --> 00:02:09,180 Speaker 2: next year in the same place. One person told us 29 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:12,160 Speaker 2: that it had happened to them before, but the tomatoes 30 00:02:12,180 --> 00:02:15,120 Speaker 2: that grew back were small and not as good. With 31 00:02:15,190 --> 00:02:18,990 Speaker 2: this knowledge, we didn't have great expectations, but were curious 32 00:02:19,070 --> 00:02:22,310 Speaker 2: about these mysterious plants, so we kept our eyes on them, 33 00:02:22,389 --> 00:02:27,050 Speaker 2: making sure they were water. Those plants grew absolutely huge 34 00:02:27,330 --> 00:02:29,649 Speaker 2: and took over the landscaping on that side of the house. 35 00:02:30,930 --> 00:02:34,050 Speaker 2: They produced the best crop of tomatoes we've ever grown, 36 00:02:34,850 --> 00:02:37,570 Speaker 2: all without us even doing a thing except for giving 37 00:02:37,610 --> 00:02:40,030 Speaker 2: them some water, and my husband tied them up to 38 00:02:40,050 --> 00:02:42,930 Speaker 2: keep them off the ground for the most part. Apparently, 39 00:02:42,970 --> 00:02:46,970 Speaker 2: the plants found the perfect spot to grow. We gathered 40 00:02:47,050 --> 00:02:49,910 Speaker 2: tons of tomatoes. I learned how to use a water 41 00:02:49,950 --> 00:02:52,690 Speaker 2: bath to can them. Some of them are in the freezer. 42 00:02:53,590 --> 00:02:56,030 Speaker 2: I gave many to neighbors and ate a lot of 43 00:02:56,090 --> 00:03:01,139 Speaker 2: delicious bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwiches and fresh salads. No 44 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:04,350 Speaker 2: store-bought tomato can compare to the heavenly taste of a 45 00:03:04,410 --> 00:03:08,990 Speaker 2: homegrown one. They're just better in every way. God really 46 00:03:09,070 --> 00:03:13,350 Speaker 2: knows how to grow good things. And thankfully, he does 47 00:03:13,370 --> 00:03:17,310 Speaker 2: the same thing with us. In the referenced scripture, Paul 48 00:03:17,389 --> 00:03:21,280 Speaker 2: is speaking about church growth. I love how Paul says, 49 00:03:21,960 --> 00:03:26,460 Speaker 2: God makes things grow. That statement is so true. We 50 00:03:26,500 --> 00:03:29,100 Speaker 2: can try all we want, but without God, we're not 51 00:03:29,139 --> 00:03:32,070 Speaker 2: going to grow well. We may get head knowledge, but 52 00:03:32,250 --> 00:03:35,640 Speaker 2: true growth is a changed heart and the most important thing. 53 00:03:36,740 --> 00:03:41,620 Speaker 2: Intersecting Faith and Life When we seek God by reading 54 00:03:41,660 --> 00:03:45,490 Speaker 2: the Bible, speaking with Christian friends about questions we have, 55 00:03:46,010 --> 00:03:49,670 Speaker 2: or going straight to God in prayer, we're growing spiritually. 56 00:03:50,230 --> 00:03:54,350 Speaker 2: It is a slow process for sure. What God produces 57 00:03:54,390 --> 00:03:57,470 Speaker 2: within us through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit 58 00:03:57,590 --> 00:04:01,990 Speaker 2: is really good stuff, the fruit of the Spirit. But 59 00:04:02,010 --> 00:04:09,360 Speaker 2: the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, 60 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:14,720 Speaker 2: and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 61 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:20,260 Speaker 2: 5 verses 22 through 23 NIV. Like I gathered an 62 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:23,940 Speaker 2: unexpected bumper crop of tomatoes and figured out the best 63 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:26,849 Speaker 2: way to use and preserve them, how can we do 64 00:04:26,890 --> 00:04:29,830 Speaker 2: this with what God has grown in us? I'm glad 65 00:04:29,870 --> 00:04:34,990 Speaker 2: you asked. This good fruit of the Spirit is incredibly 66 00:04:35,110 --> 00:04:38,250 Speaker 2: beneficial and is evidence of God's work in our lives. 67 00:04:38,630 --> 00:04:43,000 Speaker 2: He's changing us, helping us become more like Jesus, slowly 68 00:04:43,060 --> 00:04:46,860 Speaker 2: but surely as we grow. Speaking to each of these 69 00:04:46,960 --> 00:04:50,339 Speaker 2: fruits would probably be a long devotion or even a book, 70 00:04:51,080 --> 00:04:54,640 Speaker 2: so I'll keep it short and sweet. One way we 71 00:04:54,700 --> 00:04:57,850 Speaker 2: can know God has grown something good within us is 72 00:04:57,890 --> 00:05:00,930 Speaker 2: when we can forgive someone we love for causing us 73 00:05:01,010 --> 00:05:05,029 Speaker 2: pain and continue to love them through forgiveness. We don't 74 00:05:05,089 --> 00:05:08,830 Speaker 2: allow bitterness or resentment to take hold. We gather what 75 00:05:08,870 --> 00:05:12,090 Speaker 2: God grew in us and give them some grace and 76 00:05:12,130 --> 00:05:16,350 Speaker 2: mercy like He has given us. God has purpose in pain, 77 00:05:16,890 --> 00:05:20,370 Speaker 2: and often it is the catalyst for our own spiritual growth. 78 00:05:21,810 --> 00:05:25,190 Speaker 2: Not to say we forgive and forget what happened, but 79 00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:29,060 Speaker 2: that we recognize none of us is perfect and we 80 00:05:29,180 --> 00:05:33,080 Speaker 2: all make mistakes. And with genuine forgiveness on our part, 81 00:05:33,140 --> 00:05:36,060 Speaker 2: we can move forward a little wiser and love others 82 00:05:36,140 --> 00:05:39,100 Speaker 2: in a better way. We choose to show love and 83 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:42,760 Speaker 2: forgiveness even when it's hard. That can be a big 84 00:05:42,839 --> 00:05:46,849 Speaker 2: point of growth. We're a work in progress and thank 85 00:05:46,890 --> 00:05:50,640 Speaker 2: goodness God's growing us to be more like Jesus. We're 86 00:05:50,720 --> 00:05:55,020 Speaker 2: changing for the better. With Jesus deeply rooted in our hearts, 87 00:05:55,560 --> 00:05:59,400 Speaker 2: we're planted in the right spot. God will nourish, and 88 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:05,260 Speaker 2: we will surely flourish. Father, thank you for the powerful 89 00:06:05,310 --> 00:06:08,870 Speaker 2: Holy Spirit and for his help in life. I need 90 00:06:08,910 --> 00:06:13,390 Speaker 2: him every moment of every day. In Jesus' name, amen. 91 00:06:17,890 --> 00:06:20,419 Speaker 1: If you're looking to grow in prayer or start your 92 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:22,300 Speaker 1: day with your heart focused on the right things, search 93 00:06:22,339 --> 00:06:24,720 Speaker 1: for Your Daily Prayer in your favorite podcast app and 94 00:06:24,740 --> 00:06:48,560 Speaker 1: be sure to follow the show so you get a 95 00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:51,669 Speaker 1: new prayer delivered straight to you each morning. 96 00:06:58,820 --> 00:07:02,300 Speaker 3: Hey friends, it's Kelly from Life Audio. We just launched 97 00:07:02,339 --> 00:07:06,020 Speaker 3: something new. It's called The Good Word, our free weekly 98 00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:08,960 Speaker 3: newsletter built for people who want to go a little 99 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:14,850 Speaker 3: deeper in their faith. Think devotionals, guided prayers, curated podcast recommendations, 100 00:07:15,030 --> 00:07:18,150 Speaker 3: and a little community all in one place. No ads, 101 00:07:18,490 --> 00:07:20,930 Speaker 3: just good content. This one means a lot to us. 102 00:07:21,330 --> 00:07:24,110 Speaker 3: We built The Good Word based on the audience survey 103 00:07:24,330 --> 00:07:26,490 Speaker 3: so many of you filled out a few months back. 104 00:07:26,830 --> 00:07:29,390 Speaker 3: You told us what you wanted and we listened. So 105 00:07:29,450 --> 00:07:32,390 Speaker 3: thank you truly for helping us shape this. Head to 106 00:07:32,420 --> 00:07:35,000 Speaker 3: the link in the show notes and join our community today. 107 00:07:35,320 --> 00:07:36,200 Speaker 3: We'd love to have you.