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| I Got Caught Dirty-Handed |
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Because when I garden, I don't wear gloves.
Maybe it's because I love the feel of the soil between my fingers. Perhaps the fact that I saw an earthworm as I was planting my tulip bulbs didn't really freak me out too much since, you know, I live in the country and all.
Even though I didn't jump up and start screamin' like a fool, I did chop his head off. And the thing just kept movin'.
The nerve.
The truth of the matter referring to gardening is that I will probably never wear gloves. I need to get in there. To feel the soil. To mesh the Oklahoma red clay with the potting soil so that my plants are full of nutrients. To get the occasional splinter from the mulch as I put it in place to protect what I've planted.
Ministry is a lot like gardening.
There can be some amazing events that are witnessed as we minister to others...saved lives, redeemed marriages, healed bodies, transformed mindsets. And these things delight the eyes of those around much like the blooms of petunias or begonias.
But we don't always realize how dirty ones hands must get to see such unbelievable things occur.
I wonder how many mothers and grandmothers prayed for those lives to be saved. I wonder how many couples have reached out to walk hurting couples through difficulties in their marriages.
I wonder how many prayer warriors have stood beside a hospital bed pleading with God to bring wholeness to a sick body. And I wonder how many counselors have helped people walk in freedom from detrimental mindsets.
I wonder.
Yes, ministry is a lot like gardening.
Figure my hands will stay dirty for the rest of my days.
What about you?
Cindy Beall |
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| To add a comment to "I Got Caught Dirty-Handed" |
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| February 17, 2009 |
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| I love it Mostofall, I see God in simple things just like you and that spoke oceans of knowledge to me! Love you babes! Stu |
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| February 17, 2009 |
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Yes, ministry is a lot like gardening.
Figure my hands will stay dirty for the rest of my days.
What about you?
Sure nuff ;o) |
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| February 17, 2009 |
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"But we don't always realize how dirty ones hands must get to see such unbelievable things occur."
Interesting!! |
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| February 17, 2009 |
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| hmmm very thought provoking! |
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| February 17, 2009 |
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This was great and thank you so much for sharing that with us, I had not thought about it quite like that but you made it real simple. God bless you |
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| February 17, 2009 |
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| There was a time when people admired the roughened hands of a common laborer. Now it seems that the world prefers to see smooth, perfectly manicured hands. Personally, I think God is delighted with a bit of the dirt of humanity under our nails. :) |
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| February 17, 2009 |
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OK, Mostofall,.. I paniced at first, when I read the subject, but really is AWESOME! Thanks Precious |
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| February 17, 2009 |
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| I like this blog a lot! Very good analogy :-) "... we don't always realize how dirty ones hands must get to see such unbelievable things occur." |
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| February 17, 2009 |
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| That was good love it |
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| February 17, 2009 |
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| very good and scriptural ananolgy |
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| February 17, 2009 |
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| I pray mine stay filthy!!! |
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| February 17, 2009 |
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| I never wear marigolds LOL |
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| February 17, 2009 |
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| Good one. God bless you. |
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| February 17, 2009 |
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| "I think God is delighted with a bit of the dirt of humanity under our nails. :) ((loved that, thanks grammyb))" and add to that all the tears shed for those who are suffering would make some wonderful holy mud! I'll stay filthy for Him! Bless you for sharing your wisdom. |
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| February 18, 2009 |
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I thought about this blog all day!
xoxo |
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| February 18, 2009 |
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http://everydayheartbeats.blogspot.com/2007/07/musings-from-my-garden.html I shared this with my floraflip group. I began gardening a couple of years ago and got infected. Been freaky in love with plants since. I liken it to the parables in the bible of the sower and seed. It is exciting to see new growth as I nurture a pot of purple shamrocks and it is exciting to disciple those we bring to Jesus as well. Way cooler than shamrocks which have magnificentodilly high cool factor if I may say. |
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| February 18, 2009 |
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I am a gardener of sorts. I am a teacher, special education. My students have big attitudes and low self esteem. I have three categories, there's the kid who just works hard because it's what they do best and they rarely progress academically but they will give you 100% all the time. I have the athlete who will put out just enough effort to keep the teachers satified so they can continue to participate in sports, and then there's that kid who doesn't fit in either of these groups so they are going to be the biggest thugs. These are my favorites. They work really hard to come up with creative ideas to get kicked out of school and annoy the teacher. I love these ones because they make me think harder and figure out ways to keep them in school. I don't get rid of kids, they get suspended while everywhere else, but never in my room. I also do not have a "naughty" chair and all my students are in the front row. It is the only row I have because I won't allow them to not have the best view in class. I adore each and every one of them and I proud to call them mine! These thugs that no one else can reach are mine for the taking. No one else wants them so I have a huge collection of students, mostly boys, that will do anything for me. I have daily treats for good behavior...I tell them that anyone can get good grades, but good behavior is worth more to me and it's much harder to earn treats for it. We start over every day and some days I even offer redemption for poor choices if I need my room cleaned.
My favorite story I like to share is a kid who cannot read, I think he has a vision problem because his writing leaves much to be desired as well. He is 12 and volatile. He told me once, in anger, that he was going to come to the school, blow it up and blow me up first (a little out of order). Well, knowing he can't read, I'm not too worried about his bomb making skills, so I told him to take me out first so I wouldn't have to see my friends suffer. In shock, he said, "are you crazy?!?!" And I replied, "maybe just a little bit". He hasn't had any violent comments to make to me since then.
Today, I have a student who returned from a 10 day suspension, and he had two 5 day suspensions prior to that, and he loves being suspended. He is really working hard to get kicked out, but I can't teach him if he is not here so he's stuck with me! Pray that my garden bloom, because my hands are sure getting dirty! |
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| February 18, 2009 |
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| Isn't it truly amazing how God chooses for us to get our hands dirty.. He knows who is needed where and knows what needs to be done in order to tidy up the garden... We are His gardeners in an untidy world and when He comes back for us maybe we have had a chance to make the most beautiful garden where he can harvest all of His children with pride. |
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| February 18, 2009 |
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| Lucky One, your name rings true! God bless you in your faithfulness! |
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| February 19, 2009 |
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| Mine to sister! Dirty hands & clean heart. That’s what Jesus meant when He said all we have to do is wash. Helping others does not dirty our hearts, only our hands once in a while. :) Keep on tesifying. Oh by the way now you have two earth worms. They don't die they munitply. LOL They are the reason your soil is good for growing things. I buy them to put in this GA. red clay. Mix them, some leaves and some mulch anf a little good soil in the tilled soil it will be gooder sooner. :) |
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| February 25, 2009 |
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| What a beautiful thought. Thank you for sharing such profound words. |
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| February 25, 2009 |
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| Yes, I agree. Ministry is like gardening. |
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