And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. Luke 1:45 KJV
Some people believe in miracles, some people pray for miracles, and unbelieving people chase away miracles. Jesus noted that those who suffocate the flames of faith in the potbelly stove of miracles rather than stoke them with hope get what they sowed.
But before I get into that, let’s talk about a potbelly chase…
Every family needs funny stories to share at gatherings. I’m wondering if my adult children will end up laughing over some of my silly antics after I’m long gone—especially about the potbelly chase.
Every family needs funny stories to share at gatherings. #humor #faith #family Click To TweetI’ve always loved gardens. Visiting them, reading about them, and tending to them have all played a plenteous part of my past and present. When my children were all under the age of eight, we spend oodles of our days outside on our six-acre property that was nestled within a border of alders, cottonwoods, and evergreens.
In the middle of our acreage sat a fenced vegetable garden that remained safe from the deer that frequently trespassed. It wasn’t until the year before we moved that a buck or two figured out how to launch off our firepit benches and fly over the fence. I was heartbroken.
The fastest way to become my enemy is to attack my family or my garden.
The fastest way to become my enemy is to attack my family or my garden. #garden #family Click To TweetOne morning while I was reading a chapter book to my young brood of homeschooled children, we noticed the neighbor’s potbelly pig trotting up our long driveway as if coming for a visit. I knew it was our neighbor’s pig because a rumor had preceded him. I was warned he was a marauding muncher of gardens. He apparently rooted out everything from flowers to marijuana plants. Well, I definitely didn’t have the latter, but my house was surrounded by a rock garden teeming with perennials I had lovingly placed between the strategically stacked rocks.
There was no way I was going to allow a pot eating pig to munch my plants.
Before I carry on with my story of the potbelly chase, I want to talk about another marauder we need to guard against: Unbelief. Nothing can uproot faith faster than unbelief can. Nothing can thwart the wonderful works of God from sprouting in our spiritual gardens than doubting the Royal Gardener’s expertise and power.
Listen to what Jesus observed in Matthew 13:58 KJV:
And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief. Matthew 13:58 KJV
Unbelief. Brings. Grief.
God requires faith at least the size of a mustard seed to be sown if we’re hoping for the growth of anything worthwhile and good. Miracles are made in places where belief is braved. Being bold to believe is a wise choice to make. The Lord longs to reward faith. My faith. Your faith. Our faith.
Belief brings relief.
And now, let’s go back to my country garden that’s about to be pillaged by a potbelly pig…
I rushed to the kitchen, grabbed a broom, and dashed out the front door just in time to catch the little grubber sniffing my rock garden. “Shoo,” I shouted as loud as I could. Then I descended the stairs faster than I’d ever done before and threw the front gate wide open. The rude grubber ignored me and nudged a plant instead. I headed straight to the porky little pig whose belly barely grazed the ground beneath his stubby legs.
He was in for it now.
The potbelly pig didn’t budge an inch until I was practically on top of him. Then he darted towards the driveway at just enough speed to avoid the swipes of my broom as I swung it at his fat bottom. If I speeded up, he sped up just enough to avoid the impact of my broom. That only made me madder. The lazy little porker. He couldn’t have cared less that he was upsetting my day and endangering one of the loves of my life.
Finally, we both gave up running once we reached the gravel road at the end of my driveway. He headed in the direction of his home and I headed back to my house to find three children watching and laughing from the front porch.
I have a feeling they didn’t know I could run so fast, never mind the potbelly pig.
Well, at least I saved my flowers and gifted my young’uns with a story to share when I’m gone to the great garden in the sky. Although, I guess I’ve spilled the potbelly beans here by sharing it with you.
May we be as bold and brave about chasing potbelly pigs of unbelief out of our spiritual gardens too. Blessings as we continue to sow seeds of belief in our Master Gardener—Jesus.
And now I’d like to close with a poem:
When unbelief creeps into our garden
Like a strangle weed
And binds our faith with darkness and doubt
We must fight back and believe
Whenever a mustard seed of faith
Seems too small for us
We must be brave and believe God is able
To reward us when we trust.
~ wlm
And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. Luke 1:45 KJV #Bible #podcast Click To Tweet
Brave Belief Blessings ~ Wendy Mac
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Thanks for sharing, Wendy! Your garden’s are beautiful and more so the garden’s you plant with you words. Blessings to you, blog-friend!
Thank you, dear Heidi. These garden photos are of a public garden we love visiting. They remind me of when we lived in the country.
Blessings on your Thanksgiving, my friend. <3
Thanks for the humor today. Your analogy is great too.
Thank you, dear Manette. Glad I made you smile. 🙂 Blessings.
I can’t stop smiling at the image of you chasing the potbelly pig. I am guessing it didn’t try to visit again.
You’re right. I was thinking about that today; I never saw that chubby little critter again. The neighbor’s horses trotted over one day unattended and I most certainly didn’t chase them. 🙂 They ran around and left. Thankfully no little people were outside at the time.
At least there will be this entertaining record of your perspective of the chase. I appreciated your insight on Luke 1:45. Thank you.
🙂 Thank you, Michael. I plan on recording a bunch more memories, Lord willing. Blessings on your Thanksgiving celebrations.
Thanks for the laugh, Wendy. I can see you running after that little pig. And that’s both a lovely garden and a good point about faith. Double thanks.
Thank you, dear Cynthia. I remember how out of breath I was after the potbelly chase. Thankfully I was still in a regular running routine in those days, so no pulled or strained muscles. 🙂 That little pig was so ugly he was cute.
So ugly he was cute! I’m laughing again.
🙂 He must have been a beautiful baby. Been. xo
Belief brings relief, amen. This is a nice “parable” on fighting back and not just letting doubt take over.
Thank you. I need this reminder daily: Don’t allow unbelief to uproot our faith. Blessings.