“I will sing to the Lord, Because He has dealt bountifully with me.” Psalms 13:6 NKJV

A day’s harvest from our bountiful God!

The last several weeks have been full of gathering from our garden and putting up food for the winter! When we go to the greenhouse in the spring, we get excited about all the different plants we want to try. We have learned some lessons though. One year I was all about trying zucchini; so, I got 4 plants. I canned zucchini in Italian sauce, I canned zucchini chunked up to put in soups and I canned zucchini to make zucchini bread. That was two years ago, and we are still eating the zucchini that we put up then! But every time I go to the garden to pick, the word that always comes to my mind is “bountiful”.

Pickles, Cajun okra to dry, and peppers,onions and spices ready for tomatoes for salsa.

Last week in my reading, I came across the above verse. Perfect for our season of bountiful produce from the garden. And so “I sing to the Lord” and thank Him for all the bounty of the garden. The Lord does provide more than we ask for so many times. I think of all the ways that God has provided “bountifully’ for me. I also found this verse when searching “bountifully”: “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” II Corinthians 9:16 NKJV

This makes total sense when we are talking about our gardens; when you plant a lot, you get a lot. Unless the deer and the racoons help themselves to some of your bounty. But even then, God provides enough for all! But God’s bountiful return applies, not just to our gardens, but also to our relationships with others. When we choose to shine God’s light and plant His word by serving others, we experience God’s bountiful return. Immediately we feel satisfaction and joy. And God will bless us, as we, through Him, bless those around us.

There are so many ways to serve! We can serve in our church or our community. We can serve by cooking for someone or visiting someone that’s sick. We can serve on a mission field (at home or away) or in a food bank. We can serve at our child’s school. We can serve by praying for those around us in need. We can even serve by being the one friendly face at the DMV office that day! But however we may choose to serve, let us serve joyfully as we shine His light and plant His word. And we will reap a bountiful harvest in the Lord’s “garden”.

This week find a place or a time to serve someone. Shine God’s light and plant His word and reap God’s bountiful harvest as His word promises.

I thank God for each of you and I thank you for joining me this week to serve others and praise our bountiful God!