Stay in the Zone
Growing up in zone 5 I had a favorite evergreen tree. It was the Colorado Blue Spruce. Colorado Blue Spruce, (Picea pungens) grow 50-75’ tall and as much as 20’ wide. Its silvery blue-green needles are a wonderful accent to almost any landscape. Moving to zone 7 I was introduced to many new landscape plants, trees and shrubs that would not grow in a northern climate. Unfortunately, there were a few of my favorites from back home that would not thrive in our southern heat. The Blue Spruce is one of them. My local county extension agent suggested that I plant something comparable in my yard like a Leyland Cypress, (XCupressocyparis leylandii) or Atlas Cedar, (Cedrus atlantica). Success in your landscape begins by choosing plant material that is native or adaptable to the hardiness and heat zones where you live.
“There are different ways to serve the same Lord, and we can each do different things. Yet the same God works in all of us and helps us in everything we do.” (1 Corinthians 12:5-6)
I know many talented people that I admire. I used to find myself thinking, “Man, I wish I could be like them. They sing so beautiful, they are amazing at decorating, they are so smart. All I can do is dig in the dirt.” Then the Holy Spirit guided me to Psalms 139:13-16, “You are the one who put me together inside my mother’s body, and I praise you because of the wonderful way you created me. Everything you do is marvelous! Of this I have no doubt. Nothing about me is hidden from you! I was secretly woven together out of human sight, but with your own eyes you saw my body being formed. Even before I was born, you had written in your book everything about me.”
We can spend a lot of precious time thinking, “I’m not, I can’t” or “If only..” Our loving, heavenly Father is waiting patiently to show us what He has designed us for. There is something unique in you. You are not an accident. You are not unplanned. You are God’s precious child. He has placed something in you to bless His people; a tool that can reach the hurting and the lost. You may think, (like I did) that what you know how to do is insignificant or just a hobby. I encourage you to spend time everyday asking the Lord what it is that He wants you to do. Turn your attention away from your own needs and desires and seek God’s purpose for your life. He already knows what you need and desire. When you open your heart to what is important to Him you will find a contentment and peace that is indescribable. Along the way you will see that He is big enough to take care of you and bless what you put your hands to all at the same time. What a truly amazing God He is!
“But more than anything else, put God’s work first and do what He wants. Then the other things will be yours as well.” (Matthew 6:33)