The gardener chooses the variety of pumpkin he or she wishes to plant, then prepares the soil. By forming mounds to plant the seeds, the roots are forced to go deep for water, providing strength for the growing plant.    
   
Proper irrigation will allow for the right amount of water to the pumpkin patch, and a keen eye is needed to watch for pests like the Squash Bug, which will stress the plant and compromise it's health.  Routine weeding prevents the plant from being robbed of water and nutrients.  
 
Patience is needed! It takes 3 ½ to 4 months for pumpkins to grow and ripen. If a freeze is imminent, the crop must be picked right away.

The gardener makes the preparations, but God is the provider of the ingredients: the seeds, the water, the soil, and the sunlight. He also orchestrates the process of photosynthesis to create the miracle of sprouting and growth. He then enables a special someone to be custodian—or caretaker—of the garden.
     
The pumpkin—a symbol of the Fall season—represents a bountiful harvest and a time when friends and families gather for Fall celebrations and Thanksgiving. The pumpkin often serves dual roles as an item on the menu—or as décor.
   
From seed to full fruit, the pumpkin's tale is just one of many stories of one of God's miracles of nature.

As a gardener—or consumer—of the pumpkin, you are a recipient of God's bountiful harvest. Along with family or friends, you are part of an immense blessing—the gathering of God's people, coming together to celebrate and give thanks.      

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever."
                                                                                     – 1 Chronicles 16:34
 
 

“Mine, all mine!” a little one exclaims as he or she pulls a toy away from a playmate. A tussle ensues. Good results for one—but not the other.  

Ownership. As adults we have things that we mark as our own, too: a personal phone or computer, a favorite DVD, book, game, or memento.  

Ownership shows in our relationships, too. We introduce family members with, “This is my (husband, wife, mother, father, son, daughter, grandson, granddaughter, aunt, uncle, cousin, friend).  

God desires to have ownership, too, in a different way. He desires that we belong to Him, to call us as His own when we choose to believe in Him. He wants to say, “You are mine.”   

He promises never to leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). We were created with a purpose in mind. He loves us. Unconditionally. Always. Forever..   
 
When we believe in Him, we gratefully acknowledge that God has our best interest in mind. He sent His son to redeem us from the sin of the world, when what we have is taken by others, when we are taken advantage of or cheated, when crimes are committed against us, or when we ourselves submit to the vices of sin.       
 
When we choose God, we can collectively exclaim, “Mine all mine.” He belongs to each of us—and we belong to Him.

Scripture from John 17:10 is fitting: 
“All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them.”

With God, there is no favoritism. He loves us equally. Completely. Unconditionally. Now, that is love--and it is something that never can be snatched away from us. 

God's goodness never ceases.  

(photo courtesy of World Bank Photo Collection)

 

What shall I wear today?  It’s a question we may often ponder while sorting through the variety of clothing in our closets. Most of us are fortunate to have a good selection from which to choose.

With the advent of the pandemic, our fancier clothing might be sitting virtually unused. But, whether working from home—or away from home—the question of what to wear can remain.  

But clothing is just outerwear. It can reflect our taste in style or allow us to make a statement, but it doesn’t show how we are dressed on the inside—how we are dressed "spiritually," that is.  
 
How do we dress on the inside? The Bible provides insight:  
     
From Colossians 3:12, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”

From Matthew 6:25, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?”

From Ephesians 6:13, when we struggle with worldly issues: “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”

Check out Ephesians 6:10-17 for additional pearls of wisdom about spiritual clothing.  

So, right now, I’m sitting in front of the computer as I write, wearing a favorite “older than dirt” t-shirt with a hole in the back seam and faded shorts. I’m looking a little raggy on the outside but hoping to be as spiritually well-dressed as I can be on the inside.    
  
How are you dressed today?