The Garden Is In!

A couple of weeks ago the children helped me get the garden in. L got the tomato and pepper plants in the ground. The younger ones helped get the seeds in the ground after C hoed up the rows. They were fascinated with the fact the a handful of seeds would make enough green beans to fill all those jars we have waiting in the canning closet downstairs. We discussed how those dried-up, dead-looking beans would come to life sending out roots into the ground and stems up to the air and then producing green leaves and fresh, new green beans.

All this led to a discussion about how the seeds have to die before they can come to life again, just like Jesus. We talked about how our own sin has to die, and how we live in Christ. I'm so thankful that God is a God of illustrations. Visual, hands-on kinds of lessons make things more clear not only to my children, but also to me

"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain" John 12:24

"When you put a seed into the ground, it doesn't grow into a plant unless it dies first. And what you put in the ground is not the plant that will grow, but only a dry little seed of wheat or whatever it is you are planting.

Then God gives it a new body-- just the kind he wants it to have. A different kind of plant grows from each kind of seed." 1Corinthians 15:36-38

"But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you." Romans 8:11

Heirloom Tomato Plants (thanks to a fellow MOMYS' dh) and Pepper Plants -- Jalepeno, Green Bell, Sweet Red Bell